What is America Like?

In California desert

Islanders often ask us general questions about America, but always with the assumption that there will be an easy way to sum up all that is America in one sweep. They ask, “What do they eat in America?”, with the assumption that there is one staple food that all Americans eat everyday. They ask, “What do they wear in America?”, with the assumption that there is traditional dress that all people in America wear for special occasions. They ask, “What is the weather like in America?”, with the assumption that it is the same everywhere.

The islands are a small, mono-cultural place, about which you can answer similar questions fairly easily. America is a big and diverse country and it is hard to answer such questions. We usually start with “it depends where you are in America...” or “Well, America is a big place...” or “America is a mix of lots of cultures...”.

It is hard for islanders to understand how big America is. We try to help by talking about how to get from where Megan is from to where Tom is from it takes a 6 hour flight in an airplane or it takes a full week of driving (and you’re in the same country the whole time)! 

In Utah

Well now we’ll be able to show our island friends pictures to prove it because we are currently halfway through a road-trip across country! We have a tent, mats and sleeping bags and we’re camping our way across at national parks and in the backyards of friends and neighbors. And don’t worry we’ve remembered our masks and hand sanitizer and are being diligent in using both.

We’ve been struck again by the diversity of America. Both in its people and the beautiful landscapes. We’ve driven through the farmlands of CA into the desert of Joshua Tree, to the canyons of Arizona and the cliffs and arches of Utah, to the rugged mountains of Colorado, through the plains of Kansas and are now at a wooded lake in the Ozarks of Missouri.

We needed to go back to the East coast but we’re glad that it worked out for us to go this way and experience America some. Our kids can be as bad as islanders about generalizing all of America based on a few experiences, so we’re glad our kids are getting a chance to see the country in some of its diverse glory.

We try to help islanders understand how big the US is, but even after our explanations it is hard for islanders to imagine, which is why our old neighbor gave our teammate baked goods to give to us once she got to America (She was going to South Carolina, we were in California). Sometimes it is easier to just accept the goodies rather than try to explain again. (We told her to enjoy them on our behalf.)

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful for a safe road-trip so far. We are especially thankful that when we got stuck in soft sand on the side of the road, a roadwork crew stopped and helped push us out and on our way! We’re also thankful for how well our kids and Megan’s back have been doing so far with all this driving! We’re thankful for a story of Ma Imani’s daughter (12 yrs) growing in her faith and even praying for healing for a neighbor! We are thankful for our 17 years of marriage— today is our anniversary!

At lake in Missouri

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Continue to pray for us on the road— for safety both in the car and from COVID. We have to get tested for COVID upon entering back to MA- pray that we could find a place to get tested easily so that we don’t have to stay quarantined from those we are going to live with. Pray for continued good attitudes in the car and for Megan’s back to stay strong. We should arrive back in MA on the 19th. Keep praying for our pregnant colleague on the small island- she is due any day now! Keep praying for our colleagues hoping to travel to/from the islands. Also pray for a difficult situation among the island brothers and sisters— one is teaching things that the others are not comfortable with— pray that they would be able to challenge each other and find truth together. Keep praying for Ma Imani’s family as her sister’s daughter has not seen complete freedom from evil spirits— we persevere in prayer with them in this long battle.