The Missionary Mama's Survival Guide: Compassionate Help for the Mothers of Cross-Cultural Workers

by Tori R. Haverkamp, Hayley Moss (Illustrator), David McWhite (Editor)

When your child decides to become a missionary, you may feel a little like you’re wandering in the wilderness. Instead of bears and wolves, you may find fears and unpredictable emotions sneaking up when you least expect it. These unwelcome visitors can feel just as daunting as any wild beast. Maybe you are confused by the meaning of mission . . . or resentful of your child’s devotion to it. Perhaps you believe in the goal but are struggling with the practical reality of their absence. You are likely painfully aware of your need to support your missionary child but feel unsupported yourself. You probably feel all alone. But you’re not. We’re going to hike this path together.

The Missionary Mama’s Survival Guide is a concise and compassionate companion guide By educating yourself about what’s hiding in the “wilderness,” you will be able to drop your burdens of guilt, shame, and fear and pick up your tools of gratefulness, surrender, and freedom. This new awareness will help you settle into your adventure and release your child to pursue their own. Mama, get ready to survive . . . and thrive! The road ahead is hard, though it is not without reward. Missionary Mama, you are the unsung hero of The Great Commission. But unsung does not mean unseen. I see you, Missionary Mama. I’m here with you. So lace up those boots. Let’s hike!

193 pages, Paperback

Published May 11, 2023

About the author

Tori R. Haverkamp is the mother of a missionary and the creator and editor of Parents of Goers (parentsofgoers.com), a multi-media website devoted to educating and encouraging parents of cross-cultural workers. Because of her disorienting experience with sending her son overseas, Tori desires to be an empathetic guide for those just beginning the Missionary Mama journey. With a Master's degree in Theological Studies (Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) and over 30 years of experience in ministry, Tori speaks, writes, and teaches on motherhood, marriage, and missions. She and her husband, Brent, along with their four now-grown children, are avid backpackers. They have hiked all over the world and survived to tell great stories of their adventures.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my mother-in-law, in anticipation of my family’s move overseas next year. It only took me an hour to skim read from start to finish. While I am not the target audience, I love how the book talked through foundational principles, tactics for taking every thought captive, and practical ideas for things like staying connected with grandchildren and dealing with flight anxiety. It also contains a list of different resources and a host of helpful Scriptures. I think this could be helpful for any parent whose children are following Jesus, whether in the same country or not. And it is helpful for me, as I’m going overseas, to have an idea of what my parents and loved ones may experience through this transition.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

So helpful and encouraging to my mama heart while my Goer is on the field.