What It's Really Like to Raise Kids With Special Needs on the Mission Field

What happens when your missionary journey includes parenting a child with special needs?How do you handle therapy, schooling, and support in a cross-cultural setting? How do you balance your calling with your kid’s unique needs?

In this very raw, hope-filled panel conversation, Stephanie, along with two missionary couples, the Maurers and Wurdemans, share their unique journeys of parenting children with special needs on the field—and all of the emotions that go with it!

Whether your child was diagnosed before you went overseas or while on the field, you’ll find encouragement, camaraderie, and practical wisdom here. We talk adoption, diagnosis, cultural stigma, guilt, sibling dynamics, marriage strain, faith struggles—and the surprising gifts God weaves through it all.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What to say (and not say) when people in your host culture misunderstand your child’s needs.
• Why some missionary parents feel isolated—and where to find others who truly get it.
• How faith and frustration often show up together on this parenting journey.
• Creative ways to build community support, even when resources are scarce.
• The power of honest conversations with your sending church and supporters.

Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions, we make it simple for missionaries to receive donations and for donors to give. Serving 1,100+ missionaries worldwide, we free you to focus on your calling. We also offer resources like our weekly podcast, fundraising coaching, and a resource-packed newsletter. Connect with us at modernday.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at care@modernday.org

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