Transitioning from a cross-cultural assignment is a process that takes time and is best achieved with the support of trained, and experienced personnel. No need to undertake this journey alone. Let us help connect you with others who can walk alongside you, providing safety and nurturing along the way.

 

MORE NETWORK BLOG

Thank you for visiting us! Please find our latest blog right below and the rest of them at the bottom of the page, organized chronologically. Enjoy!

 

ByDiane Fietje on Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Loving and Supporting MKs: One Church's Story

Diane Fietje By Diane Fietje on Wednesday, November 24, 2021

 

Every Friday morning at 8 am EST during the first few months of Covid, Steve, the Mission Pastor from our church, invited the children of our missionaries together to have some fun over Zoom for an hour. Since these kids were located around the world in 4 different time zones, 8 o’clock seemed to be the best time to meet.

It took creativity.

This was no easy feat. Ages ranged from 5 to 15, kids had different needs, different quarantine measures, different support structures in place and different schedules. (Some were busy homeschooling and did not have much free time while others were stuck in their apartments with not much to do and not much community.)

It gave the MKs (Missionary Kids) value and showed care.

As a parent I am very grateful. It meant a lot to our daughters that they were worth the time for their pastor to meet with them. As one of the missionary parents told me, “The time Steve spent with the kids clearly communicated that the girls’ wellbeing was important to him and for him to carve time from his schedule to engage with them was very special to the girls.”

It gave the MKs something to look forward to.

This was not something we had to drag our kids out of bed for, rather a time they looked forward to each week. Another parent said, “The girls thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave them something to look forward to and gave them an opportunity to do something fun and creative within our new home, which we found helped with noticing new things in the culture.”

It gave the MKs a challenge, fun and lots of laughs.

Each week the kids were given a challenge to prepare for the next time that they met. These were some of the activities:

  • Building something using toothpicks
  • International hats (and guessing which country the hats were from)
  • A 'scaredad' contest (instead of scarecrow) – Dressing up something to look like their dad
  • Guess the riddle – Some of the church staff told the kids a riddle they needed to solve. This was a great way to be introduced to the staff who pray for them.
  • They also played lots of Kahoot where a friendly ongoing competition carried on between our girls and their cousins, also missionary kids.

It gave encouragement to MKs and parents.

Both children and parents were encouraged. Parents are encouraged when their children are cared for and invested in. At the end of each time, the kids were given an opportunity to share any prayer requests and then were prayed for.

Loving & Encouraging MKs

What are some ways you could love and encourage the MKs you know?

The MORE Network facilitates quarterly Church Mission Leaders Network meetings for mission pastors and mission chairs to discuss relevant topics and provide mutual encouragement. Some of the great ideas shared include how to best care for MKs and missionaries.

If you are a church mission leader, please contact us for more information: contact@outreach.ca


Diane Fietje serves with the MORE Network as a part-time administrator and full-time MK champion. Along with her husband Mike and their children, they spent 20 years in Peru with a mission organization serving children at risk. Having experienced transition back to Canada, first Mike after growing up as a missionary kid in SE Asia, and then as a whole family returning from Peru, they know how hard it can be to readjust to life in North America and are delighted to be able to help others in similar circumstances.

 



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Did you miss our past blogs? Check them out below!

 

Wilderness ReBoot: Solitude, Community & Mission

Ben shares about how his love for the wilderness first started, and gives insight into what adult MKs (Missionary Kids) can expect at Wilderness ReBoot. 

Read more...

The Busyness of an MK (Missionary Kid)

I love airports.

The hustle and bustle. People of every nationality streaming past me. The endless possibilities of flights to every corner of the world.

As an adult now, I can admit that in trying to get my family from one country to another, an airport can be a stressful place; endless lines, tight timelines, lost luggage, too much opportunity for things to go wrong.

But, as a Third-Culture Kid (TCK), and specifically a Missionary Kid (MK), the airport glitters like a yellow-brick road into the unknown, and it excites me, especially that hustle and bustle, that busyness of international travel.

Airports are synonymous with the word “busy”. This word, busy, seems also to be the first word used by people to describe life where I now live, Southwestern Ontario. If you have a casual conversation with just about anyone older than 20, they describe life as busy. Life is busy ... but why? I can’t speak about your particular situation, but I can tell you about my situation: there are just so many things to do. Good things. Important things. 

How do you figure out what God is specifically calling you to do when there are so many ‘good’ things that need someone to do them?

Read more...

Adult Third Culture Kid Research

One of the main reasons I decided to pursue doctoral studies was to conduct research. Not just any research, but "Adult Third Culture Kid" (ATCK) research. For many years, I worked with children, teens, and adults from various mission agencies, preparing them for international ministry and helping them transition back to Canada.

As I listened to their stories of joy and heartbreak, accomplishments and struggles, I realized that there is so much more that we, as caregivers and organizations, can learn from these international workers and their families to contribute to their transition and healing. In particular, we need to find new ways to help them help themselves, long after the end of the transition retreats and workshops we offer.

The question I am exploring for my research is “How can spiritual self-leadership encourage identity development and sense of belonging in ATCKs in order for them to fully realize their potential and value contribution in the workplace?”

Read more...

6 Gospel Truths for TCKs

Ethan, an adult Missionary Kid, shares 6 gospel truths for Missionary Kids & Third Culture Kids ...

"While there are many positive things about growing up as Missionary Kids, we face unique challenges and personal needs that sometime seem impossible to meet. Yet there is someone who promises to be able to meet those needs in a meaningful way, Jesus. The good news of Jesus is He can meet every need of our heart arising from growing up cross-culturally."

 

Read more...

Behind the Scenes (at MORE Network)

 A behind the scenes look at God's faithfulness in the MORE Network and an invitation to pray with us!

Read more...

Serving Leaders: Replacing Ourselves

How do we serve leaders? By thinking about how to replace them! Okay, maybe some of you will think this is a bad idea...

Read more...

Changing the Oil on your Cross-Cultural Worker

How do we care for our Cross-Cultural Ministry Workers? Using car maintenance as an analogy, Mark unpacks three ways the church can support & care for Cross-Cultural Ministry Workers.

 

Read more...

The Joy of Transitions

God calls us to follow Him in obedience. Almost always it means change. Leaving our comfort zone, we move into unknown territory, feeling anxious, fearful, and sometimes terrified. Yet we can journey through transitions with confidence, fearlessly, and with anticipation. What does transitioning God's way look like? 

Read more...

Christmas Memories from Around the World

Watermelon, Handprints and Fireworks ... What do they all have in common? They are all elements of favourite Christmas memories and traditions from our MORE staff, from around the world! 

Read more...

Wilderness ReBoot: Solitude, Community & Mission
Ben shares about how his love for the wilderness first started, and gives insight into what adult MKs (Missionary Kids) can expect at Wilderness ReBoot. 
Read more...
The Busyness of an MK (Missionary Kid)
I love airports. The hustle and bustle. People of every nationality streaming past me. The endless possibilities of flights to every corner of the world. As an adult now, I can admit that in trying to get my f...
Read more...
Adult Third Culture Kid Research
One of the main reasons I decided to pursue doctoral studies was to conduct research. Not just any research, but "Adult Third Culture Kid" (ATCK) research. For many years, I worked with children, teens, and adults from ...
Read more...
6 Gospel Truths for TCKs
Ethan, an adult Missionary Kid, shares 6 gospel truths for Missionary Kids & Third Culture Kids ... "While there are many positive things about growing up as Missionary Kids, we face unique challenges and personal ...
Read more...
Behind the Scenes (at MORE Network)
 A behind the scenes look at God's faithfulness in the MORE Network and an invitation to pray with us!
Read more...
Serving Leaders: Replacing Ourselves
How do we serve leaders? By thinking about how to replace them! Okay, maybe some of you will think this is a bad idea...
Read more...
Changing the Oil on your Cross-Cultural Worker
How do we care for our Cross-Cultural Ministry Workers? Using car maintenance as an analogy, Mark unpacks three ways the church can support & care for Cross-Cultural Ministry Workers.  
Read more...
The Joy of Transitions
God calls us to follow Him in obedience. Almost always it means change. Leaving our comfort zone, we move into unknown territory, feeling anxious, fearful, and sometimes terrified. Yet we can journey through transitions...
Read more...
Christmas Memories from Around the World
Watermelon, Handprints and Fireworks ... What do they all have in common? They are all elements of favourite Christmas memories and traditions from our MORE staff, from around the world! 
Read more...
Loving and Supporting MKs: One Church's Story
What are some ways you could love and encourage the MKs you know? Here's a story of how one church practically loved and supported MKs!
Read more...