STRESS
It is pretty much a given that you will experience some stress on the mission field. Different cultures do different things. The differences can be interesting, but they can also be very stressful. Stress is magnified on the mission field and it is sneaky!
Remember the “fight or flight” response that you discussed in Psychology 101 in school? It describes our response to threats or challenges in our life. Sometimes we choose to fight the stress and sometimes we choose to fly from it. Let’s face it, the only flying you will do on the mission field is to and from your host country. When stress hits, you will need to cope with it.
You will encounter stress from a variety of areas. Here is a list of stressors that come to mind.
- You will be out of your comfort zone.
- If you don’t speak the language you may feel helpless.
- The climate may be different than what your body is used to feeling.
- You are sick.
- You are an introvert within a team of extroverts.
- You are an extrovert within a team of introverts.
- You don’t know appropriate behavior because you can’t “read” cultural cues.
- You don’t have enough time to get your project completed.
- You can’t adjust to the noise, pollution, and altitude.
10.You feel confused and alienated from the Lord.
Can you think of other stressors that may influence you or your team members? How do you cope on the mission field?
- Pray about your circumstances.
- Make sure you are taking good care of your body. Drink lots of water. Eat food that is safe and nutritious. Take precautions with the sun. Wear a hat and sunscreen. It is very necessary to let your body rest. Don’t work too hard without taking a break. Get enough rest at night too.
- Rely on the support from your fellow team members when the going gets rough. They have probably experienced stress and can help you sort out your feelings.
- Relax when you can and observe your surroundings. Reflection may bring some sense to what you feel stressed about.
- Exercise when possible.