Everybody wants a home, a place to be that is theirs, and theirs to share. When we live and work outside our own culture, home becomes even more important to us. We seem to lose so much of our identity as we strive to acculturate our lives. We want our homes to have a familiar feel that comforts our family members, yet we want our homes to reflect our host culture as well. How much should your home reflect your heritage, and how much should it reflect your adopted culture? Do you worry that your new friends may be offended by your home or your style of hospitality? These are common questions for PWs.
Expectations and Burnout
Sue Eenigenburg & Robynn Bliss introduce a new resource for Women in Cross-Cultural Ministry, their new book, Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission.
Everyone has expectations. Women in cross-cultural ministry are no exception. They usually go overseas with extremely high, if not unrealistic, expectations of themselves. Using data from surveys and research to form the basis for the book, Sue and Robynn not only explore expectations women workers might have of themselves, but also expectations they might have of their agencies, sending churches, co-workers, host culture and God.
Criticism
Criticism! What a great topic since we are all confronted with it to some degree. We are grateful to Joy, a Peter’s Wife reader, for sharing her experience and insights that can help us better handle criticism.
Criticism–when you’ve had about all you can take
“You know why your kids are sick all the time, don’t you? It’s because you don’t make them wear slippers or undershirts. You should take better care of your kids.” (from my closest local friend, just after my son had his tonsils and adenoids removed due to repeat infections)
“Your backside is really getting enormous—I mean look how wide it is. But that’s OK. You have a pretty face.” (from a very slim 40-something neighbor)
“I can’t believe how loud your kids are. It’s impossible to get any rest. I feel like running away. Why can’t you keep them quiet like other people do?” (part of a longer conversation, where my downstairs neighbor berated me for more than 10 minutes in front of all my other neighbors at a tea)
Living in a Culture of Criticism
These are just three criticisms that I’ve received in the last couple of weeks. [Read more…]
Ask a Missionary
This month, John McVay let us know about his new book. He edited Ask a Missionary:Time-Tested Answers From Those Who’ve Been There. Over 100 missionaries share their insightful wisdom and practical advice on everything from making the decision to go, to stepping into a new life once on the field and everything in between.
Peter’s Wife is cited in the Resource section of the book. We want to thank John for including us in his book. For more information see: Ask a Missionary
Moving My Treasures
What do you treasure? As one movie character put it, “What would you take with you if you had only one minute to pick it up before you were forced out?” The choices the characters made revealed their true values and motivations. In this issue of Peters Wife, Judi shares what she has learned about her treasures.
Moving My Treasures
Moving! Putting things in boxes. It is a balancing act. You can’t pack in one day and move the next. It has to be a process. A unique process. One that, even after five moves in five years, I have not perfected. You know what I am talking about, right? You try to figure out what things your family needs until that last second before you actually move your stuff. What are the things you need even while and after you move?
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