First day of November, and already we are made to we realize how close winter is! Snow in many parts of the U.S., blustery winds and freeze warnings where we are in southeast Indiana. It’s a paradoxical season—just like life on the mission field. You are a vital part of helping missionaries “keep their moorings” through all of the paradoxes and transitions they experience. These resources will help you do a good job of that.

 

EQUIP YOURSELF

I’m sure you have already thought about sending care packages to your missionary friends. But perhaps you’d like to know how much they are appreciated. Or maybe you’d like some tips on making them even more special for the recipients. Craig Thompson’s post does both.

 

LIFE ON THE FIELD

When the harvest is ripe and the laborers are few, it may seem to make sense that speed is of the essence. But not to the Lord of the harvest. And according to this post by John Mark Comer, hurry is actually incompatible with love. Know any missionaries who need to slow down? How about yourself?

 

Sometimes it’s difficult for global workers to see fruit for their labors. They must learn to be content with the “not yet” aspect of God’s kingdom, as this kingdom worker reminds us. You probably know someone who would be encouraged by this post.

 

What benefits might one accumulate over eight years of consistent Sabbath keeping? Mike Gaston has a whole list. If you know someone who needs to develop this discipline, or if you know someone who needs encouragement to continue this discipline, forward Mike’s post to them.

 

TRANSITION

Six essential steps for transitioning to the foreign field without croaking. Jonathan and Elizabeth Trotter presented this material at the International Conference on Missions and felt it was worth making available to others. Send this to those you know who are about to go to the field.

 

MKs/TCKs

How can parents of TCKs (and those who work with TCKs) uncover the hidden losses that can cause so much grief for third culture kids?

Much of the TCK’s grief stems from losses that are neither obvious nor acknowledged.

Adult TCK Lauren Wells launches the conversation with this post on Global Trellis.

 

EVENTS

There’s still time to register for the annual Mental Health and Missions conference. This year’s theme: Collected Wisdom (Enhancing Missionary Flourishing). November 21-24 at the Potawatomi Inn in Angola, Indiana. You don’t need to be a mental health professional to attend or benefit from this.

 

The 7th annual SE regional MK retreat, hosted by Compass Ministries, is scheduled for February 14-16. Register or get more information here.

 

Learn how to facilitate debriefing of children at differing developmental stages. The Kids In Family Member Care program (KnF CODAR) will accepting registrations for their December conference in Palmer Lake, Colorado. Having taken a condensed version of this, I can’t imagine a better training opportunity.

 

You might want to look into this soon for the m’s you know working in southeast Asia. Field Life will be hosting a Momentum Men’s Conference on Borneo if March of 2020. Looks like a great opportunity for you to bless someone with a soul-refreshing getaway.

 

A special getaway for a limited number of U.S. and Canadian women who live and work cross-culturally: Thrive retreat in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Now open for registration. Who could you send?

 

This looks like a phenomenal opportunity to gain an overall education in missionary care. Frontiers will be conducting a five-day conference next April called CareCon, “designed for pastors, church staff, family members, ministry partners, and anyone who wants to support global workers.” I want to go!

 

Are you concerned about friends who will be working in high-risk areas of the world? This security training may help you be more at peace. November 18-20, in San Diego, CA. Could you maybe sponsor someone to attend?

 

Who do you know working in Europe or South America? Who would you like to bless beyond belief with the gift of retreat? The folks at Thrive know how to provide spiritual, motional, and physical care to field workers, and there are two upcoming retreats you should know about: one in Croatia, in February of 2020; and one in Brazil, in April of 2020. You could pay someone’s way. Or—check this out: You could be a volunteer at one of these retreats and bless many people! Get the details here.

 

GOING DEEPER

The longer a global worker stays on the field, the more likely they will experience a faith shift. Jesus invites people to join him in the harvest partly for what he intends to accomplish in them during their time of service. One of the things we all need is to grow in our understanding of who God is and who we are in relation to him. We all harbor misconceptions that the Father intends to clear up—and that involves shifting. This piece by Mary Jo Sharp illustrates what I’m talking about. Who comprises the safe community in which your missionary friend can confess their confusion? Where can they be honest about their shift without fear of misunderstanding or reprisal? How might you be a part of providing those?

 

The list is a little shorter this week than the last two. Hopefully that gives you even more time to dig in and find the tools you can put to use in the immediate future. Thank you for caring for the sent ones God has brought into your life.

 

New on my bookshelf:

• Mansions of the Heart: Exploring the seven stages of spiritual growth, by R. Thomas Ashbrook
• Managing Transitions: Making the most of change, by Wm and Susan Bridges

 

What I’m reading this week:

• Serving Well, by Elizabeth & Jonathan Trotter
• Desiring the Kingdom, by James K.A. Smith

 

Recently finished reading:

• Autumn: A spiritual biography of the season, Gay Schmidt, ed.
• Souvenirs and Solitude, by Brennan Manning
• Formed for the Glory of God, by Kyle Strobel

 

Up next:

Searching for God Knows What, by Donald Miller