Shattered into a multitude of pieces is what my life typically feels like. You would think I am used to it by now. I want to be so many places all at the same time. It literally feels like a ragged ripping with a painful element of being torn...how is it this possible to feel … Continue reading torn
russia
practice
Thirst for culture and language is a large part of who I am. During my time in China, my favorite class was language class and learning the characters of Mandarin. Over the years I have spent some time trying to make sense of Russian. I will never forget the trip to Kurlovo in Russia when … Continue reading practice
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
change their story
For the last ten years I have given a lot of my life and love to children in Russia that are cast off into orphanages. What started as a willingness to follow God's pull to orphan ministry has become what is, and will be, a lifetime of fighting for orphans in our world...wherever God may … Continue reading change their story
anticipation
Anticipation...jitters...nervous...expectations...excitement. In Russia, on our way to the orphanage for the first morning with the kids it is always a wide array of emotions. It is one of my favorite moments of the trip, as those of us who have been before sit up straighter and crane our necks to see out of the front … Continue reading anticipation
aching
My arms are aching. Not because I did a major workout yesterday...yah right. It is an empty and waiting sort of ache. All because I know that I am within 36 hours if holding onto my family members that I haven't seen in a year. It is that time of year...and I am on my … Continue reading aching
sojourner4jesus 