Change is very difficult for me.  I take great comfort in the known, in the familiar people, tasks, expectations, and routine.  Anxiety appears when I don’t know what to expect, and I worry over all possible outcomes.  I came across a passage of scripture in Daniel chapter 1 that gave me comfort about trying new [...]

I spend a lot of time in the car, driving around 4 counties to see clients.  It’s nice to have the time alone with my thoughts.  And it’s terrible to be alone with my thoughts.  I find myself worrying over situations, relationships, possibilities, opportunities, etc.  Prior to the Guatemala trip, my brain was full [...]

The last day spent in Guatemala is always wonderful and terrible.  It’s so good to have those last moments with the kids, squeezing every drop of joy and laughter out of the day, but then comes the part at the end when we say good-bye.  Today was no easier than the previous 6 times [...]

Today was a beautiful day with many great moments, from celebrating Estuardo’s 8th birthday with all the babies and toddlers this morning, to celebrating with pizza and cake at Eliza Martinez this afternoon.  It was a series of encounters which left each of us smiling.  Read about the birthday party and pizza party at the [...]

One of my favorite things about returning to these orphanages is found in the moments when we first arrive and recognition dawns on us and on the kids as we make eye contact with familiar faces.  I love that moment when to door opens to the babies home and kids come spilling through the [...]

Under the best of circumstances, I’m not an overly patient person.  I really hate waiting in lines, being trapped by slow moving trains, and meetings that start late.  Throw a little sleep deprivation and anxiety into the mix, and things get ugly.  Uglier.
Today started with an alarm at 3:30am, meeting Nate and Rachael at 4:30am, [...]

Tomorrow is the start of my 7th trip to Guatemala in the past few years, and I’m looking forward to the chance to reconnect with my friends in that beautiful country.  We’ve built community with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Guatemala City, as well deeper relationships with the orphans we visit.  And [...]

Early in this summer, I took a class called “Discover Scuba”.  It was a chance to get in a pool with scuba gear, practice breathing under water, and decide if it was something that would make me freak out and have a panic attack.  I was surprised to find that I didn’t have any anxiety [...]