I learned about them as a girl in church. They had a special designation — MK. Little did I know how those two letters could impact the life of a child, but I soon learned. Missionary Kids would grow very near and dear to my heart. My first encounter with these precious souls was during … More A special breed of kid
You are smart, educated, well-rounded, able to carry on intelligent conversations and extremely self-reliant. Then, because you’ve said yes to God, you have been reduced to a state of infancy and illiteracy that requires the use of extensive body language just to ask where the restroom is located. Welcome to the mission field! Yes, they told … More Being needy
My goal is to write for Millennials who are called to cross-cultural ministry and missions. I realized it may be a lofty goal, as I read my Millennial son’s editorial comments on a recent book proposal. I had written a sentence using the phrase pat answers. He told me that pat was an outdated word. I happened … More Outdated
If he knows the number of hairs on my head, oh, how he puts together the finest details of our lives to his glory. This is what happened tonight; and I sit back in awe of the God I’m not worthy to serve. Though I’m not helping with VBS this week at our church, I … More The God of details
I scanned a bunch of old pictures the other night and came across this one from 1994. I was pregnant with our first child, and my parents had come to visit us. We were living in Syria. We took my parents all over the country and visited places that are now in ruins after seven … More Sitting on the Edge
Being born in the United States of America comes with specific privileges, and one of them is the honor, which comes every year on a date known around the world as the Fourth of July, to celebrate the day our country became free and independent. While many countries have such a date in their history, … More Freedom Days
Tears flowed as I heard the news, even though I had expected the outcome. A dear brother asked us to pray a couple of weeks ago about an impending visit. A friend of his would be traveling to his home country and making a visit to this brother’s family. Why should it be a problem? … More Disowned
How do you get your life down to a few trunks and suitcases? What do you need to take? What’s too precious to leave behind? These are some of the questions that run through the mind of those who answer the call to serve in a land not their own. I remember them well. The … More Packing Up
I love it when God does something despite me! I think that’s one of the joys of being a clay jar. He gets to do the shining, no matter the faults in the vessel. When that happens, the jar is just that, a vessel, while God is the amazing Sovereign of the Universe, and all … More Jars of clay, willing vessels
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) This verse has followed me around the world, and when I read it again this morning, I realized I have no reason to fret. Even … More He has plans
