A Normal Day
#11 in my series of what a normal day looks like
Homework
A good teacher should never stop learning from her students. Here are some of the commentaries from some missionaries-in-training at the literacy module in Colombia this month. They have challenged me, blessed me, and moved me with their passion. “Without the written word, the Gospel tends to deteriorate…” “It was with the Word of […]
You Give Good Things
Some days my friend Andrea comes late to class. OK, most days. Almost every day. Being on time is not a big deal in this culture and for her it is almost an impossibility. She may be late, but she is conscientious about studying. A few weeks ago she missed the first hour and a […]
A New Teaching
Sitting in literacy class with four or five grandmas is an interesting way to learn about village life. For some reason the hard work that they’ve done with their syllables loosens their tongues, and by the time class is done they are usually extremely chatty. They color in their workbooks and chatter away. It is […]
A Life of Adventure
As C.S. Lewis reminded us, adventures are never fun when you’re having them. And although we would probably all say that we’re hoping for a life of adventure, most days I find myself rooting for something a little more mundane. In the last few weeks I have written literacy materials in my third language, including […]
Letters
A few days ago, I sat down and wrote some letters to my Nahuatl friends in the village. No one on our team has been in touch with them for about six months, and we were thrilled when our coworker told us a missionary pilot was going to take him for a quick visit to […]
A Printed Talisman
In some parts of the world people have the Word of God, but lack one important skill necessary to understanding it: the ability to read. It’s hard for those of us from cultures where reading is a given to imagine this, but it’s true. Imagine all the work it takes to translate the Bible. Think […]