Martin and Susan
Things always seem to be changing. Sometimes change happens by our own choice and sometimes it is thrust upon us. Segues International wants to give you ideas and perspectives that might make the ride a little smoother.
We, Martin and Susan Brooks, have lived with our children in Mozambique, Portugal, Ghana, and Cyprus. And we have traveled to many more countries, including Sudan, Morocco, Egypt, Bosnia, Italy, Afghanistan, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Thailand. . . We know the stress of adjusting to another place. These travels and a great appreciation for what other cultures have to offer inspired this site.
In our work with Peace Catalyst International, we spend a lot of time helping people from different cultures and religions genuinely hear and understand each other. This drives a lot of what you will see on this site. Because of my Christian background, I primarily write to a Christian audience, trying to help us understand and appreciate other cultures. Sometimes I find myself challenging all of us Jesus-followers to live up to the ideals we profess to be true. The articles, books, and videos included here are used to help demystify people and circumstances we sometimes do not understand. We share insights we have gleaned from living and traveling internationally. We have great friends from many cultures and have grown to love (or at least appreciate) many of the people we have met. Encountering these different cultures has changed us. We would like to provide some of those experiences for you as well. Getting to know the “other” makes the world less intimidating and moves us toward a world of peace, the “shalom” that God created in the beginning. This website is a small part of our “ministry of reconciliation.” This site is a place where we invite others to explore cultural and religious differences and to appreciate the rich diversity of our world.
We hope to populate this site with ideas on how to thrive as you encounter another culture, either in your neighborhood or on the other side of the world. As countries clash and people react because of fear of the unknown, we hope to reduce the anxiety and help people to understand the perspectives of others. You may be traveling as a tourist, moving as an international student or refugee, or your work may be relocating you. You may be working for a government agency or a Non-Government Organization (NGO). Or, international guests may be moving into your neighborhood or you may be watching the news and have some questions. We hope to make Segues International a safe place for you to get some questions answered. Whatever your circumstances, we hope you will enjoy learning about others and their perspectives on life.
We could also use your help to support this peacemaking work. If you understand what we are trying to do, we could use your financial help. Thanks for your help.
Happy browsing.