Are you hitched with a mission? Did you know that God has brought you together for a purpose? Here you can learn how to do that without stepping on toes.
How to Minister together without it becoming a tug of war.
When Roy and I first started ministering together it didn't feel natural. Rather than really working together it often felt like a game of tug-of-war, except it felt more like a war and less of a game. When we first started teaching together we felt sorry for the...
8 things missionaries can learn from weeds.
Sometimes missionary life is like the life of a weed. I know, I know what a horrible thing to say right? Why would I possibly compare missionary life to that of a weed. Why not pick something beautiful like a flower, a beautiful bush or a fruit tree instead? My...
How Missionaries Handle the Distance
Missing Home Life abroad can be stressful. It isn't just dealing with things in a foreign culture or a foreign language that is challenging. It's hard when you 'miss' things that you feel you should be 'home' for. Missing Celebrations I have grown accustomed to...
Naked Marriage
I recently read an article that quoted Anouk Turksma as saying, "Being abroad shows people their 'naked' marriage without the web of family, long-time friends and a known place in society around it". All the other expats out there would probably agree. Naked:...
What to do when your marriage is feeling the heat.
Anyone living in a hot climate knows the welcome relief air conditioning can bring. They may also know just how oppressive it can be when there isn't any air conditioning. Unfortunately, our car decided that removing the heat from inside the vehicle was a little too...
A Missionary’s Desert Island Discs. Your needs for emotional survival.
Do you ever feel that you have been shipwrecked and ended up on a desert island? People surround you, yet you still have a deep sense of loneliness. If so then you are going through what many expats experience when they are first shipped abroad. You have needs,...
Comparisons between Missionary Life and Cast Away
Here we go Wilson! You don't have to worry about anything; I'll do all the paddling. You just hang on! Last night our kids wanted to watch the Tom Hanks movie Castaway. It must be six years since we saw it as part of our missionary training and preparation...
The Hare and the Tortoise
The Expat Tortoise Anyone who knows me well knows that I was not graced with athletic ability. I dreaded P.E. (Physical Education) because I knew that when I would run I would never see more than the backs of others. If there had been a prize for coming last in a...
Trailing Spouse
Today I stumbled across the term 'trailing spouse'. Although we have lived as expats for many years, we are in a unique situation. We both moved abroad to follow God's call and work with marriage and families. However, many expats move abroad because either the...
How To Face Your Problems
Yesterday I had knee surgery. To be honest, I should have had the surgery years ago, but I kept putting off going to see a doctor. I convinced myself that the knee would heal in time and that I just had to be patient. Well, sometimes time is a healer other...