Davissons find adapting and adjusting is key
Every new appointment comes with the need for adapting and adjusting, learning about a new community, context and circumstances. For some, this transition involves the same type of work in a new environment. For others, it is transitioning to a new type of work. For yet others, it also involves learning a new language and everything else related to international service.
Colonels Phil and Sheila Davisson have experienced each of these over the course of more than 29 years of being officers. With service in three corps appointments, three different training colleges, plus a Salvation Army university, and now two territorial leadership positions, they have served in five territories with almost half of their officership outside the Central Territory. According to the Davissons, the first year or so often feels full of new experiences and learning.
“We’ve been here over a year-anda-half, and it feels like ‘our’ territory now,” said Colonel Phil. “There is so much more to understand, of course, but we are very comfortable operating in these roles.”
The Davissons took up roles as the territorial leaders in the South America East Territory, consisting of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, in February 2022 after four years in Spain and Portugal.
“The language is always going to be a challenge,” Colonel Sheila said, “although it is easier for me to concentrate on just Spanish and not both Spanish and Portuguese.”
But then there is the factor of different accents and regional expressions. The language differences between Spain and Argentina, for example, bring their own adjustments.
Beyond those elements, there is the continual need to think about residency requirements, establishing healthcare contacts, learning to navigate the transportation systems, and to discover how to adapt their cooking to what is available locally.
“Being a grandparent so far away is one of the costs,” said Colonel Phil. All five of the Davissons’ grandchildren were born since they left Canada for Europe over five years ago.
“The technology is great and very helpful for staying in touch, but with younger grandchildren there is nothing that can replace being there in person,” he said.
The Davissons have been able to return to the U.S. on average once a year during the past 12 years. Nine or 10 hours on a plane and time zone differences also force adaptations in routine family connections.
“We are so very grateful for the support of our home territory,” said Colonel Sheila. “You’ll never know how much it means to be able to count on folks back home.”
Both Colonels Phil and Sheila experienced the death of a parent while away on international service.
Aging parents and growing grandchildren aside, they say there are the daily adjustments to leadership roles in another language and culture that fill their time.
Over these past months they have overseen a territorial review, a congress with the General, visits to over 90 percent of the appointments in the territory, the reinauguration of a territorial music institute, visits from youth mission teams from two territories, plans for a visit by the Canadian Staff Band, the\ further restructuring of the Argentina Division after consolidation, the development of the new governance model and the transition to the IFAS standards and implementation of the NetSuite software being promoted internationally. The colonels were also members of the High Council in May which elected General Lyndon Buckingham. A significant challenge in Argentina is how to administer all the programs and support personnel with an annual inflation rate approaching 125 percent this year.
Through it all, the Davissons’ focus remains on the great possibilities at hand coming out of the long period of the pandemic and closures it entailed, finding blessings in regeneration of mission priorities and in-person contact across the territory, even as they build on the successes of videoconferencing to integrate officers and soldiers across the territory in the various boards and committees.
Colonel Sheila concluded, “We are continually learning to adapt and adjust because that is what we now understand God has been calling us to do for many years. We miss our children and our grandchildren immensely, but we find ways to make it work. We, along with our people here, ask for God to give us strength and wisdom and peace to live joyfully in all circumstances.”
