During this pandemic, we expats have fallen into one of two categories: those who stayed and those who left. Expats who made the decision to evacuate their host country have undoubtedly faced some very unique challenges in leaving and finding a new normal in their passport country. In this episode Denise interviews Alicia about her family’s decision to leave Indonesia and evacuate to the States, how they came to that decision, and the lessons she’s learning through it. Alicia’s story will help those who stayed abroad to better understand the realities of our friends who left, and will encourage fellow evacuees that you’re not alone in the ups and downs of repatriating during a pandemic.

Show Notes

Connect with Denise

Connect with Alicia 

Connect with Melissa

Questions discussed during this episode:

What was coronavirus like in your area?

What were your initial thoughts about the virus when it began to be on a global scale?

When you and your husband made these decisions about social distancing and going back to the United States, were you on the same page? How did you process that?

What was your reasoning behind thinking your family needed to leave?

What were the challenges in leaving?

What was the travel like?

How has it been now that you’ve made the trip back?

How has it been emotionally and spiritually for you through all this?

If you could encourage an expat who evacuated, what would you encourage her with?

Noteworthy Quotes:

“I can remember each morning waking up and seeing these news alerts about things happening in the States and things shutting down.”

“We went ahead and just went the pace of what was happening in the States and eventually everything started to fall into that same pattern where we were.”

“Initially we weren’t exactly on the same page as far as when to leave, but I think we both knew it would be a good idea to leave.”

“We just really sought the Lord because we knew that He would align us, that He would get us on the same page of what we needed to do.”

“I kind of wanted to stay just for the sake of sticking it out.”

“In some ways I thought I was quitting or I was taking the easy way.”

“What I wanted to do was to make the decision that brought Him the most glory.”

“We do have a dog, and that felt like leaving a family member.”

“We’re not abandoning anyone, but it felt that way.”

“It was this weird time of just trying to prepare to leave, but then not really getting to do it the same way you’re so accustomed to.”

“We weren’t even able to go and do the things we normally do in those first couple of weeks in your host country.”

“It was just odd not to see the America I’m accustomed to seeing each time we come back.”

“I haven’t even been to Target. Usually that happens on, like, day three of me being back in the States.”

“When you’re in one place, a part of you is still in another place. And that struggle doesn’t go away.”

“There’s this comfort in knowing the Lord is always with us anywhere we are.”

“There isn’t a perfect decision. You’re still losing something no matter what.”

“He’s still going to use this time and we’re going to look back on it and be able to see specifically what the Lord had in store for us during a pandemic.”

“The truth is, there are needs all around the world, and the Lord is going to use you in a unique way where you are.”

“Maybe the obedient thing is to sit and listen and hear from the Lord because there is going to be plenty more time for doing and working.”

Show credits: 

Hosted by Denise James, Alicia Boyce, and Melissa Faraday // produced and edited by Melissa Faraday // content managed by Heather Fallis.

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