Shannon's Corner

  Why it is important to have a community around you as you navigate the seas of re-entry? The term, “hidden immigrant” refers to individuals and families who have lived abroad for extended periods for reasons such as missions, education, or work. As a hidden immigrant your experiences abroad may not be apparent to others when returning back to your passport country. Therefore, it is challenging for you to communicate the richness of your experiences abroad with others who may not fully understand or appreciate your time abroad. And may cause you to feel a sense of disconnection and/or find it difficult to relate to people who have not had similar experiences.    This concept underscores the need for support and understanding within your communities to help you navigate the complexities and challenges of re-entry. A supportive community plays a crucial role in helping navigate this transition of re-entry with you.   Six common areas of re-entry that a supportive comm...

  SHANNON’S CORNER With God at the helm, 2024 will be incredible! January is usually when we think of our new year’s resolutions. I learned recently that the second Friday in January is called ‘quitters’ day’ when most people stop or quit their resolutions. Sadly, I was one of those statistics in years gone by. It was something that I just did without putting much forethought into my goals. Starting in December with the encouragement of my sister, I have put effort into thinking through and writing down four long-term goals for the year.  The word that keeps coming to mind is consistency. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations…”  (Eph. 3:20-21) These verses came to mind as I am in awe of how God has and continues to fulfill and provide for my financial needs.  I am humbled and grateful when I read the ...

  Are we there yet? Is a question that adults hear all the time when traveling with kids. And it is often a question not spoken but in the minds of those journeying through re-entry. Its answer varies and may be complex depending on the person(s) and the type of re-entry they are experiencing. Why is re-entry challenging?  The simple yet complex answer is that you have changed. You are not the same person re-entering as you were when you left. Your country and the relationships you left are also not the same because they have changed.  What does navigating re-entry look like? It is a mindset adjustment. There are tiny adjustments and shifts you will need to make to understand the context, dynamics, and nuances of your country’s culture and your relationships. It is having a posture of learning so that you can connect and understand. Having a supportive community to walk with you to encourage, strengthen, celebrate, and be your ‘garden friends’. It takes time to reintegrat...

 Re-entry, whether it is a forced decision, or a decision made freely there are still aspects that can be planned for and others that are spontaneous and they both bring grief and loss. My first re-entry was after finishing my committed time of service and even though I wanted to stay, I knew that my assignment was completed. I had many farewells and got to do some things knowing I may never be back to that country and to spend good quality time with my friends. I thought I would go back into nursing but really did not know what my future held for me. I was completely burned out and had compassion fatigue that led me to pivot by taking the time to care for my well-being through debriefing and counseling. The time back in the US ended up being like a sabbatical to not only rest but also to seek the Lord in what his plan was for my life. I still thought it would be nursing in a hospital setting in the US. Instead, he sent me to another country to do nursing. My second re-entry I had ...

  Transition can cause us to feel disoriented, like we are walking in fog because of the uncertainties and the unknowns we encounter. We cannot see clearly to the other side and sometimes it’s even hard to see the next step. It can disrupt our routines and cause those who both plan and are spontaneous to become unraveled at the seams.  A spontaneous person is one who does not make plans or at least gives lots of room to be able to decide in the moment because they do not want to miss out on anything so have tendencies to be more impulsive in making decisions. It may seem like those who love and enjoy spontaneity have an easier time in transition because they like surprises, they are more carefree and risk takers, and yet, they too, can become more unsure and wobblier themselves. The anchors of certainty that once tethered them to be more spontaneous have come untethered in transition.  A planner is one who makes plans and schedules out their day, week, month, and year. Th...