Holding Grief, Holding Hope

The last weeks have been sad ones for me. I haven’t been able to talk publicly on why until now. MCC is, like the rest of the world, weathering the economic impact of COVID-19. This has forced MCC to make significant program changes. It’s important to note that MCC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this…

COVID-19: For such a time as this

What a whirlwind the last weeks have been. It feels like the world has been suddenly and fundamentally changed. The disruptions. The cancelled plans. The disappointments. The uncertain future. The distanced relationships. The livelihoods interrupted. The fear of disease. The fear of death. We don’t know what the world will look like after this. Indeed,…

Why Mennonite Central Committee?

To me, Mennonite Central Committee is more than an institution. It’s more than a collection of people. It’s more than relationships. It’s more than history. It’s more than methodology. I think of MCC as part of a movement. A movement that’s far greater than but well exemplified by MCC. At the heart of this movement…

First Monday Devotion

Crystal led team devotion this morning for MCC Cambodia. She had us build a house with Duplos without using our thumbs. Then, halfway through, she let us start using our thumbs but told us we couldn’t bend our elbows! Crystal asked us if it was harder to complete a task without using a part of…

Saltiness

Last week we had a meditative devotion on Matthew 5:13-16. Throughout the service the verse on “the salt of the earth” was read several times and we were asked us to reflect on “saltiness.” You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make…

Book Review: Don’t Follow Your Heart

I was searching for information on the hymn I Bind My Heart when a blog post entitled Bind My Wandering Heart to Thee by Jon Bloom came up. The article was a compelling read so I decided to pick up Jon’s most interesting sounding book – Don’t Follow Your Heart: God’s Ways Are Not Your Ways….

Journey to Cambodia

As a child of missionaries, I always assumed that when I grew up I would move back to the developing world.  But college, marriage, grad school, children and family needs kept appearing as the next step for life. When I became pregnant while working full time and going to grad school full time, I put…

Calling in Scripture and Song

I love when the Bible includes “human” moments. Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and Mary each respond to God’s calling in ways we can relate to and learn from. I think these examples teach us about ourselves and about God. Facing the Burning Bush, after “the place where you stand is holy ground” and “I am the…