This month I want to share something very personal, but I hope you will see things in my story that touch your heart. While on a two month home visit, we flew to Oklahoma City to spend a week with my dad, step-mom, and extended family. On the weekend we had a family reunion. We gathered at two log cabins near a beautiful lake. It was a four hour drive for the closest ones, and flights from as far away as Arizona and Virginia for others. Family gatherings are sometimes bittersweet, like a chocolate bar. For all the sweetness, there’s always a few nuts; in all the sweetness just a tinge of the bitter as well.
Actually no reunion was planned for this year. But after my Dad had a small heart attack (if any heart attack can be called small) in August, plans were quickly made for this reunion.
Although Dad was dealing with dizzy spells, he thoroughly enjoyed seeing his children, grand-children and great-grand-children together. The almost constant smile on his face was worth all the work, travel, and expense involved.
Everyone needs to feel they belong. As we all know, moving from our home culture and living in another can make it hard for our kids to know where home is. It takes some planning and effort to give our Third Culture Kids(TCKs) a sense of belonging. If you are raising your kids on the field now, these tips will be especially helpful. If you have friends raising TCKs, you can be ready to lend a hand in helping them grow strong roots in a foreign land.
Our article this month was written by Ruth Van Reken. Ruth shares from her own experience as a second generation MK and as a mother to three MKs. Her writing on this subject was included in Global Mission Handbook by Steve Hoke and Bill Taylor. Continue reading 'Strong Roots in Foreign Soil'»
Dorothy said she married a young, enthusiastic man in her hometown. They were surrounded by friends, family, and other believers. She was sheltered and secure. Bill began a successful career as a minister. First with several hundred then later with a 2,000 member congregation. After their first son was born, she became lonely as she saw less and less of Bill.
Dorothy tells her story:
I felt as if I had to make an appointment to see my own husband. I was discouraged and frustrated. Home was not home without Bill. I desperately wanted time with him, unpressured time that was not cut short by the demands his work. I wanted to know that my needs, and the baby’s, were at least as important to Bill as the needs of others. Most of the time, it didn’t seem that way.
Continue reading 'Loneliness'»
There were so many great responses to the last newsletter about change. It would be wonderful to be able to include all of what everyone wrote, but then this email would be way too long!
For this newsletter, we will excerpt from the letters those parts that seem to apply to a large audience. But when you have time or want to see comments on specific aspects of change, go to our website. You’ll find the link at the end of this newsletter. Continue reading 'More on Change'»
I was reminded this week of the value of encouragement. I spoke to over 300 people about Learning Disabilities. My husband commented that the number was way above my comfort zone, and it was. But I knew I had something valuable to say and felt it was a great opportunity to be an advocate for children who cannot explain their problem is or tell how to help them. God has done so much in my life and much of it came through the loving encouragement of my husband and family. I wrote the following article in the late ‘80s. It’s as true today as it was then. I hope it blesses you.
Continue reading 'The Power of Encouragement'»
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