A Promise of Home Through the Unknown
A poem for those longing for heaven. You’ll never belong to the place that you came from and never belong to the place that you go. You’re stuck in the middle with no place to feel safe, with no people or town to call home. When God called to Abram, he said, “Leave your people. Just trust me: I’ve got you. Now go. I’ll show you a land full of blessings and hope. If you trust me, I’ll make it a home.” So Abram set out full of questions to roam through the earth and the path set before him. He tried and he failed to do things his way, but he called on the name of the Lord. He built… Read more
My Letter to Future Goers
I arrived in the Middle East a little more than 2 1/2 years ago and it really feels like home. After my 2 year commitment with GoCorps, I decided to extend my stay here for as long as possible. There really is nothing more fulfilling and life-giving than serving the Lord. When I was seven years old, I decided that I was going to be an international worker. My dad sat with me, as most nights he did, and read one of my favorite stories, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I know that is not necessarily an international worker's book, but there was a scene in that book… Read moreLessons from a Knitted Grinch Ornament
Once upon a time, COVID ruled the world. Like the White Witch subduing Narnia with eternal winter, COVID subjected us all to social distancing, mask requirements, quarantine, and more. So when Adam and I first moved into our second story apartment in early 2020, a friendly meet & greet with the neighbors wasn’t high on anyone’s priority list... including ours. Sure, we said “hi” in passing and looked out for one another’s piles of Amazon packages, but that was about it. In October, our downstairs neighbors moved out and a new couple moved in. We’ll call them D & B. They looked about… Read more
My letter to future Goers...
2 years in a flash. One moment I was dreaming about what it would be like to live and serve overseas and the next it seems I am back in Oregon after doing the thing, only there was a lot in the middle too. And that’s where all the good stuff is… right in the middle. Living outside comfort, socializing outside comfort, eating outside comfort, working outside comfort and simply functioning in a world that is so different from your own is hard. While I felt so ready to be where I was I learned quickly in my initial transition that I needed to take time to lament the things… Read more
My Letter to Future GOers
Dear Thoughtful Person, … Read moreFacades.
There is a lot of new construction in my city, constantly. New buildings and apartment complexes being build every where you look. But you can only see the tops of them due to the ever-present high green walls that line the streets in front of the project. Often these green walls are plastered with scenic banners of the country’s astounding beauty: lakes, mountains, and fields of flowers. My city is truly beautiful. One of my absolute favorite things about the city are the flowers. The streets are lined by flowers and the parks are always full of flowers, and typically in ornately arranged… Read more
To Bless and Be Blessed
Money is one of the most uncomfortable topics of conversation. Does this statement hit home for you? That’s ok. It sure did for me. And now I talk about money several times a week. Wondering how this happened? First, here’s a little backstory. I grew up in a household where money was a private conversation. My parents did not disclose how much money they had or how they chose to spend their money. My parents struggled financially growing up, then got married and created their own business from the ground up. It was hard, but it grew their character. They developed a strong work… Read more
We all have Songs, We all have Stories
“Jesus is the Answer” is a very easy phrase- almost a platitude. It looks at home on a bumper sticker, is an easy sentiment given to those who are hurting, and could probably be found written in script over a rustic wooden sign on sale for 40% off at Hobby Lobby. But throughout the Gospels, rather than being the Great Answer, Jesus asked 307 questions. Almost twice the number of questions He was asked (183). Of the questions He was asked, what percentage do you think he answered? Seventy Percent? Fifty? Try one point six percent. He only answered three questions directly.* One of… Read more