I can safely say that I lost myself during my first year on the field and it was surprisingly easy to do.

Looking back, I realize that I had spent years preaching, advocating, and preparing for the future God had called me to. I fundraised, cast vision, and found passion in that dream. That passion carried me as I jumped into the deep end of missions.

I loved the culture and the people, and I fully immersed myself in both. But around the three‑to‑six‑month mark, the “honeymoon stage” ended, and the tension began. I felt caught between who I had been for so many years and the new culture I was learning to embrace. Some aspects made me feel fully alive, while others pushed and tested me far beyond what I thought I could handle.

Do you remember learning about weights and balances in science class? You’d place weights on either side of a scale, trying to find the perfect balance. Just when you thought you were close, one small change would throw everything off again. Learning and growing on the mission field often feels exactly like learning about balances and weight in school.

There’s a constant back‑and‑forth. A push and pulling. A balancing act that requires deep grace, patience, and love as you test, stretch, and navigate the tension between staying true to yourself and embracing a new culture. It’s never “black and white”. Achieving perfect balance isn’t the goal, because balance is temporary, fragile, and ever‑shifting.

Romans 5:3–5 reminds us:

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Looking back now, I don’t regret any part of the process. It stretched me, challenged me, and grew me in ways I never expected. The struggles, the hard questions, and the refining moments deepened my faith and strengthened my character. Even looking at a balance today reminds me of the cross. Christ is the reason why I can experience the fullness of that growth because of God’s love was with me every step of the way.

So, if you’re feeling that same tension or if you need support navigating language learning, cultural adjustment, or processing the challenges, you don’t have to do it alone. Let our team, with more than 20 years of field experience, guide and equip you for what’s next.