Simple ways to keep family close, even from...

An Ocean Away

by Kristi Johnson

It was a simple journal. It arrived in the mail during our first term as missionaries in Spain. The words inside made it special. It was from my mom and aunt, bought and written during their after-Christmas shopping. They let me share in their day by journaling about their experience.

Yes, they bought wrapping paper half off. They laughed at our tradition of always going somewhere we’ve never been before, which happened to be a hardware store that year.
Most importantly, they made me feel like I was a part of their day.

Over the years, this journal has made more trips back and forth across the ocean than I can count. Its carefully crafted words have sent birthday greetings, the emotional stories of the births of our children (Alejandro and Ana), and sad goodbye notes each time we’ve parted. It has become a treasure for our family.

It was a simple email. Well, thousands of them to be exact. Messages written quickly about our children’s latest antics; notes about a recent field trip at school; details of our beginning days of language school or the church plant here in Alpedrete. Or even some like the ones we received recently, which went something like this:

It’s hard to believe you are headed back to Spain already. It seems like only yesterday we were going to Charlotte to see you at the National...the suppers together, the golf cart rides, the endless cartoons, Friday night sleepovers with pancake and bacon breakfasts, the pitter-patter of feet across the deck…precious memories for a Mimi and Pa who love you all so much.

It was a simple digital photo. It was the first one taken of Alejandro. Our teammates owned the only digital camera on our mission field back then. They graciously came to the hospital to take photos of our tiny newborn and sent them to our parents so they could have a glimpse of their new grandson. That photo was just the beginning of many.

Throughout the years, those same grandparents have received photos of lost teeth, family vacations, first days of school, and every imaginable event between. They’ve watched Alejandro and Ana grow through the years...all from the comfort of their very own computer screens.

It was a simple webcam. But soon it became a lifeline to stay connected with family. We opened Christmas gifts together, talked as we had dinner around the table, and even visited a family wedding by using Skype. Tim’s Dad always says that getting to see his grandchildren “in person” (via Skype) has changed everything for him. There’s just something about a child looking into that camera with a toothless grin or a new haircut that makes it special.

Our progression over the years from a simple hand-written journal (which we still write in regularly) to more modern means of technology like email, digital photos, and Skype have all proven positive ways to keep in touch with family.

God’s call to live far away from home hasn’t stopped us from staying connected with our family in the States. He’s equipped us with these wonderful ways to be able to do both at the same time. Pixels, JPEGs, and megabytes are just fancy words for “memories” in
our book.

Five ways you can stay connected, whether you live far away or right around the corner from your family.

1. Make a commitment to download and send digital photos at least once a week. They don’t have to be big events…eating a favorite dessert, reading a book, or just the latest silly face. 
   

2. Connect with Skype. It’s free, and kids especially love to talk to family members and see them on the screen. 
   

3. If you have smaller children, help them make seasonal crafts for family. If they are older, a hand-written letter is a great way for them to send greetings. There’s something special about seeing a child’s handwriting and reading a letter written in his/her own words.
   

4. Let children call their grandparents on the phone. They can tell knock-knock jokes, sing a favorite song, or tell about what they’re learning at school.

5. Order photos from online sites to be delivered directly to family members. That way they can share them with co-workers and everyone with whom they come in contact. (Grandmothers usually keep a stash of photos in their purses for moments just like these!)

About the Writer: Kristi Johnson and her husband Tim are working with teammates Anthony and Lea Edgmon to plant the first Protestant church in Alpedrete, Spain. Learn more about their church-planting efforts at www.fwbgo.com.