The Importance of One's Mother Tongue
Before my move overseas, I understood that learning Greek would be an important part of ministry and the mundanities of life in Greece. I knew that I would need it to navigate public transport, get the correct groceries at the grocery store, and simply order a coffee. Even more so, I know I would need it to be successful in reaching the people I’m ministering to in my church community, my neighborhood, and the brothels. What I did not know or anticipate is the level of connection that comes with learning someone’s mother tongue. I just recently returned from a short visit back to the States,… Read more >>Learning to Dwell Well
These last few weeks, I’ve found myself deep in the book of Psalms, particularly going back to Psalm 91 time and time again. The Psalm focuses on dwelling and this idea of making the Lord the foundation of our dwelling as believers. According to the Webster Dictionary, the term "dwell" refers to living in a particular place. As I've been settling more and more into life and routine in Athens—as I've been establishing a sense of dwelling in this city—I find myself returning to one question: "Am I dwelling in the presence and refuge of the Lord as intentionally as I'm dwelling here?" It's a… Read more >>Culture Shock in the Mundane
Leading up to my move abroad, I anticipated the inevitable moments of culture shock. What I did not anticipate, though, was the way it would actually present itself. Many of the little, mundane things have held some of the biggest surprises—grocery shopping, baking, and even simply putting up curtains in my bedroom. Navigating these small tasks in a cross-cultural context has felt absurdly frustrating at times, but it has also taught me what it looks like to celebrate the small wins. All of a sudden, what would have seemed like a small victory back home in the States has become a big… Read more >>