Last month I wrote:

Today, I was editing and rewriting the chapter on peace, and wouldn’t you know it, I was reminded of a time when a VP in my organization and I had a massive rift in our relationship. We’re talking epic, people. Feeling a bit forlorn and caught between a rock and a hard place, my boss wanted the VP and me to ‘not let the sun go down on our anger.’

While this was absolutely a situation where forgiveness was needed on both sides, it was also a situation that deeply hurt and confused me. One in which I felt that I was unjustly accused and under-supported by my organization. I hope you haven’t had this type of experience. But I know the truth is that in some way you’ve experienced what is technically called Interpersonal Trauma.

This month Kierstie Ersch completes the Trauma 100 level series. So far she’s equipped you to:

1. In Trauma Training 101 understand the basics of trauma: What it is, how an event becomes disordered in someone, and the stages of healing. (Get it here)

2. Though you may not have directly lived through or been impacted by a situation, serving traumatized people and hearing their stories is called secondary trauma. You learn how to handle the secondary trauma you might encounter on the field in Trauma Training 102. (Get it here)

3. You’ve got a handle on what trauma IS (after Trauma Training 101 and 102), now what? What can you do? Trauma Training 103 covers the actions you take to improve a situation by bringing about healing. (Get it here)

In this month’s workshop, Kierstie will equip you to know how to handle all of the hurt you or your teammates will encounter on the field. Note that I didn’t say might counter. You will be hurt. But you don’t have to let that hurt turn into bitterness or a wound so deep you can’t come back from it.

The truth is, pain caused by others can be significantly harder to overcome. But the good news is you can overcome it and help others overcome it too!

Kierstie answers the following questions in the Trauma Training 104 workshop:

—What is interpersonal trauma?
—How might interpersonal trauma affect us differently than other forms of trauma?
—What is unique about healing from interpersonal trauma?
—How to heal from interpersonal trauma

This month, we will celebrate Easter and the exciting resurrection of Christ! Our faith is already/not yet. The hurt you’ve experienced has already been worked out on the cross, and it is not yet complete. This workshop addresses a must-have skill for cross-cultural workers: how you can actually experience the healing that Christ has for you in the ways you’ve been hurt on the field.

Photo by Mael BALLAND on Unsplash