Buhfai Tham means a ‘handful of rice’. It’s a ministry started in Mizoram, India one hundred years ago. The ladies, though they have not much more to give, set aside a handful of rice each meal to give to the church as their tithe. The church then sells the rice in order to sustain her ministry. Millions of dollars have been earned and thousands of people have been reached through this sacrificial giving.

I can’t wait until I get to heaven to see this parade of women, who by monetary standards have nothing, come before God. I want to see the rich rewards they’ll have for all eternity.

You are the light of the world. A city on the hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

I collect bruises. Not intentionally, of course, but they seem to especially crop up in the wee hours of the morning while I’m searching for the bathroom. The end of the bed, which I know is four steps in front of me in the light, magically turns into 4 1/2 steps while shrouded in darkness.

Matthew 14:29b-30 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (NIV)

In faith, my husband, Jason, and I walked into the storm.

The year 2005 brought change to our lives. With persistence, God tugged both of our hearts to move to Africa even though that was one place I never desired to go. We took a short-term trip to Kenya and Tanzania to understand how it would be to live and teach in Africa. Although the students were wonderful, the glimpse of what we saw included mob justice, street children and poverty.