She drew this on her sixth birthday for a pastor. I'm not sure what made her think about India. We were learning about Japan and spent much of the day reading a missionary biography, in between receiving visitors and phone calls. “When I grow up, I’m going to tell the world about Jesus,” she told … Continue reading Little Girl Dreams
We sit around the supper table, all five of us, in the glow of the early evening sun. “Which one of you wants to pray that other Christians will begin to pray for Muslims?” I ask. Silence. “Okay,” I continue, undaunted. “Which one of you wants to pray that Muslims will find Jesus?” “I don’t want … Continue reading It Starts with Prayer
I choked back tears as I looked at photograph after photograph. A graffiti-covered bridge under which one woman took shelter. A sleazy, pay-by-the-hour motel where another woman brought her customers. A restaurant down the street where yet another woman often grabbed a warm meal on a cold day while working the streets. The front entrance … Continue reading The World on My Doorstep
"We want to tell you about someone who is very special to us," my friend and pastor, Mary, said to a crowd of people - many of them new immigrants - who were gathered in a field. "I think it's about Terry Fox!" One little boy said to another. We had just finished holding a … Continue reading Shaken Up
It has taken me a long time to post my conclusion to this series and I apologize. But here it is ... finally ... If you've missed any of the previous installments, you can find a comprehensive table of contents here. My trip to Europe was over, but the impressions it left on my heart … Continue reading Once Upon a Summer: The Journey’s End (Part 10)
Part 1 – “Once Upon a Summer: Chasing Dreams” Part 2 – “Once Upon a Summer: The Long Journey” Part 3 – “Once Upon a Summer: Unplanned Lessons” Part 4 – “Once Upon a Summer: Welcome to Slovakia” Part 5 – “Once Upon a Summer: Gypsy Children” Part 6 – "Once Upon a Summer: Small Miracles" … Continue reading Once Upon a Summer Link List
My time in Slovakia was over. All of the other short-term team members had already gone home. I had some extra time before my flight left, so one of the long-term missionaries accompanied me to Budapest, where I spent several glorious days exploring one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I stayed at … Continue reading Once Upon a Summer: Refugees (Part 9)
". . . whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14) __________________________ July 28, 1999 Mulcha, Slovakia They say that water is life. But in Mulcha, the only source of water was a … Continue reading Once Upon a Summer: Bottles of Water and a Message of Hope (Part 8)
"After leaving them, Jesus went up on a mountainside to pray." (Mark 6:46) __________________________ July 23, 1999 11:00 p.m. CET Banska Bystrica, Slovakia It was Sunday morning. The missions team filed up the narrow mountain path just outside of town. We reached an alpine meadow and sank down into the grass to catch our breath. … Continue reading Once Upon a Summer: The Mountain Top (Part 7)
Click here to read Part 1 - "Once Upon a Summer: Chasing Dreams" Click here to read Part 2 - "Once Upon a Summer: The Long Journey" Click here to read Part 3 - "Once Upon a Summer: Unplanned Lessons" Click here to read Part 4 - "Once Upon a Summer: Welcome to Slovakia" Click … Continue reading Once Upon a Summer: Small Miracles (Part 6)
The Grace-Filled Life 