We remain in flux. Like more than a few church workers, we’ve been unable to deploy overseas to our intended destinations because of the ravages of Covid. We wait, anxious and hopeful to go but uncertain when that will be or what it will look like. For the last month our hope was perhaps church… Continue reading Which Way Forward?
Category: Change
First Wall
Well, we’ve hit our first wall. After a flurry of excitement and urges to get our visa submitted for possible expedited approval into Taiwan, we received our application packet back from Taiwan’s Los Angeles office basically unopened. A missed voice mail confirmed they were not going to process our visa at this time. We’ll have… Continue reading First Wall
Book Review: Serving Well
Serving Well: Help for the Wannabe, Newbie or Weary Cross-Cultural Christian Worker by Jonathan and Elizabeth Trotter Recommended by a friend who had it recommended to him, this is not my favorite read. The style is not one I’m very fond of, overly friendly and informal with useful tips interspersed with emotional self-disclosures. I think this… Continue reading Book Review: Serving Well
Virtually Settling
As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we remain somewhat in limbo since the sale of our home and the uncertainty of when we will deploy overseas. The usual things that determine where you reside or more technically where you domicile don’t apply to us. We don’t own or rent a home, have utilities in… Continue reading Virtually Settling
New (Temporary) Home
After 1500 miles, several days of travel and a brief ferry ride, we’ve arrived in our new, temporary home of Anderson Island, WA. We unexpectedly found a halfway reasonably priced furnished rental here since summer is over and the crush of tourists has passed. We decided after four months in the summer heat of Phoenix… Continue reading New (Temporary) Home
Almost Done!
Today was very exciting. After an acceleration of our efforts to finalize our initial visa application for Taiwan, we confirmed via a Zoom call with Office of International Mission that we have all the necessary components for the application. Tomorrow, I go to the bank to get cashier’s checks for the application, and then we… Continue reading Almost Done!
Crown of Life ~ Sun City West, AZ
Pastor Phill and I met years ago when he and his wife would worship with our congregation in Santa Barbara while they were on vacation. So when he heard we were taking an overseas Call and would be in the Phoenix area for a while he was the first to reach out and invite me… Continue reading Crown of Life ~ Sun City West, AZ
Where Do You Reside?
We do a good work in distinguishing home from a house/apartment/yurt/whatever. But we all reside somewhere. The question is, how does this work? For most of us the question isn’t very complicated. Wherever we own or rent a place and live there is where we reside. Sometimes that means making a decision between two (or… Continue reading Where Do You Reside?
Done With Doctors!
At least, I think we are! This has been the most intimidating aspect of our preparations for applying for a work visa for Taiwan. Having been out of the traditional doctor/insurance system for more than a few years, it was a bit bewildering to enter into it with somewhat of a vengeance. My work visa… Continue reading Done With Doctors!
Hope & Waiting
Two weeks ago I was blessed to spend an hour on Zoom talking to my boss, the director of the Southeast Asia Region of LCMS Office of International Mission. We touch base every so often during the strangeness that is pre-deployment during Covid. He gave me good news – that our raising of funds is… Continue reading Hope & Waiting
The Nelson Family Indonesia 