TCK cousins were a part of Ron’s family from the time he was born. Uncle George, Aunt Peg, and their five MK’s came back to the states from Burundi in the heart of Africa every five years. In those days people called these missionary kids MKs, and it was obvious that they were influenced by two cultures. As Ron himself lived through adolescence, he just assumed that it was a universal stage of development.
It was only after he had married, become a college professor, and had children who were becoming adolescents that Ron realized that adolescence was a cultural invention experienced by a minority of people in the world. During this time in the 1980s he wrote a book, Understanding Adolescence, to make parents aware of this cultural invention.
Then in the 1990s as he was looking toward retirement and focusing on missionary care he realized that his MK cousins were not only influenced by two cultures but also were part of a third culture as well—they were TCKs. TCKs on campus became a part of his life as he and his wife (Bonnie) wrote them, greeted them, attended their activities on campus, and invited them to Sunday dinners every couple weeks.
Now retired from teaching, he and Bonnie see TCKs and their parents all over the world. More information about them and their ministry is available at www.missionarycare.com.