When I was 11 (or was I just 10?) I went on my first mission trip. It was my first time on an airplane. My first time south of Ohio. The trip was for high schoolers but my mom volunteered with the youth group and was going, so I got to go too. Back then … Continue reading My first mission trip
Category: Kingdom living
Having tattoos, being a balloon, and the wilderness
My first full time job out of college was as a Preschool English teacher at a bilingual Christian school in the Dominican Republic. My job was to go into each of the 6 preschool classrooms every day for 30 minutes and teach an English lesson. It was fun and exhausting and hard and awesome. The … Continue reading Having tattoos, being a balloon, and the wilderness
“Someone is wrong and it could be me.”
This time of year is perfect for intentional thinking, pausing, and assessing. Self-awareness has been one of the best gifts life experience (and YouthWorks job training) has given me. It is immensely valuable to be able to sit down, look inside myself and my life, name what I’m crazy about and what is driving me … Continue reading “Someone is wrong and it could be me.”
Memory, Work, Change, Peace
I'm doing a Gratitude Writing Challenge in lieu of NaNoWriMo this year. What a fitting four categories to be grateful for all at once: memory, work, change, peace. Memory // Work I remember when the life I have now was a life I dreamed about. I remember dreaming not so loudly about being an administrator. … Continue reading Memory, Work, Change, Peace
From the Ground Up
One of the reasons I moved to Jarabacoa from San Pedro de Macoris three years ago was to "build my life from the ground up." When I moved to San Pedro (three months after graduating from college), I felt very much like I was plopped down into a life. People I had never met before … Continue reading From the Ground Up
Now’s the time
In the summer of 2001 I went on my first domestic mission trip with my youth group church, Trinity Presbyterian. We went to Chattanooga, Tennessee with an organization called YouthWorks. Many things stand out to me from that weeklong trip, nearly 18 years later. I remember the hum of the projector (the old fashioned one … Continue reading Now’s the time
Sometimes you can get what you want
When I was young, maybe in middle school, I remember telling my mom that I had prayed to God to give me patience. She said, "You don't want to do that." I asked, "Why not?" She said, "Because then God is going to give you a lot of opportunities to grow your patience." Last week … Continue reading Sometimes you can get what you want
Fear, Doubt, and Underestimating
Today my dogs and I, together with some friends, hiked to a waterfall. The hike was a difficult one for me and I was nervous it would be difficult for my dogs as well. The truth is, until we got in the car, I thought we were going to a different waterfall, an easier one … Continue reading Fear, Doubt, and Underestimating
Caves & Fear
Easter has always been my favorite holiday. I love the symbolism, of course, and why we celebrate. I love that Jesus died for me and that in doing so He saved me from myself and made it possible for me to live as I was intended and created to live. Let’s be honest, I also … Continue reading Caves & Fear
There is soundness in my flesh
I’ve been reading through the Bible chronologically. Lately I’ve been in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Chronicles with Psalms sprinkled throughout. It really changes the way I read the psalms, because now I’m reading them smack dab in the middle of context. Having just read about David’s own son trying to steal … Continue reading There is soundness in my flesh
