They are sometimes called TCKs, which means Third Culture Kids. They are children who grow up in a different country than the place of their citizenship…fully, though not complete Americans, but certainly not the place of their residence, though they identify strongly to that cultural environment. Placed in “no-mans-land,” they create a type of third culture, their own, among their peers.I have been reminded these past two months of this unique group of kids as my grandchildren and daughter from Senegal have been staying with us this summer. It’s been deja vu as I see the 6 and 3-year-old play and my mind goes back in time to our two daughters who grew up in Kenya. TCK’s now raising TCKs. What goes around comes around, as the old saying goes.
Missions is so much more than just unreached people groups, the study of culture, national leadership, raising support – the “X’s” and “O’s” or scorecard of ministry. Missions is also about having a decent place to live, how best to educate your kids, staying in touch with family back home; attached but not obsessed with parents, friends and siblings we leave behind. Living overseas for an extended period of time is not like short-term missions where the most crucial thing in their lives is do they have enough snack food to carry them through their 14 day excursion. Missions is about being uprooted, displaced and forever a “foreigner.” Even twenty years after the kids grow up and no longer under the protection of their parents, TCKs, in some ways, continue to define their identity.
As my TCK and her TCKs get ready to return to Africa I have a better appreciation for my parents who had to go through the emotional rollercoaster of the high’s of seeing your children get off the airplane to the low’s of saying goodbye to them at the gate. What’s unique about missionaries is that, though separation is still difficult, it is a part of our lives – it comes with the territory of serving Christ overseas. And, in the broader sense, aren’t all of God’s kids TCKs? Not really a citizen here, not yet a citizen there. Our existence is merely a pilgrimage until time is no more. Then, finally, we will be home, all His TCKs.
6 comments:
Thanks for posting this. It hits home for us right now as our oldest is beginning to attend pre-school. He is having a hard time because of these issues, which makes us wonder what to do. We know it's a phase and that, "This, too, shall pass." But that doesn't make it any easier.
Doc, thanks for the comments. I can relate as we are watching our TCK get ready for College in the states, and as we go through partnership development in preparation for our return to ministry in our host country, all the while struggle to find the answer to the question "Aren't you glad to be home?". I agree with your comment that we are all TCK's in His family as His children. It makes it all easier while we are always in transition. Blessings,
Alexia and Amet
Wise words. On Monday I will drive my TCK, raised in Brazil to the airport for another tour of duty teaching English in China. My five other TCK's are adapting to life in the US, as we survive furlough. :-) Always a challenge, which lead is to adopt a family slogan -- Home is wherever we all are together.
Dave Rohr
Boy, you've got some good-looking grandkids. Your daughters aren't too bad, either. :)
Good post. Love you.
I taught them in the MK school. My neice and nephew are also 3rd culture kids...Indian grew up in Nigeria now settled in Canada
Richard,
Accurate thoughts that clearly resonate with us who've walked those same paths, especially, "Missions is so much more than just. . . "
The following snippet grabbed my heart as I thought of my parents waiting at the airport for us to arrive or depart: "As my TCK and her TCKs get ready to return to Africa I have a better appreciation for my parents who had to go through the emotional rollercoaster of the high’s of seeing your children get off the airplane to the low’s of saying goodbye to them at the gate."
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