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MK HOME | ARCHIVES | WEBSITES | PARENTING MKs | Q&A
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WHAT IS AN MK?
An MK is a child whose parents serve as missionaries. They are known as MKs – Missionary Kids. Growing up, an MK has to deal with all the regular challenges and benefits that come from living in a ministry-minded family. However, they often have to deal with many other issues, such as: moving to the field; returning “home” on furlough; returning “home” for post-secondary education; and dealing with goodbyes. As adults, most MKs will tell you that being an MK profoundly influenced and shaped who they are.
Check out "You Know You're a Missionary Kid When . . ."
What is a TCK?
“TCK” is a familiar name to those who are one! A TCK, a “third culture kid,” is defined as anyone who spent most of their developmental years in a country other than the one that issued their passport. It's the blending of the culture your parents are from (the country of birth) and the culture of the country you grew up in, which forms a unique third culture all your own. MKs, embassy kids, military kids and business kids who lived overseas all fall into this category.
Who is an MK?
Author unknown
When I was growing up, adults always asked me what I was going to be, but there came a time when what I was going to be wasn't as important as who I was. Everyone questions who they are, and MKs are no exception.
- I am a combination of two cultures. I am neither and I am both.
- I am the brat who throws a temper tantrum and refuses to dress native for the American church.
- I am the six-year-old who can't wait to go away to school, and I am the six-year-old who cries herself to sleep the first two weeks away from home.
- I am the one who complained about eating oatmeal every day of my life, yet I am the one who orders oatmeal at the restaurant just for old times' sake.
- I am the one who desperately worries about fitting in, but I am the one who wears my native wrap around the college dorm and doesn't care what anyone thinks.
- I am the one who has lived under strict school rules, and I am the one who returns to America and questions what my real values are.
- I am the one the churches make a saint out of, and the one some people pity and laugh at.
- I am the one who travelled halfway around the world before I was four, and I am the one who has no home.
- I am the one who promises to write, but never does because it's too difficult to deal with the reality of separation.
- I am the one who has seen the devil dancers, and I am the one who has seen the rock concerts.
- I am the one who knows and understands world missions, life and death, heaven and hell.
- I am the one who has seen God work miracles. I am the one who knows prayer works, but I am the one who sometimes finds it difficult to pray.
- I am the one who has learned to live with a politically unstable government, and I am the one who waits impatiently by the phone for news that everything is safe.
- I am the one who has spent only three months a year at home. Yet I know, beyond question, that my parents are the best in the whole world.
- I am the one who speaks two languages but can't spell either.
- I am the one who has devotions from a French Bible.
- I am the one who wears a thousand masks, one for each day and time.
- I am the one who learned to be all I'm expected to be but is still not sure of who I really am.
- I am the one who chooses my college by where my friends are, because nobody understands an MK like another MK.
- I am the one who laughs and cries, sings and prays, gets angry and doubts, fears and questions, expects and receives, hopes and dreams. And I am one who cares.
- I am an MK, and I am proud of it!
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Hi, my name is Karen and I’m a counsellor who was a missionary for many years. I understand some of the struggles MKs go through. If you have any questions or concerns you want to talk about, or if you’d just like someone to pray with you, please email or call me at 1-888-525-3749. It’s a free call and you can remain anonymous if you choose. I promise to listen and do my best to support you. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll ask some MKs I know to help me with an answer.
Share your MK stories! We’d love to hear from you! Please email us for more info. We offer a small gift for all articles used on our website.
All Focus on the Family magazines are free for MKs if parents request them. Have your parents call 1.800.661.9800 or email to request a magazine for you.
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