At some point, the suggestion will be made that it’s time to go back ‘home’ (aka your country of origin!) to reconnect with family and friends and to have a good break. This takes time to plan and prepare for, and there is a lot to consider. Who will do your work while you are gone? You need to find someone to delegate to and take time to hand over the reins. Make sure especially that any local friends who have come to faith are well tended to in your absence, so they do not feel abandoned. Depending on how long you will be away, you might need to build a RAFT again (remember that stands for Reconcile, Affirm, say good Farewells and Think destination – that is to say, make good plans for your arrival too). All of this is especially the case if you are leaving for good.

Finally, when the mission partner returns, make sure plans are in place to give them a resounding welcome. Celebrate their return and be eager to hear reports of what they have been doing in their place of service. Ideally, the missions department and support team will have been active in helping them to think through their plans for their return ahead of time. If no family or friends can meet them at the airport or station, make sure someone from the church is there.

Give them a buffer after the initial welcome to have some decompression time. And be sure and offer a good debrief with a trained person, even if they think they don’t need it. Encourage the support team to listen to their stories and follow up with those they have been praying for. It all helps the partner to feel welcomed and tended to, which surely is what you want. This will be even more important if it is their final return.

At some point, the suggestion will be made that it’s time to go back ‘home’ (aka your country of origin!) to reconnect with family and friends and to have a good break. This takes time to plan and prepare for, and there is a lot to consider. Who will do your work while you are gone? You need to find someone to delegate to and take time to hand over the reins. Make sure especially that any local friends who have come to faith are well tended to in your absence, so they do not feel abandoned. Depending on how long you will be away, you might need to build a RAFT again (remember that stands for Reconcile, Affirm, say good Farewells and Think destination – that is to say, make good plans for your arrival too). All of this is especially the case if you are leaving for good.

Finally, when the mission partner returns, make sure plans are in place to give them a resounding welcome. Celebrate their return and be eager to hear reports of what they have been doing in their place of service. Ideally, the missions department and support team will have been active in helping them to think through their plans for their return ahead of time. If no family or friends can meet them at the airport or station, make sure someone from the church is there.

Give them a buffer after the initial welcome to have some decompression time. And be sure and offer a good debrief with a trained person, even if they think they don’t need it. Encourage the support team to listen to their stories and follow up with those they have been praying for. It all helps the partner to feel welcomed and tended to, which surely is what you want. This will be even more important if it is their final return.