Spiritual Preparations for Cross- Cultural Living

Preparations
Cross-cultural Spirituality Slides

Understanding Ourselves

Psych Testing completed
Medical Testing completed
Review the following:

Fill in the: Cross-cultural Values Questionnaire

Related Readings

  • Slimbach, Richard. 2010. Becoming Worldy Wise: A Gide to Global Learning. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

    Ivan Illich. Missionary Poverty The Church, Change and Community Development. Doulos Christou Press. http://douloschristou.com/illich accessed Nov 19, 2010


Learning Objectives

1. Understanding of possible spiritual/emotional dynamics during the next years of transition cross-culturally.

2. Praxis: Significant new self knowledge from the variety of instruments used in the course.

Action & Assignments

1. Arrange for submission of confidential psych and medical summaries.

2. Begin the draft of your two year spiritual growth plan. How do these tests identify areas for development? What do you need in a spiritual advisor? What would be your goals for spiritual development over two years as best you can foresee.

3. Initiate spiritual growth group. Submit report (in study guide).

4. Draft fundraising plan for next weeks and two years

Conversations

1. Discuss the value of the Understanding our Personality and Values Questionnaire quizes. What other tools have you used that have given you a good self-understanding? What do these tell you about compatibility of working with others in the course at a given location.

2. How do you expect to react to culture shock? What would be some critical things coworkers should be alert to that indicate some degree of shock begining to occur?

3. Tom Brewster was my good friend. He and I often debated how people should enter a culture. He felt that bonding was best accompished by being thrown in the deep end as individuals. I felt there needed to be progressive phases of engagement and then reorientation, and with solid team support. What are your conclusions based on the Bonding booklet and Rich Slimbach's teaching?