When I lived as a missionary in Arequipa, Peru, I experienced moments of deep community with the local people while simultaneously feeling alone and isolated as an American. I belonged there because I felt affirmed in my sense of calling, and I knew I was still the guest in their country. I grew to love my neighborhood as my neighborhood, the open-air market as my market, and the complexity of life as a missionary also understands that home is a curious definition. We hold things lightly and ownership of anything more than your call and ministry can be fleeting as you serve the needs of the day wherever the needs arise.

As missionaries, we have unique needs. We face forms of multicultural stress that are easily overlooked or misunderstood. We are third culture people, belonging everywhere and nowhere, formed by our cultures of origin and our cultures of calling. We adapt. We are resilient, and we need support to live out the calling to ministry.

Common challenges for missionaries I serve include the culture shock of settling into your mission field, how you wish to raise missionary kids abroad, struggles in partnership with your sending agency, struggles in relationship with your families of origin, donor fatigue, forming new friendships and establishing a personal life in your host country, and the reverse culture shock of returning to your culture of origin for a time of furlough or retirement.

Missionaries are multicultural people. I am a multilingual, Southern born white male of Lebanese decent. I am shaped by the culture of my family of origin, the Southern culture of Alabama, the Middle Eastern culture of Lebanon, the Hispanic cultures of Mexico and Peru, the European culture of Spain, and the culture of the Western USA in Colorado.

I empathize with the complexity of life as a missionary. I still live it in the reverse culture shock of living life again in the US. I would be honored to serve you and help empower your call.