Some
Special Questions
|
| 1. How can I keep in touch with the mission
field? |
- It’s important to keep in touch
via letters, e-mails, etc. with the people in your
field of service that you came to know and love.
- Get to know people from “your” country
who live at your college or home town. This will help
you feel connected.
- Connect your church, Sabbath School class or youth
group with a needy project in your field.
- Find a “new mission field” close to home
(inner city, migrant workers, immigrant populations,
youth, etc.) This will help you channel your newly-developed
interests and talents.
|
| 2. How can I utilize the new skills I’ve
acquired overseas? |
- If you learned a language, find people with whom
you can use it (i.e. immigrants, international students,
etc.)
- Without being pushy, volunteer to do things that
utilize your new skills (i.e. teach in children’s
Sabbath school, speak in weeks of prayer or evangelistic
series, accept offices that require your type of leadership
skills.)
- Because of your newly-acquired cross-cultural skills,
you will be able to reach out to other volunteers
who are returning home, or to international students,
missionary
kids, immigrants, exchange students, etc.
- Look for receptive venues to share your story.
Some churches are eager for “real mission
stories.” Seek
them out. If you’re
comfortable talking to kids, let local schools
know you’d be glad to share with their
students first-hand
cultural experiences that are of special interest.
Many service clubs (i.e. Kiwanis,
Rotary) have international service projects and
are happy for first-hand reports. Some churches
and other
organizations have projects to help immigrant
populations (i.e. ESL programs, “Welcome
to X City” programs,
etc.) There are many ways to get involved and
combine your new focus with your life back home.
Go for it!
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| Click here for next section: |
Epilogue |
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