Re-entry: One Year Later

Adios at LAX

In January 2003, nine and a half years ago, I attended my first Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Murrieta Hot Springs, CA.  I have so many great memories from that conference. I remember they had a resource room, with seasoned missionaries in the back. One gentlemen in particular, had books for missionaries who returned back to their home country. It was about "Re-entry." I had seen and heard of resources for those yet to go, or while on the field, but never before had I heard of this phase.  Of course, back then I never gave it much thought.  In fact, I thought returning to your home country would be the easiest part of the whole process.  I mean, is it really necessary to write a whole book on this?!  I still had yet to go, so returning was the furthest thing on my mind.  On June 1, 2011, I departed from Malaga, Spain with a heavy heart.  I landed the next day in CA, on June 2, 2011.  Now, I would understand what this phase was all about...

Johnny at Santa Monica Pier

Culture shock has 5 distinct phases: honeymoon, negotiation, adjustment, mastery, and reverse culture shock.  Every missionary has gone through at least 4 of these phases.  Reverse culture shock, or "re-entry shock," is more surprising and difficult to deal with, then the original culture shock.  When I arrived back in SoCal last year, I went through a season in my life and ministry like no other time before.  I thought something was very wrong with me, and felt turned inside out.  In July of last year, a woman who is on staff at CCBC in Murrieta, gave me a word of encouragement.  She told me of a couple, who had served as missionaries in Wales for 4 years.  They came back to the US, and settled in at the conference center at the Bible college.  Although surrounded by an ideal Christian community, it took the couple 2 years to "get over" their transition.  On Saturday June 2, 2012, I recalled her words as I just passed the 1 year mark of my return from Spain.  I must confess, although God has given me a good life here in Los Angeles, I am still wrestling with nostalgia and re-entry...

Pastoral Epistles Class

Foreign Missions is in my spiritual DNA, and especially since my time in Spain...I know I will never be the same again.  A few months back at the end of March, I received a e-mail from Mallorca, Spain.  You may remember...Johnny, Rick, and Monica.  Four years ago (March 2008), I had the privilege with Pastor Rafael Manzanares of leading Johnny to Christ, and baptizing him in the Mediterranean Sea.  His daughter Monica and her husband Rick, attended the mid-week home Bible study I taught in the city of Palma.  Rick also taught me how to do the bookkeeping, accounting responsibilities, and deal with the finances of the Church and Bible College.  They also became some of my best friends in Mallorca.  The e-mail informed me they were coming to California for two weeks to see friends and family, and would arrive here on Saturday April 7th.  The reunion that night was awesome!  It had been almost 2 years since I saw them all in person.  It was Johnny and Rick, who accompanied me to the ferry on July 1, 2010 to say adios.  They were so supportive early that morning, as I embarked on my journey from Mallorca to Malaga.  I was grateful to get together with them 4 times while they were here, and see them off at the airport.  I had the opportunity to give them a tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach, and even meet with my familia in Upland. It was like old times: filled with laughter, fun, prayer, and genuine fellowship.  God brought Spain to me!!

Nauyaca Falls

Recently, Foreign Missions came knocking on the doors again.  One of my good friends Ryan Slabach, who is a missionary and the director of the CCBC in Costa Rica, hit me up for a ministry opportunity.  This extension campus is new, as this was only the 3rd semester it has been operating.  He wanted me to come down and teach a block class at the Bible college extension campus.  A normal semester, is anywhere from three and a half to four months.  These kind of classes cover all the material, in only 2 weeks or 30 hours of teaching!  The Spring 2012 semester, had a Missions focus and emphasis.  Ryan wanted me to teach on the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus).  It was perfect timing, as these letters were written by the apostle Paul, to 2 young pastors named Timothy and Titus.  One in a city, and the other on an island.  Being in the middle of this church plant in Venice Beach, it was both rewarding and enriching to study for!

I was in Costa Rica from Saturday May 12 to Saturday May 26.  Praise God we made it through all 3 books, and exactly 30 hours of teaching!  I was also able to pray with the staff every morning, and do devotionals with staff and students.  It was great to hear from everybody, as each morning we studied a section of Psalm 119.  Ryan and the team, also lead a weekly Sunday night Bible study.  Not only do students attend, but other missionaries in the area, and locals.  Ryan does a great job teaching in Spanish, as they are currently studying 1 Samuel.  Not only has conversions and baptisms taken place, but discipleship as well.  The first Sunday night I was there, locals (ticos and ticas) gave their lives to Jesus!  Older women, came to Ryan to comment on how they understood the Bible study, and how God spoke to them like never before.  I was personally encouraged, as I was able to use my Spanish from the moment I landed.  Also, one of the missionaries who usually interprets for the students every Sunday, wasn't able to attend.  I then was asked to help the students, by interpreting the study for them!  Hope I didn't butcher it too bad!;)  Every Monday night, Ryan teaches a block class through the book of Acts.  Ticos and ticas also attend, it is a very good turnout!  Ryan teaches in English for the students, and a tica interprets it in Spanish.

Hiking in Costa Rica

Fortunately,  I was also able to have some days off and enjoy the country.  Costa Rica located in Central America, is the greenest place on earth.  Ryan commented on how the human eye can detect 30 plus shades of green...he remarked: "I think they are all here!"  We were able to hang with the students for the weekend, rent a car, and drive all over the place.  We also hiked through the rain forest, swam, saw exotic creatures, and explored the waterfalls.  The Bible college is located in San Isidro, a valley surrounded by the mountains.  A great location away from tourist areas, and among the ticos and ticas.  It is a 3 hour drive south from the airport in San Jose, which is the nation's capital.  Over the weekend, we were able to crash at the home of missionary Mike Chaves in Dominical...a surfer's paradise.  Mike and I go way back, as he was the youth pastor at CC Rancho Cucamonga, before moving to Costa Rica with his family.  He is pastoring a church he planted, and also running a restaurant, with some of the best hamburgers in town!

One of the best aspects of the trip, was not only meeting new missionaries, but reuniting with guys like Ryan and Mike.  To simply encourage each other, share hopes, fears, struggles, and the joys in ministry.  I know we were all mutually

Time to Explore!

encouraged.  I was also able to meet Ryan's parents, who are missionaries in Nicaragua.  This country is located right above Costa Rica.  They were missionaries prior in the Dominican Republic for over 10 years, and had much wisdom.  I was blessed to be able to ask them questions about ministry, missions, and re-entry.  All in all...a trip filled with ministry, fun, adventure, and encouragement between believers!

One of the things that has helped with re-entry...is living NOW.  I can't live in the past, nor the future, because soon my present will be in the past.  God has me here in Venice Beach right now.  A domestic mission field, but a mission field nonetheless.  God has called me to Judea right now.  I know through my whole life and ministry, I will by God's grace be involved with foreign missions to some capacity or another.  Also, Spain will always hold a special place in my heart.  I still consider it my second home here on earth, and plan on visiting soon Lord willing.  Some of the best years of my life and ministry were in Spain, filled with great memories and relationships that will last a lifetime on into eternity.  I don't know the future, but should God ever move me on again...I want to be able to say I made the most of my time here in LA.  How about you?  Are you waiting for the future "to live?"  Or stuck living in the memories of the past?  God help us all to live right now, seize the moment, and make the most of whatever season/station of life you are in.  Thank you for your support then, and your support now!!   Love you all!!

By His Grace,
Eric