I am experiencing what many people fear: needing a doctor in a foreign land where you cannot speak the language. But, praise God, the body is the same wherever you go, so you only have to point to what hurts. Or, as in my case, the doctor could see that I would not move my... Continue Reading →
The Power of a Song to Unite Us
One of the elements of my life that I miss here in Portugal is the choir at my church. I do love the congregational singing at the church we are attending, but, for me, nothing beats the harmony of different voices singing together, united in their joy for the Lord, bringing the whole church to... Continue Reading →
Don’t Let Others Deplete Your Joy
We have moved to the beautiful city of Quarteira in Portugal, with its wonderful beaches and colorful houses and apartment buildings. We met our host's parents, and it was one of the highlights of this visit. His mother could not speak any English, but she managed to show me all that I needed to know... Continue Reading →
When the Shoe is on the Other Foot
It is hard to really understand the lives of other people, unless you can walk in their shoes. For years, the lives of immigrants to America have not really interested me, mainly because I assumed that moving to an unfamiliar place is no big deal, with basically every place the same. I never thought about... Continue Reading →
A Frigid Lesson: Wish More Carefully
As we walked along the beach, the waves crashed against the rocks, and occasionally the spray would reach to the people's faces as they walked along the quay in front of us. For some reason, I thought that was something good to have happen to me. So, once I managed the courage to step out... Continue Reading →
The Amazing Human Race
Walking along the boardwalk listening to people talk, I am amazed at the numbers of languages spoken here in Portugal. I am just nosy enough to want to know what everyone is saying, and whether they are words of joy, love, fear, or anger. What is comforting for me is that until people start to... Continue Reading →
The Growth and Hope that Comes after Being Betrayed
For weeks, the
A Frantic Attempt to Stay Upright
Life can become frightening in the blink of an eye! One evening after work, I went to the store to buy some things for the children's breakfast, namely milk and orange juice. At that time, I did not know how to drive, so I had to take the bus everywhere. I had never had a... Continue Reading →
A Faith that Cannot be Considered Micro
One of the first sermons I ever heard was titled, "How Big is Your God?" I must have been in my early teens then, and I thought the question was strange, because it seemed to suggest that there were different gods and that they varied in sizes and, I guessed, in the power to help... Continue Reading →
No Greater Talisman than Love
Using the definition of talisman as anything whose presence (and by extension, lack of presence) exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings and actions, I believe that love, by its presence or its absence, is the greatest talisman. This is why it so important that children learn that their parents love them. When... Continue Reading →
Help from Heaven 