Fresh Perspective

 The last few weeks have been full of surreal moments. One after another that have left me a bit in awe of this time and place that I find myself in. One was backstage on a weekend of a big event.  I was holding a puppet and waiting for our puppet team to gather and perform.  They were to all come as the special music was played.  The auditorium was so full that I didn’t have a seat, so I was there before everyone else. And I began to realize that the song playing was one I had sung 34 years ago in a little Pentecostal church as a teenager. People Need the Lord by Steve Green.  I was so moved by that song then, that I couldn’t finish it, I was weeping. The call to missions was so strong. How surreal to be 34 years later, with a puppet, living out that calling and hearing that song, reminding me of “the call”. To Jordan, my husband and I slip away for a day of much needed R and R.  We sit in a hot spring that is 65 degrees Celsius all year rou...

Every time I return from the United States, I take an emotional roller coaster ride. I’m not very fond of roller coasters anymore.  I remember my dad sacrificially going to amusement parks with me when I was a teenager. At my request, of course. Now, I am very content to go for a walk with my dad or have a nice chat.  Roller coasters are way to dramatic.  This time, after returning from America I needed some help to level out my emotions and sort out all the mixed-up feelings that come with yo-yoing between cultures and my people. Note that “my people” include blood relatives and my chosen overseas family. Part of the help I received came on a walk with a trusted friend.  She discerned that I was struggling and asked some questions.  I decided to be authentically real and share.  Insightfully, after listening to me this friend pointed out that I have had 3 significant recent losses, but also have been given 3 important things to do (that I am passi...

  I met Adelle soon after moving to Beirut.  Her sincere love for people is what captivated me, no matter the person’s socio-economic status or their country of origin.  She is often used by the foreigners as a translator when they are working with refugees. Later, Adelle became my Arabic teacher. She had great patience with me and was always encouraging as I tried to wrap my mind and tongue in directions they didn’t want to wrap. When I started working, while still in graduate school, I chose to stop learning Arabic. However, I will always say that there is a special bond formed whenever you have a language teacher. They see you at very vulnerable moments as they stretch you beyond where you are comfortable. It was during those lessons that trust developed between Adelle and me.  I remember clearly the days she would show me her lab work and explain her desire to become pregnant. Adelle had 5 doctors declare that she would never become pregnant. Five. O...

When God weaves a picture, He is intentional to use the right thread at the right moment. Often, we can’t appreciate the handiwork He is crafting in our own lives or circumstances until we get a retrospective glance back and then the woven pattern becomes clear. I have questioned how I, as a nurse, can possibly be running an NGO in the Middle East.  Do you know how on packages of toys a disclaimer will often be give, such as “no batteries included”?  I kind of feel like I should have a disclaimer also, “no business skills included”. Undoubtedly, my faithful team felt this. We began asking God, for more than several months, to provide someone with a skill set and experience that could lead our Woven Dignity staff. God heard those prayers, but He needed to get me to Ras Al Khaimah so He could weave in the right thread at the right moment.  In March ‘22, I happened to be there for some training.  One morning while in Ras Al Khaimah, I awoke and felt STRONGLY im...

Do angels plan what they are going to wear?  I believe that "my angel" was dressed in ordinary street clothes, blue jeans, and a tee-shirt, and slightly dirty if I recall correctly. A typical Middle Eastern man with a beard and he was roughly 20+ kg overweight. Do angels plan what questions they will ask to make you not suspicious that they are an angel, until they leave your presence?   I’m not sure, but my angel in Egypt kept asking where I was from in America…in a typical I don’t know much English so I will talk about this one topic . I have many more questions about angels, like how do they get assigned to help us and who decides when they can reveal themselves in part?  But I am boring you with my ponderings...there is a story to be told. Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to be in Egypt. I was attending a training for Youth and how multi-generational mentorship is powerful and proven to help teens be more resilient in resisting addictive behaviors...

I have no doubt that you have been in situations that feel bigger than yourself.  That you, by yourself, cannot solve the issues that comes with that set of circumstances.  Pushed beyond your comfort zone and in need of intervention by Someone more resourceful than yourself.   Perhaps added to that discomfort is that other people are counting on your success of handling the situation.  Like, REALLY counting on it. It is not a pleasant place to be, at least not in my opinion.  And that is exactly where I was this summer.  In need of a miracle or a dozen or two, while I was on holiday in the USA. I want to tell you the story of the day the “faith of miracles” was breathed into my journey.  The exciting thing is, I don’t think the “faith of miracles” is for my story alone.  I believe, that if you need a miracle, then this might just be a story for you also.  My issue was that I had/have refugees sewing hand embroidered cards fo...

 I just wanted to give a quick update to the last blog I wrote and the responses I received. Thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your gifts and money. I was able to bring back lovely gifts for all my refugee workers from your generosity. My oldest worker was delighted with her Clark shoes (and they fit perfectly). Her daughter commented that when she used to travel to England to study (before the war) that she would buy Clark shoes for her Mom and Dad. The glucose monitor is an amazing gift for my diabetic worker. I went to her home yesterday and taught her how to use it. Not surpirsingly her sugar was 376. I told her to start checking her blood sugar levels 3-4 times a day. She is scared to use the test strips too fast. Sigh.... life is so challenging here for most. The sunglasses and watches were received with great joy, along with the toys. And the money... I am using it to give bonuses. Desperately needed bonuses. As prices soar and the Lebane...

 Life has not slowed down since the last blog I wrote where I was the Middle East traveler and went to 5 countries in 2 months.  Well, that is not entirely true about slowing down.  At the end of May we had the joy and privledge of attending our 3 rd son’s high school graduation (Jacob).  I must pause and give a big shout out to Jacob who at age 9 was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. He finished his last year of high school with a 3.49 GPA and used no accommodations. Nor did he ask me to help him with one assignment.  Up until he was 11 years old, I thought I would have to go to university with him.  We studied every single subject together.  What an accomplishment and a 100% testimony to God’s faithfulness in providing an incredible special ed teacher while we lived-in far-flung Papua, Indonesia. Unbelievable. I’m so grateful and proud of the obstacles Jacob has overcome and the resilience he has built. Back to the slowing down ...

I never dreamed I would live in the Middle East. I had no desire to live in the Middle East. Not even one little drop of curiosity. Only fear and complete lack of interest were my emotions. So, imagine, that in the past 2 months I have spent the better part of a week in 5 different Middle East countries. Each one, uniquely delighting my heart and awakening new dreams that I never imagined could take place. I will share a few quick glimpses of precious encounters in each country. Dubai was the first country.  It’s glitz and glamour were a striking contrast to Lebanon’s raw and real . I was in long days of training there, but on one evening gracious hosts took us to eat overlooking the amazing fountain displays and laser shows. In addition, we snuck in a day at the impressive World Expo. However, the highlight was meeting up with my cousin Aaron who lives and works in downtown Dubai. My Uncle and Aunt had just flown in from...