OMF, like many organizations, has countless acronyms. PHAW is one of ours. It stands for “Pre Home Assignment Workshop.” Since this is my first term, my husband and I have not yet gone on home assignment ourselves.
Growing up, I attended a very missions-focused church. The church supported many missionaries. During their home assignments they would often visit and share about the work God was doing on the field. I always loved hearing their stories and learning about the ministries God had called them to.
At the time, though, I never realized how much preparation went into those presentations. I simply thought, “Wow, missionaries are gifted storytellers.” And while many missionaries are indeed gifted at sharing their experiences, there was also a great deal of intentional preparation behind those talks. For OMF missionaries, that is where PHAW comes in.
PHAW is a two-week training workshop designed to help missionaries prepare practically and emotionally for home assignment. There is a lot involved in returning to your passport country for an extended period of time, whether for a full year or even a few months. There are logistical details to think through, such as housing, furniture, transportation, and scheduling visits with supporting churches and ministry partners. There is also the emotional and cultural transition of leaving one culture and preparing to re-enter another.
Another important aspect of home assignment is preparing talks and presentations for supporters back home—whether to share with a small group of friends or speaking before an entire church. Those presentations may be short or long, but each one is an opportunity to testify to what God has done. One of the most helpful parts of the workshop was taking time to reflect on our first four years in Japan and think through how to share those experiences in a way that is encouraging to others and ultimately gives glory to God.
Since this will be our first home assignment, we are planning to spend a year in our passport country. Preparing to transition into such a long time away can feel overwhelming, but the workshop provided practical tools and helpful resources to guide us through the process. The course itself was intensive, and the two weeks were very full, but it was also incredibly valuable. By the end of PHAW, I felt much more prepared and equipped for our upcoming home assignment.
By an OMF missionary
