How to resource new member care workers
The author gave access to the books listed below to any new member care worker joining the member care team as resources for them to consult as needed. Books that proved most helpful were those about general member care, risk, spirituality, abuse and pastoral theology. Other books recommended for them to read are those books…
How to resource cross-cultural workers
The author purchased the books listed below and took them with her when visiting cross-cultural workers during ‘home’ leave. Then the cross-cultural workers could borrow those that were most appropriate for them. Books that were most often helpful were those about re-entry, burnout, resilience, marriage, intercultural marriage, singleness in mission, spiritual health, anxiety, stress, third-culture…
How to resource TCK’s (and their parents)
The author purchased the children’s books listed below (pre-school, primary school and teens) and took them with her when visiting families during ‘home’ leave. Then children and parents could borrow those that were most appropriate. Books that were most often helpful were stories about children moving, living in two worlds, friendship, difference, feelings, anxiety, change,…
Debriefing
“How do I debrief Fiona? I have no idea where to start!” Jane* exclaims. Fiona, a cross-cultural worker, has just arrived back from Albania* where she had a very challenging assignment, and is due to have her personal debriefing. Jane just started working as a member care worker for Fiona’s sending organisation and is speaking…
Filial payments
“Will my allowance be enough for me to send my mother a cash payment each month?” George* asks Liz*, his member care worker. Although Singapore is his passport country, George has studied, lived and worked in Australia for 15 years. George’s mother lives in Singapore* along with all his aunties, uncles and cousins. He has been…
Leaving Well
“How do we help our children leave well? How do we finish up well ourselves?”, Tom* asks Liz*, their member care worker. Tom, Nadia* and their two children will soon be leaving Chile* to return ‘home’ to Brisbane, after 11 years serving as church planters. What would you say or do? Liz, who has…
Culture shock – it’s real!
“At the beginning of our time in Dhaka, our senses were assaulted – taxi drivers vying for our custom, gangs of dogs, monkeys, dust, smog, waking to the sounds of hacking and spitting early in the morning from those living above us. Smells, both wonderful (spicy food and woodsmoke) and the unpleasant (sewerage and rubbish…
Uncomfortable
“How do we sit with people who are living with extended uncertainty? Many cross-cultural workers are suffering at the moment. I’m finding it really hard”, said Rose*, a member care worker. Her face twisted as she said this to her member care support group. Liz*, another member care worker, asked, “What do we say to…
Betwixt and Between
‘I can’t plan due to all the uncertainty! I don’t know if and when we can return to Peru’, exclaimed Simone*, who is talking to Liz*, her member care worker. Simone, her husband and their four children, have been back in Australia for over a year and were due for return to Peru months ago.…
Dried up?
Marion* felt all dried up! “Has God abandoned me? I feel like God is very far away or maybe not even there at all? I still go to church but it’s hard and I feel guilty about my lack of faith. When I go to mission conferences, all the other ex-cross-cultural workers seem so…
Listening well?
“How can I listen better?”, asks Mandy*. Mandy, a Member Carer Worker, then goes on to recounts a few examples of pastoral encounters that had been less than ideal, to her supervisor, Heather*. “I listened for over an hour to Jessica* while she talked about changes that had to be made to her plans: the…
Porn
“I look at porn most days,” John* tells Dan*, his member care worker. John is married to Shirley and they have two small children. He and his family are applying to work cross culturally with a sending organisation that has a policy of not sending those with active pornography habits (John may not know…
Good Grief!
“Our family’s time overseas was overwhelmingly positive and fruitful. It was a difficult decision to leave Peru but we had a calm and planned return to Australia. Deputation went smoothly; it was a valuable time saying goodbye to our supporters.” Ross* enthusiastically spoke to Liz*, his member care worker. Ross and his family had just…
Brain Fog
“I’m so, so tired and my brain is just not working as it used to!”, reported Ross* to Liz*, his member care worker. After serving overseas in fulfilling ministry for over 10 years, Ross and his family have returned to Australia from Peru*. When he arrived, Ross was halfway through writing up a post-graduate thesis. …
Why did he do that?
Matt* talked with the interviewer about some anger issues he used to have but stated that he had realised it was all a stress response and that Cailey* had been quite difficult to live with after their first child was born. Matt graduated in 2013 with first class honours and began the application process for…
Theological Reflection Cycle
Reflective practitioners reflect on what they do in light of what other people have written about and experienced in similar situations.
The New Normal!
When Liz* suggested counselling to Sue* to reflect on her past experiences, Sue’s body language indicated that she might be reluctant. Sue and Liz, her member care worker, were chatting about how she was going. Sue, her husband and three children were preparing to head off to work in India*. Sue had shared earlier that…
The Blame game
Imagine if your husband’s burning desire all his life was to be a missionary! What if, because you became unwell – your whole family had to return to Australia? How would you deal with that? Who is to blame? How can we as member care workers care for them? John* had always wanted to be…
Member Caring 