• Taking the Long View

    Taking the Long View

    If I had first moved to China in the digital age, the face smack emoji would have punctuated many of my communications with people back home as I experienced a culture quite different from my… Read more

  • A Gaggle of Gigglers

    A Gaggle of Gigglers

    The other day on my way to work, I passed a group of my elderly neighbors coming back from the morning market. They were so busy giggling that they didn’t notice me. With a big… Read more

  • Confusion, Hypocrisy, Hope

    Confusion, Hypocrisy, Hope

    Over many years in China, helping people parse out what it means to be an American Christian has been challenging. Early in my time here, people assumed that all Americans were Christians. Since their contact… Read more

  • The Joy of Fitting In

    The Joy of Fitting In

    (A note about terminology: In China, people from other countries are referred to as “外国人,” “foreigners.” In English, people like me are comfortable calling ourselves “foreigners.” However, I would never use the English term to… Read more

  • Comrades on the Journey of Life

    Comrades on the Journey of Life

    When her children were still young, my friend and I took them to the zoo. The monkeys made the biggest impression. On all of us. In fact, their antics attracted quite a crowd, so big… Read more

  • Springboard to Eternity

    Springboard to Eternity

    Obstacles on our journey are often viewed negatively as signposts warning us away from a particular path or barriers placed by the enemy to hinder progress. Obstacles do get in the way, of course. But… Read more