Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 2
Randall says he and his family “feel at home” in Lesvos and didn’t go for scenery even though it’s beautiful; what does it look like to receive a place and people as “home” without romanticizing suffering or using mission work for personal fulfillment?
Another way to ask: What does it mean to call a place and its people “home” without making their suffering seem beautiful or using mission work to make yourself feel good?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests that receiving Lesvos as “home” means committing to real people and real work over time—enjoying the beauty as a “bonus” while staying clear that the purpose is service. It looks like humble, steady responsibility (administration, logistics, program support) alongside relationship-building, rather than chasing an exciting “mission experience.”
- Randall says Lesvos is “basically home at this point… we feel at home there,” after “about two and a half years.”
- He clarifies motives: “We didn’t go to Greece to… enjoy the scenery… but it is a bonus.”
- He describes ordinary, sometimes hidden work: “accounting… finances… office work… maintenance… logistical stuff… program management.”
- He frames their call as personal and providential: they “felt called… through several events,” and Dean Taylor was “instrumental.”
- He emphasizes the seriousness: “It is a very intense place to work.”
- He notes how relationships change you: “once you get there… you start to know people… it pulls your heart.”