Bridge People

The identity of the global nomad/TCK lends itself to the act of bridging: continents, governments, relationships, subcultures,schools of thought, war zones, nationalities. Global nomads straddle the dizzying chasms between different groups their entire lives.
Marie Arana, author of American Chica, a memoir of her life straddling her father's Peruvian family and her mother's Wyoming ranch family, writes beautifully about this tension:

"I love to walk a bridge and feel that split second when I am neither here nor there, when I am between going and coming, when I am God's being in transit, suspended between ground and ground. You could say that it's because I'm an engineer's daughter and curious about solid structures. I've always been fascinated by the fit of a joint, the balance in trestles, the strength of a plinth. Or you could say it's because I'm a musician's daughter, who knows something about the architecture of instruments. I've pulled string over a bridge on a violin, stretched it tight, anticipated sound.
It could be, perhaps, because I am neither engineer nor musician. Because I'm neither gringa nor Latina. Because I 'm not any one thing. I live on bridges; I've earned my place on them, stand comfortably when I'm on one, content with betwixt and between.
I've spent a lifetime contemplating my mother and father, studying their differences. I count both their cultures as my own. But I'm happy to be who I am, strung between identities, shuttling from one to another, switching from brain to brain. I am the product of people who launched from one land to another, who slipped into other skins, lived by other rules-yet never put their cultures behind them..."

Identity

"My upbringing taught me that cultures are not isolated, and perish when deprived of contact with what is different and challenging. Reading,writing,teaching,learning, are all activities aimed at introducing civilizations to each other. No culture, I have believed unconsciously ever since then, and quite consciously today, retains its identity in isolation; IDENTITY IS ATTAINED IN CONTACT, IN CONTRAST, IN BREAKTHROUGH."

Carlos Fuentes

RE-ENTRY

" In our attempt to reach the world, let us not overlook the reentry needs of those whose world has expanded, whose hearts have been broken and burdened, whose minds have been instructed and whose spirits have been set on fire."

Re-entry Guide For Short-Term Mission Leaders
Lisa Espineli-Chin

BOTH / AND MOSAICS

These mosaics were done by MKs at InnerCHANGE conference. They represent the incredible cultural uniqueness of each child (eg.Cambodian/American,Venezuelan/German/American,Guatemalan/Venezuelan). They are a reminder that the formation of a cultural identity is not an EITHER/OR choice but rather a BOTH/AND incorporation of all cultural influences. The end result is a lot like a beautiful mosaic. I cannot wait to see the gorgeous and utterly unique ways in which each of these kids grows into their cultural identity.

Homes Sweet Homes

I just got home from InnerCHANGE conference where I was lucky enough to get to hang out with 15 missionary kids for five days. We did a lot of cool stuff together including spending a part of each day brainstorming what exactly InnerCHANGE kids have in common. We then immortalized our list on a HUGE banner showing each kid's unique collection of "homes". Most kids had at least four places they felt a strong connection to.

So, in their own words, InnerCHANGE kids share these traits:

- We are an order among the poor
- We are RADICAL
- We are scattered
- We are adaptable
- We are like family
- We are united
- We share friendship
- We have a 3D worldview
- We are as tough as nails! (They really are!)

Spending time with these kids reinforced my long held belief that MKs are my favourite people group. :)

Why I Love Missionary Kids....

I just had the incredible privilege of helping some missionary kids prepare for a major move. I had a wonderful time with them (they were amazing kids!) and plenty of opportunity to ruminate over why it is that I am so utterly devoted to missionary kids: :)

- They come from good stock-MKs have parents who are passionate and courageous enough to follow God's call to be sojourners. That trickles down in a major way!

- To get a glimpse through their eyes is to see the shifting shapes and colours of a kaleidoscope. Host culture, passport culture, family, mission/church and school culture all colliding and reconfiguring constantly.

- I am fascinated by their HIDDEN CONTEXT: I love nothing better than to hear their stories, and boy do they have some good ones!

- I am blown away by their potential. The catalyst of an international childhood in a home with a focus on reaching people for Jesus churns out some incredibly intense, focused and skilled people with a passion for changing the world.

- In spite of their remarkable potential, they are frequently voiceless within mission organizations. Often leadership are not interested in them until they are old enough for productivity, missing a vital opportunity to develop, shape and hone people with gifting and skills naturally suited to mission work.

- I love missionary kids because the road they walk is difficult, confusing and lonely at times. They need the support of adults within the mission organization who are available to advocate for them and bear witness to the complexity of their journey.