Liz Millhouse sings with her friends in Budapest, Hungary, in July 2019. She lived there for four years of high school after living in Romania and Minnesota. “I feel more in touch with my friends from high school,” Millhouse said. | Submitted by Liz Millhouse

‘Friends all over’

Liz Millhouse rides the highs and lows of a missionary family.

By Grace Morningstar, writer

Everyone knows them. They are the only American family in town. Liz Millhouse, 7, holds her parents’ hands as they stroll down the narrow brick street to McDonald’s in Craiova, Romania. It is their family tradition after church on Sunday mornings.

The workers greet them with wide smiles and loud hollers. They invite the family back to the kitchen, weaving between grease-soaked grills and freezers stocked full of beef patties. The employees have them try their newest sandwich creation, as they do every week.

“It’s like family, ya know?” Millhouse said.

Liz Millhouse and her family stand outside their church in Craiova, Romania in 2006. She was born in Bemidji, Minnesota, but moved to Romania shortly after. “[Romanian culture] is so nice and welcoming,” Millhouse said. “We knew all our neighbors, and they would like, bring us treats on holidays.” | Submitted by Liz Millhouse

She grew up a missionary kid. Her father pastored the church that he and his wife planted in Craiova. After 19 years, they passed the church on to a Romanian pastor and moved to Sartell, Minnesota, when Millhouse was 12. It was a transition period, a time for them to figure out what the Lord had in store for them next. After two years in the states, they were called to evangelize in Budapest, Hungary. Yet another new home.

“When you’re a missionary kid, [you] realize that [you] have friends all over. It’s hard because it’s like when I’m here, I miss people there, and when I’m there, I miss people here.”

– Liz Millhouse, missionary kid

“When you’re a missionary kid, [you] realize that [you] have friends all over,” Millhouse said. “It’s hard because it’s like when I’m here, I miss people there, and when I’m there, I miss people here.”

She relies on FaceTime calls and Facebook Messenger to keep in touch with her friends from all the places she calls ‘home.’ Millhouse is now in her third year at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduation is quickly approaching. Only 18 months until Millhouse has a graphic design degree in hand. With parents still in Budapest, a brother in Texas, classmates in Tennessee and friends in Romania and Budapest, Millhouse doesn’t know where she will go.

What she does know is that she’ll find home, just like she has so many times before.