A Year of Questions, Part 6: “Are You Back in Minnesota for Awhile?”

In 2015 I started getting into the habit of traveling a lot. While doing an internship in Omaha, I still had to take seminary classes in Ankeny, IA, so I estimate that I made about 40 of those 5-hour round trips that year. God also provided opportunities that year to go on a family vacation in Washington and Oregon, an orchestra tour in Minnesota, a short soccer tournament trip in Florida, and a ministry trip in the San Francisco Bay area. Read Full Post

Brazil, Day 22: July 4th in Brazil

Ugh…I woke up so tired this morning! Not from going to bed late, but simply from being worn out the day before. I set my alarm to wake up early for a run, but I quickly put that idea aside when it sounded. I would rather be at my best throughout the day than to get in that run.

Went up to breakfast and ate a French roll with hotdogs and cheese, four slices of pineapple, papaya, and hot milk. I then stayed in the dining hall to do my devos in the first half of Acts 14. Read Full Post

Brazil, Day 10: Giving to Brasil

When my alarm went off this morning, the last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed. I wasn’t necessarily tired although I definitely could have slept longer. Rather, I just didn’t want to get out of my really comfortable bed and go running. But I took a break two days ago, so after laying there for almost an hour, I finally got up and ran. Read Full Post

The Simple Joys

Tonight at Master Club (the Wednesday night kids program at Heartland Baptist in Ames) one of the fifth-grade girls who I barely know came up to me and said, “A miracle happened this morning!”

I responded, “What?!”

She said, “My mom was released from prison!”

Me: “That’s so great! I’m glad to hear that!” Read Full Post

Philippines: A Reflection on the Trip

It is now about 9:14pm (10:14am Philippine time), a little over one week after we left Uncle James’ house for the Manila airport. It was a fun, educational, and eye-opening vacation/experience.

I enjoyed getting to know most of my relatives a little better- even those that I didn’t know I had. I liked going to visit all the pastors and learn about their ministries- especially Pastor Amar’s prison ministry. It was fun driving on the roads and seeing how everybody drives. The rice terraces were awesome and the roads leading there were almost just as fun and scary at the same time. Read Full Post