Skip to main content

Debriefs. Trainings. New Things.

  SHANNON’S CORNER

Debriefs are intentional time set aside for people to process which is the discipline of understanding, sorting, and proceeding with emotions and thoughts in a healthy way.  We intuitively process as the event is happening and it is good to have some distance from the event to process it with some perspective and in light of any new development in our lives as well.

I had the privilege of sitting down with four ladies all in various seasons of life and located around the world to create a safe space for them to process their life’s journey.  Three out of the four this was their first time to have experienced a debrief and not sure what they were getting themselves into.  One shared all 16 years of serving in Costa Rica. Another shared many parts of her childhood up to her present age as she grew up as a third culture kid.  Another shared just the last 5 years of her life.  One has re-entered her passport country for about a year or so now after serving overseas for 20+ years and going back into the work force while being a full-time university student and helping with the care of her parents.  In our time together, we will not be able to take each event and really process it but trusting God will continue in the process for each one to process all that they need to during our time as well as on their own in with their community of people.


I co-facilitated a training with two different colleagues for two different organizations.  The one organization works with refugees in our country and the other does sports ministry in-country and globally, using sports as the platform to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The training is looking at the paradox of the call and the cost of the ministry work they are doing as they serve those who have trauma to some degree in their story.  We talk about trauma and what it does – to steal, kill, and destroy by taking away voice, power, and relationships.  Seeing God’s perspective and his desire and how Jesus handled the demands of ministry.  We talk about vicarious trauma which is an ‘occupational hazard’ to any serving as a caregiver.  Vicarious trauma is like when you leave the campfire you smell like smoke.  You are not directly involved in the trauma but just hearing people’s stories you come away smelling like the campfire smoke and it impacts your life.  How we can good stewards of ourselves in knowing our limits, our capacities and having margin to do life giving things that refuels us.

New Things…The church had their Ladies Tea where the women are invited to for a time of fellowship, small devotional, and to learn about the various bible studies being offered for this fall term.  I went as I am facilitating a Spanish women’s bible study at the church here in Harrisburg.  This is a first for the church to offer a bible study in Spanish.  I have two ladies who have signed up for the class.  Hoping to build relationships and to improve my Spanish as I rarely get to use it.

This fall season, I am helping to facilitate one of many connection groups that Velvet Ashes has for missionary women all around the world to find connection and support.  My group is made up of seven ladies who are in transition serving around the world for ten weeks.  


I am participating in the TCK Connect with Interaction International every Friday morning as one of their adult small group facilitators this school semester.  It is a time and space for third culture kids to be online with other third cultures kids to have fun through playing games and a space to share their ‘rosebuds’ and ‘thorns’ of the week and prayer requests.  This past Friday was the kickoff for the semester, and we had 13 teens join us. There are high school groups and university age groups for TCKs to connect and the best part it is free for them to sign up and be a part of a community. 


Bethann encouraged me to take a Mental Health Coaching certification class offered through American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and I am almost done as I have just one more class to take.  I have really enjoyed learning about some skills and tools for counseling, learning about some of the mental health disorders and geeking out on some of the biology of the brain.  How we the church can care and support and not be fearful thus turning away from those with mental health disorders and the families who have loved ones with a disorder.  I am finishing a class from Harry Hoffman who is the director of Global Member Care Network on trauma and member care.  It has been very interesting at how some of those classes have aligned with the last classes that I have been taking in my mental health coaching.  How can we the church care and support those who have been in or are in the midst of disasters, persecution, refugees, and war.  Being a community.  Being the Body of Christ.


“When Jesus saw her weeping,

and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping,

he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled…

Jesus wept…

                                      Jesus once more deeply moved came to the tomb…”

                   John 33-36a


PRAYER REQUESTS

Praise the Lord for His wisdom and discernment as I met with a few people for debriefs online!

Praise the Lord for two women signing up for the Spanish bible study!

Praise the Lord for His provision!

 

Pray for travel and speaking at Dayton UMC on October 9th. 

Pray for wisdom as I meet with people either one-on-one or debriefs.

Pray for community, one friend locally.

Pray for my Friday mornings to connect with the teens who participate in TCK Connect.

Pray for wisdom as I facilitate a connection group of 7 missionary ladies who are in transition.



                                               Contact Information:


Donate Online! (Follow the prompts) 
www.WorldOutreach.org/783

 

Mail Checks:

  World Outreach Ministries, Inc.

  P.O. Box B

  Marietta, GA  30061

  (Make a check out to WOM & in memo or in a note write Shannon Eaton #783)

 

Bill Pay:  free option via your online banking

  (Use the same information for checks)

 

Shannon Eaton

5055 Stacey Drive Apt. 1604

Harrisburg, PA  17111

(724)967-1437

 

Email:  shannon.eaton76@gmail.com

Facebook:  Shannon R. Eaton


 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...
Post a Comment
Read more

January Newsletter

    SHANNON’S CORNER Winter Blast… Brr. It’s cold outside.  Winter is not a favorite season for many people, but I love winter. There is a beauty in the dormant, snow covered, and coldness of winter that embraces and permeates us to the depths of our bones.  It reminds me of the Lord’s love that embraces and permeates us to the depths of our heart and soul.  The snow brings a smile to my face as I delight in the quietness, calming, beautifying, and a slower pace.  Recently, I was talking with someone in Louisiana who was going to be making a snowman and snow angel with his granddaughter.  What playfulness and awe to experience the Lord’s beauty. Community is so important to our lives that even the Lord noticed how alone Adam was in the garden that He made Eve.  It is where you are seen, known, and find belonging.  It has been something I have prayed for, asked you all to be praying for, have sought after in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

March Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work.  Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground.  Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...
Post a Comment
Read more