Don’t be a know-it-all
Last year, I listened to a podcast where Jonathan and Elizabeth Trotter were interviewed about the missionary life cycle. Elizabeth Trotter is the editor of the website/blog A Life Overseas, and they both are part of the writing team there. The related blog article at https://www.alifeoverseas.com/the-missionary-life-cycle-in-five-stages is definitely worth a read.
These are the five stages of the missionary life cycle that Jonathan came up with from his long experience on the mission field and with missionaries:
- Idealist/ignorant (pre-field)
- Learner/survivor (arrival to year two)
- Established/workaholic (year two to year seven)
- Experienced/pessimistic (year seven to year infinity)
- Learner/know-it-all
Jonathan described these stages using two types of approaches people often fall into. Of course, this is a generalisation. It’s only one way to look at the missionary life, but it is a model to help us think about the different ways people approach cross-cultural work. It also helps to explain the differences, say, between me and someone who has just arrived in Japan. Jonathan gives this advice about the ways to best help our colleagues:
- Nurture the idealists while cautioning the ignorant.
- Mentor the learners. Encourage the survivors.
- Encourage the established.
- Listen to the experienced.
- Keep on learning. All of us, all the time.
The last one is really important for those of us who’ve been here a longer time. Always seek to have a learning posture! Share your wisdom and experience to those who will listen, offer your help, but don’t be a know-it-all or a jerk.