Watch the Walk

Quite the waterfall, eh? The month of fasting has begun here, and every time I go anywhere I face the same question: ARE YOU FASTING? I'm sure it's an area of curiosity for everyone because they're not used to having someone different around to talk with. Everyone, and I mean everyone here, fasts. The other day I started to dread going home because I knew I'd run into a host of people who would all ask me that question. And if I was lucky my answer would spark a continued discussion. Which is a beautiful opportunity, yet sometimes feels more like an inconvenience, especially if you're exhausted and have had that conversation a dozen times already that day. I feel the pressure. Everyone wants me to fast and they don't mind guilt tripping me into doing it. (Oh "You're not able to fast?" "Just do one day!" "You're not strong enough?" "Even the children fast a little.") And I am fasting a few days-- when I'm breaki...

I'm pretty sure that everyone longs for something. People here long for wealth. They long for education. They long to be free from fear. They long for lasting change. Women ma king flower/greenery nec klaces I long for my friends and neighbors here to know the One who has changed my life. I long for them to be changed too. I long for opportunities to share truth with them. And sometimes opportunities create themselves. We're quic kly approaching the month of fasting here on the islands. Everyone's tal king about it. During that month people try to dress more carefully and portray themselves more carefully. One of my language helpers told me that everyone stops listening to pop music and only listens to re1igious music. This is all a reflection of culture and tradition... but it's also a reflection of longing. By fasting and observing the special month very carefully they believe they'll get closer to their goal of escaping "the place of fire" (as it's ...

The other night I went to a friend's daughter's birthday party. Now, I've been to a lot of parties, but all of them in my own town. This one was in another town (which in a place like this makes a difference). So I got ready at home, caught a taxi, and met a teammate at her house to walk to the event with her neighbors. But as soon as I arrived at the teammate's house I realized a problem: I was dressed differently from them. See, in my town most parties require a certain dress protocol. The other dress protocol is reserved for extremely important events. I figured that a 6 year old's birthday wasn't quite as big a deal. Me in the normal party attire (with a good friend) And I was wrong. My teammate's neighbors greeted me with, "why didn't you wear a (special matching shirt)?" "I didn't know I should wear one," I replied. "Ah. Well, I have one. Should I give it to you?" "Is it better for me to wear one?" "...

Sometimes I'm tired. I'm tired of going out and greeting 50 people just to leave my neighborhood. I'm tired of cooking everything from scratch. I'm tired of the heat. I'm tired of the heat rash. I'm tired of juggling all the different relationships I'm developing. I'm tired of being under constant scrutiny and explaining my everyday actions multiple times a day in a language I only met 6.5 months ago. But I know Someone who's never tired. In fact, Isaiah said that He neither faints nor grows weary. His understanding is unsearchable. Even young people faint and grow weary. They fall exhausted. But those who wait on this One will gain renewed strength. They'll soar like eagles. They'll run and not get weary, walk and not faint. I want that. Because on days like today it's stinking hot. My attitude needs an adjustment so my light can shine bright. 'Cause it's hard for the lantern to shine bright when its chimney is clouded. And this ...

I couldn't tell you how many times I've told my mom, "Google is your friend." Well, Google is my friend too, and a very convenient one at that. Post-technology fast, I often turn to Google when trying to figure something out here. Some things even Google can't help with... but it's amazing what you can find with a little searching. So for your entertainment here are some things I've Googled: - "how to get rid of mold on concrete" - "how to roast coffee beans" - "get rid of ants" - "earthqua kes on islands" - "average temperature in (location)" - "help me identify my tropical fish" - "cure for heat rash" - "de-worming kittens no vet" - "dengue fever" - "homemade enchilada sauce" - "is my vpn wor king? - " some letters on my keyboard don't wor k " - "my cat is psychotic" - "meals with cabbage and carrots" - "places ...

I remember when I moved into my island home. It's in the middle of the town with houses almost touching each other, and one of my first thoughts was, "There are a lot of kids here." During the first few weeks I realized a little of what that meant: They're noisy. They're obnoxious. They don't understand boundaries. And within the first few weeks of moving in I was getting really annoyed with them. Every time I left home or returned home I would have a crowd of children following me, chanting my name. Or worse, chanting, "White person! White person!" in the local language. Yes, I'm well aware of my white skin. They even chanted my housemate's name. Seriously, she's brunette and I'm blonde... how can they not tell us apart? But J'sus rebuked his disciples when they tried to push children away. And I want to share the love of J'sus with them. So what do I do? I prayed about it a lot, trying to think of how to love on the annoying...

A view from inside our house There once was a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, "go work in my field today." The older son said, "I won't go." But later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the younger son and said the same thing. The younger one said, "okay, I'll go." But he never went. Which son did his father's will? Which is better: to continue in a bad decision, or to change your mind and do what is right? A local view This is a story that I translated this week and discussed with my language helpers. I was drawn to this story after reading a book about honor/shame-based societies. Whereas North American cultural interaction is based on the idea of right and wrong (guilt-based society), societies like the one I'm living in now interact on the basis of honor-- how can I give honor where it is due and be a person to whom honor is due? How do I prevent myself and my family from being shamed? Why is this ...