Brigada

Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell are just stellar people. They recently wrote to offer helps for those headed to Haiti or Chili to help with disaster relief. For example, for more on the handling the broad-scaled logistics in Haiti, they suggested we direct readers to…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8466595.stm
They also suggested an even broader perspective from the U.N. Office for [...]

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Help Phil, a grad student, develop a wellness inventory which will allow managers and member care staff to assess the well-being of colleagues in the physical, emotional, spiritual, social, occupational and intellectual areas of their lives.  Unlike many of the current assessments that attempt to answer the question, “How sick are you?” this inventory is [...]

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Breathe is a 10-day retreat happening June 24-July 4, 2010 in Switzerland designed for the renewal of singles, couples and families who serve in cross-cultural settings. Under the guidance of professionals with years of experience in pastoral and member care counseling, you will have the opportunity to focus on issues affecting you and your family. [...]

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On their “Member Caravan” website, Kelly and Michele O’Donnell recently listed 12 organizations (among thousands!) that provide information and perspectives on international events and humanitarian issues. The organizations offer links to their video modules, interviews, photo journals, news reports, etc. on a variety of issues that affect all of us. Have a look and you [...]

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A local group of leaders will host Care Connexion 2010 on April 16-17, 2010 at Cedar Mill Bible Church in Portland, OR. Care Connexion will focus on equipping and networking leaders to provide relevant and effective care for missionaries.  Those attending will meet partners in the ministry of Missionary Care from churches, missions organizations, schools [...]

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The the O’Donnells recently featured, in the Culture and Diversity section of their “Member Caravan” website, several new materials that promote understanding, respect, and competency regarding human diversity and multicultural settings. One resource in particular that they recommended to us this past week is “Mental Health in a Changing World: The Impact of Culture and [...]

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The O’Donnells think so anyway (Kelly and Michèle). They wrote recently to recommend it to Brigada participants. Entitled, “Stress and Trauma Handbook: Strategies for Flourishing in Demanding Environments,” it is  edited by John Fawcett (2003), and published by World Vision. Kelly and Michele wrote, “This is a core handbook for our libraries and our work. [...]

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We heard this past week from Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell, authors of several industry-defining books on member care. They had updated their site at…
http://www.COREmembercare.blogspot.com
dealing with the tough questions of, “How transparent should we be in our work and lives?” on the international weblog “Reflections and Resources for Good Practice.” The entries include definitions and applications [...]

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Study under the people who wrote the book on Member Care (Kelly and Michele O’Donnell). Watch this interactive slide presentation and learn how to further connect and contribute to the member care field. It is oriented towards those with member care responsibilities and interests and especially towards those studying/working in the health care fields. It [...]

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It’s not too late to jump on board.
http://chalmers.org/when-helping-hurts/webinar/about.php
You’ll recall that the price is *free*, the content is top-notch, and it’s based on the book, When Helping Hurts. They’re working through the book chapter by chapter, like a book club online! Great idea.

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Hats off to Kelly and Michele O’Donnell for making available to Brigada readers (at no charge) the text of their landmark book, “Missionary Care: Counting the Cost.” Access it by going online to
Missioary Care book
The book emphasizes ways to help “count the cost” and to develop healthy and effective personnel in cross-cultural work. The five [...]

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Life Impact’s mission is to strengthen missionaries to impact their nations.  They now have an Oasis facility in Costa Rica to use for Member Care services of Latin American Missionaries and Christian workers.  They need an experienced, mature couple bilingual in Spanish and English to host and minister in this facility.  Contact Dave at
or [...]

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Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell are billing it as “Traveling Together as Learners-Practitioners.” This new Member Care site “helps to fill an important gap in the web world. It is especially oriented towards graduate students. But it is relevant for anyone who is interested/involved in member care and international work in the health care fields. The [...]

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In this presentation, shares her journey as a missionary with mental health training and as a psychologist/professor working in mission/humanitarian assistance. Using the interaction of Jesus and Peter in John 21: 15-19, she encourages us to live in the freedom of who we are and the freedom of who we are called to be. Her [...]

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Living Waters International is hosting a special restoration retreat for missionaries and cross cultural workers in Bali, Indonesia. It is designed to really be a time of special ministry to the missionary who may need some time to truly experience the personal love and care of Jesus. Especially if someone is struggling secretly, even with [...]

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From Fuller School of Psych, here are three new release from Kelly O’Donnell: “The Pearls and the Perils: Practicing Psychology in Mission/Aid Settings,” (2009) Fuller School of Psychology USA, Integration Symposium, 19-20 February 2009. In this resource, Kelly gives three lectures that are relevant for further developing member care practitioners, sending groups, and the member [...]

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Thanks to a Brigada responder writing on one of those comment links… we learned recently about “Set a New Direction”:
http://www.setanewdirection.com/returning_missionaries.html
It specifically focuses on the Career needs of returning workers. Brad is a former missionary who now helps others to objectively translate / reinterpret their unique skills, overseas experience and International IQ to the best opportunities [...]

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Here is a Missionary Care Resource Toolkit list, as profiled by Ron at…
http://www.ronberrus.abwe.org/
What we would like to know is… what additional resources could be added to this basic library? What, if anything, has Ron neglected to include? If you can think of items that you would add, please click “Comment” at the end of the [...]

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We’re humbled at the chance to serve guys like Les, who recently wrote to say, “You may not remember me but way back in 2000/2001 you helped to launch our site. Since then we have handled over 33,000,000 hits … with more on the way. Many hundreds of training schools and churches have opened all [...]

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Barnabas International and ELIM Retreat Ministries will sponsor 9 six day retreats in the States in 2009. Each retreat is for adults only. The purpose is to provide low key but intentional times of personal encouragement and spiritual care to global workers. The emphasis is on preventative pastoral care, the Word and the Spirit, sweet [...]

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A Team Expansion missionary with two little boys (2 and 4-years old) is looking for great ideas for family fun. The country where he serves has some beautiful places but like many 3rd World Countries it doesn’t have many parks, playgrounds, etc. If you have an idea or have found great resources please share. He [...]

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Missionary Recourses Connection is committed to providing care for missionaries and their families. Based in the Columbia, South Carolina area, they also became a “True Fan” of Brigada this past week! (Thank you!) The care they provide extends to the whole person — including spiritual, mental, and physical health, along with community resources, networking, personal [...]

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