Trent has been answering lots of the questions that we’ve been asked since we announced our decision to move to Singapore. However, today I’m going to address a question that is most often pointed to me:
How can you move to a foreign country where you have never been?
If you read Trent’s post about his survey trip to Singapore you know that I did not go. Instead, our oldest daughter, Ella, travelled with him. Although ideally I also would have been able to go, we believe (and know) there was great benefit for Ella going with him. For instance, with Ella at his side, Trent was constantly reminded of what life in Singapore would look like with children in mind. Ella was also able to make friends and connections as well as experience a taste of life in the big city of Singapore. When Ella returned from the trip she became a great ambassador to her siblings about the possibility of moving to the other side of the world by describing Singapore to them through a child’s eyes.
But really, how can you move to a foreign country where you have never been?
I’ll admit that the answer is complex. There are a couple of big answers followed by lots of little things that come together to allow me to be comfortable with this move. Of course, I haven’t been there yet and haven’t lived there yet. I know that there will be a great adjustment period, but I’m ready to tackle that challenge.
There is work to be done. We wouldn’t be moving across the globe if there wasn’t work to be done. We love God, we care about souls, and we desire to build up the body of Christ. Our family’s desire has always been to work as part of the church (whether that be in an official “position” or not). And, we’ve decided that we want to join in the good work that is already being done in Singapore.
I trust my husband. The work in Singapore is something that he has seen. It is a work that, before he saw it, he wanted to be a part of, and after seeing it, still wanted to be involved. The work in Singapore is something that he believes our entire family could be involved in because of the multifaceted nature of the work. The work in Singapore is something he thinks will be a blessing to our family. The country of Singapore is somewhere he has been and thinks that our family could live.
I have the benefit of a little international travel and living. I’ve had the blessing of traveling to several countries outside of the United States. I’ve seen a variety of cultures, modes of transportation, homes, grocery stores, foods (though I know Asia will definitely challenge my taste buds), and languages. Although I fully expect to go through culture shock when we move, I also feel like it is something that I can work through and overcome. When we lived in Paraguay for three months, I was absolutely overwhelmed in the beginning. However, by the end of the three months it was easy to see how comfortable things had become for our family in just the daily routines of life in Paraguay. Did we have more room to grow in comfort and understanding of the country and people after three months? Most definitely. But, the ability for our family to grow to the point that it did in those three months gives me confidence that we can do the same elsewhere.
Today’s technology allows me to remain connected to family and friends who aren’t in Singapore. Blogs. WhatsApp. Email. Reliable snail mail (unlike Paraguay). Daily transpacific flights (if you want to come visit). Facebook. Skype. Cell phones. FaceTime. And, Singapore has fast and reliable internet which makes most of those ways that I can connect with family and friends even better.
I’ve seen it on T.V. You know, there are always folks on House Hunters International who move somewhere they’ve never been. 😉
-Lisa