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Crossing Cultures Devotional Memoir

Makeshift altar

Our firstborn was 14 weeks old when we moved overseas. En route to Pakistan. 

The week before we left America, I held her close and wept. Quietly. With the door shut. In the bedroom at my in-laws’ home.

I asked the Lord, “What are we doing to our little girl?” 

The weight of leaving what we knew and going to the unknown hit me hard that day as I rocked Becca in my arms. 

But we finished packing our trunks and suitcases. Then boarded the Thai Airways flight across the ocean.

On our way. 1992.
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Crossing Cultures Making Disciples Memoir

Be alert and pray

“Momma. Momma.” I woke from a deep sleep. In the middle of the night. 

Jenna, 6 or 7 years old at the time, was standing next to the bed. Pressing my arm. 

Yes?

“I heard a voice. Like this…” her voice changed from sweet innocence to a guttural growl. “‘Jenna, I’m going to get you.’ And there were two red eyes. And he laughed like this…” It was an evil laugh. 

I sat up straight in bed. On high alert. Heart pounding. Wide awake.

Jenna on the right, with friends in kindergarten.
Categories
Crossing Cultures Making Disciples Memoir

Wounded

Inside the cover of a 1995 journal, I find these words: In case of evacuation

And underneath, a simple list. What I hoped to take. 

Bible. Journals. Baby books. Two baby quilts Mom embroidered. Photos. Recipe book.

photograph by Ramiro Martinez on Unsplash