Traveling Thoughts

Five years ago today, I was in Cambodia with a group from Methodist Theological School in Ohio . This group spent two weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia for a cross-cultural immersion .  When I start any trip, as a way to reflect daily, I make room in 3 pages these prompts: ·       First Time ·       Person of the Day ·       Kodak Moments This is a practice I started as a teenager thanks to the coaching of a mentor. I have found this way to reflect and remember on trips so meaningful that I encourage others to do some sort of daily reflection practice too. Hence the "Pro Tip" post.  How often do you go on a trip and return home with many stories to share or find yourself unable to fully articulate your experience? This idea is one way to tangibly share your story with others.  Kodak Moments are moments that will continue to stick with you post trip and moments that yo...

This post was originally featured on the Colocate Ministry Consulting blog. When I was in high school and asked what I was planning to do “when I grow up” my response would always be, “I’m going to change the world!” This might seem like a starry eyed, even naïve response to this question, but my confidence was the product of the youth leaders who poured into me starting at age 14. Not only did they encourage me to be an agent of change while still in high school, but they offered the space, resources, and coaching in order to make ideas a reality. This drive to “change the world” came from my very first mission trip when my eyes were open to a loving, liberating Jesus that calls us to be partners of bringing the Kingdom of the God here to earth. My 14-year-old eyes were open to this new idea and way of life because of a 10-year-old girl at the  Tijuana Christian Mission . During that week, I witnessed this young girl care for the younger children at the orphanage – reading ...

I’m soaking wet, standing in the middle of a field in Dayton, Ohio as rain is pouring down…and all I see around me is mud . It is in this moment that it finally hits me…“I’ve made a horrible mistake...” I am many things, but one descriptor phrase is: "I’m a pusher". Read on to learn how I came about this self-realization in ministry and how I found myself standing in a field of mud. Let’s rewind to the Spring of 2007, a man who can only be described as the jolliest person’ besides good ole St. Nick was digging a post hole in order to build a tree house. This isn’t your typical, back yard tree house, this was a tree house built for a community. The man’s name was David Helmers and he was the architect and designed this tree house. David Helmers is working hard digging his hole for this massive 20’ pole that would be one of 8 to hold up the tree house. This tree house is right in the heart of this community known as el dumpe in Tijuana, Mexico – the city dump. So...