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What About Our Kids? - Emili's Story

“What about our kids?”

This is one of the first and most common questions asked when second-culture families are considering going into ministry with Josiah Venture.

Third culture kid research reveals both the dangers and the joys of growing up in a foreign culture. So, JV’s caring parents want to ensure that as they join our vision to see a movement of God among the youth of Central and Eastern Europe, the young people in their own homes are a part of that plan.

JV’s answer to their question: we believe that when God calls a family to the mission field, He’s calling the kids too. As an organization, we invest in and care for our kids because we desire to see them not only survive here, but thrive, becoming mature followers of Christ and disciple-makers wherever He leads them in life.

Throughout the years, God has blessed our organization in this area. The caliber of the JV kids (JVK), who number over a hundred today, speaks for itself. But for those of you who don’t get the privilege of interacting with these kids on a regular basis, here’s an interview with one of them.

2017 29 05 Emili Blog In Text

A Shaped Identity

Emili Shepperson is a poised 19 year old who lives in Slovakia with her parents and three younger siblings. After 16 years of living on this side of the ocean, she’s getting ready to head to college in the States and looks back on her missionary kid upbringing with gratefulness.  

“There are so many good things about it! I love living in Europe. I love getting to know the people here and speaking Slovak. And I love the JV community.”

Emili says that although there have been challenges, like language issues, not being close to relatives, missing friends and things from North America, and not always knowing where she belongs, God has been with her and shaped her through the experience.    

“People usually look to a country to find their identity, but I’ve learned that God is the one who gives me my identity. I don’t have to associate it with a country or a place, but I can associate it with wherever God calls me to be because He’ll be there.”

2017 29 05 Emili Blog In Text 2

A Life On Mission

When asked what makes JVKs unique Emili says, “Josiah Venture is about family on mission, so the kids are a part of JV’s mission, not just the parents. That’s unique, I think, because most of the other missionary kids I know don’t really help out that much. They are just along for the ride. That’s completely different for me and a whole bunch of other JVKs. We’re actively a part of the mission that our parents are involved in. I think that really makes us special.”

For Emili, being on mission recently has meant helping with conferences in Slovakia, working at the event cafe or volunteering with the chapels. She’s also attended summer camps regularly and leads a small group of girls she’s helping to disciple.

“My parents have always encouraged me, since I was little, to be a light to my friends and take care of them and make sure that they get to know Jesus. So, I’ve had several small groups. My very first one was in 2012 when I was only 14 years old. I’m not saying I knew how to do everything right, of course I didn’t. I didn’t know what I was doing, but you learn on the way.”

Emili says the group has expanded to six girls altogether, from both camp and school, and they are currently studying Romans. “The girl I started discipling in the very first one back in 2012, we’re now leading together. And the plan is that when I go to the States, she’ll probably take over…. I get to see her now, after all these years when I’ve been investing in her, go and invest in other girls. That’s really important and special to me. It’s really great to see how God is working in her and how He’s using me to reach people around me.”

As Emili prepares for college in the States, please pray that it would be a smooth transition, that she’d form deep friendships, and that God would be with her as she gets used to life away from family. Pray also for the rest of the JVKs, that they would continue to set good examples in their speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, and that God would allow them to thrive in the foreign places He’s led them.

 

 

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