For those who don’t know, a Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. A TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures they experience while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into a TCK life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of a similar background. A Missionary Kid (MK) is a subset of TCK – they are born or raised abroad, and have both the privilege and the challenge of growing up in their family’s place of ministry. Adalyn is an MK. She has spent 10 years in Uganda. She came to Uganda as a toddler and is now a teenager. She is part American, part Ugandan, with several of other cultures that have influenced her since living in an international community.

A TCK/MK has some unique needs. Here are some ways to pray for Adalyn as she continue to grow into the woman God has created her to be…

Pray she knows God’s love for her and that He has made her unique, even if that doesn’t align perfectly with any one culture. And pray she would learn to be comfortable in her own skin and be free in who she in in Christ.

Pray that God would show her how much He cares and values her – not for being a Third Culture Kid / Missionary Kid, but for being His daughter.

Pray that God would use her independence and cultural savvy in great ways to show others His glory. That living overseas wasn’t just God’s plan for her parents, but for her also.

Pray that she feels secure in our love for her, and that she always has a place with us. And she has the assurance of God’s presence wherever she is and whatever she is going through.

Pray that she would learn to be dependent on the Lord and not on her own strength.

Pray that she would love all people and cultures. That she would remember to give grace when she can only see a culture’s faults and shortcomings – especially in her passport country.

Pray that she would be humble and willing to learn from others, and treat her passport country as another new country she is getting to know with an open mind and open heart.

Pray that God would comfort her and walk with her through the seasons of goodbyes, grief and transition that are common in her life. And pray that God would heal the hurt and grief that come with so many goodbyes.

Pray that she is able to say the goodbyes needed, but also able to say hello to new people, places and plans.

Pray that God would lead her to people who appreciate her cross-cultural knowledge and experiences, and that will love her for who God has made her to be.

Pray that God would teach her how to build deep, lasting relationships with others. That she is brave enough and humble enough to let people really get to know her.

Pray for God’s protection over her heart and mind. And pray that God would speak truth when Satan is whispering lies about who she is, her time overseas, and other insecurities that come with living as a TCK.

Pray that she will be supported well by others (friends, churches, family and TCK workers) throughout different times in her life.

Pray for God’s comfort when she is missing family and friends from different cultures, and pray that people find creative ways to stay connected across the miles.

Thank you for loving our family and our daughter. Thank you for praying for her. We know God has big plans for her, and we are excited to see how He will use her for His kingdom work. We also know we can’t do what we do without the prayers of others, so thank you.