WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

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EMOTIONAL FATIGUE physical, mental and emotional strain. Oswald had also been troubled by a neurotic condition which affected his heels. This needed surgery. But Edith’s health caused the most concern. Oswald had tried to protect her from highly sensitive issues, but because she often acted as his secretary, she would inevitably learn of matters that would distress her. She became exhausted, and was physically and emotionally depleted. The directors of the mission wisely decreed leave of absence for a few months. Oswald continued his work as General Director, but with Melbourne as a base instead of Singapore. Edith received much help through consultations with a Christian woman psychiatrist. Oswald’s health was also restored after two successive operations. These examples indicate that Christian leaders pay a heavy price for leadership. So do their wives. What happened to these two leaders is not uncommon among leaders who bear the load of their responsibilities. Questions for Discussion 1. What are some symptoms and reasons for fatigue in the case of Dawson Trotman and Oswald Sanders? 2. What actions did the doctors and directors of the mission take? What do you think might have happened had these two leaders continued in their fatigued condition? FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FATIGUE 149 What are some factors that contribute to emotional fatigue? Carrie Sydnor Coffman, a Christian writer, experienced extreme fatigue after a four-year assignment in Malaysia. Later, she did some research. She interviewed Navigator workers who had undergone exhaustion. In her publication, she enumerates various factors that caused emotional fatigue. 3 Here is a summary: • Commitment to others’ needs but little attention to one’s own personal needs • Inadequate vacations, no weekly off days, little recreation, not knowing how to relax • Unrealistic workload, inaccurate estimation of one’s capacity, not heeding the warnings of others 3 Carrie Sydnor Coffman (1997), Weary Warriors: Lessons from Christian Workers Who Burned Out, 3rd Edition, Norman OK, Apples of Gold.
150 WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES • Pressures as a result of tense relationships, lack of support from leader, emotionally draining circumstances • Over-conscientious attempts by both men and women workers to please leaders and their demands • Feeling inferior, temperament • Unclear job expectations SYMPTOMS OF FATIGUE Carrie Coffman records the symptoms which were shown by those experiencing emotional fatigue. The following were commonly displayed. • Lack of interest and loss of motivation for the ministry and meeting people • Depression for a period of time • Spiritual dryness • Inability to perform normal tasks • Difficulty sleeping, trouble with nerves, excessive tiredness • Physical problems such as chest constriction, headaches, migraines, muscle tension in various parts of the body, knotted muscles, a choking sensation, irregular heart beats, tongue and mouth pains, loss of appetite • Overly sensitive emotions and uncontrollable tears • Warped perspective The recovery period for these fatigued workers took three months for one person and as long as seven years for another. They all had learned valuable lessons. There is hope. The next chapter deals with stress prevention. SUMMARY of chapters 17 to 19 All cross-cultural workers will face stresses. There are generally two kinds of cultural stress. The first is “culture shock” which is experienced with the loss of familiar cues. The second, more difficult to handle, involves lifestyle and relationships. It encompasses values and attitudes to which the worker must adjust in his new cultural environment. Some major areas are personal privacy, time and efficiency, money and amenities and environment and health. Those who have to learn a difficult language will experience language stress as they will feel helpless without being able to communicate. Defence mechanisms are common human responses to unpleasant experiences. When cross-cultural workers experience stress, they will often unconsciously use different defence mechanisms to help them relate to people and circumstances. When defence mechanisms are overused over a prolonged
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Jim Chew currently mentors cross-cu
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WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

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