Where are you from?

When you meet people for the first time you are almost always asked where you are from. This is a difficult question to answer when you are a missionary. It seems we always pause and have to think how to answer for some reason. We usually answer with something like, " we grew up in NC but are now living in Zambia as missionaries." Sometimes you know that as soon as you answer this question you will for sure be talking to that person for the next 15 min. or so about where Zambia is, our life overseas, and what we do. This happens all the time but one example happened while we were in the states recently. It so happened that I was on an elevator at a beach condo when someone asked me where I was from. We were staying on the 16th floor so we began talking all the way up and we just happened to be getting off on the same floor so we continued talking in the hallway for about 15 min. I guess this is ok as long as you are not in a hurry anywhere. It's funny because our children will always answer that they are from Zambia. They often get funny looks because of course they don't look african. This is home to our children because it is where they have grown up pretty much. Zach was 5 and Justin was 2 when we first came to Zambia. Then when Hannah was born, we came back with her at 3 months. It's kind of sad to me that the kids don't think of America as home but at the same time I'm so thankful that they love where we live, love the people, and what we do. I guess home is where ever we are living as a family. Whether that is in Chongwe, Zambia, out in a tent during 40/40, or in NC during furloughs. I know that one day those who are in Christ will make their home in Heaven. Then it won't matter where we come from.