Welcome to Judy Keith's archive page

For the longer complete letter email Judy and get on her email list.

Prayer For Judy, MU KAPPA MINISTRY

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Sigificant prayer/devotional times
Teachabel spirit
Compassion/burden for those who don't know Jesus Christ
Opportunities to makeHim know
Hunger to study God's word

EFFECTIVE MINISTRY

"Lord unless you build the house, we labor in vain who build it"...

To know that adequacy comes only from God
Trust in God's power
Wisdom in planning
Stewardship of the time and finances
Discernment re:tyranny of the urgent
Professional study & development to enrich service tomissionaries

PHYSICAL NEEDS

General health
Safety in travel
Adequate finances

RELATIONSHIPS

Understanding in relationships with MK's
Wisdom in parenting and grandparenting :)
Health family dynamics
Vulnerablity and honesty in family and friendships

My Kappa staff

From right to left Judy Keith, Perry Bradford, Sandi Bradford

Reentry Discussion Issues:

Week 1:

From One MK to Another

Understanding Yourself and Others

Benefits/Challenges of being a TCK

Coping Successfully with Hardship & Trauma Grief & Loss

Week 2:

Five Issues Teens Face

Dealing with Anger

Dating Relationships in N.A.

Dealing with Depression

Issues of Transition

Choosing a Church & Maintaining the Faith Setting Realistic Boundaries Developing Relationships Moving Ahead?

(As you can see, we cover some heavy-duty stuff, but a lot of fun and recreation is also mixed in.)

Praising God for you, as I start Year Six with Mu Kappa! Thanks for "standing in the gap" for MKs!

Judy

Hello Friends,

"Quick Trip" Version
(For those new to this letter, MK = Missionary Kid)
MC2 was worth the trip to Minneapolis in February! Thanks for praying!
MK Connection: took two MKs out for lunch in St. Paul. Thanks for giving!
Resources: for those you know in missions. Pass it on!
Coming up:
Mar. 6-18: Trip to TX. Mixing pleasurable business with pleasure.
(Talking about Mu Kappa in E. Texas and seeing daughters & granddaughter in Dallas/Houston) Mar. 23: Speaking in Chapel at Kansas City Christian School Mar. 25-28: Talking about Mu Kappa in northeast MO.
Mar. 26: Meeting with Mu Kappa advisor at Greenville Univ., Greenville, IL April 5-9: MKCC (MK Caregivers' Consultation) in Kansas City April 16-18: 6th Annual South Central MK Retreat, College of the Ozarks, MO Please pray "early" for April MK Retreat and MKs planning to attend Reentry Seminars in July.
Percolations: Food for thought. See way below, as you have t-i-m-e!

Grab-a-Cup-of-Coffee Version?
MC2 (Midwest Conference on Missionary Care), Minneapolis, MN. This was definitely worth a drive to Minneapolis in February!
About 200 people - mostly from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area - were stimulated/challenged/encouraged by the plenary speakers and breakout sessions. A friend from church went with me, and it was fun to have Cathy meet people from my Barnabas Int'l world.
The director (of Barnabas Int'l) and his wife both spoke, and several other staff members were there as well.

There were more breakout sessions than we could attend, even by dividing and conquering. We wanted to hear all of them, but could only pick 4 special sessions each. Below are a few "take-away" thoughts from the ones I attended. The two keynote sessions were also tremendous, but I won't cover them here.

NUGGETS from "Passion Drives Performance, Not the Other Way Around" (Jean
Johnson/Cambodia)
>Don't use T-ball logic.
> Day 1 in a country (as missionary) will affect Day 100.
> Passion for the Lord and for ministry can be depleted if "performance" is a priority over one's spiritual vitality. It is essential to be
able to first maintain passion in our walks with the Lord. Any results of ministry will thus be more long-lasting and far-reaching.
>Churches need to give missionaries permission to write in their
letters about BEING (passion), not just about DOING
(performance).

NUGGETS from "The MK Experience" (by Heidi Tunberg, MK Caregiver with Reach Global/EFCA)
("What You Can Do")
>PRAY for them!
>Try to develop relationships with them while they're on the field.
>Offer emotional support.
>LISTEN!!!
>Be a cultural mentor and/or find them a peer mentor.
>Offer them a "home away from home."
(Invite them to be part of your family. Invite them again if they say no the first time)
>Send notes/cards/emails to remind them you're praying.
>Send care packages to them in college.

NUGGETS from "Helping Thru Life Transitions" (Heidi Tunberg)
(What You Can Do)
>PRAY for them. (MKs/missionaries)
>Remind them of your love and support through letters/emails.
>Advocate for them in your church - bring their needs to the attention of others who can meet those needs.
>Learn about the TRANSITION process so you can better understand what they're going through.
(This is also true for missionaries coming home on furlough or home not-by-choice)

NUGGETS from "Debriefing Your Church's Missionaries" (by John Certalic
with Caring for Others: caringforothers.org)
>Principles learned here were for ordinary folks (like us), not clinical/professional debriefing.
>Take the time to hear your missionaries' stories when they are
ready (but don't wait too long to ask!), without judgment or trying
to "fix" anything. Our purpose is to be a safe, confidential place for them to process out loud.
>Listening Skill: WAIT (Why Am I Talking??)
>E-copies of "Top 10 Listening Skills" available

MK CONNECTION: Because of extra financial gifts, I was able to treat Melanie (Ecuador) and Melissa (Austria) for lunch in St. Paul. I met them both at the Reentry Seminar two years ago. Never dreamed I'd be in their territory!

RESOURCES: Please pass these on to anyone interested?
>Women of the Harvest: A ministry of support and encouragement for women serving cross-culturally
W.O.T.H. Retreat in India!?There are many ways individuals here in the US can get involved (details on web site)
MANY great resources online at womenoftheharvest.com
>"Moving Women Beyond Surviving to Thriving in Missions" Apr.29-May 1, Chicago
(sponsored by Cross Global Link:
crossgloballink.org/Connecting_To_Equip for more details)
>MP2MP - Newsletter/encouragement for parents of missionaries!
info@mp2mp
>Traveling Without Baggage: Christar.org/TWB/Windter10TWB.pdf
A publication for and by tcks (also known as MKs)
>Already Gone (Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it) by Ken Ham & Britt Beemer
>American Cultural Baggage (How to Recognize and Deal With It) by Stan Nussbaum

COMING UP: Prayers are always appreciated for travel safety, car health, wisdom in speaking, and sensitivity to God-appointments.
PRAYER for the MK Retreat in April and Reentry Seminars in July. It's not too early to pray!
THANKS for praying for the OK Baptist Univ. gathering of MKs on Feb. 21.
It was a small turnout, but God knows those who will benefit
from getting together, so nothing is wasted!

PERCOLATIONS: I'm tired, aren't you?? This letter is already so long, PERCOLATIONS will have to wait. Thanks for bearing with the length of this email, for your prayers, financial gifts, and many words of encouragement!

Serving with you,
Judy

Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator
Barnabas International
www.mukappa.org
www.barnabas.org

Hello Friends,

Serving with you,
Judy

Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator
Barnabas International
www.mukappa.org
www.barnabas.org

Hello Friends,

Serving with you,
Judy

Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator
Barnabas International
www.mukappa.org
www.barnabas.org

Northeast Regional MK Retreat

MK group

The Reentry Seminar is built for missionary kids (MKs) who have just completed high school overseas. The seminar provides helpful tools which prepare students for the transition back into life and college in North America. It is an opportunity to learn and grow with those who are experiencing similar things, while also having a fun time!

Praying for MK's

Cross-Cultural Adjustment: Pray for good adjustments to their passport country or host country.
Education: Pray for the MK's education - Primary, secondary, or University level and beyond.
Family & Ministry: Pray for spiritual protection for the MK's, family and parents' ministry.
Finances: Pray that God would provide for the financial needs of MK's education, jobs, housing, etc.
Physical Health and Saftey: Pray for the physical health and safety of MK's as they travel, transition, and adjust.
Re-entry: Pray that MK's entering their parents' home culture would make a successful transition and build a good support system.
Spiritual Vitality: Pray that MK's would recognize God's presence in their lives and choose to follow Him.
Transitions: An MK's many transitions mean a loss of friends, familiar surroundings and at times leaving family. Pray that they know God's provision and experience peace in their transitions.

You Know You're an MK When...
... Climates below 72* F (20* C) are against your body's religion.
... You have no problem with global warming
... Before you were ten, you traveled alone, understood terms like customs
and immigration, and knew
exactly how many kilos you could pack into a suitcase and get away
with it.
... You know how to avoid jet-lag
... You fly home for Christmas, spend 26 hours on a plane, and arrive the
same day you left.
... You maintain a mailing list of over 400 names and addresses, but have
no one you feel comfortable spending
Christmas with.

Please do pray for the MKs who fall under that last one! The kids I have been talking to are able to be home with their families for Christmas, but I know many cannot, and my heart goes out to them and their parents, continents away from each other! I feel truly blessed to be spending the next week with my girls in TX! (Yup, could use your prayer for travel/driving mercies again!)

Thank you again for your many words of encouragement, prayers, and financial support. This is not a one-man "show." Without you, the ministry could not be fulfilled. Wishing you warm wishes and God's comforting presence for the Holiday Season.

Judy
Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator
Encouragement Online Magazine
http://barnabas.org/magazine.php

Hello Friends,

Serving with you,
Judy

Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator
Barnabas International
www.mukappa.org
www.barnabas.org

Hello Friends,

I am finally home long enough to come up for air and fill you in on recent activities. Thanks so much for praying for these trips/events!

Toodles (my car) is approaching 213,000 miles as she has carried me faithfully and safely through:

Mar. 6-18: Trip to TX. Mixing pleasurable business with pleasure.

(Talking about Mu Kappa in E. Texas and seeing daughters & granddaughter in Dallas/Houston) Mar. 23: Speaking in Chapel at Kansas City Christian School Mar. 25-28: Talking about Mu Kappa in Northeast MO.

Mar. 26: Meeting with Mu Kappa advisor and an MK at Greenville Univ., Greenville, IL April 5-9: MKCC (MK Caregivers' Consultation) in Kansas City April 16-18: 6th Annual South Central MK Retreat, College of the Ozarks, MO

Much energy was especially given to the planning and preparations for the MKCC and South Central MK Retreat.

April 5-9: MKCC: I enjoyed preparing three pre-conference meals for this and helping with the airport runs.

Attendees: About 20 came for the pre-conference (foundational information for those new to MK care)

A total of 45 MK caregivers attended from all over the U.S. Over half of these are adult MKs!

Theme: Building an Authentic Community of Care: Church, Agency, & Family Discussions included various aspects of the Community of Care (involving the above), research regarding Adult TCKs (Third Culture Kids/MKs), curriculum, regular and crisis debriefing, long-distance discipleship, transition seminars, Child Safety Network, "Including the Grandparents."

April 16-18: South Central MK Retreat (College of the Ozarks, near Branson, MO) Glimpses of the weekend:

~ 5 girls from TN, OK, MO, 5 girls and 1 guy from College of the Ozarks, and 4 leaders ~ These MKs grew up in: France, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Malawi,

Senegal, Malaysia, Botswana, Zambia, Brazil,

Tanzania, Kenya, England, Bolivia, Mexico, Costa Rica, U.S.

~ "WHERE ARE WE??? What's with all the pictures of scary people on the way down here???"

(Remarks from 2 girls who grew up in Africa and knew nothing of Branson/Ozark tourist culture displayed on billboards!) ~ Lots of singing, sharing thoughts/experiences, eating SNACKS (thanks to those who sent them!!), making jewelry, shivering.

(Sun. morning it was 39 degrees! No heat in cabins.)

~ MK Connections:

(Great to see the one guy who joined us! I have known Daniel since we met at the Reentry Seminar in 2005.)

(I also reconnected with a girl from Senegal?our 3rd Retreat together here)

(Reunion: 3 girls who attend different schools but knew each other in Africa.) ~ Motivating/inspirational teaching: Jonathan Parker challenged us using

the parable of the soils, stressing the importance of

God's Word to be planted and active in our lives if we are to mature in our relationship with God and bear fruit for His glory.

Action plan: each person was given an evaluation to fill out regarding things God had brought to mind over the weekend:

1. Which of the soils in Mark 4 best describes where you are? (Wayside, Stony, Thorny, Good)

2. What are some internal or under the surface issues (stones) in your life that are hindering the Word of God from being rooted in your heart

and bearing consistent fruit?

3. What are some external issues (thorns) that are choking out the Word of God in your life?

4. What are some steps that you can take to begin the process of cleaning out the "stones" and "thorns"?

Each person put their evaluations in an envelope, addressed it to themselves, and gave it to me. I will mail it to them

in a few months as a reminder of this time, and so they can see how God has been working in their lives.

~ On the trip home Katherine (MK attending Central MO State) and I met

with Holly (MK from Kazakhstan) in Bolivar, MO.

Holly couldn't attend the Retreat, but she and I met a couple of years ago and get together when we can.

PLEASE PRAY for MKs who are graduating seniors as they say farewells to their host countries. Plans are underway for Reentry Seminars in various parts of the country this summer. Barnabas International staff are involved in three of these: Biola Univ. (CA), Seattle Pacific Univ. (WA),

and Cedarville Univ. (OH). Please pray that all the necessary funding

will come in for staff and students, for wisdom in planning, for receptive hearts and good communication.

Thank you for your partnership and prayers!

Judy

Mu Kappa Regional Coordinator

Barnabas International

www.mukappa.org

www.barnabas.org

June 11 ~ HAPPY ST. BARNABAS DAY!

Thought that was appropriate in light of my work with Barnabas International. =) I'm thankful to be working with this group of encouragers!!

"You know you're an MK [Missionary Kid] when?.."

?High school graduation is the saddest day of your life.

?You'd rather never say hello than have to say good-bye.

?The majority of your friends don't speak English.

?The U.S. is a foreign country to you.

?Going home means one thing to your parents and an entirely different thing to you.

"MK on the brain"?and on my heart as I have been praying for the transition of missionary families, especially during the summer season.

Some are just coming off the field for a year or a few months of furlough, hoping to reconnect with supporters and help their kids get settled in college. Others have just finished that furlough time and are now heading back to their field of service?.without their college-age children, and praying for God's protection and guidance for these precious ones during an extremely challenging season of life.

Please pray for Sarah (Africa), whom I met at the spring MK Retreat. She has finished her first year of college in OK, and her parents will be leaving this summer?this time not back to Africa, but to Australia, a totally new field. Pray that the Lord will comfort parents, siblings, and Sarah during the painful separation, and give them peace. No doubt many of you have your own names that you could fill in!

MK TRANSITION SEMINARS!!!!! This summer Barnabas Int'l staff members will be hosting three Transition Seminars (also known as Reentry) across the country, in Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Cedarville, OH.

Approximately 80 MKs from nearly every continent will converge on these locations for two weeks. Why do they come? A typical expectation: "I hope to gain some peace from what I've been through, and maybe make some friends and learn from others' experiences. Maybe God has something

special for me to hear through them." Please pray:

.?that the Lord will use us staff members mightily in the lives of these MKs.

?.for the hearts of the MKs attending. They have said good-bye so many times, it can be

difficult for them to open up to yet another set of relationships for such a brief time.

?.for logistics and to fall into place ~ many details have to come together for these!

?.for financing: the Seattle and Cedarville seminars must raise $1000 per student

some of that need remains (kids are only charged $475).

Coming Up: After a restful yet productive month at home, I'm ready for

the road again!

June 24 - July 2: Barnabas Int'l staff meetings in Williams Bay, WI (includes driving time) July 11-23: MK Transition Seminar in Los Angeles, CA (I fly out the 8th to help with this one) July 18-30: MK Transition Seminar in Seattle, WA July 18-30: MK Transition Seminar in Cedarville, OH

Favorite quote from the last ministry year: "Thank you for your mama's heart." I have found that my greatest joy in this ministry is developing relationships with individual MKs. Thank you for all of the support and words of encouragement during this journey. Looking forward to what God has in mind for the coming year!

Serving with you,

Judy

AUGUST 16 2010

Dear Friends,

“Urgent prayer request” answered! Thank you for praying for the debriefing conference Aug. 2-6 in Joplin, MO! I’m thankful that the folks at TRAIN Int’l entrusted me with the four kids (ages 10-14, picture attached). We had a good week together! The seven adults, my four kids, and a few younger children bonded well and hated to say good-bye. What a privilege to see the TRAIN staff come alongside these servants with encouragement and compassion. They were truly renewed and hopeful after the sessions together. Thank you for praying us through!

YOU KNOW YOU’RE AN MK WHEN……You'd rather never say hello than have to say good-bye.…Your life story uses the phrase “Then we went to….” five times.
…You never know what to say when asked for a “permanent address.”
…You want to write “MK” in the “other” box under ethnic origin.

…You have a passport but no driver’s license.

College students all over the country are descending on their campuses. Their lives will be forever changed by this new journey! Many American kids have difficulty adjusting to being away from home for the first time. Magnify that for the Americans who are away from “home” in the “foreign” country of the U.S. (Missionary Kids)!

The MKs who attended Reentry Seminars in July were typically nervous about their upcoming university transitions. They expressed concerns like “I’m really scared, but I’m also excited to start something new.” “Will I fit in?” “It’s going to be so weird to be so far from my family.” “I’m trusting God to work everything out.” Thank you for your prayers on their behalf! They are touched when they realize that people in churches all over the country genuinely care for them, are praying for them, and ready to help when they can.

Making “history”: I love making continued connections with MKs over the years! Emily and I met in 2007 at her Reentry Seminar, and God has allowed our paths to cross multiple times since then in AR, GA, KS, CA, and again recently as I gave her a ride from the Tulsa airport to AR. I miss my girls and Emily’s folks are back in Africa, so the on-going “history” is win-win for both of us. J

AFGHANISTAN. AUGUST 5, 2010. Ten members of a medical aid team were ambushed and murdered after a two-week humanitarian mission. I’m still stunned and grieving for the families of the victims. It is one thing to be praying for particular families in that area …to see their names on the list of victims has been difficult and surreal. But to be the family members and close friends? I can’t begin to comprehend that anguish. My heart and prayers go out to them. Stories abound of how individuals on this team impacted many lives. My own life is richer because of contact with a couple of the daughters who grew up in that country and loved it. Thank you for joining me in continued prayer for healing for families and friends.

Coming Up: Aug. 18-25: Family gathering in TX with MK visits en route (hopefully!).
Aug. 27-31: “Northwoods Gathering” in MN (some Barnabas staff will be getting together). Hopefully I’ll be able to connect with some MKs on this trip as well. Please pray for those details to be worked out. Please also pray for travel safety since I’ll be driving. Thanks!

Joyfully serving with you,
Judy

August 17

Dear Friends,

"Urgent prayer request" answered! Thank you for praying for the debriefing conference Aug. 2-6 in Joplin, MO! I'm thankful that the folks at TRAIN Int'l entrusted me with the four kids (ages 10-14, picture attached). We had a good week together! The seven adults, my four kids, and a few younger children bonded well and hated to say good-bye. What a privilege to see the TRAIN staff come alongside these servants with encouragement and compassion. They were truly renewed and hopeful after the sessions together. Thank you for praying us through!
YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN MK WHEN...
...You'd rather never say hello than have to say good-bye.
...Your life story uses the phrase "Then we went to...." five times.
...You never know what to say when asked for a "permanent address."
...You want to write "MK" in the "other" box under ethnic origin.
...You have a passport but no driver's license.

College students all over the country are descending on their campuses. Their lives will be forever changed by this new journey! Many American kids have difficulty adjusting to being away from home for the first time. Magnify that for the Americans who are away from "home" in the "foreign" country of the U.S. (Missionary Kids)!

The MKs who attended Reentry Seminars in July were typically nervous about their upcoming university transitions. They expressed concerns like "I'm really scared, but I'm also excited to start something new." "Will I fit in?" "It's going to be so weird to be so far from my family." "I'm trusting God to work everything out." Thank you for your prayers on their behalf! They are touched when they realize that people in churches all over the country genuinely care for them, are praying for them, and ready to help when they can.
Making "history": I love making continued connections with MKs over the years! Emily and I met in 2007 at her Reentry Seminar, and God has allowed our paths to cross multiple times since then in AR, GA, KS, CA, and again recently as I gave her a ride from the Tulsa airport to AR. I miss my girls and Emily's folks are back in Africa, so the on-going "history" is win-win for both of us. J
AFGHANISTAN. AUGUST 5, 2010. Ten members of a medical aid team were ambushed and murdered after a two-week humanitarian mission. I'm still stunned and grieving for the families of the victims. It is one thing to be praying for particular families in that area ...to see their names on the list of victims has been difficult and surreal. But to be the family members and close friends? I can't begin to comprehend that anguish. My heart and prayers go out to them. Stories abound of how individuals on this team impacted many lives. My own life is richer because of contact with a couple of the daughters who grew up in that country and loved it. Thank you for joining me in continued prayer for healing for families and friends.

Coming Up: Aug. 18-25: