Our gift for TCKs of all ages is some coloring pages. We know coloring can be a great stress reliever for many. We also know that when you color with someone it can lead to meaningful conversation.
Pull out the crayons! Gather up the colored pencils! Make sure the markers are not permanent!
You’ll find the American/8.5×11 pages here.
You’ll find the A4 pages here.
Have fun!
Making History: The First Pan-Africa Missionary Kids Conference Comes to Lagos
Interaction International Partners to Support MKs Across the Continent
The Pan-Africa missionary kids conference landscape is about to change forever. From October 1–5, 2025, Lagos, Nigeria will host PACMACK—the Pan-Africa Conference for Missionary and Cross-cultural Kids—marking a pivotal moment for indigenous African missionary families and their children.
For decades, conversations about Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and missionary children have centered primarily on Western sending nations. These conversations have produced rich insights and crucial care structures. But they’ve also often overlooked the unique experiences and challenges of African MKs and CCKs—those whose parents serve cross-culturally within and beyond the African continent, often without the safety nets and support systems familiar in Western mission models.
PACMACK is a response to that oversight. And it’s about to make history.
The vision for PACMACK gained momentum after the International TCK Conference (ITCKC) in Thailand in 2023. That event deliberately highlighted the Global South, creating space for cross-cultural kids and caregivers from under-resourced regions to participate and be heard. Inspired by ITCKC’s impact, African leaders and global partners saw the need for a regional gathering tailored specifically to African TCK realities.
“This represents a significant shift in how we approach TCK care globally,” explains a spokesperson from Interaction International, whose President, Bret Taylor, has been invited to speak at the historic gathering. “Indigenous African missionary families have been sending cross-cultural workers for generations. Yet their children’s voices have too often been missing from the global conversation.”
As a longtime advocate for MK and TCK support, Interaction International is honored to be a financial and organizational partner for this first-of-its-kind conference.
The choice of Lagos—Africa’s most populous city and a strategic hub for Christian missions—underscores the growing role African nations play in the global missions movement. Nigeria, in particular, has become a significant sending country, with increasing numbers of Christian workers serving both within Africa and beyond.
With that rise in cross-cultural ministry comes a parallel increase in African MKs, PKs, and CCKs—children raised in diverse cultural environments, often navigating complex identities without access to culturally relevant care. Many face real challenges processing their experiences, making sense of transitions, and developing a healthy sense of self and purpose.
PACMACK’s timing reflects that urgency. The theme “Thrive” was chosen with intention—because these young people were made for more than survival. They were made to flourish.
“To thrive means to grow, develop, and do exceptionally well,” says one of the organizers, Dupe Kashimawo. “We believe African MKs and PKs can draw from the rich resource of their cross-cultural experience and reach their highest potential—personally, spiritually, and professionally.”
Unlike many TCK-focused events built around Western assumptions, PACMACK is deeply grounded in the realities and potential of African cross-cultural experiences.
Sessions will address:
Cross-cultural identity formation in the African context
Navigating transitions between countries, languages, and education systems
Attachment dynamics and relationships in families constantly on the move
Financial literacy and practical life skills, especially relevant in resource-limited contexts
Emotional processing, healing, and storytelling grounded in African frameworks
Plenary Speakers include prominent leaders like Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairperson and founder of the Christian Missionary Fund, and Dr. Diti Olawale, a featured speaker at ITCKC. Interaction’s Bret Taylor will also address the conference, bringing his decades of experience in global MK care.
PACMACK is designed for:
The conference will be conducted in both English and French, making it accessible to a broad range of African participants. Organizers are also working to subsidize costs for young adults and students through generous donations and partnerships.
PACMACK’s mission closely aligns with Interaction International’s long-standing commitment to care, connection, and advocacy for MKs and their families. Through both financial support and relational investment, Interaction is helping make PACMACK a reality.
“Some of the most vibrant, resilient, and resourceful MKs I’ve met have come from African sending families,” notes Bret Taylor. “It’s an honor to be part of something that validates their journey, equips their future, and raises their voices.”
While some participants can cover their own expenses, many cannot. The conference fee is $250 per participant. Some need help with additional funds needed to cover travel costs for those coming from other African nations. Interaction International is contributing to PACMACK. We believe it is important to practically encourage these overlooked generations of missionary’s children. Through CAPRO USA, tax-deductible donations can help ensure no one is left out due to finances.
Would you consider partnering with us to support this historic gathering?
Your gift can help send an African MK or PK to PACMACK, where they will gain tools, healing, and hope. Donations can be made through:
As PACMACK approaches, anticipation builds—not just for the stories that will be shared, but for the new stories that will begin. This isn’t just a conference. It’s a milestone. It’s a movement. It’s a long-overdue recognition that African MKs and CCKs have insight, strength, and calling that the world needs to hear.
And with your help, they’ll have the support they need to thrive.
Home–and finding home–are such difficult concepts for Third Culture Kids (TCKs). Here’s a truth Interaction International has practiced for almost 50 years: TCKs’ transition support (including finding home) begins with understanding. Imagine waking up in a country where your passport says you belong, yet everything feels foreign. The grocery stores stock unfamiliar brands. Social cues fly over your head. And when someone asks, “Where are you from?” you freeze—because how do you explain a life lived across continents?
This is reality for TCKs—young people who have spent significant parts of their developmental years outside their passport countries. They’re global nomads, cultural chameleons, and bridge-builders. But they’re also often lonely, struggling with questions of identity and belonging that their monocultural peers can’t comprehend.
Last summer, I watched Kristin arrive at our Transit Lounge. Just 48 hours earlier, she had been on another continent. Now she stood at registration, clutching her backpack strap, shifting from foot to foot—a physical manifestation of her internal displacement.
For TCKs like Kristin, transitions aren’t just occasional disruptions—they’re a way of life. Moving between cultures means constantly recalibrating: learning new languages, adapting to different educational systems, forming friendships only to say goodbye. Each move brings grief alongside adventure, a complexity that few understand. Finding home is an almost impossible concept.
What happened next demonstrated why spaces like Transit Lounge matter so profoundly. Within hours of arrival, Kristin found herself leaning across the dinner table, words tumbling out as she shared pieces of her story. Around her sat peers who nodded with genuine understanding—not just polite interest.
“I’ve never been able to explain it before,” she told her small group leader later. “But they just… knew.”
By the end of the first day, something had shifted. The tension in her shoulders eased. She laughed—really laughed—at an inside joke only TCKs would understand. For perhaps the first time since returning to the land her passport said she belonged to, she wasn’t explaining herself or translating her experiences. She was simply being. Because Third Culture Kid transition support begins with understanding. Transit Lounge’s underlying principle is understanding. And that often leads to finding home.
Transit Lounge isn’t merely a summer program—it’s a vital community where TCKs learn to:
When TCKs recognize their experiences as shared rather than isolating, transformation begins. That weight in the chest lightens. The fog of confusion starts to clear. And possibilities emerge for creating a sense of home that transcends geography. All because Third Culture Kid support begins with understanding.
What makes Transit Lounge different from anything else? It’s the MK staff. They’ve been where you are. They get it. They’re the “special sauce” that makes everything more real, more meaningful, and way more fun. These young adult TCKs take time off work and show up just for you. They lead small groups, share their stories, and create space for laughter, honesty, and connection. Without them, Transit Lounge wouldn’t be the same—and with them, it’s unforgettable.
At Transit Lounge, the MK staff don’t just lead—they pour into you. Some share in workshops or large group sessions, drawing from their own experiences and expertise. But the real magic often happens in small groups and one-on-one conversations. That’s where things get personal. That’s where you get to hear how they navigated the same transitions you’re facing—especially when it comes to adjusting to life in the U.S.
Ken, an MK who grew up in Ghana, put it this way: “As a TCK who didn’t have a Transit Lounge experience, I was poorly equipped and really struggled with my adult life in the US. I volunteer each summer that I can to help the TCKs who are going through those same struggles.”
Another MK staffer, Spenser, said, “When I tell people that volunteering at Transit Lounge feels like a vacation, they always give me a weird look. Not sure why. This is an excellent opportunity to give back and pass forward the things that were shared with me at some point. In addition, listening to the TCKs in my group share their stories, showing them they are important, and being interested in them is my way of loving on them, and I believe the Holy Spirit works through that.”
Spenser continued, “It doesn’t matter how many times you hear about something if you’re not listening.” He’s right. Just being exposed to an idea isn’t the same as truly understanding it. That’s why at Transit Lounge, our MK staff do more than just sit through sessions with you—they circle back. They revisit key concepts in small groups, help connect the dots, and make space to ask questions or share thoughts. It’s not about getting everything right away. It’s about having people who care enough to walk with you until it clicks.
At Transit Lounge, small groups are where the real connections happen. Each group meets daily—sometimes even more often—and every person, including the MK staff leader, shares their story. For many TCKs, it’s the first time they’ve been able to tell their story and know that everyone listening gets it. It’s a rare gift: to be seen, heard, and truly known.
Some groups say goodbye at the end of the week and go their separate ways. Others keep chatting on WhatsApp, checking in long after camp ends. One group even planned a weekend mini-retreat months later—and they refused to do it without their MK staff leader. That kind of lasting connection? That’s the legendary “special sauce” we keep talking about.
Home isn’t always a place. Sometimes, it’s a group of people who understand your jokes, your story, and your silence. At Transit Lounge, you’ll find that kind of home—with other TCKs who are in the same boat, figuring out life in the U.S. You will also find home with MK staff who’ve walked this road before and care deeply about helping you navigate it too. This is more than just a week away. It’s a chance to belong. To be known. To start this next chapter with people who get you.
Come find home with us at Transit Lounge. Registration is still open for the Transit Lounge Arrivals program this summer. We hope you’ll let us help you on your journey of finding home. Register now!
Home–and finding home–are such difficult concepts for Third Culture Kids (TCKs). Here’s a truth Interaction International has practiced for almost 50 years: TCKs’ transition support (including finding home) begins with understanding. Imagine waking up in a country where your passport says you belong, yet everything feels foreign. The grocery stores stock unfamiliar brands. Social cues fly over your head. And when someone asks, “Where are you from?” you freeze—because how do you explain a life lived across continents?
This is reality for TCKs—young people who have spent significant parts of their developmental years outside their passport countries. They’re global nomads, cultural chameleons, and bridge-builders. But they’re also often lonely, struggling with questions of identity and belonging that their monocultural peers can’t comprehend.
Last summer, I watched Kristin arrive at our Transit Lounge. Just 48 hours earlier, she had been on another continent. Now she stood at registration, clutching her backpack strap, shifting from foot to foot—a physical manifestation of her internal displacement.
For TCKs like Kristin, transitions aren’t just occasional disruptions—they’re a way of life. Moving between cultures means constantly recalibrating: learning new languages, adapting to different educational systems, forming friendships only to say goodbye. Each move brings grief alongside adventure, a complexity that few understand. Finding home is an almost impossible concept.
What happened next demonstrated why spaces like Transit Lounge matter so profoundly. Within hours of arrival, Kristin found herself leaning across the dinner table, words tumbling out as she shared pieces of her story. Around her sat peers who nodded with genuine understanding—not just polite interest.
“I’ve never been able to explain it before,” she told her small group leader later. “But they just… knew.”
By the end of the first day, something had shifted. The tension in her shoulders eased. She laughed—really laughed—at an inside joke only TCKs would understand. For perhaps the first time since returning to the land her passport said she belonged to, she wasn’t explaining herself or translating her experiences. She was simply being. Because Third Culture Kid transition support begins with understanding. Transit Lounge’s underlying principle is understanding. And that often leads to finding home.
Transit Lounge isn’t merely a summer program—it’s a vital community where TCKs learn to:
When TCKs recognize their experiences as shared rather than isolating, transformation begins. That weight in the chest lightens. The fog of confusion starts to clear. And possibilities emerge for creating a sense of home that transcends geography. All because Third Culture Kid support begins with understanding.
What makes Transit Lounge different from anything else? It’s the MK staff. They’ve been where you are. They get it. They’re the “special sauce” that makes everything more real, more meaningful, and way more fun. These young adult TCKs take time off work and show up just for you. They lead small groups, share their stories, and create space for laughter, honesty, and connection. Without them, Transit Lounge wouldn’t be the same—and with them, it’s unforgettable.
At Transit Lounge, the MK staff don’t just lead—they pour into you. Some share in workshops or large group sessions, drawing from their own experiences and expertise. But the real magic often happens in small groups and one-on-one conversations. That’s where things get personal. That’s where you get to hear how they navigated the same transitions you’re facing—especially when it comes to adjusting to life in the U.S.
Ken, an MK who grew up in Ghana, put it this way: “As a TCK who didn’t have a Transit Lounge experience, I was poorly equipped and really struggled with my adult life in the US. I volunteer each summer that I can to help the TCKs who are going through those same struggles.”
Another MK staffer, Spenser, said, “When I tell people that volunteering at Transit Lounge feels like a vacation, they always give me a weird look. Not sure why. This is an excellent opportunity to give back and pass forward the things that were shared with me at some point. In addition, listening to the TCKs in my group share their stories, showing them they are important, and being interested in them is my way of loving on them, and I believe the Holy Spirit works through that.”
Spenser continued, “It doesn’t matter how many times you hear about something if you’re not listening.” He’s right. Just being exposed to an idea isn’t the same as truly understanding it. That’s why at Transit Lounge, our MK staff do more than just sit through sessions with you—they circle back. They revisit key concepts in small groups, help connect the dots, and make space to ask questions or share thoughts. It’s not about getting everything right away. It’s about having people who care enough to walk with you until it clicks.
At Transit Lounge, small groups are where the real connections happen. Each group meets daily—sometimes even more often—and every person, including the MK staff leader, shares their story. For many TCKs, it’s the first time they’ve been able to tell their story and know that everyone listening gets it. It’s a rare gift: to be seen, heard, and truly known.
Some groups say goodbye at the end of the week and go their separate ways. Others keep chatting on WhatsApp, checking in long after camp ends. One group even planned a weekend mini-retreat months later—and they refused to do it without their MK staff leader. That kind of lasting connection? That’s the legendary “special sauce” we keep talking about.
Home isn’t always a place. Sometimes, it’s a group of people who understand your jokes, your story, and your silence. At Transit Lounge, you’ll find that kind of home—with other TCKs who are in the same boat, figuring out life in the U.S. You will also find home with MK staff who’ve walked this road before and care deeply about helping you navigate it too. This is more than just a week away. It’s a chance to belong. To be known. To start this next chapter with people who get you.
Come find home with us at Transit Lounge. Registration is still open for three of the Transit Lounge programs this summer. We hope you’ll let us help you on your journey of finding home. Register now!
Images are a compilation of AI generated art on Night Cafe Studio and stock photography from Canva
What happens when good things like ministry become ultimate things? This heartfelt, pastoral call from someone who’s been there challenges missionary parents to reexamine how their calling has impacted their children—and what to do now to begin the work of restoration.
Dear Ministry Parents,
There’s something I need to say—something that might be hard to hear—but I believe you’re strong enough in Christ to receive it.
There is a subtle but devastating idolatry that can creep into ministry. And I’ve seen it firsthand—in my own life and in the lives of the missionary kids (MKs) who sit across from me in quiet moments, when they finally feel safe enough to speak.
“Many MKs have told me some version of this: ‘I always knew the ministry came before me.’”
Not because you said it—but because they felt it. In the way schedules were arranged, in how needs were prioritized, in what happened when they stumbled, or needed too much, or weren’t perfect. It’s embedded in statements shouted to the back seat as you pull into a church parking lot, “This is a major supporting church. Be on your best behavior.”
One young man sat in my office—his story is almost too heavy to bear. He had been sexually molested, and in his brokenness, he went on to harm another child on their team overseas. As a result, his family was sent back from the field. And in the middle of his shame, trauma, and mandated counseling, his father angrily said to him, “You’ve ruined my ministry.”
That idea is a fallacy—twice over. First, that it was “his” ministry. Second, that it was “ruined.” That’s not how the Kingdom works.
“God didn’t forget that you or I were going to have children when He called us to serve.”
The ministry is God’s—full stop. We are invited to participate, but it’s His work. And a child’s failure—however deep—cannot derail the plans of an Almighty God. That logic presumes God forgot when he called the parents that kids would be in the mix.
With various groups of MKs I’ve spoken with, unpacking the pain they’ve experienced from their parent’s idolatry of ministry is one of the deepest. I’ve made it my practice during those sessions to speak aloud about darkness.
“Your parents were wrong if they made you feel like ministry mattered more than you did. It’s idolatry. It’s a sin.”
When I say it, the room gets still. And then it breaks.
With tears streaming down my face, I look at each one and say: “It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. And because you may never hear it from your parents, hear it through me: I’m sorry. Will you forgive us?”
One hulking teenage boy came to me, unsuccessfully fighting back tears, “My dad will never admit it,” he said. “He treats us slightly better than carry-on baggage. But hearing you say it helped me start to forgive him.”
I don’t share these stories to condemn you. I share them because I am one of you.
I’ve spoken at international schools, led seminars, been invited into important rooms. I’ve felt the allure of praise—the intoxicating sense of purpose that comes from being “great at ministry.” I’ve written prayer updates celebrating ministry success, all while slowly starving my family of my presence.
One day, after yet another trip, I sat on the edge of my daughter’s bed and asked her what she thought about my many travels and late nights. I knew I’d been neglecting her—but I needed to hear the truth in her 5-year-old voice.
She shyly replied: “It’s okay, I like the things you bring me.”
“That’s when it hit me. She was saying what too many MKs have learned to believe: ‘Other people’s needs are more important than mine.'”
Dear parents, we cannot confuse being a disciple of Jesus with doing ministry.
In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to lay down Isaac—not to prove his commitment to a task, but to test where his heart truly was: had the gift become more important than the Giver?
And Luke 14 doesn’t call us to literally hate our families. It calls us to love Christ so supremely that everything else is surrendered. Ironically, it’s in that surrender that we actually learn how to deeply love our spouses and children. It’s the context of a family who is focused on being a follower of Jesus, that He then invites us to proclaim the Good News. Ministry flows naturally from the context of a healthy family.
So here’s what I’m asking you to do:
Call your kids. Or sit down with them if they’re still home. Ask them, gently and honestly:
“To what degree do you feel like I prioritized ministry over you?”
Give them space. Don’t defend. Just listen.
Then—if they say yes—apologize. Tell them you were wrong. Look them in the eyes and say:
“I love you, and I’m sorry for the ways I let you feel like you came second. That was never what God intended.”
Ask them what you can do now. And then, by God’s grace, start doing it.
From the thousands of MKs I’ve worked with, I’d estimate nearly 90% at least hesitate when asked if their dad—or mom—loved them more than “the ministry.”
For those of you whose kids feel secure in your love: thank God. However invite them to keep you accountable. Keep checking in. Because the pull toward the idolatry of ministry is real, and it is strong.
But there is hope.
You are not beyond grace. And it’s not too late. The God who called you to ministry also entrusted you with your children—and He is big enough to restore both.
Let’s break the cycle. Let’s lay down our ministry if it ever becomes our idol. And let’s pick up the cross of Jesus—the one that teaches us to serve the least of these, including the ones in our very own homes.
With grace and truth,
Bret Taylor
President, Interaction International
Creator the Adaptable TCK Model
Co-author of Setting the Standard: Standards of Excellence for Third Culture Kid Care
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Get ready for transition now. It’s going to happen. Acting now is the best way to stay strong throughout the year.
Have you ever chosen a word for the year? I’m still searching for my word for 2025. In the past, my annual word has helped me focus my time and my resources. It has even changed my thinking. One year, my word was generosity. I had so much fun being generous—paying for the order of the car behind me in a drive through, helping a friend with tasks they struggled to complete on their own, attending a friend’s sporting events.
About three quarters of the way through the year, I realized that it was easy for me to be generous to others, but it was difficult to direct that same generosity to myself. I had to work at changing that–so much so that I kept the word for 2 years.
If you’re a TCK, if you’re rearing TCKs, if you’re an organizational caregiver—the word that is inevitable for you in 2025 is transition. If that elicited a moan, please don’t give up on this post! I would love to make the concept of transition more bearable for you.
No matter your role, transition is assured. High school seniors look forward to graduation and working or attending university. Parents look forward to the end of senioritis, but mourn the loss of their child’s presence. Younger students look forward to a home assignment and all the joys of a new place while dreading being the new kid again. Some know their only transitions are watching their friends leave for 6 months or longer and being expected to welcome new people. Caregivers face a whirlwind of hellos and goodbyes in a three month race of debriefing, orientation, and care.
The good news is you can prepare for all these transitions. The time to get ready for transition is now. Are you ready for transition?
What can you do? (I’m so glad you asked)
Start preparing your family now. Review Dave Pollock and Ruth VanReken’s seminal concept of RAFT (Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewells, Think Destination) and work together as a family to plan your collective and individual RAFTs. Revisit the plan regularly. Add to it. Celebrate when all or any of you carry out part of the plan. Make a big deal of these accomplishments.
RAFTing doesn’t have to be groan worthy. Here are a few practical things you can do to help you and your children with each step.
This year is so fun–and it can be so stressful. You can conquer it! Of course you need to do the things listed above. However, you don’t need to do them all at once. If you start now, it won’t be overwhelming. Will it be emotional and tiring? I’m pretty sure it will be. It will also be wonderful.
Here are some tips for you as you prepare for transition:
Summer–in the Northern hemisphere, the season of transition, is exhilarating and exhausting. Get ready for transition now!
One of the hardest things about transition seems like the easiest to those who are going somewhere else. Staying might be less logistically stressful than leaving, but it has its own challenges.
Staying can mean being left behind. That’s something few relish. I talked to a 6th grader once who had a different best friend every year since pre-school. Being left behind so often led her to thoughts of never saying hello to a new person again. The pain of staying was real.
Stayers, I see you. The leavers get all the attention, but you should get the medals. Your tenacity and flexibility needs to be applauded.
Don’t think you have nothing to do in the midst of transition. While it’s not obvious at first, the transition is yours, too. Build your RAFT. Make your bucket lists with those who are leaving as well as with those who are staying. Don’t be left in everyone else’s wake thinking you’re the leftover. This is a transition for you, too; treat it properly. You’ll be glad you took the time to get ready for transition.
The new year is still fresh and full of possibilities. You get to decide so much of it. Transition is going to be a part of it no matter what. You’re the CEO of your transition. Make it fire.
And maybe let the word rest before recycling it for another year.
Images created in Canva and Night Cafe Studio; edited in Canva.
