Interview Insights

This past week I was interviewed by a long term friend, Mike O, who asked me to share about re-entry grief with a group of cross-cultural workers. Traditionally known as missionaries, cross-cultural workers are ordinary people who go to extraordinary lengths to share the gospel with people groups who have not yet heard about Jesus. The life of a cross-cultural worker is one of continuous learning as they adapt to the challenges of a new culture or language, different foods, modes of transport, or way of schooling. It is also a life consistent with change and accustomed to the losses incurred with a life of high mobility.

In the interview we talk about the re-entry anxiety and grief we all may be experiencing on some level as we emerge from lockdown in the midst of a pandemic. However, there is an extra layer of stress that we acknowledge in the cross-cultural community as they simultaneously deal with the transition back to their home or host country. Our hope is to normalize the experience, validate emotions, and give permission to grieve in these tumultuous times.

The interview can be downloaded here and related blogs on this topic are A Monkey’s Wedding and Re-entry Grief.