“Even the Sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” Psalm 84:3-4
Over the past four years we have been learning a lot about this word called “home.” I used to think “home” meant a house…a physical house. I envisioned a house out of a pottery barn magazine with beautiful furniture and a swing on the front porch. I envisioned outdoor BBQ’s with neighbors and friends, a dog barking in the back yard and kids running around having fun.
When we moved to Australia four years ago and I tasted real homesickness for the first time I started to learn something about this word “home” that is much deeper than a house, a BBQ and a dog (as wonderful as all of those things are! And I hope to have them again someday!!!) I started reading Psalm 84 on a daily basis and I would ponder what “home” meant. I realized that “home” is in the presence of God (near your altar). Read the rest of this entry »
Today I’m being reminded how privileged I am. I’m in Battambang, Cambodia teaching on a DTS with my good friend Evan Thomas. We are teaching about 30 students and 10 staff about the freedom we have in Christ. Tomorrow is day three and I am blown away at the stories of these students lives!
Today I met a student who has a prosthetic leg. He shared the story of how he was about 10 years old and was in a train accident and lost his leg. Through the trauma he completely lost the memory of his life prior to the accident and has no family since then and lived on the streets in Phnom Penh for many years before finding Jesus and getting plugged into a boys house in Battambang. Now he is sitting in a DTS learning about Jesus and joining the YWAM family where he could serve the rest of his life in international missions with people from nations all over the world! He sat beaming as he asked me to pray for him that God would direct his steps after he completes the DTS in the next few months. Read the rest of this entry »
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (NIV)
Over the past 2 1/2 years we have seen some of the most abject poverty in the world. Children living in homes built over sewage water. Shacks filled with layers of boys and girls who can hardly move for lack of space. Little tummies bloated with the pain of emptiness—empty of both spiritual life and physical food. As a father, I know how difficult it is for my children to give me focused attention when they want a snack, let alone if they hadn’t had a square meal in days. How can a child hear the truth about Jesus over the rumbling of their empty stomachs? Read the rest of this entry »
I used to love the game as a kid. Someone secretly gives you an item and you act it out…until someone else guesses what you are acting. The dramatic side of me LOVES this game and I have had tons of practice.
When I was 20 I studied abroad in Mexico for one month. I lived with a host family who did NOT speak English, and I did not speak a lick of Spanish. I was constantly playing charades with the housekeepers as a way of communicating to them…until one day they started calling me “Loco Ronda.” I would wake up every morning to, “Woo Hoo…Loco…Ronda…” During dinner I would hear them talking in Spanish and then I would hear the words, “Loco Ronda” interjected into the sentence. My charades communication had won me a new name and was really taking me far. Read the rest of this entry »
A wise man once said to me “discipleship is like parenting…sometimes your kids throw up on you, you have to be ready to clean em’ up and keep going.”
So far, in my experience as a parent (to my 3 beautiful children) there are some things that are very consistent…
- Someone spills something daily.
- My kids whine when they are tired.
- They like things that are not good for them, like sugar and video games.
- My kids surprise me with how smart they are! And how kind they are to others! And how much they really do love Jesus!
- Big brothers like to torment little sisters.
- Little sisters like to torment big brothers.
- Even amongst the drama of tormenting each other…my kids love one another deeply.
- Parenting is more work than I thought.
- Parenting is way better than I thought.
- Every night I go to bed exhausted…but every night I thank Jesus that I have the most amazing life. Read the rest of this entry »
This is so overdue, I will hardly be able to capture all that God has done in the last 8 weeks of our lives! We have just finished the 6th week of the Call2All DTS and are excited to catch our breath this weekend from running over 100 miles per hour. Here is a Top 10 list of things that have occurred in the last 8 weeks. This list includes our outreach location so read on!
- The Call2All DTS began on April 7th. We welcomed 32 students from 10 different nations who have joined us for a 6-month adventure to know God and make him known! This group quickly became part of our family. All together we have 44 staff and students and 7 children in this amazing group. Read the rest of this entry »
Before I start this update I have a confession to make. In recent conversations I have realized that in my blogging life I only like to write about the good stuff…. and dread writing anything that would come across as negative or challenging. That is probably why you have not heard from me, at least in a blog, in quite some time. I wish I could say I have faith to move mountains but I’m just not there yet. The truth is, when the going gets tough my knees often buckle! I start to sweat, panic and even freak out at times.
This fall was that way for me. We finished a season watching Jesus do the most amazing things in Cambodia…falling more in love with missions…and feeling even stronger about our long term calling to the mission field. Upon returning to Kona, our well of provision that we’d been living off of, dried up and we were left to our monthly support income of $1200 a month. Gulp. In some countries that would be plenty but in the grand state of Hawaii… with a family of 5…it’s simply not enough to live off of. Did I tell you already that I was freaking out? Well…I was. But don’t worry…the story gets better. Read the rest of this entry »
