Archive for April 2011
“Full circle” after forty years
With youthful excitement, we eagerly researched the Italian city where we would serve after language school in Florence. Finally, we were going to fulfill the call to missions we’d both received years before! Vasto—a coastal city amid vineyards and olive groves on the foothills of the Abruzzo mountains in central Italy—was to be our destination.…
Read MoreLCC International University hosts ecumenical conference
About a month ago, LCC hosted our 2nd annual Congregational Development Conference on the theme, “Proclaiming the Gospel in Contemporary Lithuania.” Once again, there was a good response and participants from almost all church groups in Lithuania. Steve had a brief opening address on “Discussing theology in a liberal arts setting.” He attempted to share…
Read MoreInside and outside the hospital in Honduras
God works in mysterious ways, so mysterious that it is often easy to miss the ways He’s working, especially when times get challenging. Thank God His plan does not depend on whether we understand it or not. That is how I would sum up my first year in Siguatepeque, Honduras—recognizing a call without fully understanding…
Read MoreAnticipating God’s amazing ways
Wow! What a year it has been. A year ago I was busily finishing my last semester of college while preparing for this mission year by accomplishing seemingly endless forms, personality/spiritual tests, interviews and trainings in Pennsylvania. I knew I was being called into missions, but wasn’t exactly sure where, how or when. May EMU…
Read MoreActions speak louder than language barriers
“Good morning.” “Buenos dias.” “Alli punsha.” In the small Ecuadorian jungle community of Arajuno, these three languages, English, Spanish and Kichwa, flowed together harmoniously as a group of 10 men from Nebraska, three Colombians and I worked alongside the local indigenous people to help them construct a new church building. During a week of hard…
Read MoreInvesting (missionally) for long-term dividends
Our first term here in Bari was spent learning; culture, language, people and places. When we came back for our second term, we had no idea what God had in store for us, but we felt it would be good. We can now confirm that it has been a wonderful experience! Upon our return in…
Read MoreCloseness and joy through shared ties
In November 2010 the country mice became city mice, and moved from their lush, green dairy farm in Dayton, Virginia, to a block house in the center of the concrete-covered world of La Mesa, Colombia. Since that time we have been learning to live in a completely different way, interpreting the new sounds of honking…
Read MorePlanting Seeds in Jacó
We call the program Vida 220 referring to Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Nine participants from four different countries live in community at the mission base in the mountains near Heredia, Costa Rica. Every week we attend classes, hear lectures on a…
Read MoreMiracles of transformation among the deaf in Belize
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 Miracles of transformation: This year two more young deaf people were baptized. Both are in their 20s. One has been coming to our church ever since the first time we gathered for worship in…
Read MoreCompany, connections and comfort food
I vigorously mashed potatoes by hand in the stainless steel kettle to feed nine persons around the table. Being emotionally exhausted this week, I had felt that I needed to push myself to do each of my responsibilities: Tuesday morning Bible study at the church in the village of Kemishtaj, Wednesday afternoon English lesson at…
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