Move forward with hope and momentum


Many missionaries return from abroad feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. Our Abide group debriefing provides a safe community for you to process your experiences and gain practical tools to move forward.

Unpack & process

  • What is Abide?

    Abide Debriefing lasts five days and provides time and space for adults and kids to process field experiences, be refreshed and renewed, connect with other cross-cultural workers, and prepare for a healthy transition. 

  • What will I experience?

    We spend time each day debriefing in guided group sessions with other cross-cultural workers. As the week unfolds, we’ll help both adults and kids acknowledge the losses and gains experienced on the field, examine expectations and stress, and navigate transition. 

  • What's my hopeful outcome?

    The compassionate debriefers at Abide will listen as adults and kids share the good, the bad, and the ugly. They will help you gain a holistic perspective of your experience, enabling you to tell your story in a way that is honest and meaningful.

Debriefing dates & locations


March 11-15, 2024

Budapest, Hungary

(closed)

March 18-22, 2024

Joplin, MO

(closed)

June 17-21, 2024

Joplin, MO

June 24-28, 2024

Joplin, MO

(limited spaces remaining)

July 22-26, 2024

Joplin, MO

July 29 - August 2, 2024

Joplin, MO

October 14-18, 2024

Joplin, MO


Pricing

TRAIN provides light breakfast, snacks, and lunch for the duration of the training.

Debriefing participants are responsible for securing housing and transportation to and from the training site.

TRAIN has negotiated rates with local hotels and other housing options. Once registered and your deposit is paid, participants will receive confirmation and additional information by email.

If you have questions please contact us at 417.625.1400 or admin@traininternational.org

 

$685

Adults

$520

Ages 5-18

$410

Ages 0-4

 FAQs

 
  • Debriefing is the deliberate process of unpacking and processing your past field experiences with a facilitator for the purpose of understanding your story in a holistic and life-giving way so that you can transition well into whatever is next. Debriefing is not a substitute for counseling, clinical care, spiritual direction, or coaching, but may serve as an entry point into these avenues for growth and/or healing.

  • Abide debriefing is designed to serve cross-cultural workers who have lived and served abroad for at least one year. Whether your return to the U.S. is for furlough, medical leave, retirement, a planned repatriation, or unforeseen transition off the field, Abide provides time and space to process, gain perspective, and experience spiritual renewal.

  • We encourage those seeking debriefing to give themselves at least one month in the US prior to coming to debrief. This provides enough time to begin to get a sense of how it feels to be "back" and how transitions in relationships may impact you.

    Beyond that, although we have had people come to debrief three, five, and even twenty years after their return and receive immense benefit, we do encourage participants to debrief sooner rather than later.

  • Registering early will help to ensure your place in the debriefing. For most debriefings, the deadline is 30 days prior to the start date. This helps us to plan and prepare for each class size of adults and children.

    It is important, however, that those registering be as certain as possible of their participation. This helps avoid late cancellations, which in turn helps avoid the cancellation of childcare workers or facilitators hired based on registrations received.

  • A non-refundable deposit of $150 per adult is due to secure your place in the training. If TRAIN International cancels an event and you choose not to attend an alternate date, your deposit will be refunded minus any electronic convenience fees.

  • Yes, once registered and paid, you may transfer to a later training session. Please let our team know as soon as possible if you are changing your registration.

  • For the Joplin debriefings, Joplin, MO airport (JLN) is most ideal at less than ten minutes from our facility. However, it is a small airport and flights are sometimes limited. Other nearby airports include Springfield, MO (SGF) at 1 hour 10 minutes away, Bentonville, AR (XNA) at 1 hour 20 minutes away, and Tulsa, OK (TUL) at 1 hour 40 minutes away.

    For our Spokane debriefing, the Spokane airport (GEG) is recommended.

    For our Savannah debriefing, the Savannah airport (SAV) is recommended.

  • Each day begins at 9:00 am with group debriefing, activities, and intermittent breaks until lunch.

    (On Monday, we ask parents to arrive at 8:30 am to meet with the TCK staff when the parents are dropping off their kids.)

    After an unhurried lunch and break time, we gather for afternoon sessions and finish by 4:30 pm, providing time for families to reconnect and for all to determine their dinner plans.

  • We provide light breakfast snacks and full lunches Monday-Thursday. Participants are responsible to secure housing and each evening's dinner. We have negotiated rates with local hotels and AirBnBs within our network. Once you register and complete payment, you will receive the list of housing options and means by which to contact them to make arrangements.

  • We are an independent and unaffiliated training organization.

    We have the privilege of serving a great variety of agencies, churches, and denominations.

Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Please contact our Administrative Assistant at 417.625.1400 or admin@traininternational.org

What people are saying about Abide

 

“Abide provided a training and processing opportunity I didn’t know I needed. It was a blessing to hear and be heard by facilitators who have been where we are and could help guide us forward as we work through furlough and re-entry. Thank you!” ~Abide Participant

“At Abide we were given the gift of time, listening ears, and attentive hearts. The Train staff had built such an intentional time for us so that we could really process and unpack the stuff we knew we needed to and some things we didn’t realize until we paused long enough. The setting was peaceful and pretty and we feel like we made connections and friends we’ll take with us.” ~Abide Participant

“It is so great that Train has children and youth tracks that allowed our children to be near us and also to have adults pour into their lives! We wanted to be sure our whole family could debrief, so thank you! ~Abide Participant