Most people realize there is stress and confusion involved with moving to another country and adapting to a new culture. But what if the country and culture you are adapting to is actually your home?

For missionary kids – often called "MKs" – this is an experience that only other missionary kids can understand.

As a missionary kid born in St. Croix and raised in Dominican Republic, Peru and Ecuador, I know that “home” is a confusing word.

It’s the same for other MKs. That’s why every August I help to lead a retreat for college-age MKs on one of the Nazarene university campuses. Our fifth annual retreat was held July 31 through Aug. 4 at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Twenty-four MKs gathered from seven Nazarene universities.

The weekend is designed to bring our college-age Nazarene MKs together for spiritual deepening, lots of fun and games, discussing re-entry issues and, most of all, providing a place where instant deep connections are made. 

Re-entry is the hardest transition an MK has to go through, and believe me there are many transitions they go through.  Most MKs are Third Culture Kids (TCKs).  Third Culture Kids have learned to adapt and understand their host country, but still are “from” their passport country.  It is difficult to return to their passport country and look and sound like they belong, but not really understand the culture or speak the same language.

Imagine how out-of-step you would feel if you never heard of the most popular TV shows, didn’t know what clothes were in style, were ignorant of major national political and current events, and had to ask for an explanation every time a new slang word was used in front of you.

These experiences make MKs feel like they don’t belong or fit in – in a place where they feel like they should belong. Being able to discuss and share these feelings and experiences with other MKs who understand is important for these young people.

“MK Retreat is the best weekend in the year!” said Kathryn Louw, whose family has served in Western Africa. “It brings together those who don't have a ‘home’ or a place to belong and shows us that we all can find a place to belong when we're with each other.”

“The new MKs change while they are there and you can watch as they open up to the counselors and to each other,” said Wes Potter, whose family have worked in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, in the Asia-Pacific Region. “I feel like each of the retreats is fresh and new.”

Partnering with each host college is part of the fun and distinctiveness of this type of retreat.  We get to see and experience each of our MKs’ “homes.”  They have fun showing the other MKs around their campus and each host university has made the group feel welcome and at home. 

Each weekend is also blessed by individuals, churches or NMI councils who feed us two to three meals.  This year we also went to a beautiful lake house for a fabulous meal and an amazing sunset.

Rachel Ramsey (daughter of national financial expert and radio host Dave Ramsey) led a session on finances for college students. Tiffany Lee, known as the Christian pop artist Plumb, performed a concert. Other highlights were a meal at the Spaghetti Factory, a game of laser tag, strolling through downtown Nashville, buying enough sugar and caffeine to stay up ALL night the last night (this is a yearly tradition), homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and Viking competitions– AHHHHH. 

Most of all, though, we left with a spirit of renewal, lifelong friends, strength to face another year, and a peace that God is with us each step of the way.

"MK retreat is definitely my favorite weekend of the year simply because there is the place I feel most at home,” said Sarah Kroeze, whose family served in Reunion Island, near Madagascar, in the Africa Region.

Next year’s retreat will be Aug. 6-10, at MidAmerica Nazarene University.  I can’t wait.

-- Beth Guilfoil is a missionary kid who grew up in St. Croix VI, Dominican Republic, Peru and Ecuador. A graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University, Beth is a nurse. She is married to Rick and they have two daughters, Amber, 7, and Ashley, 3.