Hello friends! It’s that time of year that some of you will be either moving to the field or welcoming a family to your team. Today we have an interview with author Anna Danforth of Raising a Family Overseas. Two of you could win a digital copy of her book! Leave a comment, and on Saturday names will be drawn.
Anna, thanks for being with us today. Could you tell us about yourself and what drew you to write Raising a Family Overseas?
Thank you for having me here today, Amy! I grew up in Cameroon as a third culture kid. A third culture kid, or TCK, is someone who has lived in another culture for a significant period of time during their developmental years. Growing up as an MK, I developed a passion to help global families thrive overseas in my teens. I married my high school sweetheart from DR Congo and we raised our two kids in Lesotho and on a farm in South Africa. In South Africa, we work in job creation and skills training. I live on a fruit tree and macadamia farm in KwaZulu Natal with my husband, two kids, dogs, cats, horse, and best friends.
I drew on my experiences as a third culture kid, Great Commission Worker, and teacher at the Africa Orientation Course to write Raising a Family Overseas. When we went through field training, I remember sitting in a room in a circle with a dozen other pre-field families (families who had an overseas assignment but hadn’t gone yet). I remember the faces of the moms who were preparing for a life overseas and who wanted to be brave, but were scared or nervous about how it would impact their kids. They were desperate for answers. I have been that mom desperate for answers. Growing up overseas and teaching at the Africa Orientation Course gave me a lot of meat to prepare for taking my own family overseas for cross-cultural work. But it’s different when you’re taking the most precious people in your life, the ones who are dependent on you, to a world of unknowns. The attrition rate is alarming and some of this is preventable with the right support. The faces of those moms in that room prompted me to write this book.
It’s so fun hearing more about you. Could you share how your book is organized?
The book is organized in a chronological way for the reader. It’s divided into 3 parts, “Before you go”, “Going”, and “Once you’re there.”
I wrote with the reader in mind so they could pick it up and quickly dive in no matter how early or advanced they are in their journey of life overseas. It does not have to be read in any particular order, though I don’t recommend that anyone skip the first chapter. I wanted to make it an easy resource for families. If someone gets their hands on this book the day before their flight, they can skip to the “Going” section so they have immediate access to tips for international travel with kids. Or if someone has been overseas for several years, they can skip to the “Once you’re there” part to learn about disillusionment on the field or how to handle the pressure when your educational choices don’t line up with your teammates’. Or, if someone gets this book right before their first big interview with a potential supporting church, they can easily flip to the chapter on fundraising.
Wow, that seems super useful! How could an organization or a family preparing to move overseas use this book?
If you are moving or living overseas or equipping people to do so, Raising a Family Overseas is for you. Raising a Family Overseas offers actionable tips for helping your family flourish abroad. There are a lot of unknowns involved with making an international move. This book answers those unknowns by drawing on the real-life experiences of over 100 expat families and the author’s experiences as an expat child and parent. You will gain concrete tools on international travel with children, scheduling your last few weeks at home, making educational choices on the field, moving past fear of new situations, dealing with disillusionment, implementing soft skills in fundraising, ethical image sharing on social media, and creating family connection in the midst of transition. This book was written with your kids in mind. The end goal is for more third culture kids to experience deep connections with their families and host cultures. The research and data have been compiled for you. All you need to do is grab a cup of coffee and dive in.
I’d recommend that organizations get a copy for each family preparing to go to the field or who are on the field. They could also organize a time for families to talk about different chapters in the book.
I love asking authors, what’s your hope or your dreams for this book’s message?
I want people to walk away thinking, “I can do this!” God equipped us to fulfill the task of reaching all people for the sake of the gospel. He will not abandon you in that call. A lot of the books about the Great Commission and third culture kids cover the spiritual component and the science behind TCK life. What is missing in the conversation is the practical aspect of “How do we actually do this?” This book draws from the perspective of over 100 families worldwide to answer the questions that pre-field families are asking. My dream for this book is realized every time I hear from a parent who writes in to say that they were filled with hope and encouragement when they read practical answers to the questions they’d been asking. My ultimate dream is that some TCK out there will have a better connection with their parents and with their host culture because their parents connected with my book and the many global voices represented in it.
Anna, thank you for your time today. Hearing from an author makes a book all the more real! I imagine I’m not alone in wanting to get this book in as many hands as possible!
Dear readers, leave a comment and two of you will win a digital copy of Raising a Family Overseas! We will draw winners on Saturday (so you’ve got two days to comment).
Excited to read this book!
I hope it serves your family well, Rose!
We raised 2 kids in Niger and faced challenges on return to passport culture. Now I’ll engaged in TCK care in my sending country in collaboration with other sending entities. A book will be a helpful read for families embarking cross-cultural missions or for caregivers in understanding the respective needs in various stages of life and ministry.
Thanks for creat another resource for families overseas, Anna!
I love this! As a mom raising three girls overseas and a welcomer for new families, this sounds like a great resource.
Thank you, Sarah! I hope you get a chance to read it!
Thank you for your encouragement, Lori!
I think this would be a great resource. I see a lot of families who really want to be on the “m” field but are struggling as a family. What a great gift of hope and encouragement for them.
Your concern is exactly why I wrote this book. I’m grateful for people like you who recognize the need for health on the field.
This sounds like just what I want to read!
I hope you find it helpful, Gretchen!
This sounds like a really great resource!
Thank you so much, Sue!
Sounds like a really helpful book! A family I know is in the early stages of planning to move to West Africa with several young children, so would love to share this with them. 🙂
Thank you, Paulette! Please do share! Many stories and perspectives in the book come from the West and central African regions.
I’m glad to see another book helping families thrive on the “m” field.
Thank you, Joanna!
I wish something like this was available decades earlier! Thanks for strengthening “m” families, Anna!
Many readers have shared your sentiment, Nancy! We have so many rich resources available now that we wish would have been accessible in years past. Thank you for your encouragement!
Sounds like a great resource.
Thank you, Mel!
Would love to share this with field workers as I go to visit in Amazon jungle in just a a little over a mo.
Thank you, Janette! Please do share! There are some rich perspectives in the book from people currently serving in the Amazon as well as people who grew up there.
As a single, I’m always looks for ways to support families and their children.
I’d love to read this book.
Rachel, some of the most impactful people in my life were the single people on the field who supported our family with friendship. You serve such a sweet role in the lives of families abroad!
As someone who has lived abroad with my family and now helps to support other “m” families, this sounds like an incredible resource!
Thank you, Meghan! And thank you for using your skills to support others!
Raising a family overseas is such a challenging and rewarding calling, so glad this book provides help for this journey!
I’ve lived overseas for 9 years but have just brought my baby overseas, and it’s definitely a new challenge!
Motherhood on the field is a stretching challenge and an equally beautiful experience. I wish you well and hope you find kindred spirits in the perspectives shared in my book!
Thank you, Tricia!
Does it cover the season when they’re leaving the nest overseas? After having been born and raised here?
Thank you for asking, Phyllis. The book does not cover that topic but many of my survey participants were raised overseas and they share about their rich experiences of various transitions.
Sounds like a ferric resource for our church to supply to outgoing families…written from a TCK and a goer!
That is a fantastic way for a church express support, Bev! It’s a very easy read and would make a wonderful gift to outgoing families! Thank you for sharing your idea here!
Excited to read this! We love families in M work- all the joys and challenges! It’s great to have more resources for families!
Thank you, Kim!
There are specific families already coming to mind who I know this would bless so dearly – can’t wait to share it with them!
Thank you for sharing, Meghan!
Looking forward to reading this as we raise our family in Southern Africa as well! Thank you!
I hope you find stories in it that connect with your heart, Erica!
I’ve loved following Anna on social media and hearing her perspective! Her book has been on my “to read” list for a long time!
Katy, I love hearing this and seeing you in this space! I will be honored if my book finds its way to your bookshelf.
This looks like a good book! I hope to get my hands on a copy someday!
Thank you, Hannah!
Thank you friends! The winners have been drawn and notified. This is a fantastic resource and worth your investment :)! Thank you Anna for this needed resource and fun interaction this week :)! Amy