For centuries God has been calling
families to leave their familiar environment and spread the
Gospel of Jesus in a foreign land. Yet it has not been until
recent years that the church and sending agencies have recognized
the need for training the whole family.
Moving overseas puts quite a strain on families—close
relationships change, schooling is interrupted, and the world
seems to turn upside down and unpredictable.
The preparation of children and teens is a vital
step toward successfully transitioning the family as a unified
whole.
That’s where CHIPs comes in.
What Is CHIPs? (More about SPLICE, PILAT, DAR)
CHIPs stands for:
CHildren’s
Intercultural
Programs
CHIPs is our unique focus on whole family training
in SPLICE, PILAT, and DAR. We believe that unified families
and well-trained children and teens are vital for the spread
of the Gospel.
For the past 50 years, Mission Training International has been helping parents
find answers to complex questions about children, teens, and families in cross-cultural
life settings. In CHIPs training, the daily objectives for each age group parallel
the objectives of the adult training program. This creates natural talking
points for the relaxed time in the evening when families can continue the learning
process together and have FUN.
Children, Teens, and
Whole Families need:
- pre-departure training in the six vital areas
that will help make them be effective, enduring, and enjoying
their calling = CHIPs–SPLICE
- pre-departure preparation for language acquisition
= CHIPs–PILAT
- debriefing and renewal upon returning home
= CHIPs–DAR
Why choose CHIPs over other training programs
to train your kids and family?
1. We prioritize training children,
teens, and families… and it shows.
2. Coordinated Curriculum.
In CHIPs training
or debriefing, the daily objectives for each age group
parallel the objectives of the adult training program. This
creates
natural talking points for the relaxed times in the evening
when families can continue the learning process together
and have FUN.
3. Not all training is created equal.
Here are the distinguishing characteristics
that set us apart from others: click
here for the Top Ten Reasons.
What are participants saying about CHIPs?
"We appreciate all the activities you provided
our children to introduce them to the upcoming changes… and
for the evaluation as well it was invaluable to us.”
"I had no idea how much the CHIPs staff
were going to invest in our children. We were profoundly helped
as parents and deeply appreciate the gift we have been given.”
"More than anything, my wife and I will
be forever in your debt as you have resourced us to meet the
needs of our children… you have exceeded our hopes.”
"Finally, time to focus on what we’ve
been neglecting in our preparation - our family, our marriage,
the personal values/interpersonal quirks that will hinder cross-cultural
effectiveness and our relationship with God. The SPLICE staff
and program did such a great job of preparing us for the field… thank
you.”
OTHER QUESTIONS PEOPLE ARE ASKING: How can you help us prepare
our kids for this big transition?
Why is debriefing for our kids and as a family
so important?
Tell me more about the age-clustering of the
classes?
How can you help
us prepare our kids for this big transition?
For 50 years, Mission Training International has
been helping parents prepare their children for what lies ahead.
Kids ask a million questions!
Why are we going?
Why us?
What will it really be like?
Will I like it?
Who will be my new friends?
Will I still fit in?
How will I talk when I don’t know the language?
What can I bring with me when we go?
There’s days I don’t want to go… is that OK?
Is it OK to ask these questions again?
CHIPs will help you find answers to these and
other typical behavioral responses from kids. Our goal is to
empower parents to value their kids’ questions and internal
world and respond in ways that will keep the family close and
unified. After all, perhaps the brightest beacon of witness
in any culture is a family in which Christ’s love, grace,
and forgiveness is readily evident.
Why
is debriefing for our kids and as a family so important?
When kids acquire a variety of overseas and re-entry
experiences that are too hard to explain to others who have
never “been there,” they often shut down or lock
up their inner world. Although this is also true of adults,
it can be especially paralyzing or confusing for kids.
Debriefing with other kids who have “been
there”, along with CHIPs facilitators who can put some
names to common reactions of an MK’s inner world, often
liberates and unlocks the child’s or teen’s positive
outlook on life and the sense of being loved and cared for by
God.
It is amazing how members of the same family,
sharing the same experiences, can have such different internal
reactions.
The problem is that the hectic
pace of life in cross-cultural ministry can often drown out the exploration
and valuing of each family member’s inner world. That’s where
CHIPs-DAR comes in. Both the adult DAR facilitators and CHIPs-DAR staff will
be equipping
you to use some of the relaxed evenings to reconnect as a family. Tell me more about
the age-clustering of the classes?
Nursery – Birth through 1-year-olds
While parents participate in training sessions, loving, experienced caregivers
establish a warm and stable environment for the birth through 1-year-olds.
Parents can be called readily as needed or, in coordination with adult
training staff, infants can spend some time with their parents during the
adult training.
New Beginnings – 2
and 3 year-olds
Enjoy the security and freedom to develop and grow in language and observation
skills. The program includes age-appropriate active learning and play as well
as napping facilities.
Discovery – 4 to
6 year-olds
This age group is so busy discovering the excitement of the world around them.
Through interactive play and exploration, children participate in cross-cultural
exercises and develop skills to grow as their own world grows larger.
Breakthrough – 7
to 12 year-olds
Breakthrough kids are experiencing their unique identity. Here they learn specific
strategies for overcoming fear, understanding who they are becoming as third-culture
kids, developing new friendships, and learning a new language.
Teens on Target – 13-18
year-olds
For teens, the transition from one culture to another is complex yet exciting.
Teens on Target is designed to help develop confident MKs with skills and motivation
to build friendships overseas, learn a new language, and appreciate cultural
differences.
REGISTER for SPLICE
REGISTER for PILAT
REGISTER for DAR |
