Small Starts to Big Dreams

Do you have any big dreams or projects that you would love to undertake if only you had the chance? Maybe you dream of writing a book, or taking up painting, or starting a ministry to street children. But then life gets in the way, and you’re so busy that you can barely get by doing the minimum. You never get around to taking steps towards your dream.

One dream I’ve had for the last two years is to start a women’s ministry group. My vision is a group of Christian women who meet to encourage each other and use their hobbies and interests to reach non-believers with God’s love. But starting a group like this seemed impossible since I’m already a wife, homeschooling mother, house keeper and church planter.

 

All or Nothing Thinking

Maybe the greatest barrier towards fulfilling our dreams is all or nothing thinking.  We think we have to launch out on a big dream with a big start, but then we never get around to it.

How to Support Your Third Culture Kids in Local Schools?

School finally started this week in Turkey, so my home schooled kids can no longer feel sorry for themselves because they have to go to bed at a decent hour and get up to study from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. while their Turkish friends play in the park all day and night. Every year we start a few weeks earlier than the local schools do, so it’s a relief when school starts, and my kids’ friends have to study just like they do.

One of the biggest challenges of overseas life is education for the children.

Five Ways to Deal with Culture Shock

When I first moved to the Middle East in my 20’s, I had a blissful honey moon stage. People seemed so hospitable, and I was enthralled by everything Turkish. Even riding a dolmuş, a blue and white mini-bus with blaring Turkish pop music and evil eye charms swinging from the rearview mirror, made me smile. But at 6 months I hit a wall and had my first bona fide cross-cultural crisis. I cried for two days and felt like I hated everything about Turkey. I was desperate to catch the first plane home, but sheer grit made me stick it out.

Your first year overseas, moving back and forth between enchantment and frustration with your new country is normal. Here are five ways to deal with culture shock.

How to Survive Your First Year Overseas

3 friends with 3 months, 12 years, and
 3 years experience in the Middle East.

When you first move overseas, every day poses a mystery waiting to be solved: how to get a phone line, how to communicate to the electrician that the lines he installed last week are loose, how to buy furniture and appliances using a bargaining system you don’t really understand.  Even going to the corner grocery for bread is a stressful event.  Then you start language study and things really get interesting!

Your first year overseas is a crash course in cross-cultural adaptation.