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 Monday, July 4, 2022

Behind the Scenes (at MORE Network)

Diane Fietje By Diane Fietje on Monday, July 4, 2022

 

God really keeps us on our toes! With grateful hearts we recognize that God keeps us aware of our need for Him and that what we are doing in MORE is never about us, we are just instruments of His to carry out His purposes for His glory.

This reflects one of our four core values at MORE Network: Global Prayer. It is our “privilege to join in His mission” therefore we seek “wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit in both our day-to-day decisions and planning for our future” and, as well, we “ensure that prayer permeates all that we do – it is not an afterthought.”

As we prepared for 2022 and running our 4 programs (Wilderness ReBoot, RE-VIEW, Classic ReBoot Alberta & Ontario) there were many challenges.

So, we prayed.

When I say “we" I mean our MORE staff, our Outreach Canada staff, and our valued prayer supporters!

In our praying we waited upon the Lord, sometimes in trepidation to be honest, but most of the time expectantly, trusting Him to answer in His time and way. Acknowledging this is God’s ministry, we trusted Him to go before us and overcome the challenges we faced. God is faithful and has shown Himself to be faithful in the past, both in our own lives and in MORE.

In-Person

Following Covid protocols in 2020/21 meant that we had been unable to hold MORE Network programs in person. Although we held them online in 2021, we sensed the need for in-person events, especially for Wilderness and Classic ReBoots. So, we prayed.

Things opened up and, praise the Lord, this summer we will be holding Wilderness ReBoot, Classic ReBoot ON and AB and RE-VIEW in person!

Staff Needs & Participants

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and Cross-Cultural Workers (CCWs) began to sign up. But we only had one ReBoot Director in place (of the many needed). So, we prayed. More participants signed up and still no directors. So, we prayed and kept praying.

The Lord provided leaders for RE-VIEW!

Co-Directors and staff were still needed for Classic ReBoot and debriefers were needed for RE-VIEW, so we prayed. Programs began to fill. We continued praying and the Lord provided those directors, staff and debriefers.

We have prayed and God has answered!

God has provided the leaders, venues, and participants!

Continuing to Pray

Now we continue praying, trusting, and waiting expectantly for how He will work to transform hearts, begin healing and make Himself known to each participant as He meets them where they are at in their transition journey.

This week I have heard one of our teammates remind us in prayer that, “Unless the Lord builds the house (our programs) those who build it (us) labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1a

Only by abiding in Christ will there be fruit in our lives. Apart from Him we can do nothing! At MORE we believe this. We believe it is the Holy Spirit who works in us and in each staff and participant to transform us into His likeness.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” 2 Cor. 3:18

We pray for:

  • consecration, that we would be holy; everything we look at, our words, our thoughts would come under the Lord’s authority for His glory.
  • relationships on each team
  • transformation of staff and participants
  • health for all coming to the programs and throughout.
  • healing, hope, renewal

Would you join us this summer to pray for our summer programs? Please sign up for daily prayer updates for one, multiple or all programs.

To join us at our MORE monthly prayer meeting please contact more@outreach.ca 

MORE Summer Programs 2022

July 2-8: Wilderness ReBoot

July 15-22: Classic ReBoot Alberta

August 6-13: Classic ReBoot Ontario

August 7-12: RE-VIEW West


Diane Fietje serves with the MORE Network as a part-time administrator and full-time MK champion. Diane, along with her husband Mike and their children, 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!

 

Ministry at the Speed of Relationships

Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values; and beliefs are so different to ours, and don’t translate well. Living next to, and working with other nationalities, requires relationship.

Jesus taught us that building relationships is the greatest and most important thing we do - no strings attached.

So, how do we build Christ-honoring relationships in our life & ministry? In this article, Paul draws on wisdom from the Bible, underscoring the importance of humility, forgiveness, trust, and genuine care in developing deep and meaningful relationships. And he challenges us, first and foremost, to approach ministry (and life) at the "speed of relationships!"

Read more...

The Bittersweet of Travelling as an Adult TCK

Over the last year, I took more flights than I ever have within a single year. I’ve had more time to be in these liminal spaces than ever before. As an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid), this has invited me to reflect more deeply on why I am where I am in the world, and how that continues to shape my identity. In these spaces I momentarily re-enter into the journey of transition and grief.

In this article, Malik shares about his recent travels, and offers advice on how to process complex feelings while traveling and staying connected to multiple cultures.

 

Read more...

Risk-taking in the Canadian Wilderness

What first came to mind when I was invited to the “Canadian wilderness” to help lead a Wilderness Camp for adult third culture kids (ATCKs) this past July was the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  

All spring I relished these thoughts: an adventure of “humans against the elements” with a group of young adult TCKs and ATCK co-leaders who “got it.” Overcoming challenges together is a great way to bond quickly, and with other ATCKs, I knew those bonds could form quickly in the right setting. Having grown up in the mountains of Vermont and in the highlands of Kenya, hiking, camping, paddling, and climbing in wild places is revitalizing to me. 

We were headed into all the key elements of adventure: horseback riding, rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking in the mountains where elk, moose, and grizzly bears roamed, living in tents that had just been resurrected after a literal crushing storm. In between, we would split wood and help with cooking, and immerse ourselves in outdoor life—axe throwing and bonfires, outhouses (let’s be real) and camp cooking, fast changing weather, and the sweetest air you could imagine. For me, that kind of life isn’t about a contest so much as it is about finding harmony with elements that can give wonderful gifts and can also kill you. Risk in its essence...

Read more...

Wilderness ReBoot: What to Expect

Designed for adult MKs (Missionary Kids) seeking a deep encounter with God amidst the beauty of the Canadian back country wilderness, Wilderness ReBoot is a co-ed retreat for MKs (Missionary Kids) ages 21-35 willing to be challenged physically and spiritually, while deepening their relationship with God by seeking His direction in their lives. 

Benjamin Reed, the Program Director for Wilderness ReBoot shares the purpose behind the retreat and a behind-the-scenes look at what you can expect. 

Read more...

Updates & Reflections from My Trip to India

Paul shares stories, updates and reflections from his recent trip to India. God is at work!

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 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...

Ministry at the Speed of Relationships
Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values...
Read more...
The Bittersweet of Travelling as an Adult TCK
Over the last year, I took more flights than I ever have within a single year. I’ve had more time to be in these liminal spaces than ever before. As an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid), this has invited me to reflect more ...
Read more...
Risk-taking in the Canadian Wilderness
What first came to mind when I was invited to the “Canadian wilderness” to help lead a Wilderness Camp for adult third culture kids (ATCKs) this past July was the book  Hatchet  by Gary Paulsen.   All spring I reli...
Read more...
Wilderness ReBoot: What to Expect
Designed for adult MKs (Missionary Kids) seeking a deep encounter with God amidst the beauty of the Canadian back country wilderness, Wilderness ReBoot is a co-ed retreat for MKs (Missionary Kids) ages 21-35 willing to ...
Read more...
Updates & Reflections from My Trip to India
Paul shares stories, updates and reflections from his recent trip to India. God is at work!
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...