Connected: Starting Your Overseas Life Spiritually Fed

by Amy Young

You’ve made the leap and said yes to serving God cross-culturally. You’re anticipating your big adventure and prepared to serve whatever the cost. But you might have underestimated how you will need to relearn everything . . . even connecting with God.

As much as you love God, finding meaningful ways to spiritually feed yourself takes time. Connected is designed to feed your soul and nurture your relationship with God as you adjust to cross-cultural life. When so much of life is new, focus each month on one Fruit of the Spirit.

Staying connected to God isn’t a given, but it can be cultivated. Picture your first nine months marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This book will help that picture become your reality.

108 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2020

Reviews

[Marta Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, simple book to guide folks as they transition to life overseas. With personal experience and the experience of mentoring others through this type of transition, the author provides a helpful path for processing thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. Each chapter begins with a brief, fitting explanation of the fruits of God's spirit in believers and walks the reader through practical questions that fit the experience of moving to another culture. The author gives space to journal and process transition. I'd recommend it as a tool and would use it if I moved overseas again.

[Sarah Hilkemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this simple guide, Amy uses the fruit of the Spirit to help cross-cultural workers process their first 9 months on the field. This is a pivotal time so having another resource to add to the Kingdom worker’s toolbox is great!

[Irene Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book provides a meaningful way for someone new to life overseas to evaluate his or her spiritual condition. Amy uses the fruit of the Spirit as a springboard for meaningful questions that enable the reader to think through how they are relating to the new country, culture, language, and team in which they've landed. Some of the questions may seem repetitive but they are all pertinent to the things people experience when they first land in a new location.
Although the book is intended for first term cross cultural workers, it can easily be adapted by anyone who finds themselves in a new season of ministry.
I plan to recommend this book to first termers heading overseas!

[Neil Brighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy's latest book is a real help to people settling into their first global mission placement. Often the preparation time is filled with practical advice, learning about the culture, raising funds and saying goodbye. It's easy to forget that the first element of member care is our relationship with God. Amy's book is a guided reflection on gifts of the spirit; help to feed the soul but also reflect and engage in practical ways.

The book is a short, simple format. But I'll be suggesting that all our new workers take a look.

[Lisa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Young's "Connected" will be a great tool to put in the hands of everyone heading overseas for the first time.... or anytime! It's a simple tool that focuses on a different fruit of the Spirit for nine months, helping cross-cultural workers start off and stay connected to God. I really believe this resource will feed your soul and nurture your relationship with God as you adjust to cross-cultural life. I'm excited to hand this to each one I serve as a 'sender' for our organization.

[Megan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little workbook designed for your first 9 months overseas. It works through a different fruit of the spirit every month. I knew that when I first went overseas it can feel hard to focus on spiritual growth when everything is changing. This close look at the fuite of the spirit and plenty of reflection questions is something simple yet super helpful. I would even recommend it for people in any transition no matter how many years they have on or off the field.

[Mabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is a great book for people going overseas. Each month for 9 months Amy gives you scripture(s) to ponder for a month and asks very insightful questions to help you adjust to your new life overseas. Questions about what you are learning and how to nurture yourself in that first year you are there.

That being said, I also think it would be a great book for people who are already overseas and moving to a new culture/country. Its not just for first year people.

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scripture meditation is always a good idea and this book helps you do just that! Along with scripture, there are relevant questions to help you think through your new home/life on the field. The simplicity of the format is refreshing and engaging. At a time when everything can seem overwhelming, Connected will help ground you in what truly matters.