Abdul tried to steady his trembling hands as he slumped to the dirty curb and dialed the only local number on his phone. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the urban Middle Eastern street in the deepening twilight. Two men walked together on the far side of the road, […]
In Light of Eternity
Being a third culture kid (TCK) in Southeast Asia can be challenging—particularly when it comes to learning the local language. It was a struggle for me, and sometimes I fought the process. Then I started meeting with our language nurturer Kru Siriwan. No matter how frustrated I got, she patiently […]
Only Possible with Jesus
Neima sat up in bed, gasping. For a moment, confusion clouded her mind. Shafts of moonlight illuminated a cramped and lonely apartment—not the bedroom she and her siblings shared. As the cobwebs of sleep slipped from her mind, Neima remembered that she was not home. She was alone in the […]
Healed Without Surgery
Mira couldn’t muster a smile as Stephanie and Lucas, Frontiers field workers, arrived at her family’s home for their weekly Bible study. Stephanie seemed to sense her stress and leaned in to ask, “How’s your father?” Tears welled up in Mira’s eyes. Her father, who had been in a car […]
In the Right Place at the Right Time
I sat on the frayed rug covering cracked concrete, thankful for the sea breeze that gave my friend Rebekah and me a small reprieve from the Arabian peninsula’s dry heat. This was my first trip overseas since committing to long-term service with Frontiers, a short visit to learn about and […]
Ugali: Recipe for East African Porridge
Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, thick porridges are common fare at home and in restaurants. In Swahili-speaking countries, this food is called ugali and is made from either corn or cassava. Most families place a rounded dish of ugali in the center of the table or floor and pinch off pieces to […]
Reuniting a Refugee’s Family
My children and I stood in the shade of a tree that shielded us from the hot African sun while my husband, Kevin, talked with a man at the local market where we bought fruits and vegetables. “Where are you from?” the vendor asked in English. “America,” Kevin said. “How […]
Risking It All to Show Love
Zied had endured a long, difficult day and traffic in his crowded South Asian city was even worse than usual. A microbus in front of his car blared its horn while a tuk-tuk narrowly missed colliding with a motorcycle. As he inched along, Zied tapped his fingers on the steering […]
Healed Just in Time
My family and I were only a week away from leaving the field for an extended time in the U.S. when I ran into my Muslim friend Salaam in the market. Salaam and I had met months before, and he had been curious about the Bible. As we started reading […]
Would You Still Love Jesus?
The fragrance of spicy tea and baked goods hung in the warm afternoon air. My friend Ishak and I walked in the shade of the adobe apartment buildings on our street as we did each week, talking above the clamor of children playing and bicycles rattling past. “I’m trying to […]