Between Worlds: My Life As A Missionary Kid

by Simeon Harrar

Simeon Harrar grew up all around the world as a missionary kid. He weaves together first-hand accounts of the joys and struggles of his childhood. Get lost in the jungle, slurp down strange foods, and try to re-create a Thanksgiving dinner in the African desert. Experience the oddities of missionary life, wrestle with the tensions of being an American growing up in a foreign culture and get a glimpse of things you only thought possible in fairytales. Follow the epic adventures and failures of a boy trying to find his identity as a child of two worlds.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2017

About the author

My name is Simeon Harrar and I am a sojourner. I was born in the South Pacific and spent most of my life on the move before I came to America to go to college. The first week of classes I evacuated the men’s dorm by burning Ramen noodles in the microwave. Who knew you were supposed to add water! It didn’t take me long to realize that my upbringing was a little unusual. As a world traveler I have been given a unique perspective on life and a whole lot of crazy stories.

During college I wrote my first book, hit a much needed second growth spurt, and played a ton of tennis. I graduated a new man with the world as my oyster, and armed with my highly coveted philosophy degree I managed to get a job in retail, and then upgraded to working in a phone bank. I forgot to mention that I also moved back in with my parents and helped take care of my mom as she went through chemo. This was not exactly how I’d imagined my life, but don’t worry–the story gets better!

I met a beautiful woman, we fell in love, and … I moved to Thailand to work with impoverished families ensnared in human trafficking. Didn’t see that one coming, did you? When I came home I put a ring on her and married her.

My wife and I now live in Pittsburgh where I am a full-time student and an aspiring author. I am passionate about helping the American Church embrace its missional calling, engage in intentional cross-cultural community, and learn the healing and transforming power of storytelling. I plan to work as a bi-vocational church planter once I finish school.

Reviews

[Christy Carmean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great memoir of a Missionary Kid growing up in two different countries (other than his passport country) and the ways that these experiences shaped his life and his future. I laughed out loud sometimes (and even read some parts to my family) and at other times was in awe at the way loss shaped him. Great stories in short chapters that anyone who has lived overseas would be able to relate to (and probably trigger some of their own stories!)