Becoming aware of your own triggers and caring for your well-being to minimize re-traumatization is both an inner and outer practice. Here are some approaches: Self-Awareness of Triggers Notice body cues. Triggers often show up in your body before your mind catches them—tightness in the chest, racing heart, shallow breathing, or sudden fatigue. Paying attention…

When Tragedy Strikes: Holding Faith and Each Other This week, heartbreaking news emerged from Kerr County, Texas, where a sudden flash flood along the Guadalupe River swept away a group of young children and their counselors camping along its shores. Others across the region also lost their lives as floodwaters surged without warning. Homes were…

I spent this weekend working in my daughter’s plot in the neighborhood community garden. Not only did I give my body a workout, I gave my emotional spirit a kick in the butt! After the third day of digging, raking, pulling weeds, planting, watering, and saving a frog, we sat in the sun and admired…

A friend of mine recently told me about his struggles trying to communicate with his younger brother. He didn’t know what to do next. He said it felt like trying to reach someone who was always just out of touch. His brother’s silence was like a wall, and he couldn't find a way over it.…

Day One: I have never felt God’s presence anywhere as much as I felt it at the safe house in Svay Pak. We sat on the edge of a small stage – a team from America, waiting for the kids to arrive. We will feed them, play games with them, and, most importantly, we’ll pour…

“Do you believe in fairies? If you believe,” he shouted to them, “clap your hands; don’t let Tink die!” I clap my hands as hard as I can, holding them close to the TV screen, hoping that she can hear. I give my sister a sideways glance. Yes! She believes! I clap even harder. We…

I absolutely love discovering paths built by others long ago. It's thrilling to imagine the hands that crafted them, the hearts that beat with purpose. Who were these trailblazers? What drove them forward? How many souls united to carve out this journey? And most importantly, where does this path lead?  Recently, I embarked on my…

When was the last time you thanked God for your freedom? For thousands of children in Cambodia, it is their prayer; and for a few, they give thanks. I thank God for Agape International Missions and for the SWAT team that works so hard to answer their prayers. I lift up in prayer all the…

Last year, I joined a mission team that went to Cambodia to work with children who had been rescued from sex trafficking or were at risk children. We learned that this work took time. That everything moves at a slower pace there - even saving children. We soon learned that our lofty goals must be…

We knew we would be blessed by them. That's what everyone told us when we departed 14 days ago. The big question was, how would we be a blessing to them? How could a team of 11 Americans bless 150 children in Cambodia in such a short amount of time. What could we possibly offer…

I spent last evening and this morning cutting out fifty paper angels. This is in preparation for the mission trip to Cambodia coming very soon. We just learned that we would have at least fifty more children than we anticipated, so a total of 250 paper angels. And this is just one craft of at…

I am preparing to leave on a trip to Cambodia in November. Our team of 13 people will work with Agape International in their fight against sex trafficking of children. In preparation for this trip, we have been studying what it means to be ministering cross culturally. In doing so, it has been important…