You want to serve your refugee and immigrant neighbors? That is fantastic! How do you go about accomplishing that goal? Sometimes the topic may feel so big or politically charged that you are not sure how to take action, how to go from the idea to the actions. Here are a few things to consider…
Continue reading “Ready, Set, Go!…But How? Practical advice on serving refugees & immigrants”
The Need is RealA momma goes to the ER with her four children. She has no one else to watch them, but she needs medical care. The doctors agree, and she is admitted to the hospital; the children roam the halls and nap the first night, but by the second day when it is clear that momma needs more care, the children need someone to watch them as well. She pleads with the hospital staff that there is no one to watch the children. The hospital social workers are at an impasse: the county is called; the children need to be turned over to their custody.
Continue reading “Loving Strangers: Providing Help to Families in Crisis”
Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to share a short-term missions experience in a counter-cultural context with those closest to you? How would your children, your siblings, your parents, or your spouse survive when some of the tight-knit control that defines our lives has been suddenly removed? Or when nothing really goes as planned, nothing you eat tastes “normal,” and no one is even speaking your language?
I’ve had the opportunity to find out what it’s really like to serve alongside my husband and children not once, but twice in a developing country with many differences – and similarities – to life as we know it. It’s extremely humbling, occasionally heartbreaking, absolutely hilarious, and overwhelmingly hopeful!
Continue reading “Family Missions Trips: “Fun & Flexible” is Only the Beginning!”
Recently I stood above a dance floor to take a photo and was taken back by the scene.I spent a brief moment there, allowing myself to soak it all in. The song, “Shout!”, by the Isley Brothers was playing loudly. It was a crowd favorite, and it showed!
Imagine you bought yourself a new watch. It works so perfectly (and looks so good on your gorgeous wrist) that you decide to buy yourself a fancy shirt to go with it. Then, you talk yourself into buying a whole new outfit (because you have worked so hard recently and you deserve to treat yourself).
New shoes, fresh underwear, bling.
You look amazing.
And you feel amazing.
But while you’re out for a stroll around the lake (looking like a million bucks) you see a young girl drowning. You can tell that she’s exhausted… seconds from going under.
Summer is winding down, and kids across America are gearing up for the return to school. This can bring some challenges and anxiety for both the kids and the parents, and these feelings can be magnified if your child has needs that are not typical. Parents of children with sensory, learning, and attention exceptionalities often have to navigate a new school year with new teachers, different physical spaces, and most likely a new mix of classmates within a classroom. Many children who come from places of trauma and loss need their parents (biological, adoptive, and/or foster parents) to help them with this transition and continue to advocate for them as the school year progresses. Here are some proactive and reactive steps parents can take to support your child.
Refugees face many challenges when they arrive to the US. The cultural, linguistic, and institutional differences can create significant barriers for them, but as Christians, we can help them overcome those barriers and adjust to their new lives. Welcoming refugees in our city is the first step, but here are some tips for communication and compassion for those looking to get more involved.
Continue reading “7 Things to Know About Working with Refugees”
“I knew it. I just knew you were going to be here today!”I couldn’t help but smile as the fourth grader who I had been mentoring for several months exclaimed those words when I showed up at his classroom to pick him up. He was so excited to see me. I admittedly had been having a busy day, and I wasn’t as excited about the prospects of carving out a couple hours in a local elementary school. But, I committed to showing up every week as a mentor no matter what. So, that’s what I did. I just showed up.
Arguably, the most powerful word in existence, and even more so in action. Love is a force like no other. It covers a multitude of sins and darkness, including hatred, racism, fear, and indifference. Love gets so watered down, as we use it to describe our emotions about one thing or another, but true, pure, unconditional love comes from the Father and can only be felt when we give ourselves over to the Creator (who Himself is love) and made us in His image. Continue reading “L-O-V-E”
I really did. I was raised in a very safe suburban environment with a stable family, good schools, big houses that gained value over time, plentiful food, and lots of churches to choose from. We had a high employment rate with living wages, nice places to shop, and a stable local governance. Most of the children who grew up in the upwardly mobile, homogenous neighborhood with me were expected to go on to college and become the next great contributors to our society. I was surrounded by people who looked like me and thought like me. There weren’t many problems to speak of. There just wasn’t a whole lot of diversity, ethnicity or socioeconomic status where I grew up. Continue reading “How Does Mentoring Transform the Lives of Volunteer Mentors?”
