Good After Beirut Blast? By Kathie Lichtenwalter I barely noticed the first thud and shudder. We’d had breezes all afternoon that rattled our front door. But the second, unfamiliar thud-shudder was unmistakable. In a politically fragile world, I know the possibilities well: Fireworks? A machine-gun? A car bomb? A fighter jet flying over? While nothing … Continue reading –>
My Mother’s Heritage By Park Yeon-sook My mother turned to me as she was dying from gallbladder cancer. “You must go to church,” she said. Mother had taken me to church every Sabbath since I was a young girl, but I had stopped attending as I got busy with my shop in Hanam, a suburb … Continue reading –>
I Met Jesus at the Shop By Hong Soon-mi It didn’t seem that life could get much worse. My husband was stricken with bone-marrow cancer. Then his parents died. I had to pay for my mother-in-law’s funeral on my own and then take on responsibility for my family’s livelihood. Sometimes I didn’t even have 1000 … Continue reading –>
Tough First Day of School By Andrew McChesney The first day of school was hard for Niang Muang. Really, really hard. The 9-year-old girl had arrived in the United States only a month earlier from Myanmar. Her parents were refugees. She didn’t know English, and she didn’t have any friends. “Hello, what’s your name?” a … Continue reading –>
No More Resentment By Terri Saelee Imagine being 7 years old and fleeing for your life in a jungle. This was Jimmy Shwe’s life in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar. Young Jimmy developed a deep resentment toward the authorities because of his experiences. At one point, lost in the jungle, he thought he would … Continue reading –>
Stepping Out in Faith By Terri Saelee Someone told Father about Jesus in Iraq. Father fell in love with Jesus and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Mother, however, decided to remain with her traditional religion. After some time, life became difficult for the family in Iraq. Father, fearing for the safety of Mother and their … Continue reading –>
Angel at the Gas Station By Terri Saelee Lamphai Sihavong stared in bewilderment at the confusing maze of highways around and above her in the U.S. city of Chicago. She had no idea how to find her husband. She looked at the four children seated in the car and wondered what to do next. The … Continue reading –>
Power of a Smile By Dale Wolcott The Chinle Seventh-day Adventist Church isn’t exactly located in the best neighborhood on the Navajo Reservation in the U.S. state of Arizona. As the pastor, I live in a trailer beside the church building. Several well-respected neighbors, including a Navajo Nation police officer, live in nearby trailers. But … Continue reading –>
Better Than Toys By Andrew McChesney Several friends gathered around Mariah at school on Monday. “What are you doing after school?” one asked. “Can we come over to your house to play?” said another. Mariah shook her head. “I have so much to do today,” she said Nine-year-old Mariah was a busy girl in Pond … Continue reading –>
Praying Without Ceasing By Andrew McChesney Ning Cing’s two daughters wanted to go to a Seventh-day Adventist school when they arrived in the United States as refugees from Myanmar. Eight-year-old Lun made it a matter of prayer during morning and evening family worship. “Please, God, help us,” she prayed. “We want to go to an … Continue reading –>
