My Letter to Future GOers
Dear Thoughtful Person, April 5th, 2022 If you care to continue reading, I have some words to share with you that may or may not be worth your time. I’d like to share some of the biggest lessons I learned in my time overseas, some things I wish I had known before going overseas, and I’d like to encourage you, if at all possible. Something I learned overseas: God is a great gift giver. No,… 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 ethic and… 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 these three… Read more
The Peso
It was a Friday night in May. The people gathered in the audience filled with almost as much anticipation as the students that would soon proceed in alphabetical order. It was graduation day. The music began and the soon-to-be high school graduates of 2016 proceed to their seats. The speaker, a kind preacher of a local church, began to give his speech. He sent us off into the world as proud graduates of 2016. But before he did, he gave us each a souvenir. He gave us each a peso. At the time that peso did not seem life-changing by any means, just a nice memento from the night I… Read moreJust a day in the Life
Sometimes I think we, or at least I, believe that a life overseas is going to have some grand implications. You know, there will be something “crazy” that happens everyday or you will never run out of bizarre stories. While there is some truth to that, there is also a lot of my own ignorance in those assumptions. Let me tell ya, everyday life here in the Horn of Africa is a lot less grand than you might be thinking and a whole lot more mundane - but I think that is what makes it so special. For example, today is a typical Wednesday. I woke up at 8am, laid in bed for a while, got ready, and… Read moreSuccess
Success. It means something different to everyone you ask. The context, time frame, and end result all depend on the person and the situation. So, what does success look like for me? At the end of my two years serving in North Africa, what will be my definition of success? What would have to happen for me to look back and think “yes, I was successful” in this season? I have been going through different cultural studies with my teammates and the one we are doing right now talks about sojourners. This study has shown me how much grace is truly offered through Jesus. While my human mind tends to… Read more
My Letter to Future Goers
Hey future Goers! After serving overseas for two years and choosing to stay long term, I have some thoughts I’d love to share with you. Hopefully you can learn from some of my mistakes and be inspired by how God can use anyone--especially those who feel weak. Support raising: Don’t be scared!!! Raising support is a joy and God can provide for you in ways you never thought possible. During the first few weeks of connecting with people, support poured in like a flood--emotionally, spiritually, and financially. When my husband and I first decided to work globally, I hated the idea of support… Read more
My Letter To Future Goers
Dear friends and future Goers, It’s crazy to write this final blog for you. When I wrote my first blog, I couldn’t begin to imagine the type of growth and stretching that the next two years would hold. Coming to the end of my two years, I’m feeling grateful for the many lessons that came from being stretched. I’m excited to share a few, and I hope they are encouraging as you set out on your own journey with God. Be open to where God wants you to go, whether that’s overseas or in the U.S. Never in my life did I ever think I was going to do ministry among unreached people groups in Phoenix,… Read more