MK Education Advisor

As of August, 2019,  I, Kathy, have added a new role in the mission community.  I am in training as an education advisor for missionary kids and their families.  This is a role in what is called member care as we as missionaries seek to encourage and support our fellow missionaries.  Many missionary families struggle with how best to educate their children while serving in a foreign country.  There are quite a few options for missionaries in Japan, and I have experience with nearly all of them.  These include things like home schooling, Japanese local schools with part-time English home schooling, one room schools, secular international schools and the Christian international school for missionary kids.  Touching base several times a year with our families to see how things are going is just one aspect of my new role.  Most recently we are going through our first time to help a new family who has just arrived in Japan.  They are trying to decide what's best for their 5 year old twins and 3 year old child.  Kathy is excited that she has a co-advisor in this role, someone who is currently home schooling her two children full time.

Last September, our mission made it possible for my co-advisor and me to make a trip to Pennsylvania for a conference called MK Synergy.  Gathered there were over 150 people who serve in roles to care for missionary kids and their families all over the world.  The first two days were for newbies like us with special introductory sessions.  It was so helpful.  The final three days were filled with speakers and seminars all focusing on the uniqueness of MKs and ways to support and encourage them. Truthfully, it was quite overwhelming.   But, it was great to have a chance to meet so many people who are doing similar things for MKs.  In October I went to Tokyo for the first meeting of a new Member Care Focus Group.  Accepting this role has put me in the Member Care Focus Group for TEAM Japan as a whole.  Our first task was to work on developing a purpose statement.  We have a Member Care coordinator but the needs have become too great for just one person.  So TEAM Japan is looking to broaden its thinking and add people to a group that will focus on member care.  Our worldwide Member Care coordinator based in the USA will be offering several days of training next February in Thailand just prior to an all-region conference for TEAM missionaries who are serving throughout Asia. Networking has become so important in this day and age that traveling to participate in various conferences in order to learn from one another is becoming more highly prioritized.

My good friend, Flossie, who has been serving in this role for a long time will be retiring and returning to the USA next April so I am eager to learn all I can from her.  We are currently having meetings monthly via Skype.  Most of the work of the Member Care Focus Group will also take place online.

Next April, there is going to be another conference on member care for MKs near Dallas, TX.  If we make it to the USA for our home assignment in time, I am really hoping to attend.  I just learned that a good friend of mine, Gary Roe, is going to be the speaker.  garyroe.com  While Gary is a hospice counselor and prolific writer of helpful materials for people who are grieving, he also has experience with international adoption.  He was a missionary in Japan for a period of time as well.  Many people do not realize how much loss and grief missionaries and their children experience.  Gary also has a real heart for kids, with seven kids of his own.  I think he's going to be a great speaker.