This summer is a special one for our family. We don’t usually come home for the summer after our year of home assignment, but with our kids reaching working age, it felt important to give them a chance to do something they can’t really do overseas: work, earn some money, and start saving for college and beyond.
Finding jobs from overseas isn’t easy. A foreign phone number on a resume doesn’t exactly inspire employers to call back. So we’re incredibly grateful for the people who’ve helped open doors for our kids this summer.
One family from our church has a cabin a couple hours from Winnipeg, near Kenora, and they’re connected to a restaurant there. Last year they offered to have Cassie stay with them for the summer and help her get a serving job, even arranging transportation. It was a big opportunity, since Cassie only had a little café experience and this is a nicer restaurant than she’d normally have a shot at. But because the family vouched for her, and their own sons work there too, the restaurant took a chance on her. After four training shifts, she served her first table yesterday and earned her first tips. She’s loving it, and I think she’s also enjoying the independence of being a bit more on her own since graduating high school this past June.
Jay is working full time for a friend of ours whose husband owns a landscaping company. He’s been hired on for general labor, lawn mowing, laying sod, filling bags with gravel, and hopefully learning to drive a bobcat before the summer’s out. It’s good, hard work, and a great way for him to learn flexibility and pick up new skills. He’s also getting his learner’s permit this summer and practicing his driving in the evenings.
Kai is only fourteen, so his summer looks a little different, just enough work without too much. He’s helping a neighbor two doors down who’s recovering from surgery, mowing her lawn, trimming hedges, and weeding her garden. He could easily work full time at this point, but he’s chosen to keep it to about two hours a day. He’s also walking a friend’s dog once a week and picking up the occasional lawn job. A nice balance of earning and still having time to be fourteen.
All three kids will also get to go to camp this summer. Kai has a volleyball camp and a basketball camp on his calendar. Jay is headed to a basketball camp in Minnesota, a more serious one, since he’s hoping to play in college and wants to sharpen his game this year. And Cassie is off to a camp in Alberta for third-culture kids transitioning from high school into college life. Our church sponsored her for it, which has been such a gift.
And every day, Kai and I have been taking advantage of Planet Fitness’s free membership, getting our workouts in together, which has become a nice little routine of its own this summer.
It’s been a summer so far of hard work, new independence, and a lot of growing up for our kids, and we feel so thankful for the community that’s made it all possible.
We often tell our kids we’re on their team. Every choice we make is considering them. These are the gifts we’re working to give them — not wrapped in paper, but built into their lives.
Gift 01
The ability to create music
Music is a language of its own. We want our kids to know how to make it — not just listen to it.
Gift 02
A strong work ethic and ambition
We want them to show up, to try hard, and to care about doing things well — whatever they put their hands to.
Gift 03
The ability to communicate in more than one language
Language opens doors — to people, cultures, and places. Exposure to more than one is a gift that keeps giving.
Gift 04
Wisdom in using financial resources
Not just how to earn money, but how to steward it well — with generosity, patience, and good judgment.
Gift 05
A sense of adventure and love for beautiful places
We want them to get outside, explore, and develop a real sense of wonder for the world God made.
Gift 06
A desire to love God and love others
Above everything else on this list, this is what we want their lives to be shaped by.
Gift 07
The ability to think well
Discerning truth from deception — especially in news, media, and the arts. We want them to be thoughtful, not just informed.
Gift 08
Self-discipline in screens, food, and sleep
The basics matter more than we often admit. We’re trying to help them build healthy rhythms that will serve them for life.
Gift 09
Strong family roots and ties
We want them to know where they come from and to feel deeply connected — to us, to each other, and to the story they’re part of.
Gift 10
The opportunity to study what they love
We want to provide for them the opportunity to learn something they would love to do for a vocation that has meaning and blesses the world they live in, this often includes college and we want them prepared for that.
Gift 11
A love for God’s Word
Not just knowing it’s important, but actually wanting to read it. We hope it becomes something they reach for daily, on their own.
Gift 12
Independence and basic life skills
Cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, building — and more. We want them to be capable, confident people who can take care of themselves and others.
This list isn’t exhaustive — but it reflects what we hope to pass on. We are on our kids’ team, every single day.
Every family has a rhythm — those little rituals and recurring moments that, when you look back, end up defining your life together more than almost anything else. Here’s a peek at ours, season by season.
🌱 Spring
Spring starts indoors for us — we plant seeds inside first and watch them sprout on the windowsill before eventually moving them outside to the garden. It’s a slow, hopeful kind of tradition. Spring is also when most of the kids’ birthdays fall, so it’s a season full of celebrations, birthday parties, and a lot of cake.
☀️ Summer
Summer is full. We do the Rollkuchen, slice into watermelon, and follow the Winnipeg Bombers (even from overseas). And camping at Blue Lake and Five Cabins is one of those anchoring summer traditions we come back to year after year.
🍂 Fall
First day of school photos — every year, no exceptions. Then Thanksgiving, which we love to share with Canadians (or really anyone who needs a table if there are no Canadians nearby). Pumpkin pie is non-negotiable. And when the mood strikes, we’ve been known to make a batch of homemade applesauce.
❄️ Winter
Hockey season means following the Winnipeg Jets. Come Christmas, the house smells like cinnamon buns — we make them every year. And New Year’s Eve? Fondue and a murder mystery envelope. It’s become one of those traditions that everyone looks forward to more than they probably admit.
🔄 All year long
Reading before bed. Reading the Bible at dinner — we did this more faithfully when the kids were younger, but it still shows up. Weekend adventures: hiking, biking, exploring wherever the road takes us. Weekend breakfasts like waffles, and an open-door policy for brunch. We love having people over. And every birthday, we sign each other’s birthday books — a small thing that adds up to something really meaningful over the years.
Some of the words I associate with you are friendly, fun, confident, and determined.
I remember watching you confidently stride across the stage in one of the opening scenes in Aladdin as a sixth grader in your princely costume. Even though almost all of the other main characters were eighth graders, that didn’t stop you from fully realizing your character on stage. You’re not afraid to stand out from the crowd, and that’s one of the things I admire about you.
While some students come to the last period of the day tired and complaining, you have a friendly smile and a cheerful hello when you come into class, and your positivity is like a breath of fresh air.
In band, I watched you tackle tenor saxophone as a sixth grader — not an easy feat for an eleven year old — and then come back from a year in Canada with determination to regain lost ground and play catch up with your class. Though you were nervous at first about playing the saxophone again, your hard work paid off, and you quickly caught up.
I pray for you as you move on to upper school, that you will continue to have the courage and determination to do hard things, and that you will stand up for Christ even when others around you aren’t doing so.
1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
All throughout the two days of winter classic, Kai was a part of the Pep band. He plays Tenor Sax which is a larger saxophone than most. It adds depth to any band and it takes a lot of strength to play (both physically and lung power!) We were so proud of him and really enjoyed the pep band all weekend – it really wouldn’t be the same kind of weekend without the band!
I wanted to send a message of encouragement—Kai is doing a fabulous job in ELA and Bible. He is such a deep thinker and enthusiastic participant in every activity and discussion. He is currently leading his group’s project in Bible, showing his natural ability to organize and delegate. I am really enjoying getting to know him!
1) Ask for parents’ insight about how to relate with their kids
Parents know their kids best! If you can, talk with the missionary parents before they come to church on Sunday, or before you meet up with them, and ask them how you can best support their kids while you are together.
Some kids genuinely enjoy standing with their parents and listening to the adults talk and have conversations (that was me as a kid!). Other kids love making new friends and want to jump into the Sunday morning programs. They might prefer to blend in and make friends, or simply observe the world around them.
Ask parents about each of their kids specifically, since every kid has different needs. Then, see how you can help!
2) Introduce yourself like it’s the first time you’re meeting
MKs often hear something like, “Hi, I’m Barbara, do you remember me? I used to babysit you!” or “Oh, it’s so good to see you! Wow, you’ve grown so tall!” While these are warm and well intentioned comments, this can put MKs in an awkward position. They may feel guilty for not remembering you, or they may want to act like they do indeed remember you (even if they don’t). If MKs are back in their passport country for the first time in three years, it may be really hard for them to recall a lot of names and faces from previous years. Help them out by introducing yourself!
If you introduce yourself in the same way you would if you were meeting for the first time, or if you remind them how you’re connected to their family, it will give them more freedom to be themselves. And, who knows, maybe one day they will actually say, “Oh yeah, I remember you!! You’re the one who picked us up from the airport a few years ago and told the story about the alligators!”
3) Ask specific, open-ended, simple questions
“Which country do you like living in better?” or “Do you have any friends there?” can feel like a lot of pressure for MKs. These are specific, yet very closed-ended questions. On the other hand, questions that are open but too broad or abstract can also feel intimidating. “How can we be praying for you?” or “What’s it like living in Hungary?” might be great questions for adults, but MKs are often at a loss for words to answer these questions on the spot.
Here are some other tips on tweaking questions to help MK’s feel more loved…
Instead of, “Do you have friends there?” ask, “Who are some people you enjoy spending time with at home in Budapest?”
Instead of, “Which country do you like living in better Hungary or Ukraine?” ask, “What’s something you think is cool about Hungary?” or “What’s something you miss from Ukraine when you’re home in Budapest (or Canada)?”
Instead of, “How can I be praying for you?” (which can sometimes be a tough question for kids to answer!) you could ask, “What’s something kind of stressful or challenging that you experience here in Canada?” Listen to their answers, and ask follow-up questions if they want to talk about it. After listening to their stories, you can say, “Wow, yeah, that does sound tough! I’d love to be praying for you for ________ .“ Here you could insert that area of their life—e.g. for new friends, for kind teachers, for school in their second language, etc.).
4) Invite them to join you in what you’re doing
If you’re welcoming MK’s into your home, share your hobbies and interests with them. I still remember the time one of our family’s supporters taught me how to knit. Knitting became my new favorite pastime on long car rides during that home assignment. I’m actually not much of a knitter today, but I still feel loved when I remember the woman who once took the time to teach me how to knit while we were in their home!
Think about some of the things you enjoy doing. Ask MKs if they’d like to join you and try something new. Do you make the best homemade kettle corn? Invite the kids to learn how to make it with you! Do you love building birdhouses? Do you play baseball in your free time? Let them paint a birdhouse you made, or coach them in pitching a baseball. You’ll not only teach them valuable skills, but they’ll feel so loved that you’d care enough to spend that time with them.
On Sundays, this may look a little different, but the same idea goes a long way. Are you teaching Sunday School? Ask them if they’d like to come with you and introduce them to other kids their age. Are you setting up chairs for the service? Invite them to join in and have a fun conversation as you go (and ask their parents first, of course!). Are you the same age as the MK? Invite them to play in the church gym with you and your friends after the service. You can even introduce them to other teenagers from the youth group and find out what you all have in common together.
5) Welcome them into the fold, rather than asking them to perform
In general, MKs long to belong wherever they go. They spend much of their lives observing and adapting to the world around them, and they are skilled at figuring out how to fit in. Give them the chance to feel at home in your church or community whenever they visit.
If you’d like for an MK to share something about life as a missionary kid in Sunday school or youth group, ask them beforehand. Then, give them the chance to say “sure!” or “I’d rather not.”
In conversations, ask them about their lives in their countries, and be intentional about getting to know them for who they are. At the same time, give them space to belong and feel like they are welcomed to belong (and not stand out so much!), even if they’re only at church for a day or in town for a week. Treat them “as your own,” and remind them that they matter to you.
Thank you for investing in missionary kids! We are like sponges, constantly observing and taking in the world around us. When you spend time with us and take time to see our needs, it really means a lot. Your words of encouragement, and your actions of love and care, help us feel less alone, and point us to the kindness of God. Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the biggest difference in our lives.
Kai had the idea to take 200 digits after 3.14 and give each number a music note (for example 1 is A 2 is B etc.) then he transposed them on a music sheet and had his piano teacher play them (it was a bit complex for him). We thought this was a really fun idea! Similar to many people who have taken the constants of the universe that God made and made them into art (an interesting book about this is Nancy Pearcey’s book called Saving Leonardo). Here is the music it made.
Every year we begin to prepare for the new season. Not spring, or winter or even summer or fall… but birthday season! From April 15-May 25 we celebrate all of the kid’s birthdays. We sit down with each child and ask, “What do you want for your birthday breakfast and dinner? Is there a special dessert? Do you want a party with lots of people, or just a small one with a few friends?” Each of the kids always choose different things, but we hope that each knows that they are loved and celebrated. Of course, throw into the crazy birthday month an exciting volleyball season, a high school musical ‘The music man’, awards ceremonies, and let’s not forget mothers day…oh and… well let’s just say that it has been a full month!
“One of my highlights from my preschool is I like to eat breakfast at home and I like getting my snack ready. Some of my low lights are I get owies on my knees when I slip, and sometimes I have to play by myself and I don’t really like playing by myself. And another one of my highlights is just going to school. I like school.” ~Kai- Age 5
Got to love the sweet fun spirit of this 5 year old! Kai loves to have fun, look at books, having reading lesson with mom, colour pictures and go to his preschool where he speaks the local language with all of his friends. He is the one who gives lots of love and hugs. If you are having a bad day, Kai will help you feel better!
April and May become birthday season around here, are three kids celebrating within 35 days. That means cakes and presents and parties, all things we love – and our kids too!
This years birthdays included a day at the park with close friends, a superman party and a day at the zoo, also with friends.
Often this website is a way for us to communicate all of the things that we are doing, to share the excitement with family and friends far away. BUT sometimes it is good to share what is happening with our kids since many of our readers love them too
Jay and Cassie are really growing up, and like most kids, they love to be creative. Lego is one way they express their creativity! Jay loves to invent new vehicles and Cassie likes to build anything, from scenes to animal shows.
Kai’s creativity comes out when he plays pretend by himself with little animals or figurines. He also has a favourite spot next to the bookshelf where he will sit for a whole hour just looking at books.
Cassie is still loving school, she is on Spring break now, and just last weekend had a big sleepover with 6 girls.
Jay’s buddy Egan is back from America and the three boys have all sorts of fun together during the day.
So the kids are growing up healthy and have lots of fun with their friends- but often talk of their family and friends in Canada. Soon we will be printing out pictures to put up in their room so they don’t forget :)
Thanks for all of you who love and pray for our kids!
Always on the move it seems but every once in a while he takes the time to settle down and do a puzzle or read a book. Kai and Jay are loving the reptile books right now … what makes a little man go crazy about scales?!
I’m growing up! Kai is using short sentences and some fun phrases like “Me too!” and “It’s Awesome!” Since his sister has started attending school he and Jay have grown closer, playing together a lot. His favourite show is definitely Little Einstein’s. There is still quite a nice mess when he eats his oatmeal in the morning but every once in a while we escape with a clean shirt.
I’m gaining words every week, Mom and Dad! I can say play, eyebrow, and all sorts of random words. I’ve pretty much got all my colours down and can even (sort of) count up to 10 (when I feel like it). One of my favourite things this summer has been spending so much time playing with my cousins and I’ve learned to say all of their names!
This last weekend friends of ours gave us a swing set for our backyard. This morning I was so blessed listening to our kids laughing and playing together outside. Our time at home in Canada truly has been awesome for our whole family. So here are some quick updates on the kids:
Cassie- lost her two front teeth this weekend, 2 days after she turned 6! She had a party with a bunch of her friends all around the theme ‘Frozen- the movie.’ My two cousins Teresa and Soumela were there and helped me lots, along with my nieces Suzanna and Elly.
Jay- Loves playing soccer on a team here in Winnipeg. He wants to wear his jersey to bed every night and of course leave it on all day! He still loves zooming cars down slides and race tracks. He does great on his reading lessons and remembers sounds really easily!
Kai- His vocabulary has really been expanding since he has turned two. ‘Lello’ is his favorite colour and he has to point out every yellow thing he sees. He sweetly says ‘soyee’ when he does something wrong, and ‘tank-oo’ when someone gives him something or helps him. But one difference with our other two children, he does NOT like bed time.
This little boy is a climber. He loves to climb up on the top of the couch and with all sorts of sound effect jump and land on the seat. He climbs out of his playpen at night. He climbs up the ladder to the top of the bunkbed. He climbs onto the toilet, leans over, turns on the water and fills up a cup to drink. He is definitely a climber!
He is also starting to add more words to his vocabulary everyday. He has said his cousin Noah’s name, Owl, Towel, Yes, No (rather emphatically), water, more, down, done, peas (please), tank-ew (thank you!). It is fun to see him learning to communicate beyond sign language.
Teaching Adventures 