tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post4159690043559194028..comments2023-04-02T02:34:26.581-06:00Comments on IRL*in real life with Jamie Jo: Worlds CollideUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-67998920669049465632012-08-13T22:14:45.415-06:002012-08-13T22:14:45.415-06:00Thanks for the warm welcome!Thanks for the warm welcome!Melonyhttp://blogs.lucashome.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-45373224524925594002012-08-13T15:23:46.033-06:002012-08-13T15:23:46.033-06:00Hi, Melony. Nice to know you join us here, too. ...Hi, Melony. Nice to know you join us here, too. Your situation is very different and in some ways more complicated than ours, since people don't expect you to have those clashes of culture within your own passport country. <br /><br />Anything that turns our eyes to heaven and eternity is a good thing in my book, even though we don't always enjoy it at the time.<br /><br />Oh how I hate the insinuation that "we made our bed, now we must lie in it." As though we chose this life for ourselves. It goes to show they do not get it - the whole life of obedience with eyes on a future goal.<br /><br />Be encouraged. Your comment encouraged me today.Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04168408977811339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-57855729052022809142012-08-11T17:36:15.687-06:002012-08-11T17:36:15.687-06:00Hi Jamie Jo, I retreat with your (and the other WO...Hi Jamie Jo, I retreat with your (and the other WOTH) blog from time to time. A part of me relates much of the time and this one especially rings true. We are 'missionaries at home' so to speak, living and serving in our home country the USA. But we have crammed (should I really use that word-depends on where you come from) our family of 5 into a very small, very cheap, very old 2 bedroom home. Our pre-teen daughter shares a room with her 2 elementary aged brothers (gasp!) We work among homeless families in our city. Most of our friends live very different American lives. When I atempt to share struggles I get comments like this; "that's what you get..." (for making your children share a room, for letting your children be around 'those' types of people, etc...)<br />I was recently talking with the Lord about not having a place where I fit. Your words of 'worlds colliding' fit so well with what I was thinking. Only part of me fits wherever I am, never all of me. My Lord graciously reminded me that He has gone to His Father's house to prepare a place for me (John 14 i think). That has brought great comfort and encouragement in living with this constant tension between colliding worlds. It helps me to hang on and not try to change it, looking forward to my hope that is heaven. Thank You for your real-life words. They are very encouraging!Melonyhttp://blog.lucashome.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-32388216100473786492012-08-11T06:32:46.611-06:002012-08-11T06:32:46.611-06:00Hi, Maligirl! That's such a cute user name, a...Hi, Maligirl! That's such a cute user name, and I do remember you from the WOTH retreat. Do be patient with your friends. They will continue changing, and so will you, but if the love is based on a Christian foundation, it will endure. Later on they start to "get" you, but it happens gradually. You'll find a new norm. Meanwhile, hang in there!Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04168408977811339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-82707957962995916462012-08-11T06:30:09.569-06:002012-08-11T06:30:09.569-06:00I didn't realize you had family in Dallas, too...I didn't realize you had family in Dallas, too. Yep, that happens here in Ohio, too. I just said this morning that I am ready to be home and NOT eating in restaurants any more. (Five more days...)Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04168408977811339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-55573391151575062432012-08-09T19:37:21.664-06:002012-08-09T19:37:21.664-06:00I get it, and I am struggling with it right now. ...I get it, and I am struggling with it right now. After three and a half years on the field I was looking forward to reconnecting with old friends at church. Well, they have moved on. I guess I have too, I got married in the middle of those three and a half years. But, I want to reconnect, I want to continue to care about those relationships. So why does church suddenly start feeling like a duty? Why does visiting with people feel a lot like going through motions, trying to do or say the right thing. I thought my personality was a bit squished living in West AFrica and adapting now. I suddenly need a whole new adapting mechanism! Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />maligirl (malimom's daughter for reference Jamie Jo)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-81286217218442292842012-08-09T09:54:55.606-06:002012-08-09T09:54:55.606-06:00Yes, I TOTALLY get what you're saying. For me...Yes, I TOTALLY get what you're saying. For me it happens when we visit my brothers at their AFFLUENT Dallas homes. When they visit me on furlough, I work, shop, cook food, etc,. because I can't afford to pay for everyone to eat in a restaurant.<br /><br />When I visit them, we eat in restaurants the whole time, and so it becomes a bit of a financial issue for us! They are so kind to us, but sometimes I think they just don't get our lives.Betsy de Cruzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07081162585307212930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-52358391984550190662012-08-08T13:46:44.981-06:002012-08-08T13:46:44.981-06:00Taking it a step further, isn't it amazingly g...Taking it a step further, isn't it amazingly gratifying to have visitors from the U.S. see where and how you live? That's the best.<br /><br />I was on a plane flying back from Dallas to Ohio, and carefully avoided mentioning where I live OR what I do. Otherwise any small talk would have come to a screeching halt. It only goes forward, like you say, when the focus is on the other person.Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04168408977811339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-13664895868586359152012-08-08T13:44:11.248-06:002012-08-08T13:44:11.248-06:00Ah, yes, those weddings where everyone knows each ...Ah, yes, those weddings where everyone knows each other. Btdt, too. Yep, it's lonely being different sometimes.Jamie Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04168408977811339924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-23844208406978592012-08-08T12:17:47.313-06:002012-08-08T12:17:47.313-06:00Oh, I hear ya. When we are in the U.S. and meeting...Oh, I hear ya. When we are in the U.S. and meeting new people or old friends... I often feel that they don't see 'me' for 'me' until they know that I don't live a normal life... but I live in Africa! Yet... once they know that, they suddenly loose all ability to relate and sometimes things stop dead in their tracks and only I can seem to keep them moving forward by asking more questions about them... so that the 'awkward' situation of my life doesn't have to try to be understood. I totally get what you are saying.suzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10946286170440328222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241703702485132991.post-57471078218427706042012-08-08T11:00:15.459-06:002012-08-08T11:00:15.459-06:00I spent part of my weekend being a part of a colle...I spent part of my weekend being a part of a college friend's wedding. I felt like the bridesmaid that no one really knew, aside from the bride. But to explain my life to everyone seemed like too much of an effort, so I just sat quietly and listened to everyone talk about their "normal" lives. It was nice not to have to share all about my life, but it still felt a bit lonely. So, yes, I get it. :)Laura McLainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06263656030998604404noreply@blogger.com