I've been a missionary's kid as long as I can remember. Actually, all my life. My parents were called to the mission field of the Military when my oldest sister was very young, and she's 14 years older than me, so that was a long time ago.
This series is basically going to be a little bit about the different things traveling- ie. SS. classes, accomodations, food, etc. etc.
What I'm going to do is give you an outline. (a) What It's like for me. (b) What I do about it/with it. (c) What you can do.
This post is about Teen Classes. Particularly Sunday School.
As a teenage missionary kid I often go to teen classes at different churches, and it can be awkward when you don't know anyone!
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Scenario 1:
I walk into the Sunday School building and look awkwardly around for anyone that might be friendly enough to point out the teen Sunday School class.
Not seeing anyone in particular, I wander toward the flow of young people heading into a room in the corner of the building.
Yes, this is definitely the Teen Sunday School class.
Almost all the seats are taken up by the time I get there. I notice one open by a girl about my age, but she is obviously pre-occupied in her iPhone and doesn't look very friendly.
Oh well.
"Is anyone sitting here?" I ask with a smile.
She barely glances up and shrugs.
I guess that's a no. I take a seat.
The youth pastor stands up before long and starts out by having everyone sing a song.
Then comes the dreaded, "It looks like we have a visitor today. Would you mind introducing yourself, ma'am?"
"Sure! I'm Johanna Raub, my dad's a missionary to the military and we're just passing through the area."
"We're glad to have you. Everyone make her feel welcome, ok?"
Before long the lesson is done and I run to find my family.
Whew, another teen class survived!
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Scenario 2:
I step into the Sunday School Building and glance around.
"Hey! I'm Rebecca, the pastor's daughter. Are you new here?"A girl with wavy brown hair reaches out to give me a handshake.
"Hi! I'm Johanna. My dad's a missionary to the military, so we're just passing through." I smile.
"Oh, that's nice! Well, we're glad to have you! Do you want to come to our teen class?"
"Sure! That sounds good." Yay! Finally someone who might care, just a little bit!
As we walk down the hall, we discover we're the same age, and she loves to travel almost as much as I do.
"Here we are. It's the door on the right." She opens the door, and we walk in.
"Do you want to sit with me?" She slides into a seat beside another girl and motions me to sit next to her.
"Johanna, this is Kyler, Kyler this is Johanna." The girl beside her and I exchange greetings, and before long the youth pastor stands up.
We sing a couple stanzas of a song, and then he asks if there are any visiting teens.
Rebecca stands up.
"This is my new friend, Johanna. Her family works with the military as missionaries. They're just passing through the area."
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The difference friendly people can make is incredible.
In situations like Scenario 1, I often try to be as friendly as possible and introduce myself. All too often though, I meet a cold shoulder or an icy stare, and think, Ok, that didn't work. Let's try that again.
In Scenario 2, I'm tons more comfortable and I feel like I've made a new friend and want to stick around for a while, instead of rushing off to find my family.
What can you do?
(1) Introduce yourself
(2) Be friendly.
(3) Sit with them instead of with your friends.
(4) Introduce them to others.
When visitors come in to your church just take a moment to imagine that you're in their shoes...
You don't know anyone. If you're the kid of an unsaved parent it probably not your idea to come anyway, and you really don't want to be there.
I'm a pastor's daughter as well, and because I work at the reception desk in our church I know that these things can make or break the testimony of your church so I always try to bend over backwards to make people feel welcome.
Well, that wraps up part 1! Let me know what you think in the comments below!
xo,
Johanna
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