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The Missionary Kid (MK) Experience III

In this series of blogs, we are exploring the experience of third culture kids, particularly children of missionaries or MKs. From the interviews done among MKs, the main emerging themes were: Cultural Confusion Self-esteem Transitions and Adjustments Identity and Belonging Transitions and Adjustments The life of an MK entails frequent transitions. This could be between their country of residence and country of passport, or even from one country to another as their parents relocate mission fields. These transitions represent the beginning of something new and unknown and are challenging at any age. They come with a sense of loss and grief for what you are leaving behind which is old and familiar and can lead to the accumulation of unresolved grief (Rauwerda, 2012). When MKs leave the mission field for good with their parents or for higher studies, they pack up everything they own and say goodbye to the people
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The Missionary Kid Experience II

In our previous blog in this series, we explored the experience of third culture kids or TCKs, particularly children of missionaries. From the interviews done among missionary kids, the main emerging themes were: Cultural Confusion Self-esteem Transitions and Adjustments Identity and Belonging   Self Esteem The identity crisis that TCKS may have with regard to their sense of self can impact their self-esteem. High mobility and cross-cultural development can create a sense of rootlessness in these children. This makes it challenging for them to develop their identity, particularly in adolescence (Pollock, Van Reken, & Gould, 2001). When they cannot identify with a particular culture, they may experience insecurities or face certain setbacks in their development. This difficulty in identity formation can lead to problems of self-esteem and self-worth (Collier & Petty, 2006). Additionally, TCKs can often find themselves being ‘different’ due to their multicultural background. This could set them apart
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The Missionary Kid Experience

Missionary children, or “MKs,” as they are sometimes referred to, grow up in an international, highly intercultural environment. The journey of a missionary kid is distinctive and filled with a variety of unparalleled opportunities, challenges, and experiences. We will examine the lives of these “third culture kids” in this series of blogs, shedding light on their upbringing, unique experiences, struggles, identity, and mental health. Excerpts from interviews with people who grew up on mission fields will be included in these blogs (names have been changed to protect confidentiality) and redacted transcripts of these interviews will be provided with the upcoming blog posts for those who are interested.   Who is a TCK? A Missionary Kid (MK) falls under the category of ‘Third Culture Kid’. This term is used to describe a person who has spent a significant part of their formative years outside their parents’ culture. According to the book
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Our latest podcast episode provides a deep dive into clergy well-being, focusing on the impact of conflict within churches, the loneliness experienced in ministry, and the challenges in ministry formation. These issues are explored with our esteemed guest, Professor Donald, whose extensive research and insightful observations provide a new perspective on these crucial topics. A key focus of the episode is the delicate balance between work engagement and the risk of interpersonal conflict in religious settings. Unresolved disputes within the church can lead to toxic levels of discord, which have significant repercussions on clergy well-being. Professor Donald provides valuable advice on how to foster an environment of peace, respect, and productivity. The episode also turns the spotlight onto an often-overlooked issue – the loneliness of ministry. Clergy couples face unique challenges when it comes to finding friends, leading to emotional exhaustion. The importance of relationships and activities outside the church
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