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By pwdiane, October 10, 2011

Did you ever have one of those days? You know. The days when nothing excites you, nothing stimulates you, and you feel slightly like day old bread? In the rhythms of life we are bound to have days like that, even if we are mighty women of God, serving the unreached and the needy. Some days just refuse to shine, no matter how much we buff them with prayer and embellish them with praise.

You try everything. You pick up your Bible, either electronically or in the good old fashioned way. You look for a spark- something to ignite the fire you do not feel. Blah. Continue reading 'Blah!'»

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By pwdiane, May 1, 2004

I remember the day I made a great personal discovery. It was 1972, and we were living in Papua New Guinea. I was lying on the bed feeling dead — emotionally, physically, spiritually. And yet half an hour later I was completely free of those symptoms and flew around the house packing boxes and tending to all the details of the next move out to the village.

What had lifted the depression and changed my paralyzed form into an energetic organizer? This is what happened:

Continue reading 'Releasing the Creative Spark'»

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By pwdiane, September 29, 2000

Most of us will experience depression sometime in our lives, but some will experience a deep depression. Being outside our home culture can delay recognizing what is wrong or make getting help difficult. Margaret got us thinking about depression as a topic for Peter’s Wife when she sent an article by Dick Innes called Overcoming Depression.

Depression can be an occupational hazard for PWs. We live outside our home culture without many of the support systems the average woman has. Lacking the feedback of friends and family we can turn a molehill into a mountain or slowly, inch-by-inch, slip into a deep depression.

Continue reading 'Depression'»

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By pwdiane, June 22, 2000

“Only first time travelers experience culture shock.” “It is a disease of the emotionally unstable.” “Culture shock goes away with time.” These are just a few of the misconceptions about a very common problem for those who live outside their home culture.

When capable, independent people are thrust into a situation of almost total dependence, stress is inevitable. Language barriers, cultural differences, climate changes, and the unavailability of familiar goods and services add stress to individuals. Providing adequate education for the children, dealing with domestic help for the first time, and separations from immediate family members cause increased family pressures.

Continue reading 'Culture Shock'»