Learning to be a guest, to be on the other side of welcome, has helped form friendships that can bear the weight of Truth and opened doors for authentic spiritual conversation

To Welcome is to greet, to delight in, to receive the presence of…

Trees and tumbleweeds—a comparison aptly sketching modern culture.  I was duped into believing that my best life was one of constant movement, coupled with the notion that the only way to find fulfilling adventure was to drift, commitment-free.  It has taken me years to conclude that living like a tree is better. 

Deep roots help trees stand strong in the face of storms, and missionaries stand strong in the face of the relentless challenges in life and ministry. But growing deep roots is a challenge in and of itself, especially living abroad. 

When the environment isn’t inviting

When man-made constructions get in your way 

When the nourishment is lacking 

Growing deep roots isn’t always easy

The best things in life — growth, healing, wisdom, relationships, faith — cannot be hurried. They require patience. They require waiting. They require trusting that the process is doing something beneath the surface, even when we can’t yet see it.

Reflecting on the irony of hardened hearts and God’s calling.

It all begins with an idea.