Grandparents

Having Children over seas as missionaries has many benefits and many ‘issues.’

For example, my kids get to learn a great deal of things they’d never learn in the United States of America—perk. However, my children also don’t see their grandparents. (Although they do get phone calls, care packages, emails, and lots of LOVE from them!)

.

I thought this was going to affect their memories and ideas of their grandparents causing them to not remember them or know how much they love them; however, I’ve come to see that this is not the case…

.

Earlier this year, Johnny was on the internet when he came across a blog called ‘White African.’ He took interest in the site and found that ‘The White African’ was a man about our age who was raised in Africa since the age of 2. His parents lived in the bush in Sudan for a while and then moved to Kenya. I thought, “How interesting! I’d love to interview this guy and see how his childhood has affected his life!”

.

Well, we were so fortunate to have the white African come from the US to Kenya (not just to see us) and stay with us for a night.

.

I sat down and asked him questions about how being a missionary kid affected him, and if he had a hard time ‘fitting in’ when moving back to the US to go to college. Here’s basically what he said, “I’m not very good at playing Trivia Pursuit,” he chuckled, “but I am so thankful I was raised in Kenya, and I would not change it a bit.”

.

I asked him if he remembers his grandparents, and he replied, “Oh yes!” He continued to tell me his memories of how his grandparents would spoil him and his siblings with sweets, toys and clothes because they thought their grandchildren were deprived in Africa. He chuckled as he talked about it.

.

Needless to say, after talking to the White African, and talking with other missionaries who raised their children here, I’ve come to realize that ‘missionary kids’ don’t lose sight of who their grandparents are, and they all end up well-adjusted, smart, passionate, grown-ups with a wonderful world view.

.

You can visit the White African at http://whiteafrican.com

.

In the mean time, I continue to show my children pictures of their grandparents and remind them of how much they are loved. Mom, Dad, you are not forgotten!!!

~Kate