Is Self Care Selfish?

Jan 26, 2022 | Faith & Ministry, Health & Family | 0 comments

“People are messy. They’re all different.” 

We are thrilled today to have Missy Parks on the show. Missy is the former Member Care Coordinator for NICS, the Network of International Christian Schools. She retired in November of 2021 after faithfully serving NICS for twelve years. During that time, she ministered to countless teachers and staff across the network and left a lasting impact. Listen as Missy explains the value in having relationships with God, yourself, and others.

Missy Parks

I was born in Texarkana, Arkansas to two wonderful parents. My dad was a lawyer and my mother taught school in a parochial school. I had two older siblings and another younger brother joined us when I was 6 years old making us a family of 6. I had a happy childhood, grew up with many cousins. Went to church and summer camps and was a Girl Scout and took piano lessons. Went to a small college in Arkadelphia, Arkansas called Henderson University where I got a degree in Elementary education with an endorsement in Early Childhood. That was followed by a Master’s degree in Special Education. I taught in Arkansas and Texas before I went overseas to teach with  Department of Defense Dependent Schools on military bases in Sasebo, Japan, Seoul, South Korea, then Mons, Belgium. I left the Department of Defense Dependent Schools to move to Kabul, Afghanistan to teach with  NICS/ Oasis International Schools. I broke my arm when I fell on the ice. I had to return home after two years to get Physical therapy for my arm.  I was caring for an ill aunt when NICS/OASIS called me to ask if I would come work for them in the South. I was unable to go at that time, but after several attempts by NICS/Oasis, I joined the Home Office staff as a Placement Specialist in October 2009 where I worked helping place teachers in our schools for two recruiting seasons. The Member Care Coordinator position became open in the Spring of 2012. I served until 2021 when I recently retired. I have been afforded the opportunity to visit every one of our schools in the network doing training and meeting with people to help in their adjustment overseas. I am a single mom of one grown son who is a doctor. I have a lovely daughter-in-law and a 4-year-old granddaughter. They have lived overseas in Malawi, Africa, and Dhaka, Bangladesh but recently moved back to Lake Village, Arkansas. I am thankful they live only a 3-hour drive away instead of a 2-day flight away. I am an avid reader and can be found reading a large variety of genres of books curled up on my couch at home.  I enjoy traveling and being a grandmother named Gogo.  I was named from the Chichewa word for grandmother which is agogo.  They shortened it to Gogo which I love. Just hearing my granddaughter saying Gogo thrills my heart and is a great joy to my heart. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I do know who holds the pen to write my next chapter. I leave with bittersweet feelings since I love my job and my colleagues, but it is time to retire and I leave with much hope for the next chapter to begin. I just might have time to write that Children’s book that has been inside me for many years. I want to write a book that will delight children when it is read to them or they can read it themselves. Now that is exciting to me!

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