“Don’t crack your head.” “Put it in the parking lot.”
These phrases, which I picked up during my November trip to Kenya, have become part of my lexicon. “Don’t crack your head”….means, “Don’t get stressed out about it”. I discovered this after Caren, one of the palliative care nurses, announced to our class that she was passing out pretests and panic ensued. “Don’t crack your […]
A Deluge of mercy
When the rains fall in western Kenya, it’s often as if the heavens suddenly burst open and dump an ocean of water–all at once. I remember my first experience with Kenyan rains in 2006. I had come to Kenya from Khartoum, Sudan, where the heat was unrelenting–nighttime temperature in Khartoum might “cool down” to 110 […]
Sitting Vigil
Some dates are embedded in our memory, sharp and crisp, while others catch us unawares. This morning, the signs were there ~ an uneasy night’s sleep, the daffodils with their sunny faces catching the early February sun, my morning devotions with the reminder that today is the death date of Martin Luther, who died in […]
Welcome Home
A few days ago, I visited a family who recently welcomed their third child into the world. This family had sat vigil for several days waiting for baby Ryan to be born. Their time of waiting ended in great rejoicing. And as I cradled this newborn in my arms, I could feel my harried-ness of […]
Good Friday is Good
Jesus, His mother, Mary and Disciple, John The sun has hidden her face today. Metal gray clouds mute the sky with a dreariness that seems appropriate for this Friday the Church calls Good. This is the day we contemplate the suffering and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The day when time stood still, and […]
Get ready for take off!
Essential Supplies for Kenya In just shy of a week, Dennis and I are boarding an early morning flight to LAX, then to Paris, and on to Nairobi. Even though I’ve traveled to Kenya over a dozen times, These trips still take lots of planning and preparation. I stay organized by making lists. Yellow and […]
Mercy comes from a compassionate heart.
Mercy comes from a compassionate heart. Henri Nouwen Three years ago, on August 3, my mama’s compassionate heart stopped beating. And still, it is impossible for the world to contain the mercy she embodied and dispensed. If she were alive, she would scoff at this. She’d see it as an undeserved compliment, and shake her […]
Mornings and Evenings
This time of year in Northern California, the sun comes up early and graces us with light till late evening. Today, as I headed out for an early morning walk, the sun had long risen, its soft rays peeking through the myriad leaves of trees–who knew green had so many variations?! My day was just […]
Red Dirt Roads and New Faces
Along the red dirt roads of rural western Kenya, the foliage is so thick in places that car windows need to be shut tight to protect occupants from scratches by thorns and branches that slip through even the slimmest of cracks. These roads wind endlessly, deceiving me into thinking, “I’m in the middle of nowhere”. […]
A Path Called Mercy
The hills near Kisii in southwestern Kenya are painted a rich green color. Tea thrives here, plantations clinging to steep slopes. In 2012, I visited Kisii accompanied by Kenyan Deaconesses Evelyn and Elizabeth. We climbed on skinny red dirt trails through these verdant hills with breathtaking views. We were on our way to visit Richard* […]