Jubilee is an MK herself who moved to Mongolia when she was four and lived there for nine years.
If you know anything about being a missionary in a foreign field, then you're probably aware that it requires a great deal of sacrifice and hard work for a good cause. Think about it: you have to raise financial support, uproot your entire life, plant it in a totally different country, learn—and adjust to—the language and culture in a set amount of time, etc. It's even more difficult when a whole family makes the move for obvious reasons, and the children become officially known as "Missionary Kids."
Missionary Kids—or simply, MKs—are a subgroup of Third Culture Kids. They go from their first culture, where their parents or even grandparents are from, to a second culture, where they grew up—combining elements of both to create a unique third culture. Being an MK has pros and cons, but it can also carry a lot of confusion and even hurt if those who approach them aren't aware of the impact that leading such a life can have on an MK. Because of this, the following are some general points to keep in mind if you ever encounter an MK.
1. What might seem normal for you might be weird for an MK and vice versa.
When an MK goes back to their first culture, it's likely that they'll experience culture shock; a sense of disorientation upon entering an unfamiliar cultural environment. This can happen for many reasons both big and small, from how the roads are paved to the way people dress. The time needed for culture shock to fade can take anywhere between days to years, so it's important to have patience and an open mind. The differences between an MK's first and second culture are weird because they're different. To say that another culture's traditional customs and foods are outlandish or gross would be insensitive to say to an MK since those things were a part of their life for a significant amount of time.
2. Some MKs aren't experts on their second culture.
Usually, there's some expectations that MKs are fluent in the language of their second culture and can give you statistics about where they lived off the top of their heads, but it's not always the case. Some MKs are sheltered and live in a "bubble." As a result, they don't learn the language or get to know the local people because they don't want or simply don't feel the need to.
3. MKs aren't miniature versions of their parents.
What this means is that MKs aren't missionaries themselves, they're simply the kids of missionaries. Sure, they can tell you what their parents do and might even be involved in their parents' ministries to an extent, but if you want more info it'd be best to ask the missionaries themselves.
Because the only responsibility MKs have in the mission field is to be a kid.
To assume otherwise, even if they seem wise and mature for their age could be damaging. Even with asking a small thing like, "So, you probably want to grow up to be a missionary like your parents, huh?" can put a heavy weight on their shoulders since it can make them feel obligated to follow in their parents' footsteps. MKs have their own hopes and dreams. The standard, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" will suffice.
4. Many MKs struggle with their identity.
The questions, "Where are you from?" or "Where's your home?" are extremely dreaded by MKs everywhere for a reason. The aforementioned third culture that MKs—and by extensions TCKs (third culture kids)—form for themselves can evolve into a blank space in-between their other two cultures, a sort of limbo. This can result in a constant struggle, since an MK doesn't completely fit into one culture or the other and is dissatisfied with their third culture. Because of this, many MKs don't have a strong sense of self in relation to their environment. Since they move around so much, they can be stuck with a constant sense of drifting and don't feel tied down to any one place. And since a good chunk of someone's identity is usually tied to where they're from and consider home, a lot of MKs end up feeling like the odd one out because they don't really have a place to call home. Some MKs eventually resolve this issue, most likely with help that occurs over a lifetime, but some don't, which leads to the next point:
5. Not all MKs are Christian.
This might seem surprising, but it happens more often than you would think, and for a whole host of reasons. Sometimes it comes from an MK's resentment towards their parents' calling as missionaries. Sometimes they become jaded and cynical because of the harsh realities of the mission field, turning away from their faith as a result. Or maybe they were never Christian in the first place and didn't have any choice but to go with their parents.
Although MKs share some similarities as seen above, it's also important to understand that MKs aren't a homogeneous group of people. They're made up of people of different ethnic backgrounds who have lived in countries all over the world, and they all have their own stories to tell. No two are the same, and all that's needed to get to know them is an open heart and an open mind.
