It’s a small world. No – really. Our latest guest was just dropped off by her friend, someone we’d never met. As we chatted with this friend we discovered that we not only know several of the same people, but one family in particular lives just a few miles from here. If the flutter of a butterfly’s wings, last week, on another continent, can affect the weather where you live, today—imagine the ripple effect from the one life in which you invest today.

LIFE ON THE FIELD

The dark side of missionary life. That’s how Rachel Bright describes the realities that often go unreported and therefore unknown. You need to read this to expand your understanding of what so many struggle with on the field.

FUNDRAISING

There are many schools of thought on missionary fundraising, and therefore many tools and resources that are proffered. Here is a social media-based tool that your missionary friends might look into.

TRANSITION

Sometimes missionaries leave the field unwillingly. That can lead to feelings of failure. Sarita Hartz offers a good counterpoint in this article. Know anyone who might need this?

Home assignment is a huge time of transition for missionaries and their families. Karen Huber explains why—and how to deal with it.

MKs/TCKs

The feeling of “home” can be tricky to nail down—especially for TCKs. Long after they’ve become adults and left the field. Marilyn Gardner can help you understand what that’s like. And in this article, she shares a piece of her own story. This interview with author Jen Pollock Michel will add yet more layers.

TCKs often need a little help figuring out who they are once they return to their passport country. Life Story is a therapeutic tool developed to do just that via Skype. Check it out and see if someone you know would benefit from this.

Here is “a tool for helping your TCK develop positive thought patterns.” You might want to poke around the rest of this site while you’re there.

EQUIP YOURSELF

Here are five questions you can ask a missionary that will actually be an encouragement to them. Try them out and see for yourself.

When you go visit that global worker you care so much about, you’ll appreciate this helpful advice from Josie Oldenburg. And your hosts will be glad you read it, too.

And while we’re on the subject of overseas visits, Craig Greenfield has some strong warnings about taking selfies. Read this before you head out; you’ll feel better about your trip.

Want to increase your understanding of missionary support raising, or re-entry? Want to find resources you can share with your friends on the field? Shepherd’s Staff has tons of helpful podcasts and articles that you can access here.

EVENTS

As many are preparing to return for a season of home assignment, now is the time to plan for debriefing.

The goal of missionary debriefing is to ensure these faithful servants are REFRESHED and REALIGNED–for the next season of life and ministry that God has in store for them. (Shepherd’s Staff)

Recalibrate! is one opportunity for singles, couples, and families with children age 13 and up. It will be held in Michigan in October, and early registration is advised.

Never underestimate the effect that your relationship with even one global worker can have on the entire kingdom of God!

What I’m reading this week:

• Winston S. Churchill: Youth, 1874-1900, by Randolph S. Churchill
• Songs from the Heart: Meeting with God in the Psalms, by Tim Riordan
• The Prophetic Imagination, by Walter Brueggemann
• Honeybee Democracy, by Thomas Seeley

Just finished reading:

• Blind Spots, by Scott Morton
• Psalm 166, by Kyle Burkholder
• Running on Empty, by Fil Anderson
• Life of the Beloved, by Henri Nouwen
• You Are What You Love, by James Smith

Up next:

• Breaking the Rules, by Fil Anderson
• Th!nk, by Michael LeGault