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Comment on Dissolved- Part 1 by richelle

richelle — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:09:29 +0000

Thanks, ladies, for your kind words – and sorry I’ve not stopped by to reply earlier… joys of W. African electricity and internet sometimes make things we take for granted challenging!

Appreciated hearing tidbits of your experiences, too, Ashley and Phyllis.

Comment on Dissolved- Part II by richelle

richelle — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:06:46 +0000

Thanks, Phyllis. Still learning, not always liking the lessons, but at least seeing God’s hand, even while we’re hanging in limbo.

Comment on Dissolved- Part II by Phyllis

Phyllis — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:02:09 +0000

Again, thank you so much for sharing this. (At least, I think I said that on the first part, too. ) Again, it’s familiar. Our transition from Russia to Ukraine has been very much like what you described. I’m starting to feel like we really are transitioned now. And now we’re praying about moving to another part of Ukraine! I’m trying to actually look forward to another time of transition. What you’ve shared here is very encouraging.

Comment on Tuesday Topic: Missionary Moms with an Empty Nest by Cindie

Cindie — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:11:42 +0000

I’m a missionary grandmother – 3 kids in the States (we’re second career missionaries and our kids were born and raised in the States, they’ve never been ‘on the field’), 2 are married and I have two grandchildren, a boy and a girl. We were home for both of our kids’ weddings, but our grandson was born while we were here. Fortunately, our preemie granddaughter was born while we were home and I was there to help my daughter afterwards, at least a little. It’s not easy in many ways to be so far away. I wish many times that I was much closer and could give out a lot of hugs and kisses and even bake some cookies. But I remind myself that many grandmothers who live in the States only see their kids and grandchildren as often as I do mine. And God is faithful – the times we’ve been home have been quality time with our kids and grandkids, no doubt about it that! Right now I think my biggest ministry to my kids and grandkids is prayer. Some weeks I spend many hours in prayer just for them. In our mission I know of several empty nest/grandmother missionaries – we are out here! Hopefully more will respond.

Comment on Dissolved- Part 1 by Dissolved- Part II «

Dissolved- Part II « — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:46:27 +0000

[...] (Click here to read Dissolved: Part I ) [...]

Comment on Tuesday Topic: Staying up on American culture by Phyllis

Phyllis — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:42:43 +0000

My husband and I were just talking about this! I don’t keep up, and that really slapped me in the face last time we went back. I wish someone could just hand me a list of terms, fads, trends and people that have popped up in the past four years. Oh, and then I could make my own list of international and Eastern European culture to hand out to others, too.

The internet does help. I just had to look up Zumba yesterday. Being on Facebook helps me to know what to look up. I have a lot of trouble when I’m talking to people face-to-face, though. I should have kept a list of the things that baffled me last time, because I can’t remember many of them now. “Do your girls need crocks?” I remember that. (Well, now I know that she said “Crocs,” but that’s what I heard then. And I just answered that I don’t know. End of conversation. )

Here’s another question: how do you handle being so clueless? I think it’s somewhat inevitable, even if we try to prepare specifically. That list I dream about probably doesn’t really exist and wouldn’t be infallible anyway. So, what do you do? Last time I just ended up kind of standing there blankly, while conversations went on around me. My husband says that I should just talk about what I know, and they can talk about what they know, and that’s that. But I find that conversations don’t go very far that way. Any thoughts? Do you constantly ask for explanations?

We’re leaving for our trip to the states in, um, TEN days.

Comment on Tuesday Topic: Staying up on American culture by Ashley L

Ashley L — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:19 +0000

I enjoy staying somewhat up on culture because I feel like it helps me stay close to loved ones and also helps a lot with re-entry on furloughs when I don’t feel like American life has totally passed me by while I’ve been away (though I certainly still have plenty of re-entry stress). I hope that it will help whenever we fully transition back to the US down the road. I also theoretically want to keep my kids connected to American culture (the good parts) because I have heard so many times how hard it is for MKs when they leave the foreign mission field. I would love to help counter at least some of that for my kids, but know that I will in no way come close to keeping them 100% in the know. I haven’t yet given much intentional thought as to how to help them connect with the American culture of their generation though, with the exception of our decision to try to get back to spend time with family in the US about every year and a half. We do normal life stuff there, so hopefully they get to connect with the culture during those times? Another important thing for us is being back for Christmas every so often, since that is such an important part of our family culture. I was curious what others thought about this issue or if you thought about it because I realized that though I find it important, I haven’t really given it too much conscious thought to how to go about staying connected and up on culture.

I think the internet is what most naturally keep me connected to what’s going on in American culture (facebook, blogs, and the news). What an amazing time for us to be missionaries! Can you imagine what re-entry must have been like for the missionaries even 20 years ago? How about 100 years ago?

Comment on Tuesday Topic: Helping kids deal with being foreigners by Becka

Becka — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:10:37 +0000

I tell my children over and over again (and myself to) that we are not citizens of this world and as such, we do not have a “home” here on earth. We have missed several US national holidays. They slipped by without us realizing it. It isn’t a big deal to us. During Awanas (Oansas) recently, I realized my children knew the pledge to the Ecuadorian flag but did not know the one for the US. My oldest who knew the pledge from VBS’ in the US was very concerned about this. We went over our national pledge a few times, but I admit I wasn’t whole hearted about it. I feel guilty that I don’t care more, but at the same time, my children are very grounded in their eternal heritage.

Comment on Tuesday Topic: Staying up on American culture by Becka

Becka — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:45:08 +0000

I don’t think it is important. However, in the same breath, I do stay connected as best I can. I find it entertaining (red faced), like I used to find People Magazine entertaining while sitting at the OBGYN’s office.

If fads come through my news feed (and the often do because it now seems no one knows what real news is) then I read about it. I found out about Silly bandz through an internet news source and asked my home church to collect some for the kids here.

I also read/skim a TON of blogs and have a pinterest account. These things have helped me to stay “caught up”.

Yeh, but, if I didn’t have access, it wouldn’t bother me. I am more more interested in the fact that finally, after 2 and a half years, I can understand when new fads and cultural influences appear on the scene in my new country.

(ps, i don’t know who Justin Bieber is aside from a news flash that he had lost his pants during a concert. I also don’t know who Adele is aside from having won so many awards. I have not heard any songs from either of them)

(PS again: Who writes news articles these days?)

Comment on Tuesday Topic: Staying up on American culture by Kara Coe

Kara Coe — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:06:42 +0000

I consider it fairly important to stay connected… but then I read your list and must say I’ve heard of only three items! And those, I’m really guessing to understand what they are.

My sister and I talk often, and I try to be on facebook occasionally. We also enjoy American tv shows (usually bought through iTunes) and movies. We spend a summer every other year in the States, and this year are doing an ‘extra’ trip for just a month. The goal of all of that is relational connection, so I find out about things that are important to my family and friends. I guess beyond that, I figure there are tons of things we’re missing out on, and that’s just fine.