"Marked for Life: Past, Present, and Future"

Our global village has a phrase that can be applied to missionary kids: Third Culture Kids. David C. Pollock offers this definition in Letters Never Sent, "A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is an individual who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than the parents' culture, develops a sense of relationship to all the cultures while not having full ownership in any."

I dedicate this page to TCKs. Missionary kids create a culture all their own. I call them "global nomads." I feature my articles, Marked for Life on this page. They are part of the Culture Shock magazine. If you are a MK, (I mean a global nomad) and would like this e-magazine, let us know at globalconnection@upci.org .

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No Place "Like" Home For the Holidays
By Bruce Howell

The holiday season is upon us. For missionary kids this sometimes presents a predicament. For example, “I’ll be home for Christmas” stirs mixed emotions. Where is home? Well meaning friends attempt to comfort with, “Home is where your heart is.” MKs have multiple homes and sometimes have little idea where home actually is.

Holiday time is family time. You may be far from family during the holidays.  Instead of joy;   nostalgia, loneliness, or even worry may become marks in life. I well remember how my heart ached each time I passed Jared’s room when he became the first of our missionary kids to return to North America. What to do? That is the question.

1. Bloom where you are planted (the old saying goes). Make your present locale “like” home for the holidays. Make the best of the twists and turns of life. Create memories.

2. Far apart from family members? Global nomads are masters at creating families. Adopt-a-parent or family member and spend time together. If invited to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving or Christmas accept the invitation with gratitude.

3. Sharpen your communication skills. Send a greeting card, e-mail, letter, cassette, picture or home video to those you love. Post a new photo album on Facebook. Make a telephone call. When you brighten the day for another, it will become a lot brighter for yourself.

4. At Christmas, it’s all about Jesus. Bring Luke 2 alive in your cultural context. Read it. Sing it. Dramatize it. Celebrate it!

5. Treat yourself to a holiday gift. I recommend Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  It is a simple, enchanting story of the worst kids in the history of the world. The Herdmans are guilty of every childhood crime and crash a local Christmas pageant. None of them have ever attended church much less heard of the Christmas story. You’ll love it! A friend sent me my copy from Amazon.com. And that it is an idea too. Why not get a copy for yourself and one for a friend.

Across the miles and far apart; our mission joins us heart-to-heart. Feliz Navidad!

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No Place "Like" Home For the Holidays
Peaceful Trust in Perilous Times
Going Beyond
Deaf By Choice
Small Kids - Big Mission
Living Between Worlds
Making Deposits and Withdrawals from the Memory Bank
The Future Is In Good Hands
Global lmpact Starts in the Home
Never Alone, Always Together
Marked For Life Series: Surviving The Distance
Marked For Life Series: Attitude of Gratitude
Marked For Life Series: Continue
Living Between Worlds
Pierced Hearts
Home For The Holidays Part Two
No Place Like Home For the Holidays!
Global Nomads Introduced