Everyone wants to fit in to one degree or another. One of the developmental tasks of a child is to learn the rules and accepted behaviors of their home culture. Kids learn through observation and imitate what they see. Parents teach their children how to behave according to their own acceptable guidelines.

But what if the culture keeps changing? What if the child moves from one culture to another? How can a child learn the rules of society if the rules keep changing?

The children of missionaries often find themselves living among multiple cultures. Missionary kids (MKs) learn to live within an environment of change. It can be confusing because they have to keep up with several different sets of rules and they have to remember which rules apply to which settings.

For instance, children in the US are expected to look elders in the eye as a sign of respect. But in Thailand, children are taught to look down as a sign of respect. In Japanese culture, people bow to greet others or to honor them. In much of the world we shake hands in greeting. We think nothing of pointing at something, or someone, when we are talking about them. But in some parts of the world it is rude to point at all. In Congo people sometimes point with their lips which can seem pretty funny in the middle of a conversation.

As director of MK care and concern, my role is to support and encourage the children of our missionaries. I see my job as expressing the value of each individual MK, of caring for our MKs, and advocating on behalf of the MKs. Each MK needs to know she or he is unique and treasured. I spend a good deal of time communicating with our MKs to offer them support and encouragement. In every situation I work to represent the needs of our MKs, and to educate others on the realities of growing up cross-culturally.

Thank you for your continued support and your prayers for the children of our missionaries.

-Tim Moore

Tim Moore is the director of MK care and concern. The son of retired missionaries Alice and Charles Moore, Tim grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Email him at tim.moore@abc-usa.org.