Hear From Our Missionary Kids: Seth, Mathias and Sabina

Missionary kids (MKs) have experiences unlike any other, which is why we’ve posed a list of questions to three Global Partners missionary kids. Get to know these three a bit more and think about reusing some of these questions the next time YOU meet an MK!

What is your favorite place to go to in your country? 

Seth Van Steenburg (17, Panama): A province called Chiriqui. I recently went with one of my friends and I had a really good time. 

Mathias Croft (18, eSwatini): Mlilwane (Game Park).  I like to hike, ride bikes and swim there.  While also seeing the animals. 

Sabina Boyer (17, Macedonia): I think my favorite place would have to be the capital of Skopje, where we live. In the past thirteen years, the vibrant community and lifestyle have grown to feel like home for me.  

What is something that you love about your country’s culture? 

Seth: I like how I call my friends’ parents tio and tia (uncle and aunt). 

Mathias: What I love about Swaziland’s Culture is it is community oriented instead of individualistic. 

What’s the funniest thing to happen to you in your country?  

Mathias: When I was younger, we were in Kruger in a camp and there were monkeys around. One came up behind me and grabbed the bottom of my shorts and pulled the shorts down. I have never liked monkeys since. 

Sabina: When we moved to our current apartment, I got used to walking to the corner store almost every day . . . to buy bottles of water and bring them back for us to drink. One day, I was on my way to buy a gallon of water from the store when one of the older ladies who lived in our same building called me over to her first floor balcony. I’m decent in Macedonian, but her dialect and rapid speech threw me off from understanding what she was asking me, until she finally waved me on to continue my walk to the store, mumbling something about a phone as I left. Later, as I went to pay for the water in the store, I hesitated before asking the owners in Macedonian, “Did an older lady call you, by any chance?” They laughed, nodded and quickly filled up a bag with a few things she had ordered for me to pick up. I was relieved to finally be on the right track, but the relief only lasted until I glanced in the bag. There, next to a loaf of bread, was a long pack of cigarettes and a massive bottle of vodka. And so, that’s what led to my mother discovering me on my way back to the building with a gallon of water in one hand and a bag with cigarettes and Vodka sticking out in the other. When she raised her eyebrow, I just shook my head. “It’s a long story.” 

What is something that is challenging about being an MK? 

Seth: Personally, I find it hard to relate to people no matter what country I am in. Because I have moved around so much, I haven’t had a lot of time to be with my current friends. For this reason, I sometimes miss out on inside jokes as well as moments when they are remembering the past. 

Sabina: I think I am one of the lucky ones, as we have always lived in approximately the same neighborhood ever since we moved overseas. But for me, there has always been an odd feeling of not belonging . . . Still, . . . I’ve been blessed beyond what I could ask for to be given the chance to see God’s work in action overseas, as well as grow up in such a different and unique culture, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! 

Bonus: How can we be praying for you? 

Seth: That I can enjoy the moments that I have with the people that I care about. 

Mathias: Pray for me to finish well with my High School.  I only have a few months left.  Pray I can focus.  Also Pray for the boy’s Bible study I lead. 

Sabina: For the upcoming transition back to the States. Though I technically still have a year, there is already a large amount of stress concerning my move back, trying to pay for college and other things along that vein. Prayers for God’s guidance, provision and comfort would be greatly appreciated.