I recently was flown to the U.S. for 3 days as a surprise to my mom for her retirement party. As I type this I am looking at my hands that are white and flaky from dry skin. In Nigeria the humidity is so high that my skin doesn’t ever suffer. Only 3 days in the US and my skin needs healing. If my skin reacts so quickly to the difference in locations how can I expect my brain, my heart and my emotions to not react too.
I live a life every day in Africa just trying to keep my head above water. God continues to show himself to me as I wake everyday having no clue what he has in store for me that day. I just take a step and watch him work. At the end of the day I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I rarely have time to think about anyone or anything outside of my bush life. When I get on Facebook or open my prayer journal I am reminded of a whole world back in the U.S.
I feel so two faced. I live a life in Nigeria in skirts, hair in a ponytail giving my every thing to the people of Egbe but always on guard for evil lurking at my door. As I step into the U.S. my hair comes down, the pants come on and I get in the rental car with the radio up and wind blowing. I know where I am going and I know I will get there and what to expect. I let my Nigerian guard down but I put up the U.S. guard.
The three days that I spend with family and friends was bittersweet. So many great things going on with everyone but also so many stories of heartbreak and suffering. It doesn’t matter if you live in a 10×10 mud hut in Africa or a 3000 sqft home in the U.S. everyone is suffering from something. Suffering from a hole in their heart that they try to fill with anything that they think will make them happy. That temporary happiness patches the hole but that band aide quickly wears off. John 15:9 says we are not meant for this world so nothing in it is going to fulfill us. Only our relationship with God can fill that hole until we reach our final destination where there will be no more heartbreak and suffering. I am ready are you?
Miles In Missions 
Good word, Patrice. So glad you were able to surprise your dear mom! You’ll never regret the money and time spent to do that. Well done!
Dick
Thanks. I was actually blessed by her office and they paid my whole way!!
great post
I love this post. Truer words have never been spoke.
Really enjoyed your letter.. great way of weaving a theme.. J
And of course, nice to hear how you are doing..
Andy
Love this Patrice!! You said it all too well!!!!! Thank you for the work you & your family are doing in Egbe!!!! What a huge commitment & undertaking you guys have made!!! May God’s continuous blessings flow into lives!
Patrice, I’m so glad you got to make that trip, and I know your mom is too! Really appreciated your thoughts on living “in two worlds”–Nigeria and America. Nigerian missionary Steve Beacham (now with the Lord) used to call a BA or KLM jet a “time machine”–it takes you to a whole different reality. You explained it so well, and it’s true that heartache, pain, disappointment and hardship happens on both sides of the pond, or the economic gap. God bless your ministry and your family! Sheryl
WOW WOW
Hi Patrice,
Thank you for your update, always a great read to see a bit into your heart and all that God is doing in and through you!
Hugs,
Linda Kohn