I know what is probably going through your mind when you read that title: visions of ice princesses casting ice to the all too familiar Disney tune. Sorry if it’s in your head the rest of the day, but this post is about how Indonesia has taught me to let go of some things—to be […]
I was MAF’s Ecuador Program Manager stationed in the Andean mountain city of Quito when a mission director asked for a special flight. Two days earlier he sent a large team down into Ecuador’s costal jungle to minister in a small town. “But,” he explained, “a government official summoned us to a critical meeting tomorrow […]
Fireworks over the airport runway at Nabire, Papua, Indonesia.
When we first moved to Papua in December of 2012, I was quite surprised to see fireworks being sold in the remote highland town of Wamena. Dozens of stands popped up alongside the road where you could buy any kind of firework, for a price. […]
The patient doesn’t make a sound as a nurse and I position her on the floor of a Cessna 206. I am amazed at her resolve not to demonstrate any pain—not even the slightest wince.
Her name is Maleboheng; she is 81 years of age and has a broken femur. Earlier in the day she was […]
Burton Family Christmas Photo
When we lived stateside, we visited family at Christmas, shopped for gifts til we dropped, and baked more than any family could eat. We also tried our best to make sure our kids understood that while those things were fun additions to our holiday, Christmas is really about the gift […]
Excitement is building in the Boyd household as we prepare for Christmas. There’s been baking and candy making going on so that “snack alley,” our holiday tradition, will be well-stocked. The tree and decorations are up, and I occasionally hear whispers in other rooms as Tanya or the children make secret plans.
Yes, Christmas is a […]