Catching the Vision

Click here to read the NICS story.

     The mission of NICS is to establish a worldwide Network of International Christian Schools that instill in each student a Biblical world-view and respect for people of all cultures and religions in an environment of academic excellence.

     I’ve seen Joe Hale’s office twice. He has a world map that covers one of the walls. Two couches surround a coffee table in front of it. When I look up from sitting on a couch I see push-pins seemingly scattered on this flat globe. When I look closer I recognize there are different colored pins. Pink mark all international schools and green mark Missionary schools. NICS schools are green pins with an accompanying red paper label pointing at the correct push-pin (there are 19). There are also a handful of pink sticky notes placed throughout the map. These really stir my excitement because they represent places where NICS is considering starting a new school. This means more of the world-wide expatriate community and future leaders of these countries could possibly be going to a Christian school in the near future, learning first hand about the salvation and love God has for all peoples. This is a vision to reach those who will and do have global influence in today’s world and our future world. What a privilege it is to work with God on a mission such as this.  When we first started with NICS, we honestly saw it as a job and an adventure.  We now understand it as a mission and a calling.

Consider the future...

     Who or where is God calling you to serve? Is it a familiar place down the street or a distant country and culture? Is it someone you know or group of struggling people? What does God speak to your soul when you consider abandoning all the comforts and pleasantries around you? If it is truly serving where you are, do it with unfathomable, contagious joy. If it is not, God is ready for you to consider the future serving Him.

Raft Building

     One of the most personally challenging sessions at PFO was on the transition process.  TCK’s deal with it regularly and we are of course experiencing it as we move to Ghana.   

     The first insight we had is the idea of emotional paradox: the capacity to experience two or more emotions at the same time.  This might seem obvious, but it was strangely relieving to find that we could be excited and sad simultaneously.  Excitement does not mean we are happy to leave, and our grief does not negate our excitement.

     We have also learned the importance of leaving well so that we can begin well in the new place.  The presenters taught us to build a RAFT.  

     R=Reconciliation - make sure relationships are right

     A=Affirmation - express love and appreciation

     F=Farewell - be intentional about goodbyes to people and places

     T=Think destination - get ready!

     So we are building our RAFTs, traveling around the country, and thanking God for his many gifts past, present, and future.  We have visited family and friends in Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.  We are also going to Iowa and then all the way to Texas.  We would appreciate your prayers for safety and encouragement as we travel and make our final preparations.

TCK's: Third Culture Kids

     A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is an “individual who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than the parents’ culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any.”  This description may include military, missionary, diplomatic and other expatriate children.  These are the kids we will be teaching and loving on over the next two years (at least).  We believe that each person is a unique individual with God-given potential and interests, but we have also been learning about the benefits and challenges shared by many TCK’s because of their highly mobile and cross-cultural young lives.  Kids like these have been in our classrooms in the U.S., but at international schools they compose most, if not all, of the student body.

PFO: Pre-Field Orientation

     We have been learning so much at PFO (Pre-Field Orientation).  It lasts for two weeks, and we have sessions and activities every day usually from 8a.m. to 8p.m.  We are staying with a host family here in Mississippi.  The other 100 or so participants are from all over the U.S., along with small group leaders who have already been serving in various schools.  Here is a breakdown of some of the sessions we have been in.