This collection of stories from kids in the Josiah Venture mission show what life is really like as a missionary kid in Europe. From elementary schoolers drawing pictures of lightsaber battles to high schoolers sharing their fears about moving and making new friends, there are a great variety of stories in this book. This could be a helpful book to get for kids who are worried about moving overseas and wonder what their life will be like once they move. Or for MKs who are lonely and want a connection to other MKs’ stories.
Little Adelina loves to help her father repair airplanes. When her family decides to move to the jungle to be missionary pilots, she has to say goodbye to all the people, places & things she knows & loves. When fear sets in, she finds comfort in her beloved Aviator Bear, and strength in God who gives her “courage bigger than the sky” so she can boldly set out on her new adventure.
This wonderful book for missionary kids has appealing illustrations & a sweet story. The twist at the end brought tears to my eyes.
Reading level: 3 to 7 years
Ten-year old Samantha is about to start her fifth school. After living in Nepal for several years, she and her family have returned “home” to Australia, but Sam has had a hard time fitting in.
Assigned to sit at a table with the “mean girls”, Sam feels excluded. When she is teased for ineptly explaining her parents’ jobs, she defends herself with a wild story about her mom, but that only makes things worse. As she gets in deeper trying to defend the lie the mocking gets meaner and Sam becomes more and more miserable until things finally reach a breaking point.
Though the story is about a young TCK the major theme of the book is how to recognize and handle subtle and overt bullying.
Ages 8-12
Available on Kindle here
In a series of very vulnerable journal entries, 14-year-old Taylor processes her emotions of her transition to Japan when she was 9 and the difficulties and joys of life there. While on home assignment in the US, Taylor finally let herself grieve losses and name her emotions. The book is split into 2 sections: the first part is focused on her pain and in the second is able to see the joys in her experiences.
It can be hard to read about her loneliness and how desperately she wanted to fit in with the Japanese people around her. I just wanted to give her a big hug (but I don’t know her and that would be weird!). Seeing how God put caring people in her life even when she couldn’t recognize them as blessings is encouraging and a reminder that God is with all of us in our grief and transition and language learning and every difficulty.
“The MKs of Asian missionaries have been unwittingly neglected, because many of us Asians felt that we should sacrifice ourselves and our family for the Lord and our ministry.”
This sad truth of the history of neglect of Asian MKs is addressed in this book with suggestions for how to change the patterns that have begun. With a look at the personal stories of Asian MKs and the development of better MK care, there is hope in the unfinished stories told. With fun anecdotes as well as a deeper look at finding identity in Christ, this is a wonderful book not only for Asian MKs but for all MKs and those who care about them.
This book has five parts:
- Biblical Sharing on MK Care
- MK Stories
- Development of MK Care
- MKs in MK Care
- MKs Advocating for MKs
I was unable to find an online seller of this book but you can contact the publisher at tck.sgp@gmail.com and they may be able to help you find a copy. If someone finds an online seller of this book, please let me know and I will add it here.
This compilation of essays, poems and letters from adult MKs from around the world shows the heart of missionary kids. The book is divided into 3 sections, all with about the same number of entries:
- Adjusting (with entries like “Furlough,” “Can I Come Home,” and “Alien Planet USA”
- Anecdotes and Adventures (with “To Catch a Plane” and “Lessons from Amazonas”
- Identity ( with “Belonging,” “Pieces of My Heart” and “My Homeland”
This book is difficult to find and I could only locate one seller, in Canada. However, it is a great collection from a broad selection of MK that other MKs can relate to.
