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Upstream Blog
The Upstream Blog has a range of short articles on various topics around sending. Look through the tags to discover articles that meet your need.



The Benefits of Pre-Field Cross-Cultural Training with an Organization
Stepping into a new cultural context for the first time can be overwhelming. The excitement of going to the mission field can quickly...


Beyond Reverse Culture Shock Introduction
I’m a World War II history nerd. I have watched almost every documentary out there on this time period. As the largest conflict in...


Helping TCKs through Re-Entry
Reverse culture shock (also called re-entry stress) can occur when you return to your “home” country after spending time in another...


Helping TCKs Acclimate during Furloughs
Furloughs are a unique time that many people never get to experience, but to a third culture kid (or TCK—a child who has grown up in at...


Defining Key Terms: Culture Shock
Upon arriving in South Asia, I began to embrace the challenging task of driving on a different side of the road with exponentially more...


Post-Field Care: Plan, Presence, and Pathways to Reengagement
Post-field care can be the most challenging care for churches to provide. Missionaries come home for numerous reasons—scheduled visits,...


Helping Sent Ones Work through Culture Shock
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Mike Tyson I can guarantee you that, before today, we have never started an...


Healthy at Home: Five Ways to Provide Holistic Care for Returned Global Workers
Reentry care is a multi-faceted endeavor that requires constant tending. Our attention to their care is key to health and longevity.


Four Phases of Unexpected Culture Shock in Our Current Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis has shifted our norms so fast that we struggle to keep up. Perhaps our entire society is going through culture shock.
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