Source: Upstream Collective
First 30 Daze: Practical Encouragement for Living Abroad, by Larry and Susan McCrary. Upstream Collective, 2016, 200 pages.
Whether you’re a missionary, an international student, or just a Christian living and working in another country, your first 30 days matter. “The sooner that you can get out the door, learn the culture, meet people, build relationships, and discover what God has in store for you, the sooner you will feel at home and love your new environment,” say the authors of this recent book.
First 30 Daze covers 30 topics, pairing scripture with simple, practical assignments to help you succeed in the “daze” of adjusting to a foreign context. Each entry includes a place to make note of things you’ve done that day and reflections on what your experiences are teaching you. Though this is a quick read, the real value is in doing the exercises (and that could make a real difference in your adjustment).
Co-author Larry McCrary, leader of The Upstream Collective, also co-authored the more extensive book Tradecraft. Our friend Ellen Livingood included this book (and others you might want to check out) in a feature on Best Mission Books of 2016.
» Learn more or purchase from Amazon (or elsewhere) at US$9.99 for the paperback, US$4.99 for the Kindle (though the paper edition would probably work better for journaling).