HOME
| INTERVARSITY
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Blue Ridge Region
What
is STIM?
Find out!
Get
the Application
Application
Information
Forms To Download:
Application
IV Staff Reference
Chapter Leader Reference
Pastor Reference
Roommate Reference
Signature Page
Project
Descriptions
Placement
Information
Mexico
Peru
Bolivia
Kenya
Romania
China Global Project
G.U.P.Y.
STIM
Staff Bios
Amy Phillips
Links
Helpful
STIM links
Dear Friend of a STIMmer,
Thanks so much for partnering with your friend as they participate in Student Training in Missions and prepare for their summer experience. I am grateful that you have been praying for them all through the semester and will continue to do so while they are overseas.
I wanted to offer some suggestions to you to help your friend transition back to the States after they return from their overseas experience. (It may seem a little early to be thinking about this, but we find it is best to think and talk about it with your friend before they even leave the States!) You may be surprised to know that the transition home is often harder than the transition to a new culture overseas. This is because students often come back and have trouble communicating what they learned and experienced. Sometimes they have a hard time finding people to listen to their stories. Sometimes they are overwhelmed by the relative material wealth they return to in the States compared to what they saw and experienced overseas.
As their friend, it is good for you to be aware that the transition home can at times be difficult. This can help you set appropriate expectations for your friendship in the first few months after they have returned to the States. And there are some ways that you can help your friend make the transition back home:
1. Talk to your friend before they leave. What would they like their first week to be like when they get home (they may not know for sure, but talking about it doesn’t hurt!).
2. If you are meeting your friend at the airport upon return, remember that they have been in another time zone, have been traveling sometimes for a day or more, and are experiencing life back in the States in a way that they have not in a month or more. THEY ARE TIRED. They may not be up for an immediate welcome home party, or all the relatives to descend on the house, or dinner out. Most likely they will want a shower and some sleep. Ask them what they would prefer. They will appreciate your warm welcome back to the States.
If you are not meeting them at the airport a card waiting for them at home or a phone call the day after their return is a great way to let them know you are glad they are home.
3. The thing your friend will most need from you is your listening ear! They want to tell the story of their summer, but often find it hard to know where to begin. The question “How was your summer?” can be hard to answer because it is such a broad question. Asking LOTS of specific questions is the best way to find out what the summer was like. Here are some examples:
What was a typical day like?
What was your favorite thing about your summer experience?
What was the hardest thing about your summer experience?
What was the thing that was most interesting to you about the culture
you were in?
What is different about how people relate to each other here compared
to the culture you were in this summer?
What was the funniest or most embarrassing thing that happened to you.
What was the food like? What did you enjoy? Dislike?
What was your team like? Who were the people you were closest too?
How were your expectations about your summer met or not met?
What did you learn about yourself? About others? About God?
What are some ways you want to apply what you learned now that you are
home?
How does it feel to be home? What did you most miss about home?
What do you miss about your summer culture now that you are home?
4. You don’t have to ask all these questions at once! Consider having a couple of extended times (at least) with your friend where you ask questions about the summer. Maybe once shortly after their return, then again when the pictures are developed (if they are not already on a digital camera!)
Periodically ask how they are thinking and feeling about their summer and how they are applying what they have learned throughout the fall semester.
5. Some other fun things you could consider:
If your friend learned to prepare any traditional food from their summer culture, have a night where they make dinner (or at least one dish!) for you.
Look through whatever souvenirs your friend returned with and ask questions about them: were they given as a gift? by whom? what was that relationship like? If it wasn’t’ a gift, what prompted them to buy this particular souvenir?
Invite other friends of yours and your STIM friend to hear about the summer. Consider hosting a little dessert and let your friend tell his or her story and show some pictures to a group of people.
6. It is ok to remind your friend that you had a summer too! Life in the States did not stop just because they were on a summer project. Tell them about your summer . . .
7. Your friend may seem weird or respond to situations differently than they did before they left. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the changes you notice. Let them know you want to care for them while at the same time giving them the freedom to change and grow.
Help them to reengage with their friends on campus and their responsibilities in classes and with InterVarsity by helping them brainstorm ways to integrate their summer experience into what they are doing now.
8. Most of all, continue to pray for and with your friend. Encourage them to take time for reflection and to be with Jesus.
The most important thing is just to be patient and ask a lot of questions. Returning home is often as much a part of the growth process as the summer overseas. I believe the Lord is using all of these experiences to make your friend more like Him.
Thanks again for blessing your STIM friend with your prayers, support and encouragement. May you also be blessed.
Sincerely,
Amy Phillips
STIM, Director
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
116 Burkwood Lane
Raleigh NC 27609
919-673-5317
blueridgestim@gmail.com
STIM
STIM 2010
Weekend
Info
STIM Assignments
Contact STIM Staff
Fundraising Info
Forms
to Download:
2009 STIM Brochure
Response Card
Sender Covenant
Chapter Covenant
Parents,
Donors and Friends
Encourage
STIMers
Chapters - Get Involved!
Perspectives in Fundraising
Donor FAQ
Safety
Help STIMers Return:
a letter for Parents
a letter for Friends
Give
Online
Donate
to a STIM student now!
Pictures
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Resources
Readings
and Websites