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"Our Souls must Catch up with our bodies"
[Adaptation of a Lettie Cowman story]"Our Souls must Catch up with our bodies"
Immediately upon landing at the port city, the Westerners arranged for nationals to carry their luggage on an overland journey that would last several weeks. They were eager to get to their destination, and within two days the caravan of men, heavily laden, trooped out of the city and into the jungle.
All went well until the sixth morning, when the luggage handlers said, “We must stop.”
“Stop? Impossible!” The Westerners urged them, and with some hesitation, the Africans loaded up.
The next day it was the same, the hesitation a bit longer. The following morning the Westerners rose to find their African helpers settled comfortably under trees, the luggage left exactly where it had been left the night before.
“What are you doing?! Get up! We have to get going!”
Their spokesman looked up and shook his head. “Not today…not today,” he said gently but firmly. “We have gone too far, too fast. Our souls must catch up with our bodies.”
SECTION 5.1: THE NEUTRAL ZONE
Reflection Opportunity
Reflection Opportunity
Where’s the best place for you to land?
Who are life-giving people in your relational network? Could you land with them?
When you first move out of your location you enter the Neutral Zone. This is a liminal, in-between stage. You have moved geographically; now you are beginning to navigate every-day duties in a different environment, enter new relationships, and [possibly] re-engage in former relationships. You are also engaging in your vocation in new ways. This stage is disorienting, exciting, inspiring, confusing, frustrating – and full of possibilities.
Remember you are not alone in the challenges.
Talk with friends who've been overseas and returned to their countries of origin, or moved from one field of service to another.
Engage in a debriefing program.
Some of your friends will be able to refer you to debriefing programs and resources that have been helpful for them, as well!
Packing everything up to move from one country to another is a monumental task. Saying all your good-byes is draining. Jet lag takes a physical toll. Fatigue will probably color your initial perceptions. If you were burned out when you left, it will take time for you to be restored. Bottom line? Give yourself time for your soul to catch up with your body. Your body and emotions may take longer than you think to re-establish healthy equilibrium. Plan downtime in the days, weeks, and months after you move.
TIPS
TIPS
Give yourself time for your soul to catch up with your body.
Remember what you have needed in other transitions: physical exercise, healthy food, plenty of sleep, time to organize in your new space (even if it is temporary!), etc.
Schedule downtime.
It may be helpful to go back over Section 2: Remember & Reflect and continue your reflections. Looking at the questions you didn’t address may also be helpful now.
Returning Well: Your Guide to Thriving Back "Home" After Serving Cross-Culturally by Melissa Chaplin is a highly recommended tool for this stage.
SECTION 5.2: DEBRIEFING
Attend a debriefing program or retreat:
Attend a debriefing program or retreat:
Being debriefed with others and processing in community can be profoundly helpful. We highly encourage you to have a debriefing.
Timing:
Debriefings tend to be most helpful after being ‘on the ground’ in your new location for several months. You will be past the initial adrenaline, rush, and pressure of your move. You will have begun to experience what life is like on the ground in your new location, and how you are responding to the changes.
Bottom line: arrange for a debriefing in whatever time frame works best for you. Now is the time to plan for it!
These programs have limited space, and you will need to plan financially. Several programs are listed below to help you begin your research into the different offerings that are available:
United States
Group Debriefing Retreats for individuals and couples:
Heartstream Resources in Pennsylvania
MTI in Colorado (additionally offers debriefings for families with children)
Personalized Debriefing Retreats: using the Le Rucher principle
Emmaus Encounter in Montana
Le Rucher East Coast USA in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania
Transition Seminars for teens finishing high school overseas:
Barnabas International in Ohio
Narramore Christian Foundation in Southern California
Interact International in Georgia (additionally has offerings for children and teens)
Counseling:
Link Care in California
Canada
Group Debriefing Retreats for individuals, couples, teens and children:
Mission Prep in Toronto and Alberta
More Network Outreach in Alberta and Ontario
Personalized Debriefing Retreats:
CARES (Counseling & Restoration Services) in B.C. (additionally offers counseling services)
Transition Seminars for teens finishing high school overseas:
More Network Outreach in Alberta and Ontario (additionally offers retreats for young adult TCKs)
Europe
Group and personalized Debriefing Retreats for individuals, couples, families:
Le Rucher Ministries in France, Germany, Netherlands
Barnabas Zentrum in Austria, and Croatia (additionally offers personalized care and counseling)
The SentWell Team can provide a debriefing time with you and your family.
Please contact SentWell directly by filling out a Request for Services Form to begin engaging in our services.
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