One of the team leaders in our organization says that he’s found a couple of great movies that seem to help teammates, new and old, just start talking about the ups and downs of missionary life. As you know, this kind of debriefing can be soooo helpful in keeping missionaries healthy. If you know of a film that is great for this, please share! For example, some time ago, I happened to be watching an old Star Trek: Next Generation episode called “Inner Light” just as we were about to kick off a debrief. Picked up the DVD and tried it. Even the non-Trekkies saw all the parallels between Piccard’s compressed-time short-term trip on the long-ago-lost planet of Katahn. He gets to bring home his flute, which makes a great parallel to all the stories that we can bring home about the people we come to know. What other media have worked out well for you?
Caroline and I have often used the last segment of “The Return of the King” (Lord of the Rings) to illustrate the concepts of celebration through farewells. The scene where the 4 hobbits clink their mugs in the pub is precious… no one else in the room has any idea of what they’ve been through! It also depicts re-entry and the building of a R.A.F.T. Great sequence.
When we came home from a decade overseas, we had missed out on a huge chunk of our home culture. Shortly after that I saw the Brady Bunch movie, where they were all living as if they were stuck in the 70s. My wife and I readily identified! I was able to use that example in many discussions.
An unlikely movie is “Elf”.
His own knowledge that he belongs in that place, and knows some things better than the people living there, but not even recognized – or wanted – by his family.
Can be quite moving. I haven’t tried it with a group, but it should stimulate some very therapeutic discussion.
A really good movie for kids and teens and sometimes for adults is the old Karate Kid movie. In the beginning he moves from the east coast to the west coast of the U.S. with promises of a better life that consisted of palm trees and a pool. Soon after arriving things go poorly and he states he just doesn’t know the rules here. Of course his new mentor in the movie teaches him karate in odd ways that eventually he learns to put together that end up being a help to him.
The Tom Hanks film “Lost” is fabulous for newbies and re-entry stuff.
“Up” is extremely good for newbies, too.
These two clips (part 1 & 2) typify the lack of understanding often found in a returnee’s family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWiGqLu6bFw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og6SPQ4pNAw&NR=1
If they take off the clips search for “Carol Burnett show- Phillip’s visit.” Look specifically for his return from India.