We watched as he trudged along with a tattered sack of belongings slung over his shoulder, trying in vain to keep his bare feet out of the snow. He was miserable and destitute, and in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the huge city, he went almost unnoticed. Unaccustomed to such sights, we […]
Our 8 suitcases were bulging with the few possessions we had left, including eight teddy bears! Except for one box we had left with my parents and the little money we had. We were finally ready to leave for the mission field! There was nothing left to do but relax and wait for the day […]
As an immigrant myself this issue is close to my heart. I cannot fully identify with refugees or economic immigrants. I did not move out of personal need, but for ministry. I also have dual citizenship. But I understand moving to an foreign country. And we have also worked with refugees here. Even unofficially “adopting” […]
We have a saying in Italian. Non c’รจ niente di nuovo sotto il sole. (There is nothing new under the sun.) And yes, I know it’s from the Bible. But I also know that King Solomon, who wrote it, didn’t live in a foreign country. Otherwise, I wonder if he would have changed it to: “There is something […]
A few years ago we were able to visit a church in Pozzuoli, a town where the apostle Paul landed on his way to Rome! They even have a sign in the harbor that shows where he disembarked, and we couldn’t help but wonder what it was like back then and how he felt. After […]
I can still see her, old and frail, limping up the steep hill with her homemade canes. “What do you have there, Zia (Auntie)?” my Hubby asked, pointing at the mesh bag on her kerchief-covered head. I just gaped, wondering how many nasty things had been on that seldom-washed, filthy headscarf! “Oh rabbit droppings for my […]