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| August 31, 2005 |
Starting Anew
I've decided to keep on blogging, but to start a new one. The old one is history now, and I'm really glad I have it. But, it's time to start something new, as we're starting all over again here in Idaho. Moving to Idaho isn't quite the same as moving to Ecuador, but for four missionary kids who have spent quite a bit of time living outside the US, this is quite a change.
Ellyn and I both grew up in Papua New Guinea, spending our childhood in the highland community of Ukarumpa. Both our parents are with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Ellyn lived there for eight years, and I was there for thirteen years. It was a great place to grow up, and the country was very peaceful and friendly during the '60s and '70s compared the the near anarchy that is being experienced there now.
When we were making the decision to go to Ecuador in 1999, one of the things I wasn't excited about was the fact that Dustin and Taylor would become missionary kids, or MKs. I'm not sure why that bothered me so much, because I certainly don't regret growing up overseas as an MK, and in fact I'm quite proud of it. However, being an MK has thrown some unexpected twists and struggles into life, and I was hoping the boys wouldn't have to go through those things. Living overseas as a child means you miss out on some of the US culture, and you take in a lot of the culture of your host country. That's a good thing, really, but it does mean that in the end you never totally fit in either place.
So, we've done it, and Dustin and Taylor are MKs. I can tell they are proud of that, and they feel a certain loyalty to Ecuador. They may never go back, but they'll always have a piece of Ecuador in their heart.
Posted by David at August 31, 2005 06:00 PM