In The Mind of Third Culture Kids...

By -
One of the youth groupers wrote a blog post that gives a snapshot into some of the inner turmoil of a TCK (Third Culture Kid):

Costa Ricans !!! yeah, lately i've been thinking if i'm really a Costa Rican, how do i look my culture ??? do i love it ???or  i just say..." well, what you gonna do ??" lately i've wonder if i really love my culture or my country ??.... i don't really know, i haven't been in a posicion where i have had to leave my country, and i really don't know how will i react when the moment happens, am i gonna cry ?? while i was abscent, i thought about all of this, and i started to compare the american culture, do i love it ?? and suddenly a big smile on my face !!!!!!!! when i just think about it.... i smile... its something i don't do with Costa Rica... but while i was gone i could marvel with God's creation, seing all the beautiful mountains in the morning, seeing a beautiful waterful, and just looking at all the flowers, the ones i've took pictures... and just looking at the beauty of nature makes me love my country.... But i know that somebody tells me right now, if i want to live in the USA... i would definetly answer YES !!! without thinking about it.... is this a person that appreciates her country ???

One of the things that characterizes a Third Culture Kid is the sense of not belonging. I grew up in Ecuador from 1st to 12th grade, a significantly crucial part of development as a human being. What does this mean to be from Chicago, but also from Ecuador? Confusion. Uncertainty. Where do I belong? What can I think of as 'home'? Is anybody like me? Can anyone relate?

Recently I was contacted by a former Youth Grouper, who was born as an MK in Costa Rica the late 60s. She shares,


 Probably the essence of [the youth group's] impact could be boiled down to me, a TCK (third culture kid), having a place where I belonged, a place where there were others like me. As a teenager to be among Americans in a Latin country is naturally bonding. Take it a step further and put God at the center of it, and you have ministry to a target group that often can struggle with identity (and feel like misfits). I’ve since discovered that while I neither have both feet fully in North American culture, nor totally in Costa Rican culture, I do have one foot planted in each, consequently making a great bridge between the two.

We're pumped at the opportunity to be the Youth Group Directors. What a golden opportunity we get to take advantage of--it's in our weakness that God shows Himself strong. It's in our insecurity that we can trust in Him, and not our friends, jobs, money, or neatly mapped schedules. Would you take a moment right now to pray for the students in the youth group? Just as there is such a great potential for students to turn to God, it's a volatile alternative if they shun Him at this point in life. Pray that He would draw their hearts and work powerfully in their lives. 

Blogpost taken from here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Me llamo go to the bathroom

By -
I just finished my first trimester of language school. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned in 13 weeks. Though I have plenty to learn, I know just enough to get around and get my main point across. The highlight of my time studying was my last day of phonetics class where I was able to answer my teacher’s question about the Christmas story in Spanish. I got to see the light bulb go off in her head as she understood the visit of the wise men and Herod’s genocide for the first time. This is exactly why I’m learning Spanish! Patrick is also picking up on Spanish and is learning and applying things very quickly. He just spends time with Gina and applies all the rules I’m learning in my grammar class. The other day when I told him to say “hasta luego” (see you later) to one of my girlfriends, Patrick “corrected me”…. “mom, it’s supposed to be hasata luega. She’s a girl.” I had to explain that luego is always the same, but he’s got the whole gender thing down. Patrick has also learne
Read more

Giving Thanks

By -
Patrick brings great joy into our lives. His cute smile, constant babbling, and how he always squeals at dogs makes me bubble over with joy. It is crazy to think how much better our lives are since Patrick was born 8 months ago. As he discovers each new food, we get to be a part of the adventure. God uses Patrick to not only provide me with great joy, but He also uses Patrick to keep me thankful. I cannot see that cute smile without giving thanks to the Father. Ephesians 5:20 talks about giving thanks always and for everything. When you thank God for all He's done for you, it easily turns into a habit of prayer. Speaking of prayer, Patrick was an answer to a prayer I had when we were in Ecuador right after getting married. The transition into a place where I didn't speak the language but wanted to still minister was really hard. Jonathan, who speaks Spanish fluently, was able to lead a Bible study and give devotions at youth services while in Salasaca. I on the other hand learn
Read more

Pura Vida - We have arrived!

By -
Image
Pura Vida! Literally translated, 'pure life', this is a common greeting with Ticos. We are happy to announce that we have arrived without hassle and are almost all the way settled in! Quick facts: Left for airport 8/19 at 6am Arrived in CR with all of our bags at 1 pm CR time (currently on mountain time--but CR doesn't do daylight savings and time stays the same year round) No problems or taxes in customs (9 bags, 3 carryons, 1 guitar, 2 personal items)  Dinner and groceries provided for us for the first week.  Set up with internet at home within 24 hrs of calling the company. What!! Language school orientation starts Monday, first youth group event is Saturday 8/31 Patrick is doing very well considering the time zone, and loves his new room! (pics below) Story Our last days in the United States where a whirlwind. We had a bittersweet time at our church on our last Sunday, and had the house [mostly] taken care of by the time we went to bed Sunday ni
Read more