Abby S - Southeast Asia Updates

Yay Ducks, Yuck Ducks

By on May 13, 2019 Track: Teaching Region: Asia - South East

Adjusting to another culture is a long process that brings both joy and, at times, frustration. Before leaving the States we had acculturation training and talked about the freedom of “speaking in paradox”--expressing joys and sorrows in the same breath. A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement, yet still true. For example: living here has been the most amazing experience of my life… and also the hardest thing I have ever done. An easy way my husband and I express this concept is by calling “paradox” our “pair of ducks”--the yay ducks and the yuck ducks.   I find myself… Read more >>

Expanding the Mustard Seed

By on April 15, 2019 Track: Teaching Region: Asia - South East

My husband and I had the sudden opportunity to attend a conference focused on relational healing and forgiveness between former enemies. Though I’d love to share more details about what happened at the camp (it was a truly powerful, profound experience), I will instead share what the Lord taught me through it: There were multiple times I tried to leverage opportunities to share about my hope in Christ. I would begin a conversation, then get interrupted before I could get to what I wanted to say. Or I would beeline towards someone to say something I believed important and necessary to share in… Read more >>

You Don't Owe Me Anything

By on March 19, 2019 Track: Teaching Region: Asia - South East

There are many unexpected challenges living here, and I find myself falling into sinful entitlement almost daily. I figured that while overseas I would feel the Lord’s presence constantly and more tangibly because of increased dependence on Him (after all, I came here for Him, right? Letting me know He is walking with me is the least He could do!) One day I was feeling especially low and subconsciously thought God was letting me down because I could not feel His presence in the daily struggles. The song “More Than Anything” by Corey Voss & Madison Street Worship started playing on my… Read more >>

"Be Lifted Up, O Ancient Doors"

By on February 23, 2019 Track: Teaching Region: Asia - South East

We have officially been in our beautiful new home for 2 weeks now. Every day is a nonstop learning experience, and it is easy to be overwhelmed with all the new, with all there is to learn. We are enrolled in language school about 20 hours a week, plus practicing language in our homestay and community. Language learning is an interesting experience--both extremely rewarding and frustrating. I feel like a child stumbling over their words. It is very humbling. But when meaning is communicated, I celebrate that small victory! Fortunately the people here are very kind and gracious, and they are… Read more >>

Adventure with Jesus

By on January 19, 2019 Track: Teaching Region: Asia - South East

We’ve been in training a couple weeks now and it has been both encouraging and stretching. Some of the topics we have covered include Kingdom Growth, Promises of God, Spiritual Warfare, and Shalom. All of these topics have been necessary preparation, but I envisioned our training being mostly focused on professional development. Instead, we have been focusing on our own spiritual growth, and I see now that this is the most important and helpful training there could be. When the plane lands and we begin working and living out our faith in SE Asia I will need to depend on my Father more than… Read more >>