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Najaswak
Seated at her kitchen table, Najaswak began telling us of her upcoming summer plans, then paused, squinting as if thinking deeply and said, “Would you like to come with me? It would be so nice. You can sing and play music on board the vessel as it travels throughout Greenland…
Unexpected Help
“Be careful what you wish for.” I do not know about you, but I grew up hearing this phrase repeatedly, the weight of which counsel has always remained with me. After I was baptized, my then-friend and now-wife, Isabela, would always tell me, “Be careful with what you ask of…
An Answer to Prayer
I awoke while the stars were still out. Bundling up, I went outside to the woodpile. My breath turned into vapor when it met the cold winter air as I grabbed the axe with my thick gloves. My wife waited inside our cold house. My job was to prepare the…
Joy in Kabgan
Situated in the very remote highlands above the west coast of Palawan, one would think that Kabgan was a God-forsaken place, but trekking groups pass through the village on their way to climb Mount Mantalingahan. They post photos on social media, marveling at the unusual ecology of the rainforest. Yet…
Longing to Belong
God created us for relationships. From our first breath, we reach for connection—to be seen, to be loved, to belong. Around the world, people seek connection in various ways. In Japan, this longing has taken on unique forms: paid companions, synthetic partners and screens that promise closeness but leave us…
Planting Cassava
Even though Sol and I are not very used to planting crops, since we arrived in Cambodia, we have learned a few agricultural skills that our industrious Pnong church brothers and sisters use to grow different fruits, vegetables and legumes in their fields. MaDavid, one of our sisters, recently asked…
Divine Connections in His Timing
This year moments have unfolded that remind us that divine plans surpass our own. At a lakeside baptism service, my family encountered another group having a baptism just as we were. They worship on Saturdays because their leaders are Sunday-keepers who have a church in the city, and drive out…
The Light Switch
In Thailand, light switches are on the outside wall of rooms. For instance, the bathroom switch is positioned beside the door before you enter—true also for the kitchen, bedrooms and every other room. When we first moved here, this made absolutely no sense to me. Now I am not only…
The Big Change
One evening, my parents had a shocking surprise for my brother and me. “Boys, we are going to be missionaries,” my father and mother said. I froze. A bunch of thoughts suddenly ran through my mind at top speed. “Am I going to be persecuted?” I asked. “Japan is a…
Letting Go of the Reins
“I believe God exists. I have had experiences in my life where I knew God helped me. But I have questions. Why did Japan kill 20 million Chinese? Why did Hitler kill so many? What about Pol Pot?” one of my worker friends, the cabinet installer, asked. For the last…