Where is home?
It’s the question many global workers ask, and the question Hilary’s kids were trying to answer.
Oregon? That’s where Hilary and her husband spent their early lives. But their kids didn’t consider it home.
Mozambique? Hilary and her family moved there when her oldest kids were 1, 2, and 3. Her fourth was born during the family’s 12-year tenure there. But it didn’t quite feel like home.
South Africa, where they live now? It’s been home for six years, and they’ve stayed for college, but sometimes Hilary’s kids don’t feel entirely at home there.
Where have we all been together where we’ve had the most fun? Is there a place where we all feel like we belong? The car! (We’ve spent a lot of time in the car, Hilary says.)
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Hilary didn’t come far to the Thrive retreat—only 30 minutes across Cape Town. A retreat highlight so far is the worship. “We go to a small church and lead worship about half the time.” It’s nice for Hilary to set aside the responsibility of leading worship and ministry and just enjoy the presence of Jesus here. “And this is so different than congregational worship. In church, people are at different places in their walks with the Lord. Here,” she says, “we’re all so ready to dive in and go deep.”
Hilary is really disappointed the retreat isn’t long enough to get to meet all the other attendees and hear their stories. “I’ve loved meeting my small group (four other global women) and hearing all the other ladies’ stories.” Hilary knew just a couple others at the retreat and has already gotten acquainted with other soon-to-be friends who live in and around Cape Town.
Hilary has been encouraged by worship and connection with others like her. For others, that encouragement has come from other aspects of the retreat. “This is how I know Jesus loves me!” Valerie-Gail said about her Taste of Home gift—blueberry muffin mix and maple syrup. For some it was the speaker’s message. And for another, it was a paid-for haircut in the hotel salon; for yet another, a reminder of truth in the grief & loss workshop.
[I am] confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
©2016 Thrive.