TCK-PFO (huh?)

What is a tick-pfo, you may ask. It's where I am right now! (In case you're playing along with the "Where In The World Is Katrina Custer" game.) Actually, it's not about ticks though. This conference's full name is Third Culture Kid Pre-Field Orientation. Any missionaries planning on working with TCK's in the future are required to attend. Okay, but what is it, you may ask.

A TCK is someone who spent a significant part of his or her developmental years in a culture different from that of his or her parents and thus relates to multiple cultures without feeling ownership of any. Basically, if a family from the US, for example, moves to Brazil, their child will feel connected to American and Brazilian culture and yet feel like he belongs to neither. Usually, the mixture of cultures that results in his inner culture is called a "third culture." Observe my fancy graph:

(It didn't quite turn out green in the middle. Oh well.)

Those of you who know me best (or even at all) know that I am a TCK. My parents are American, so I grew up celebrating the 4th of July, eating Tex-Mex food, watching football, and valuing things such as freedom, individualism, and the opportunity to make something of yourself. However, I spent a significant portion of my developmental years (all of them) in the country of Austria. Therefore, I also grew up skiing since I was 4, ringing cowbells at sporting events, eating cured bacon fat, and valuing things such as conservationism, group cohesion, and privacy. What can happen is that these kids end up feeling very confused about issues such as loyalty and belonging, but they also hold great potential for future leadership because of their increased global awareness, appreciation of cultures, and flexibility.

This conference is all about clarifying that for missionaries who are about to spread all over the world and work with these kids. Even for me, though I am a TCK, it's been helpful to hear others' stories and pick up practical tips for me as I prepare to teach these kids. So, thanks for your prayers. I'll be here till next Friday.

Sold my heart for $3

The sun was beating down quite warmly for a May afternoon in the Northwest, and the kids I was babysitting were having a blast running around outside in their bare feet. The twins, Ben and Ellie, had split in opposite directions with Ben setting up his apple stand out front and Ellie making daisy chains in the back. 6-year-old Karissa was trying to touch the ceiling on the porch swing while her younger sister Anna, the one I most needed to keep my eye on, was peddling back and forth with all the speed of a 4-year-old cheetah.

Because of the intensity with which I had to focus on Anna's trek up and down the sidewalk, I hadn't really paid much attention to Ben's sign, not even when he roped Karissa into helping it. So when I heard their sweet, clear voices echo across the street, my heart almost melted: "Apples! 50 cents. Help our missionary!"

Rounding the stand, I found the sign that Ben had written: "By apples. Money for Germiny." (Picture to follow.) I can guarantee in my upcoming year of support raising, no $3 are ever going to be sweeter than the 3 they raised that day. I think I'm leaving my heart in Portland....