When returning to their passport countries, many missionaries have difficulty reentering the culture in which they grew up. They may find it difficult to close the chapter in their life in the host culture and begin the new chapter in their “home” culture. To help with that transition, Ron and Bonnie have done several things growing out of their experiences in about 35 reentry retreats including more than 350 missionaries.
Below you will find a number of e-books that explore various issues related to re-entry. Also explore the "brochures" listed in the menu to the right. And, click here to read about re-entry retreats and debriefings that you can participate in.
Missionary Transitions
Missionaries go through major transitions when they move from their passport cultures to their host cultures and when they return "home." Of course, these transitions are discussed in this book; however, missionaries also go through transitions before they leave, while they are serving on the field and after they return. This book includes information about many of these transitions, including the final transition for all of us, the transition from earth to heaven.
Before You Get "Home": Preparing for Reentry
This is a new e-book on preparing for reentry.
Written for people anticipating a return to their passport country several months in the future, this book helps them leave "right," making it easier for them to enter "right."
Using the Exodus as a model, it gives them an overview of what is ahead so they will know what to expect and how to prepare for it.
We’re Going Home: Reentry for Elementary Children
I Don’t Want to Go Home: Parent’s Guide for Reentry for Elementary Children
Ron and Bonnie (an elementary teacher) wrote We’re Going Home (108 pages) for children ages 6-12 who are returning to their passport countries.
Written at a third grade level, We’re Going Home includes the story of a family returning to its passport culture. Each chapter also has activities such as scrambled words, crossword puzzles, word searches, mazes, and codes.
Ron also wrote I Don’t Want to Go Home (54 pages) as a companion volume for parents. Each chapter in the parent’s book has information about TCKs in the Bible, children’s TCK issues today, and suggestions to help children reenter well. Both books are included in each of the files to be downloaded below.
Reentry After Short Term Missionary Service
Written for people returning to their passport country after a few weeks or months of missionary service, this book helps them not only reenter but also consider how they have changed and what that implies for their future.
Using Jonah and Paul as examples, it also helps them process the good and bad events that occurred.