Meet the TCK: Abigail McHargue

Meet Abigail! Abigail has lived in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and many states within the United States. As you read her story you will get to hear about an adventure that for some would be a 20-30 minute excursion but for her was several days, and multiple forms of transportation. She shares the strengths she has gained from living life as a missionary kid and gives great advice rooted in Scripture that hopefully can encourage you today.

Can you briefly share your TCK background (where you grew up, your parents' nationality, and where you currently live)?

"I was born in Chicago, Illinois, and my family moved to Senegal, West Africa as missionaries when I was 3 years old. Before moving to Senegal, we also spent a relatively brief period in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. When I was, I believe 6, my family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and my dad worked at a ministry there. When I was 9, we moved to Guinea-Bissau, a small country located directly below Senegal. When I was 12, we moved back to the States. After a number of months we moved to South Dakota, where we were involved with ministry among the Lakota people of Pine Ridge Native American reservation (my dad was the one who spent the most time on Pine Ridge). Our family lived outside of the Reservation, first in Rapid City, and then in Hot Springs, SD. After I graduated from high school, my family moved to Fort Mill, SC. Between when my family moved to SC in 2017 and the present, I have spent time living in Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina."

What's one TCK experience or memory that really defines your TCK journey?

"While it may not define my TCK journey, the following is a rather humorous picture of what life overseas may entail.

When I was probably 11 or 12 years old, while my family was living in Guinea-Bissau, my parents started the process of taking me to receive orthodontics work before we moves back to the States. My mouth was definitely a strong candidate for some TLC in the orthodontics department.

The only thing was, the orthodontist from which I was receiving such assistance (I think he may have originally been from Lebanon) was located in the capital city of the next country over - in Dakar, Senegal. Thus, the journey to the orthodontist was not a trip across town in the car but a venture to a different country which included a couple days of travel via numerous forms of transportation and a stay of a number of days at our destination before repeating the trip back home.

Here's a snapshot of a trip to the orthodontist: First, my dad took my mom and I from where we lived in rural Mansoa to Bissau, the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. From there, mom and I took public transportation over to Ziguinchor, a city located on the Casamance river, in Senegal. In Ziguinchor, there was a passenger-carrying boat, which we embarked and stayed in as we threaded our way up the coast to Dakar. At some point the next day, after our arrival and disembarkment in Dakar, we would catch further public transportation to take us to the home of whichever hospitable family we would stay with for a number of days before repeating our journey back home. These times spent in Dakar were quite the outings for me, an adolescent kid coming from the rural context where we were at that point!"

What has been the greatest gift or strength you've gained from being a TCK?

"I think my background featuring much transition and numerous cultures (even exposure to different cultures within the United States) has helped me be able to move in different types of environments, and interact with people of different cultures, more comfortably than perhaps I would have otherwise. Some of my very formative childhood/adolescent years were spent in West Africa. Within the United States, I've lived in different areas and contexts, and spent time with people coming from diverse backgrounds.

I think that I may also have a level of ease in talking and making friends/acquaintances from different cultures that is related to having lived among/interacted so often with people from cultural backgrounds different from myself.

Being a missionary/ministry kid really had, and still gives, me an opportunity to experience and witness the beauty of the Body of Jesus. I have been a recipient of God's love demonstrated through so many believers! I have really experienced the love and care of the Body of Christ - not just from one congregation, but through many believers living in different places. My family has been supported in prayer, in hospitality, in finances, in thoughtful gifts, etc. by believers throughout my life, and I have also been able to experience beauty in the Body of Christ through our family having had many believers come and stay in our home(s) through the years and through their coming and doing ministry in places where we have been."

How do you stay connected to the cultures that shaped you?

"At least one way we have connected with our time in Africa is through food. For example, one delicious dish my mom has continued to make, harkening back to our time in Senegal, is yassa poulet - this dish includes onion (plenty of it!), lemon juice, garlic, seasoning, Dijon mustard, and chicken. It is served over rice which is a staple in many of the dishes we ate in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau."

What advice would you give a fellow TCK?

"God really, really loves you. I encourage you to meditate on this Scripture, "We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19). Also - there are genuine believers in Jesus out there; don't be discouraged that there aren't."