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Hello, and welcome to mkPLANET! My name is Dana, and I’m glad you’re here. I want this place to be as comfortable and interesting as possible to MKs and AMKs of all ages and backgrounds, so new ideas and suggestions are always welcome.
The idea for mkPLANET came to me when I was 22 years old as I was traveling through Germany and Austria, the countries where I spent my childhood as an MK. One of the missionaries I met during my travels told me about some literature for Third Culture Kids (TCKs). My eyes were opened to the ways in which frequent moves between cultures had influenced who I had become over the years. I wanted to meet others with related experiences and heard that others were looking for similar interaction, so a website seemed like best solution.
So, after almost four years I’m glad to say the site is finally up, and hope it will continue to grow as time goes on. I hope you enjoy everything the site has to offer, and I look forward to meeting you!
~ Dana
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A missionary kid is someone who accompanies his or her parents to the mission field in a culture other than the parents’ home culture. However, every MK's experience is varied and unique. They may live abroad for as little as one year or as many as twenty years. Some attend international schools or boarding schools, while others attend local schools. Some have regular contact with family or friends in the home culture, while others do not. Some MKs are familiar with their home culture before leaving it behind, while for others the host culture is the first one they experience. Some MKs move to several different host cultures, while others will only experience one. All of these factors influence an MK’s sense of personal and cultural identity to some degree.
MKs are part of a larger group called third culture kids (TCKs) which includes other globally mobile kids, such as children of diplomats and military personnel. According to David Pollock of Interaction International,
"A Third-Culture Kid (TCK, also known as Trans-Culture Kid) is 'an individual who, having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than the parents' culture, develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures while not having full ownership in any. Elements from each culture are incorporated into the life experience, but the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar experience.' --David Pollock, Interaction Director" - from Interaction International
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- It’s the best way for us as MKs and adult MKs to meet others like ourselves.
- While MK Retreats are very helpful in bringing people together, only a minority of MKs are able to attend. What many of us want is an environment in which to meet other MKs “face-to-face”, with the potential to make lasting and meaningful connections.
- As MKs and adult MKs, our lifestyle has given us a unique skill set and worldview. Not only is it good for us to meet others who are similar, but we can also find ways to use these skills together for a common cause.
- We want access to up to date information related to missionary life, MK and TCK topics, and related cultural and global issues.
- The spiritual nature of an MK’s life can significantly influence one’s experience either positively or negatively. It is essential to have a safe environment in which to address these and other topics openly with one another.
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- MKs and Family Members…
- MKs growing up on the mission field
- Former MKs
- Adult MKs
- Parents, families, spouses, and friends of MKs and AMKs
Organizations, institutions, and agencies…
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Mission
organizations seeking to support their missionary families
- International schools with MKs as part of the student body
- Agencies providing support to missionary families and MKs
Generally…
- People of all ages and ethnicities around the world
- Anyone with questions about growing up as an MK, raising or supporting MKs
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| Membership is free, which benefits everyone. But the main advantage of being a member is that you become part of a community of people who understand the experiences you've gone through as an MK. Whether you’d like to share your story or read others' stories, moderate a forum or write an article from time to time, take a walk through the gallery or share your own artwork, meet groups of people in a forum or get to know one person at a time, work on a project with others or browse the archives - membership opens the way to interacting with others any way that you like. |
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