I can hear the trees shifting, as the summer’s warm air travels though their palms. I can hear myself think.

I am thinking how I would enjoy living my life just like this: worshiping with Africans, dancing with Zulus, and laying on a chaise lounge under a beach umbrella by the pool, writing as my son jumps in and out of the water. [more]

There is something different about life here. It’s both stirring and stimulating. South Africa is more than its beautiful scenery. It’s more than the mountains, red dirt, and landscape. The Africans are different shades of brown skin, and they’re scenic. I see noses like mine and big bright eyes. I love the sightseeing. [more]

In preparation for our family’s mission trip to South Africa, my husband, our two children, and one of the young adults that I pastor went to a mall to pick up a few things. We parked our car in the mall’s parking lot and then entered the mall through the Macy’s store. That’s how we’d remember where the car is parked. [more]

What will it take for the leaders of our communities to see the reality? Why are service providers all trying to find their way by themselves? Is it not apparent that apart from each other we are acting aimlessly? I am tired of business as usual. There isn’t enough time in one day to continue to run into the same wall over and over again. The head bleeds, but no one notices. [more]

Every day I spend time with him. Sometimes I wait until everyone is downstairs, and then I play with him. My husband yelled for me; he asked me to come downstairs with the family. They were watching the Boston Celtics play the Denver Nuggets. I lied. I told him, “I’m not a Celtics fan.”

He is the first thing I think of in the morning, and the last thing on my mind at night. This afternoon my husband insisted that I stay away from him. “He knows,” I thought. My husband wanted to use him. I was slighted and snubbed. [more]