Today I flunked an exam. It does not feel right. I am in a Spanish language school full-time. All "good" foreign missionaries study a language intensively to communicate with the people whom they seek to serve. And of course, God gives all "good" ministers a natural aptitude to master a second language. Or not. What …
Learning to Fix Our Eyes from a Half-Drowned Dog
Our dog almost drowned. My husband and oldest son thought it would be CRAZY fun to paddle in our tandem kayak at full speed from the calm brackish river straight into the foaming mouth of the Pacific Ocean. Our little super-dog did not want to miss out. He ran into the river and swam out …
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For No Other Reason Than Love
A reading of John 21 shows us that six of Jesus' disciples returned to their nets after three years of living life under his teaching. They returned to fishing after his crucifixion, after his resurrection and after his glorified appearance to them. After their initial obedience to Jesus' call to "follow me," they went back …
Understanding Money in Relation to Missionaries: What You Need to Know
In June, while in Texas, I met a writer-friend in a chic little coffee shop. Jackie leaned forward and urged me with southern drama and drawl, "You gotta write out the things that scare you the worst because those are the things that people need to hear the most." Just days before this, our family …
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What It’s Like for a Missionary Family to Return to the US on Furlough After Their First Term
My family and I have lived in Mexico for the past four years. In the last 48 months, we've only been back to the States for about 7 weeks. This means that over 96% of our previous four years of life has been lived in Mexico. Our friends are there. Our pets are there. Our memories …
