I’m at the computer, reminiscing and looking through old digital photos. I marvel at the sweet faces of my kids a few years ago—chubbier, messier, softer. I notice my own face—fewer wrinkles, hair that isn’t sprouting a well-worn gray at the temples. And then it pops up: our very first prayer card photo. Our little […]
I live on a small island where there are no long-stemmed roses, none of my favorite dark chocolate, and no romantic Italian restaurants.
And this Valentine’s Day, my own Valentine wasn’t even here. He’s been shivering in America for some training. I’ve been sweating through another tropical February here in Indonesia.
Though we we’re apart this year, […]
Life is full of interruptions, isn’t it? Rarely a day goes by that my day hasn’t been interrupted in some way, whether big or small. (I have children!)
But interruptions aren’t always bad. Some are fun— like when my friend calls and invites me to get a massage right now. Um…yes, please!
Some are expected—like when […]
A funeral procession passing by the Holsten’s house.
It happens almost every day. Dozens of blaring motorcycle horns signal that another funeral procession is making its way up our hill on its way to the local cemetery.
My house helper E shakes her head as she watches the procession and declares, “Orang Papua […]
There it was in bright red letters across my forehead…FAILURE. It was written in the same bright red ink that the teachers use each day to correct my attempts at writing in my new language.
Of course, no one else could see the letters written there, but I felt the weight of them on me each […]
I became a pilot for MAF about two months ago. During my first solo flight, I was so nervous. My hands were shaking. My heart was thumping in my chest. “Here we go,” I thought, and pulled back on the control stick. I knew immediately something was wrong. My aircraft pitched to the side, toppling […]