Insight Into Being in Mission as an Educator

We ask some of our newer members some questions about going on mission and what life has been like for them.

Meet our members… 

Jonny serves as a Residence Assistant at Black Forest Academy, Germany.

Liz serves as a teacher in West Asia.

Toyin serves as a teacher at LIFE, Spain.

TeachBeyond: What did you imagine life would be like and how has the reality been?

Jonny - I went to an international school so I used that knowledge along with what I heard to form a picture.

The reality has been ’real’! There has been a lot of new - role, church, community, rhythms, routines, language, skills, co-workers, country - the list goes on. It has been exciting but challenging. It has been a year of learning how to live in the ‘new’ & seeing growth in me because of that. One of the most positive things has been the community that has surrounded me with friendship from day one. I’ve been welcomed in, and people are very intentional about wanting to help.

Liz - I knew it would be very different but could not imagine much beyond the virtual tour and photos. My trips to Uganda helped my awareness.

The sounds and smells of a big city in a developing country were more overwhelming and took longer to adjust to than I had anticipated. Being welcomed and supported by the ex-pat community in the city, by the largely national school community and by the local language teachers has been a real blessing. This has been a great help in making the many adjustments needed for life overseas.

Toyin - I imagined that Spain would be like the UK in terms of culture and day to day lifestyle, and that the majority of Spaniards would be conversant in spoken English due to the country's proximity to the UK.

Spaniards are family-oriented and spend much of their time eating out in restaurants and drinking in bars whatever the day of the week. They have a slow-paced work ethic, which can be frustrating for someone from fast-paced London.

At first, it was hard to communicate with locals, especially when I got lost and tried to ask for directions!

TeachBeyond: did you get any advice about what to take, and looking back, is there anything you wish you had taken or are glad that you took?

Jonny - I didn’t have a lot of ‘stuff’ to make decisions about so I just filled the cases I could and brought them with me. However, finding things here that were the same as back home such as Earl Grey, a love for football, and a source for good books, has been a blessing. It’s been good to have these simple ‘home’ delights in a different context & to be able to connect with people through shared enjoyments. It’s allowed me to keep some continuity through things that have been part of my life in all the different places I’ve lived.

I’m glad I thought to bring some family photos with me. In fact, I wish I had brought more photos of family and friends to stick up on my wall and remind me of all the people in my life!

Liz - the school offered a small list & during video calls, I asked advice from those already living there. Friends and church members who had served overseas in the past had helpful ideas.

I'm pleased I made space for a few personal items to help create a feeling of home, such as a photo frame and a little stuffed Paddington. I took a couple of small board games and my recorders with music to give me ways to unwind. It was helpful taking a few Christmas decorations and some UK sweets to save for a treat. A headtorch has been useful for power outages and travelling in-country, as well as a cotton sleeping bag. New items now on my list are swimming shorts and marmite. 

Toyin - a friend did buy me a bilingual Spanish/English Bible.

I'm glad that I took my classroom set of pen pots that I had recently bought and used in the UK. This was just enough and useful for my students in storing stationery items on their desks.

TeachBeyond: Now that you have served for a year, do you have one piece of advice for others who are preparing to go?

Jonny - it’s hard to pick one! Go with humility and willingness to learn, and in that humility be patient with yourself. There will be so much that is new, so ask questions and ask for help – even if you think they are silly little things. You will get things wrong or be unsure and that’s normal! But that humility will help you build community, and it will also make the transition easier. I’ll add a second one. Remember and trust that He is with you always even if you rise on the wings of the dawn or settle on the far side of the sea...

Liz - expect the unexpected! 

Toyin - try not to be overwhelmed with ‘doing’ things. Know your boundaries and know that it’s OK to say no sometimes. Maintain your relationship with God for it is the only thing that truly sustains and satisfies.

TeachBeyond: What is important for supporters ‘back home’ to understand about living in a mission context overseas?

Jonny - It’s hard to convey just how much energy the transition takes. I did not believe it until I’d experienced it for myself. I look back at some of the advice or information on what living in this community would be like and it makes so much more sense now. There’s so much adaptation going on. There’s the loss of the old and adjusting to all the new. But there is also a lot of emotional energy and mental capacity that is taken up by the little things, e.g. going to the shop is just a little bit harder, getting a haircut is not quite so straightforward, road rules require more concentration, and there will potentially be uncomfortable interactions because of language or cultural differences. When you add all that up, it takes its toll. In that first year, that’s all the extra that will be going on, so it would be beneficial for supporters to recognise that, understand something of it, and encourage those they are supporting.

Liz - We take on a new identity as a foreigner, and the people we meet have a range of different reactions (positive and negative) to us as foreigners. Everyday tasks and communication become much more difficult and take huge amounts of energy, especially in the early days.

Toyin - it can be lonely at times, especially as a single person.

If you have been inspired by hearing from Jonny, Liz and Toyin and want to experience life in mission, you can join us…

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