by Missy Gray

MRN Worker Care Specialist

A few weeks ago, the MRN team and some of our global worker candidates did a week of security training with a group called Concilium. Among many other things, we learned how to respond in a carjacking or behave if you are kidnapped; but most importantly, we learned ways to keep thinking and make clear decisions even when situations get stressful. It was an intense experience but also fascinating and very helpful. We are thankful that there are people who have the skills to train workers to be more safe and effective while on the field.

In one of the training blocks, the instructor showed a picture of a burned up electrical outlet like the one you see on the right. He was using it to give a visual of what happens when our systems get overloaded by stress or trauma. I’m a sucker for a good mental image, and it has continued to rattle around in my mind. I started wondering…why DO electrical outlets burn up? And how is it prevented, or the chance diminished?

I started reading, and found what many of you might already know (I’m not really the handy type). Electrical outlets burn up for three primary reasons: loose connections, worn out wires, or overloaded circuits. Someone might replace the outlet after it is burned, but each new outlet will just keep burning up until the underlying problem is addressed. And when a plug burns up, it not only stops functioning but also can cause a lot of damage to the electrical system and even the whole house. It can be fixed—but it will take a lot of work. Let’s look for a moment at each cause for the electrical system to break down and consider how this might look in the life of a global worker.

The first cause for an outlet to burn up is loose connections. Loose connections occur when there is a gap between two conductors and electricity arcs out of the wires because the connections aren’t secure. Loose connections are a regular struggle for those who serve internationally. Workers might experience a separation from loved ones at home, or issues with their team or partners on the field that make them feel isolated or alienated from their local connections.  There might be a family crisis that feels scary to talk about with support people in their passport country. They might feel unsupported by their sending churches. They may feel a lack of connection in their relationship with God, or in the way they understand God and the world around them. These felt gaps are sometimes places of stress or disappointment. Sometimes, though, the gaps that a worker feels between themselves and others or God are much more significant and can cause serious problems when ignored, suppressed or avoided.

Worn out wires can happen in a home over time, especially in areas of high use. Wires that have served the house well for a long time might suddenly not function anymore. Wires can also get worn out quickly when the wrong size wires are used. Workers can have a version of this experience as well. Maybe the workload is so much, and they can’t see how to make space to rest or recharge. Sometimes what is needed doesn’t fit their skill set, but they keep having to fill that role that isn’t a natural fit anyway. Perhaps they are unable to go home for long periods of time because of schedules or finances or kids or the feeling that things will fall apart if they leave (or even a pandemic that keeps them from going home for years). Maybe they do go home for furlough or home assignment, but that time isn’t restful or restorative and they go back already feeling worn out. There are many ways that workers can find themselves worn down. Over time, this can contribute to a burnout that is hard to get beyond.

Sometimes, too much load is placed on an electrical system, and the result is overloaded circuits. It could be that too many things are plugged in to one outlet, or even one appliance that requires far too much electricity for the capacity of the outlet. When this happens, the system overheats and can trip the breaker or even melt the wires and start a fire. For workers, this can be when a person experiences trauma. It can be a significant one-time traumatic event, like a robbery, tsunami, or losing a child. This is called simple or acute trauma. Complex trauma is when a traumatic event happens repeatedly such as ongoing abuse, or when many different smaller traumas build up over time. Some workers also experience secondary or vicarious trauma, when they experience their own trauma from witnessing or hearing about an event experienced by someone else. This is often experienced by people working in dangerous areas or with vulnerable populations. Any of these events can cause severe overload and damage, when they exceed the person’s resources to cope with them.

As simple electrical outlets were burning up in homes, the GFCI outlet was introduced. This type of plug has test and reset buttons, and contains sensors that continuously monitor the surge of electricity within the wiring. When a problem is detected, the GFCI shuts off the flow of electricity to protect the system. Now, this response is quick—usually within 30 milliseconds—but not always quick enough to keep you from a painful shock. Still, big problems that can be encountered are almost always avoided. The better system gives a chance to evaluate what is going on and keeps problems from causing bigger damage.

Loose connections, worn out wires and overloaded circuits could occur in the lives of our workers. Odds are good that they will. But what are some safeguards, the GFCI outlet equivalents that will help the worker more often see trouble coming, and help prevent these difficult things from burning up or burning out the worker? Practices where they might still feel the temporary burn of the hard times, but are able to move past it without severe damage to themselves, their ministries, or their families. Here are some ideas:

Loose connections

• Engage in consistent and varied spiritual practices, finding ways to connect with God in your heart language or preferred styles.

• Protect regular times to meet with friends, connect back home, and work through struggles with trusted people on a regular basis.

• Invest in times alone with your spouse or close friends without kids or work agendas.

• Meet with a mentor or spiritual director that you can be fully open with.

Worn out wires

• Identify things that are life-giving, and make sure that those are a regular, non-negotiable part of your week. These things can be work or play (or both). What qualifies as life-giving can change, so reevaluate regularly.

• Protect times of fun, rest, Sabbath, and vacation and return trips to your passport country.

• Create a space daily where you can shut down from anything that feels like work, even if it is brief.

• Plan significant stretches of down time during vacation or home visits rather than filling all of the time with sending churches and extended family.

Overloaded circuits

• Practice regulation techniques such a deep breathing/breath prayers, grounding techniques, and acknowledging and feeling strong feelings (there are so many more strategies, another article for another day).

• Talk about the events you experience when you have opportunity, through debriefing when possible or with a trusted person.

• Don’t hesitate to seek out professional counseling when you feel the effects of the event(s) affecting your daily life (nightmares, avoiding the places or people involved in the trauma, anxiety or sadness that is hard to shake, etc.). Remember that an event that seems less significant in the present but is highly upsetting might be connected to a traumatic event from the past. Strong feelings are helpful signals, especially when they don’t immediately “make sense.” Working through these connections can be very helpful.

It is likely that a worker will experience traumatic events, gaps in connection, and being deeply worn out over the course of their time on the field. Being aware of when they are reaching a critical load, and building in practices that they can lean into when they are overwhelmed or struggling will be hugely helpful toward keeping workers healthy and effective on the field. Having healthy connections, spiritual practices and coping skills in place before the crises come makes it easier when they inevitably do. Maybe there are some outlets that could be checked or upgraded? If you are a worker that would like a thought partner as you shore up protective practices to keep you healthy and effective or help you to return there, please reach out and we would be honored to help.