{"id":3106,"date":"2011-05-11T17:58:41","date_gmt":"2011-05-12T00:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thatallmayknow.org\/?p=3106"},"modified":"2017-10-11T10:13:17","modified_gmt":"2017-10-11T15:13:17","slug":"cross-cultural-craziness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/2011\/05\/11\/cross-cultural-craziness\/","title":{"rendered":"Cross-Cultural Craziness"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Things didn\u2019t seem as crazy to us in Papua New Guinea as they seem now that we are back and have been reflecting on our time for the last few weeks.\u00a0 Its amazing how normal the strangest things can become just being in the middle of them for a while.\u00a0 We\u2019ve had the opportunity to share at two of our supporting churches, as well as our home church\u2019s mission team, and with a myriad of individuals about our time overseas, and judging by the reactions we get and some of the questions, it really is a whole other world down there with its own challenges and complexities.<\/p>\n

If you think about it, there are so many new things a new missionary has to face moving and living overseas: new home, new neighbors, new climate, new food, new friends, new jobs, not to mention a new language and a new culture.\u00a0 All of these things mean one very important thing to the missionaries\u2019 mental, emotional and spiritual health: stress.<\/p>\n

A couple of months back we read an excellent book called Culture Shock<\/span> by Myron Loss which highlighted some of the stressful things new missionaries face when moving overseas.\u00a0 When Beth & I first read it, we literally laughed out loud just taking a step back and actually realizing how crazy stressful things really were.\u00a0 It also helped to explain why we had fallen into some of the discouragement we had.<\/p>\n

In his book Culture Shock<\/span>* the author Myron Loss shares Dr. Thomas Holmes research\u00a0 on determining stress levels.\u00a0 \u201cThrough extensive research covering many peoples form many countries, Dr. Thomas Holmes and his associates have designed a table for determining the degree of stress caused by adjusting to change. Points are assigned to each life change, and these are called Life Change Units.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 1 – The Stress of Adjusting to Change by Dr. Thomas Holmes<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rank<\/strong><\/td>\nEvent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLife Change Units<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/strong><\/td>\nDeath of Spouse<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/strong><\/td>\nDivorce<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/strong><\/td>\nMarital Separation<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/strong><\/td>\nJail Term<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/strong><\/td>\nDeath of Close Family Member<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n63<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/strong><\/td>\nPersonal Injury or Illness<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n53<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/strong><\/td>\nMarriage<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/strong><\/td>\nFired at Work<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n47<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/strong><\/td>\nMarital Reconciliation<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/strong><\/td>\nRetirement<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Health of Family Member<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/strong><\/td>\nPregnancy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/strong><\/td>\nSex Difficulties<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/strong><\/td>\nGain of New Family Member<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/strong><\/td>\nBusiness Readjustment<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Financial State<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/strong><\/td>\nDeath of Close Friend<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/strong><\/td>\nChange to Different Line of Work<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Number of Arguments with Spouse<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/strong><\/td>\nMortgage Over $10,000<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/strong><\/td>\nForeclosure of Mortgage or Loan<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Responsibilities at Work<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/strong><\/td>\nSon or Daughter Leaving Home<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/strong><\/td>\nTrouble with In-Laws<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/strong><\/td>\nOutstanding Personal Achievement<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/strong><\/td>\nWife Begins or Stops Work<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/strong><\/td>\nBegin or End School<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Living Conditions<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/strong><\/td>\nRevision of Personal Habits<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/strong><\/td>\nTrouble with Boss<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Work Hours or Conditions<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Residence<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
33<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Schools<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Recreation<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
35<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Church Activities<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Social Activities<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37<\/strong><\/td>\nMortgage or Loan Less than $10,000<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
38<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Sleeping Habits<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Number of Family Get Togethers<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/strong><\/td>\nChange in Eating Habits<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
41<\/strong><\/td>\nVacation<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
42<\/strong><\/td>\nChristmas<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/strong><\/td>\nMinor Violations of the Law<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

.<\/p>\n

Myron Loss goes on to report, \u201cAn individual\u2019s rating is determined by adding the points of all of the life changes which have been experienced within the past year.\u00a0 According to Holmes\u2019 research, a score less than 150 indicated only one chance in three of having a serious change in health during the next two years.\u00a0 A score between 150 and 300 indicated chances of one in two.\u00a0 A score of over 300 meant danger; there was an eighty percent chance for a major health change (disease, surgery, accident, or mental illness) in the next two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is enlightening to sum up the points for the average first term missionary,\u201d shares the author as he compiles the events that would typically make up the first term missionaries experiences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Change in Financial Stress<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change to Different Line of Work<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Living Conditions<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revision of Personal Habits<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n24<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Work Hours or Conditions<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Residence<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Recreation<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Church Activities<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Social Activities<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Number of Family Get-Togethers<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Eating Habits<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Language Used Daily (author\u2019s insertion)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nTOTAL<\/strong><\/td>\n299<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Additional Change Possible<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marriage<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gain of New Family Member<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Personal Injury or Illness<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n53<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Health of Family Member<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wife Begins or Stops Work<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Begin or End School<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change in Schools<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
(Additional Points Possible)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nTOTAL<\/strong><\/td>\n258<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

.<\/p>\n

The author hits his point home with the following summary: \u201cOf the 258 additional points possible, the average first termer is probably involved in changes adding up to 100 -150 points.\u00a0 Therefore, we can say that a normal first term missionary worker is running at or above 400 LCUs.<\/strong> Still, many of the stressful events involved in cross-cultural transition are not included in the table …A score of over 300 indicate(s) and eighty percent chance of a major health change (disease, surgery, accident, or mental illness) in the next two years.\u201d [emphasis mine]<\/p>\n

Wow.\u00a0 Two things can be gleaned form this information:<\/p>\n

First<\/strong>, missions is hard, in a practical sense.\u00a0 We can attest to this fact from personal, though limited, experience (since we have only been on the field for eight months).\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t account for other things like spiritual warfare and other potential barriers to mission work overseas.\u00a0 It is incredibly difficult to process so much change at once.\u00a0 This much stress can be hard on your marriage, your parenting, other friendships and even on your walk with the Lord<\/p>\n

Second<\/strong>, but more importantly, it is a testament to the Lord that there are missionaries surviving and thriving on the field, able to cope with this change, work through it in His strength and walk with Him by their side.\u00a0 We are not alone, and the Lord has been faithful to Beth & I over the last eight months.\u00a0 He brought us through things that according to this stress chart should have taken us through the ringer and spit us out the other side, but He brought us through it.<\/p>\n

The truth is, He never said this would be easy.\u00a0 He never said we would have all of our paths nice & neat in such a way that we could walk smoothly and seamlessly through life.\u00a0 In fact, the testimony we find in scripture, as well as the examples of those who\u2019ve gone before us, is that the road is hard.\u00a0 Thankfully, we have a God who asks us to trust Him with our anxieties in life and promises to never leave us or forsake us.\u00a0 What a privilege we have to enjoy His fellowship and rest in His care.<\/p>\n

*Loss, Myron. Culture Shock: Dealing with Stress in Cross-cultural Living. [S.l.]: M. Loss, 1983. Print.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Things didn\u2019t seem as crazy to us in Papua New Guinea as they seem now that we are back and have been reflecting on our time for the last few weeks.\u00a0 Its amazing how normal the strangest things can become just being in the middle of them for a while.\u00a0 We\u2019ve had the opportunity to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1124,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55138],"tags":[55270,55271,55272,55273],"class_list":{"0":"post-3106","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-com","7":"tag-daughter-leaving-home","8":"tag-living-conditions","9":"tag-myron-loss","10":"tag-thomas-holmes","11":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3106\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/tom-carlton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}