Ashley asks: Do you have any tips for finding furlough housing in the US? Our family is outgrowing the option of staying with family and it is always challenging to find house-sitting options, especially for the entire time that we're back in the States. Are there websites or any centralized spots that you know of that list missionary housing in various parts of the country? Any there other ways to go about finding housing when none of your sending churches have missionary housing? How long in advance do you usually start looking for such arrangements?
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in our area of the country there are many church owned mission houses, snd many you can stay in even if you aren't one of their missionaries...that's what we did this last summer. I know seminaries sometimes have furnished mission homes (friends are staying in some in the Memphis area.) I would say do some googleing, put it out there on facebook, your blog, your newsletters. It was through facebook that we found our housing. and we started about 6 months ahead of time. But once we found the house and knew it was a great fit for us, we actually got on their schedule for our next furlough in 2015! i can't tell you what a relief it is to have thzt taken care even now:-) oh and obvioulsy, pray:-) God has a perfect place for you to stay....
ReplyDeleteOh, great idea! I didn't realize that some seminaries have missionary housing. I'll have to check into that! And that is good to know that some churches have houses that they are willing to let missionaries live in even if they aren't officially sent out by that church. We haven't looked into that option yet, but I will! We're currently thinking of our 2014 furlough, so sounds like right now might not even be too early to ask. =)
DeleteHi Ladies!
DeleteDoes anyone know of churches in North Texas and the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex that have Missionary Housing?
Liz, I'm glad you've gotten to stay in one of those church mission houses. We've almost come to think that they're a myth! People always tell us about them, but we've never actually found a real one that we could stay in. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe've asked all over and asked our friends to ask and scoured the internet, and we just haven't ever found anything in either of our areas. So, we go for short visits and stay packed in with relatives.
The one time that we had to stay longer (2.5 months), we spent some time at Siloam Missionary Homes in North Carolina, and it was incredible! I know that some families use that as their base and travel from there, so that might be an option for someone reading this. I've heard that D and D Missionary Homes in Florida is similar.
We're planning to stay in one off those missionary houses that or sending church provides for a couple of weeks this spring. Guess they're not as uncommon as I thought!
ReplyDeleteI should add that we are from Seattle. It is one of the most un-churched parts of the country, which I think is why we have found so few options. Anyone know anything about missionary housing in or around Seattle or in the Northwest in general? Thanks! I'll do some more googling too.
ReplyDeleteNorthern California would probably be too far, right? My friend who is always telling me about these mythical houses ;-) stays in one there.
DeleteHello, we are looking for a house for our furlough in 2014 in CA. Any chance you could pass along the info on the house in Northern California. I would be really interested if the house is available. We too are on a house hunt for next year. Thanks
DeleteChrista Camps advertises that Island Lake and Miracle Ranch have cabins available to pastors in the off season, free of charge, I believe. It's in Bremerton, but there is the affordable ferry to Seattle. Perhaps they can direct you to others if they aren't available? Good Luck!
Deletei have a couple of sites we check frequently before home assignments - these are the ones that seem to deal with housing - some include both long and short-term.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.missionaries.org/Deputation_and_Furlough/Accommodations/index.html
and
http://www.missionfinder.org/resources/furlough-housing/
you might find links to additional places from both of these sites as well.
Oh,how great! I will definitely check those sites out. I've never heard of such a thing! Thank you!
DeleteI've checked out online sites too, though it's never worked out to use one. We've done all kinds of things including camping (only for the very bravest, of whom I do not consider myself one). But mostly our churches arrange for our accommodations, except when in our home town, when we stay with my parents.
ReplyDeleteMy parents are in Portland OREGON and would LOVE to host missionaries who are able to pay for their own basic expenses. Of course a small offering would not be unappreciated. ;) They have a small apartment connected to their house. Contact for dates and availability.
If interested, you can contact me at thetuttletribe at gmail and I'll send you their contact info.
I've heard of other things in the immediate Portland area, and might be able to help finding more contacts in that regard if anyone is in need of that.
:)
Hi Amy,
DeleteI see this posting is more than a year old but I am going to try here and also via the gmail listed. My family and I are missionaries located in Eastern Highlands Provence of Papua New Guinea. We are coming back to the US for furlough next March (2015) we are looking to live in the Portland area. Wondering if your parents would be able to even help us as far just for a month or two while we find other accommodation. We have two little boys. Age 3 and 5. You can contact me at e-e.larson@sil.org.pg
Thanks.
http://servantcare.com/Links/RetreatFurl/US/AtoF.php
ReplyDeleteI think there is a huge need. We are from the Midwest, as is our family. But it is hard to find places to stay in that area. My suggestion would be find a house where the family can have some privacy. Missionaries need that when they are back. Its hard to be with people all the time. They need time to rest too!
ReplyDeleteYes there is a huge need in the Midwest! And I agree with Sarah - please buy a house that allows them privacy and where they can come and go as they need to. A nice thing to do is offer to have a meal together on the night they arrive. Then let them be free to use the kitchen as they want and let them know that anytime they want to join you just give you a heads up. (If you enjoy having meal guests). But letting them have the freedom to come and go and cook as needed and have private time is worth a ton. Oh and have wifi in your house for them. They will need it for contacting and arrange many things.
ReplyDeleteHello there! I know this is probably years old but I was wondering if anyone knows of any missionary housing in Southern CA, around LA or Orange County area? Let me know. My email is 139.14images@gmail.com thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a very old post, but I still hope that someone can help you. I don't know of anything myself.
DeleteI manage a missionary resource website and have a pretty extensive listing of furlough housing options for missionaries . . .
Deletehttp://www.missionaryresource.net/housing-usa.html#California
There are several California listings you can look through to see if any of them are near the area you are needing.
I hope this helps!
Hi! I would suggest contacting Providence Missions Homes in Pasadena. I don't know the website but they do have one. They have 2 locations with apartments for missionaries in Pasadena. We have stayed there before. 1 location has 24 apartments. Not sure on the other. Some are 1 bedroom, some 2 and some 3 bedroom, but the 3 bedrooms are almost always booked. The smaller ones are easier to get.
DeleteHi! U can imagine I found this blog because my husband and I are looking for a place to stay. Due to an unexpected but complicated pregnancy we have to extend our time here in the US. We are missionaries in Gabon. We would love to be based out of Charlotte NC cause that's where doctors are following me. Please, if I can have any suggestion about housing, I would be forever grateful.
ReplyDeleteOur family has never been able to find an option right in Charlotte, and we've tried. However, we did love the time that we stayed at Siloam, and it's not too terribly far away:
Deletehttp://www.siloamhomes.org/