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.

Harken, Fellow Chameleons....

I have been talking to a lot of fellow TCKs in their mid twenties and early thirties about the flip side of their spooky ability to adapt in any situation. I came across an anonymous quote in the excellent anthology, Strangers At Home, by Carolyn Smith, that nicely sums up what I have been hearing:

"The one thing I haven't really conquered has to do with the downsides of the ability to adapt. I became aware that I was too good at adapting, that I could fit into any crowd very quickly and effectively, no matter what kind of a group it was. Privately I would hold back and have a lot of private judgements about it...and after a while I began to realize that this was dishonest. For example, in a professional setting, rather than challenge, I became very skillful at figuring out how to advance my agenda using language and concepts they would respond to. To some extent that's a good thing to know. But after a certain point it becomes manipulative...I've stated it at its most extreme. But I began to be aware at some point in late twenties that I needed to be careful. I was too good at it."

What do you all think? Can you relate? What do you think drives this behaviour? Wanna talk about it? :):)

On Mobility....

"Like nomads we moved with the seasons....As with the seasons, each move offered something to look forward to while something had to be given up...We learned early that 'Home' was an ambiguous concept, and, wherever we lived, some essential part of our lives was always someplace else. So we were always of two minds. We learned to be happy and sad at the same time. We learned to be independent and accept that things were out of our control...We had security and consolation that whenever we left one place we were returning to another, already familiar one."

Paul Seaman

Storm Center

"Children are the storm center in the battle between the forces of God and those of the evil one."

Shiferaw Michael

Practical Implications for Engaging Children in the Great Commission

- Children are an essential part of God's mission in that they represent one of the largest missiological segments in today's world.

- Not only are children a key missiological people group, children are key actors in implementing the Great Commission.

- By employing the "Joseph principle" (Child as an agent of God's provision), mission agencies can educate, disciple, and mobilize children so that children can become the agents of social transformation for their families and their communities.

- The "Samuel principle" (Child as prophet) calls for mission agencies to intentionally evangelize and involve children as bearers of the good news of salvation.

- While armies and political systems have manipulated children and youth to become innocent casualties of the wars which those systems support, ministries understand the value that spirit-filled children and youth have in leading their communities to justice, righteousness, and liberation.

- Children and youth are some of the most valuable resources in the community. Because of their energy, boldness, creativity, and ingenuity, children have the capacity to mobilize immeasurable resources for the holistic transformation of their communities.

-Children are the epitome of the kingdom incarnated by the Messiah. Christ came as a child and grew into the Rabbi of Nazareth so that people of all ages could experience and carry the redeeming mission of our loving father.

- Finally, children should be considered as partners in mission. When filled by the Spirit of God , children can and will discuss with "experienced" ministers the matters of the kingdom. They, too, will respond to us, " Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be here dealing with the things of my Father?"

Understanding God's Heart for Children- Toward a Biblical Framework
Children and God's Mission- Gustavo Crocker with Karissa Glanville

Interesting.....

Laila Plamondon, a TCK and student at Smith College, recently did a study of 309 TCKs looking to answer the question: What factors predict mental health in TCKs after repatriation? She measured general mental health, reacculturation and identity formation in all 309 participants and found that:

1- Suprisingly, the number of assignments abroad and the number of years spent abroad had NO EFFECT on successful reacculturaltion, a sense of adult identity, a sense of communal identity or mental health!

2- However, the more times a TCK repatriates (that is, re-enters their passport culture)the more difficult it is to solidify an adult identity and achieve a communal identity.

3- Bad experiences in the host country make reacculturation to the passport country more difficult.

* The average age of the participants was 20.89. It would be very interesting to reassess them in 5 years or so.

CHALLENGES

Most TCK/MKs are able to maximise the benefits of their upbringing to dazzling effect. There are, however, certain challenges unique to the culture that can at times short-circuit healthy development. Whether you are an adult TCK or a parent to one it can be helpful to understand some of the ways in which TCKs can struggle.

UNRESOLVED GRIEF- Obviously TCKs do not have a corner on grief, however, there are aspects of the experience that can result in unresolved grief that is potentially damaging. Here are a few characteristics of losses TCKs experience that can result in unresolved grief:

- losses are MULTIPLE and SIMULTANEOUS- much MK loss occurs repeatedly and all at the same time. For example, with one plane ride an entire culture and community of friends is lost along with smells, foods, flora and fauna and language.

- losses are HIDDEN- and often experienced as the flip side of wonderful experiences. It is difficult to grieve when no one else appears to be and when you can't put your finger on what exactly it is that you have lost. For example, hidden losses of TCKs could include: a loss of status in their host or passport country, loss of an entire lifestyle, loss of culturally appropriate role models and mentors, loss of a past that wasn't, loss of a system identity such as a mission org or the military, repeated loss of control over environment.

- TCK loss has the potential to be UNACKNOWLEDGED and UNRESOLVED- when losses are hidden it is difficult to name them. Missionary kids especially can feel that they are unable to give voice to their hurts because often their grief is compared to a higher good and (unintentionally) discounted as a part of the "call" on their lives. This may be true (or not) but it is not comforting to a child's heart.

-TCK loss is often EXPERIENCED ALONE. All grief can be isolating but the combination of loss occurring in developmental years and as part of a family system that brings benefits as well as pain means that very often the TCK opts to experience his/her pain alone. Due to the isolation of the family unit the TCK has very few options to seek out for comfort. If the family is not functioning well the child grieves alone.

-Another commonly experienced source of unresolved grief is the weight of continued EXPOSURE TO PAIN and SUFFERING. Many MKs accompany their parents to difficult places. They see frightening and disturbing things. Their ability to assimilate the things that they see and sometimes experience personally depends on many factors. This sort of grief is widespread among missionary kids especially.

IDENTITY ISSUES- The formation of the core identity of a TCK is a complicated process. The TCK must synthesize two, three and sometimes more distinct cultural frames of reference. This takes a while! It takes longer to discover who you are and especially where you fit. When relationships have not been stable and long term it is difficult to see any cohesive reflection of yourself anywhere: culturally or in any sense. Identity is all about belonging to a tribe. When you don't know who your tribe is it is very bewildering. This can play out in many different ways:

UNEVEN MATURITY: TCKs can appear to be mature beyond their years and in many ways they are. They have often experienced more autonomy of movement than their monocultural peers, they often can communicate fluently in several languages, they can relate well to adults, they have been exposed to so much of the world that their knowledge base is very broad. On the other hand, TCKs can be extremely socially awkward in certain situations, especially in their passport culture. They also seem to need to maintain very close ties with their nuclear family for longer than seems "normal" to a monocultural. This can all be very bewildering to everyone involved. It can feel like dissonance to see a person who is so confident in some areas and so insecure in others. TCKs have a distinctly different developmental timeline than monoculturals!

DELAYED ADOLESCENCE: TCK adolescence seems to occur in the mid to late twenties and sometimes even later. This delay occurs for several reasons. The TCK has no single culture to push against during the teen years like the mono cultural does. Cultural rules are fluid and relative to the moment and are difficult to internalize and then differentiate from. In some TCKs this delay occurs because there has been such cultural compliance in the host country. It was simply impossible to push back in any way due to safety concerns or a deeply held desire to maintain credibility in the community or sponsoring organisation. Frequently this delayed adolescence can be a time where the TCK rebels. It is especially scary to witness a delayed adolescent rebellion because the stakes are so much higher when a rebellion occurs in the twenties as opposed to the teen years.

ITCHY FEET(Migratory Instinct): When there has been a lot of mobility in a child's life a migratory instinct can develop. Many TCKs feel a strong desire to move according to the pattern that they moved when they were young. Some TCKs will completely start over many, many times. Obviously there are benefits to this flexibility. When patterns of mobility effect intimate relationships or result in NO intimate relationships there is a problem. In extreme situations TCKs can use mobility (even excessive travel) to keep intimate relationships at bay.

RE-ENTRY: For many TCKs re-entry to the passport can be difficult and can trigger many of the above behaviours. The TCK often enters the passport country as a HIDDEN IMMIGRANT, one who looks like he belongs but has very little of the shared cultural experience of the passport nation. Depending on the age and personal wiring of the TCK this experience of marginality can be rough, especially when it is unexpected.

Some of the perks....

There are two basic overlays to the life of the TCK/MK: MOBILITY and EARLY CROSS-CULTURAL EXPOSURE. It is through this matrix that MK development occurs. The effects of these two themes result in a distinct culture in spite of the diversity of experience represented by this group. A child raised by English business people in Dubai will have more in common culturally with a child raised by American missionaries to Singapore than either will with monocultural members of their passport culture(including their parents!).

In brief, some of the amazing perks of this upbringing are seen in who the TCK/MK grows up to be:

-Adaptable: These people are adaptable and generally at home with change. Many in this group seek out change as a way of life and feel most alive and “in the zone” in the adaptive state. They often relish the role of the pioneer and trailblazer. In fact, most MKs characterize adaptability as a core strength and an important and valued (and often hard won) aspect of their identity.

-Cross-culturally Savvy: Cross- cultural immersion at an early age usually results in heightened cultural sensitivity. MKs are often gifted interpreters of culture and are utilized as “bridge” people frequently in their professions. MKs can have an intuitive grasp of correct behavior in cultures they have encountered even infrequently. They are gifted observers and enter a new culture with their eyes, not their mouths! Their high comfort level even within a culture that is new to them means that often they are culturally adventurous and tolerant.

- Relational: MKs are generally very relational people. They place a high value on relationships and are gifted in their ability to maximize relationships and maintain them over geographical distances. Due to their exposure to so many kinds of people at a very young age they are often very broadly relationally competent and can find ways to relate to almost anyone. This early exposure also results in relational tolerance and acceptance and appreciation of all kinds of people.

-Compassionate: Most MKs have experienced life as a marginal minority. They have also grown up in families where ministry is the central focus. As a result they are very aware of the underdog and are drawn to advocacy and ministry that is focused on those who have no voice. In fact, over half of the TCK population seeks employment within the non-profit sector. This orientation outwards to the needs of the marginalized is a hallmark of the culture.

-Highly Motivated: This is a group of self-starters. For the most part MKs are highly motivated and productive people. They are generally fast-paced, independent and resourceful.

Norma McCaig summarizes these benefits well:

"The benefits of this upbringing need to be underscored: In an era when global vision is an imperative, when skills in intercultural communication, linguistic ability, mediation, diplomacy, and the management of diversity are critical, global nomads are better equipped in these areas by the age of eighteen than are many adults...These intercultural and linguistic skills are the markings of the cultural chameleon- the young participant observer who takes note of verbal and non-verbal cues and readjusts accordingly, taking on enough of the coloration of the social surroundings to gain acceptance while maintaining some vestige of identity as a different animal, an 'other.'"