There are those moments that tend to mark you. Seared into your memory, it is difficult to escape them when they rise to the surface. I remember lying on the floor of the small chapel at Woods Chapel Church many years ago. I still feel the texture of the carpet against my cheek as I … Continue reading fracture
Russia
letters
“I haven’t had a letter from my friend since you were here last year.” “Do you have news of my friend? I have not heard from them.” “Do you have letters for us? I miss reading words from my friend.” To my chagrin, I was discovering a common theme among my young Russian friends during … Continue reading letters
denchik
November always finds me traveling a horrendously long distance from the States to Velikoretskoye, Russia. It is literally a journey of planes, trains, and automobiles. I have been making this journey to Velikoretskoye since 2008 to visit my friends who happen to live in an orphanage. As wards of the state of Russia, our community is … Continue reading denchik
normal, pt. 2
Note: This post was mostly created on November 13, 2016 as I was digesting my time in Russia while flying back to Denver. I love languages, and I really love a familiarity with language that allows my ear to hear a new slang in the languages cultures use. This happened when I got to Russia … Continue reading normal, pt. 2
adventures
Lovely looked at me with a glimmer in her eye, she had a plan and was not going to be deterred. She grabbed my hand and we rapidly climbed the stairs up to the top of her mountain home in Marmelade, Haiti. As others sent a ‘good morning’ my way, she didn’t even let me … Continue reading adventures
education
I live in a place where parents are faced with the indignity of giving their kids to a children’s home so they can go to school, or keep their child with their family at the perilous cost of not gaining an education. I cannot fathom having to make that decision, but in Haiti and other … Continue reading education
story time
It’s no surprise that one of the things I miss most from being in the States is sitting down to a cup of coffee and telling stories with my friends. Usually, after getting back from Russia, I sit down telling the stories from our visit with the kids over coffee too many times to keep … Continue reading story time
men
I’ve seen countless women answering God’s call to be present within the orphan window around the world. Obvious reasons feed into why women are drawn to orphan care. Each has an innate way they nurture, love and care for others. I’ve even been surprised to see some of these qualities come out in myself. What … Continue reading men
stories
I love stories! I love telling them, but more often I love hearing them. I have random stories that like to pop up in conversation, then I have the stories that are a bit deeper and are more likely to share when I am asked. Stories of the places I have been in the world … Continue reading stories
awake
I strongly dislike mornings. If I am awake early, it is purely strong black sludge in a mug that makes me appear human. Which means I am a night owl. I love the quiet of night, and if you look at the time stamps of when I post you will notice a pattern of time … Continue reading awake
sojourner4jesus 