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
"War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all"
"War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." -Faramir, Lord of the Rings Have you ever thought of prayer as violence? It sounds a little extreme, but stick with me. Prayer is communication with God, right? That is probably the most general definition for it, yes. What about when we are praying a prayer of supplication or an intercessory prayer? We’re still talking to God, it’s true. But what about… Read more
Grateful and Tired
As I reflect on all that has transpired this month and during my entire time here in Spain I find myself feeling both tired and grateful. To be honest, I’m tired of being out of my comfort zone, I’m tired of not understanding what people say or do, and I’m tired of the Lord reminding me of my weakness. And yet, in the same breath I look at the ways the Lord has grown me, the opportunities he’s given me, and the relationships he’s blessed me with and I can’t help but be filled with gratitude. I’ve been encouraged through scriptures like Romans 5:3, “But we also glory in our sufferings, because… Read more
"There are many paths to tread / through shadow to the edge of night / until the stars are all alight"
You were likely taught an incorrect understanding of the Bible. Bold statement, I know, but I say it because I learned only last night that I was taught an incorrect understanding of the Bible. Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that I had never really learned the Bible properly. In any case, I was missing something, and you very well might be missing something key to understanding the Bible. What was I missing? I was missing the whole purpose of the Bible! "Christopher, how could you miss the whole purpose of the Bible? Aren't you a missionary, shouldn't you know that already… Read more"We're not there, we're here"
But after all, what's the good? We're not there: we're here. And we jolly well can't get there. Or can we?" (Jill Pole from C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair) Do you know what I've always wanted to do? Be a missionary. Do you know what I have always NOT wanted to do? Be a mobilizer. Be the person who is not there, but here, even though they'd most often jolly well rather be there! I've met a few people who lived overseas for a while and loved it, and God asked them to surrender their life overseas without ever surrendering their desire to see God at work in the whole world. I was (okay, still am… Read more
Climbing this Mountain with My Hands Wide Open
The other day, I heard Caroline, my roommate (and teammate and friend and fellow language learner), playing a song that immediately took me back to Word Retreat, which is the retreat my home church in Alabama has every January for the youth group. I have so many memories of sweet fellowship during those retreats as a teenager and also so many moments where the Lord met me and filled me with peace. The song is called “Nothing I Hold Onto.” Here are some of the lines: “I lean not on my own understanding My life is in the hands of the Maker of heaven” “I will climb this mountain With… Read more
Face-to-Face with Change
I know that seasons are a natural part of life, and truly, it’s such a beautiful gift that we get to experience the ebbs and flows of each lingering one. Still, I’m not sure I’ve ever noticed a season shifting as it’s happening. Usually, it’s well after the fact that I find myself standing in a new season, trying to pinpoint when the previous one quietly ended. But as I returned from my trip to Southern California, I caught a glimpse of that shift right before my eyes. As I exchanged an emotional “see you later” with two of my dearest friends in the San Diego airport and boarded my flight… Read moreReflecting on Fundraising
It’s no secret that my fundraising journey has looked a little different from what I had anticipated when I left GoWeek back in September of 2024. It has held countless exciting and encouraging moments, but also many filled with longing and tear-filled questions before the Father. However, looking back on this past year and a half, I can say that there is a unique beauty to be found within the process of fundraising. Fundraising in this capacity has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding and insightful. It’s invited me into experiencing a… Read more
New Year Reflections
Another year has come and gone, and with the new year just around the corner, I wanna recognize all that the Lord has done. It feels like just a few months ago that I arrived in Spain by his grace. And through your generosity, I've seen the Lord do incredible things. I've seen him grow me in ways that I could not have imagined. From traveling to eight cities and three countries to working with believers from around the world, the Lord has shown me the magnitude of his work and has humbled me, showing me just how small I really am. I'm just a piece in his puzzle, a cog in his clock, and… Read more