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    The DR Um Fam Ily: Dreaming of Going Home

    Uploaded by

    Billy and Laurie Drum
    The author recounts a dream where she is trying to pick up her daughter from school but cannot remember how to get home. This reflects her anxiety about an upcoming visit to her home in Texas after many years working overseas. She is worried about how disconnected she may feel from family and friends, as well as changes in cultural norms. She hopes to reconnect during the holiday season but fears schedules may be too busy. The author requests prayers for workers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans, as well as for her children, safe travel, and meaningful family time.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    The DR Um Fam Ily: Dreaming of Going Home

    Uploaded by

    Billy and Laurie Drum
    41 views4 pages
    The author recounts a dream where she is trying to pick up her daughter from school but cannot remember how to get home. This reflects her anxiety about an upcoming visit to her home in Texas after many years working overseas. She is worried about how disconnected she may feel from family and friends, as well as changes in cultural norms. She hopes to reconnect during the holiday season but fears schedules may be too busy. The author requests prayers for workers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans, as well as for her children, safe travel, and meaningful family time.

    Original Description:

    Ministry news from the Drums serving in Spain.

    Original Title

    OctNov 2015

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    The author recounts a dream where she is trying to pick up her daughter from school but cannot remember how to get home. This reflects her anxiety about an upcoming visit to her home in Texas after many years working overseas. She is worried about how disconnected she may feel from family and friends, as well as changes in cultural norms. She hopes to reconnect during the holiday season but fears schedules may be too busy. The author requests prayers for workers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans, as well as for her children, safe travel, and meaningful family time.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    41 views4 pages

    The DR Um Fam Ily: Dreaming of Going Home

    Uploaded by

    Billy and Laurie Drum
    The author recounts a dream where she is trying to pick up her daughter from school but cannot remember how to get home. This reflects her anxiety about an upcoming visit to her home in Texas after many years working overseas. She is worried about how disconnected she may feel from family and friends, as well as changes in cultural norms. She hopes to reconnect during the holiday season but fears schedules may be too busy. The author requests prayers for workers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans, as well as for her children, safe travel, and meaningful family time.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    m

    u
    r
    D
    e
    Th mily
    Fa

    October / November 2015

    Dreaming of Going Home


    So,Ihadthisweirddreamlastnight.MyhusbandandIwerewalkingdownthestreetthismorning,takingashortstrolltogetherbeforea
    coeemee ngwithourlocalSpanishpastor.IbegantorecountthedreamtoBilly:

    Youknowthosedreamsthatseemsorealthattheydontfeellikedreams?Yet,theyseemsoconfusingandyoucantfigurethemout?

    Iwaswai ngtopickupSarahfromschool.Iwaswai ngonthestreetoutsidethegym.Itwastwilight,whichisweirdsincesheusuallygets


    outofschoolat3:00.Anyway,Iwasge nganxiousbecauselotsofotherchildrenwerecomingoutofthebuildingandstreamingdownthe
    streettomeettheirparents,butSarahwasntcomingout.Youknowthatmomentwhenyourmomsensekicksinandyoujustknowthatthe
    worsthashappenedandyourkidhassomehowbeenkidnappedordisappearedintothinair.Yourealreadyincrisismodeandyourheadis
    alreadygoingthroughyourcrisisresponseplan.Callthelocalpolice.Calltheembassy.Calltheagency.Pray.Freakout.Ithappensinasplit
    second.Onesecondyourejuststandingtherewai ngforyourkid,andinafrac onofasecondyouarecrazywithfearthattheworsthas
    happened,which99.9%ofthe meisNOTtrue.So,Igetthatawfulfearthatthisisthatmoment.Butthen,ofcourse,shewalksoutofthe
    buildingandshesreadytogohome.Crisisaverted.Movealong.

    IgiveherahugandremindherthatweareinahurrybecauseIdonthaveacartoday,sowehavetotakeaboathome.(Whatonearth?
    Whenhaveweevertakenaboathome?)Sowerundowntothepieronlytofindthattheboatisalreadygone.And,ofcourse,itwasthelast
    onetoday.Nowwhat?

    Westarttotrytofindataxitogetushome.Whenwefinallyfindoneandgetintothecar,thetaxidriverturnsaroundandsays,Whereto?

    Thatsaproblem,becauseIcantfigureouthowtotellhimwheremyhomeis.Icanseeitinmymind.
    AndIcanpicturethegeneralarea.ButIcantrememberthenameofthetownorthestreetsoreven
    howtogetthere.Itisjustaweirdmemorythatseemslikeitisonlyhalfreal.WhenItrytopicturethe
    insideofthehouse,itisempty.WhenItrytopicturethestreetsigns,theyareblurry.Mostly,Icanonly
    seehousesandbigtreesandniceyardsinmymind.ButIhavenowordstodescribeitortoexplain
    wherehomeis.Idontknowanyphonenumbers.Idonthaveanyfamiliarlandmarksornames.Its
    justallastrangeoutoffocusimageinmyhead.Iknowitsreal,butIknowIcantfindit.
    Sonow,Imjustsi nginthetaxiandfeelingconfusedandrealizingthatIdontknowhowtogohome.

    Itwasadream.Iwokeupstressedandconfused.ButasIwasretellingitthismorning,Irealizedhowit
    wasalsotrue.
    Connued on page 2 . . .

    ...Dreaming of Going Home


    Iamconfusedandstressed.Icantpicturehome.Idontknowwherehomeisanymore.Iwanttoknowit,butIdont.Itallseemsstrangelyoutof
    focus.IknowitissupposedtobeTexas,butitfeelslikeitisalsoPeru,anditisalsoSpain.Ithasallchangedsincewele theBrazosValleymany
    yearsago.Inolongerhaveahouse.Thelast meIsawmyTexashouse,itwasempty.Andtosomeextent,Ihaventeverreallygrievedtheloss
    ofmybeau fulVictorianfarmhouse.Goinghomenowmeansgoingtoanotherpersonshomeasaguest.WhenItrytorememberstreetnames,
    theyaresadlyablurinmymind.WhenItrytorememberwherefriendslive,Icanseetheirfacesandtheirhouses,butIcantrememberwhat
    streettheyliveon.Addtothatthefactthatnewthingshavebeenbuiltandnewroadsmade,andsomefriendshaveactuallymoved.Ifeellost,
    andImnoteventhereyet.

    Iknowthatourupcominghomelandassignment/furloughiscausingthisconfusionandstress.Idontsomuchfeeltheconfusionduringmy
    wakinghours,butIknowitisthere.Itiscomingoutinmyphysicalhealthandinmydreams.

    Iamworriedabouthowtodress.Missionariesarenotoriousforbeingoutofstylewhentheyreturnhome.Ifearge nghomeandlookinglikea
    characterfromLi leHouseonthePrairieinaseaofBarbiedollsandperfecthair.

    Imworriedabouthowtointeract.Mydailyculturalnormshavechangedo endependingonthecultureIhavebeenlivingin.Justlastweek,I
    gavethetradi onalSpanishgree ngoftwokissestoawomanIwasintroducedtofromKosovo.Itwasjustmyins nct,butshelookedatmelikeI
    wasnuts.Theweekbefore,IgreetedaSouthAmericanwomanwithonekiss(tradi onaltoPeruandtoherna veBrazil),butwewereinSpainso
    shewentforthedoublekisswhichendedinanawkwardnosesmash.AndwhenIwasintroducedtoanewcolleagueinourmissionagencydur
    ingaconferencethismonth,Iwasmomentarilystunnedbythecoldnessanddistancethatcomesinthetradi onalUSAhandshakegree ng.I
    wantedtograbhimandgivehimacheekkissandahug,becausethatfeelsrighttomenow.

    ImafraidIdontknowhowtorelatetomyownchildren.Ihaventseenmyadultsonsinovertwoyears.IfeellostasamotherandIfeellikeIm
    walkingintoaselfconfronta onofmyowninadequacyasamom.Ifearthiswillnotgowell,sinceIknowthatthegreatestdetermina onof
    stressinasitua onisthedierencebetweenexpecta onsandreality.WhatIwantandhopeforisafamilythatisreunitedandwhocanspend
    somehappyholidaystogether,maybetakeafamilyphotoortwo.WhatIfearisthatourrealitywillbea
    familythathasgrownsodistantthatwearejustawkwardandconfusedastohowtobefamilyanymore,
    thatphysicaldistanceisnowintertwinedwithemo onaldistance,andthatconnec onwillbedicult,at
    best.

    Iwanttoenjoymyshort meintheStatesandreconnectwithfamilyandfriends,butIalsoknowthatthere
    ismuchplannedforusandtherearemanypeopletoseeandthescheduleisalreadylookingstressfultome.
    MydaydreamsofcookingThanksgivingdishesandmakingChristmascra sandgoingtoseeChristmaslights,
    ofeveningscurledupwithfamilywatchingChristmasmoviesanddrinkinghotchocolateisitevenpossi
    ble?Doesanyoneelseevencaretodothosethings?HowwillIcarveout meandsetboundariessoIcan
    makethenecessarymee ngsandspeakinplacesIneedtospeak,butalsohavesomeenjoyableholiday mesthatIhavemissedovertheyears?
    Inmanyways,Ifeeloutofcontrolandconfusedbyalloftheunknowns.Idontevenknowhowtohaverealis cexpecta onsbecauseIcantseem
    toputmyheadaroundwhatisreal.

    Inmanyways,mydreamsofbeinglostandnotbeingabletofigureouthowtogethomeareveryreal.Imexcitedandlookingforwardtothis
    meinTheStates,andImalsodauntedbythejourneyandwhatawaitsmebackhome.

    Life takes you to unexpected places. Love brings you home.


    Prayer Requests Pray for the global regions of Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans we work as Care Coordinators for workers in these
    regions. Pray for the work that each of those cross-cultural workers is doing in their areas. Pray for political issues in each region.
    Pray for the refugee and immigrant situation that continues to move vast numbers of people across the continent. Pray for people
    who suddenly find themselves with no home, no job, no family connections, and no options. Pray that our workers can be a light in
    the darkness and love all people well as we continue to live out Jesus love in our own lives.
    Praises for our travel to Albania and our teaching and training with other cross-cultural workers. We had a great conference with
    lots of reconnecting with other workers, lots of important discussions and strategy talks, and lots of learning and laughter!
    Pray for the disciple groups, bible studies, and relationships that we have here in Spain pray that they stay strong in our
    absence as we travel to the States for a time or rest and reconnection with our families and with our churches and friends.
    As always, please pray for our boys (Ryan and Miles) in Texas and far away from us during these young adult years. Pray for us
    to be able to reconnect with them in special ways when we get back to Texas. We havent seen them in 2+ years.
    Pray for Sarah as she leaves school for a couple of months to travel to Texas. She will still need to maintain her studies from longdistance and be prepared to take exams upon her return in January. She is nervous about this, as well as the stressors of leaving
    friends behind for a long period and leaving what she perceives as her home Texas does not feel like home to Sarah, so in many
    ways, this is like traveling to a foreign place for her that happens to have family and familiar faces in it.
    Pray for our travel back to Texas. We will have a couple of weeks of no internet service as we travel and make a few stops before arriving in Texas before Thanksgiving. Pray for smooth transitions and travel mercies and rest!

    A Short Visit during the Holidays


    Its hard to believe that we have been away from Texas for so
    long! We left for the field in 2007! We have been home only
    a couple of times since then. Our last Christmas in Texas
    was in 2012. Holidays away from family and friends and
    traditions and customs are HARD! So, we are SUPER

    EXCITED to be coming home to Texas for


    Looking
    Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!!!

    forward to seeing as many of you as we possibly can. We


    are especially looking forward to seeing our boys it has
    been over 2 years since we have hugged those precious
    necks! Maybe, just maybe, we will find a way to update a
    family photo???
    We are also looking forward to Thanksgiving with all the
    trimmings, Christmas trees, holiday music sung in our native
    language, church services in English with music and
    candlelight and lots of friendly faces, nighttime drives to see
    Christmas lights, a Christmas party or two Im getting more
    and more excited as I write this!
    We want to see YOU!!! We want to find ways to see and talk
    to as many people as we can, to reconnect and to hug your
    necks. See the flyer at right for one place you can catch us.
    We will be adding more as they confirm scheduling. And, of
    course, we are more than willing to go grab a cup of coffee or
    catch a lunch with you or a small group of you! (PS Billy is
    so excited to get home to some Blue Bellif ice cream is
    involved, hell meet you anywhere on earth!)

    Looking forward to seeing you soon


    IN TEXAS!!!

    NON-PROFIT
    ORG
    US POSTAGE
    PAID
    BRYAN TX
    PERMIT #102

    The Mission Society


    Laurie & Billy Drum
    3907 Old Oaks
    Bryan,

    Texas 77802

    USA

    E-mail: [email protected]
    [email protected]

    Sharing the Love of Christ with the least, the lost, and the left out immigrants, displaced peoples, the lonely,
    the abandoned, those who need a friend.
    Nurturing and developing people to be healthy spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally - because
    care is not just an emotional feeling word, care is a verb - an action. Thats who we are the care-givers!

    Contact The Drums!


    We love to Skype,
    chat, email, or receive
    mail at the post office!
    Youcancontactthem:
    [email protected]
    Ph#9799855238(Texasphone
    thatwillroutetoourcomputerin
    Spain)
    Skype:billy.drum
    OrfindusonFacebook!

    Mailing address:
    BillyyLaurieDrum
    Apdo.Correos#46
    29200Antequera,Malaga,Espaa

    Sarah entered middle school this year (hard to believe!). She has a tough
    course load of 11 classes in a block schedule. She is in the top class in her
    school. This class has a multilingual curriculum. Students study 3 languages
    concurrently = Spanish, English, and French. Spanish and English are both
    considered Sarahs first languages (she is equally fluent in both), and French
    is her second/third language. All sciences are taught in 50% English, 50%
    Spanish. Sarahs biggest challenge right now is our travel schedule. She
    must keep up with her studies and take exams upon return. While we are in
    Texas in November and December, she will have all assignments given to her
    and she will be responsible for doing them and then testing upon her return in
    January.

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