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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:


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Shannon Eaton

5055 Stacey Drive Apt. 1604

Harrisburg, PA  17111

(724)967-1437

 

Email:  shannon.eaton76@gmail.com

Facebook:  Shannon R. Eaton


 




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