This is my Wartburg Lenten devotion from today; Judas is plays a pretty significant role in my Lenten reflections, especially during Holy Week, and so I wanted to share this devotion here, too. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests…… Continue reading If there is no hope for Judas…
Category: Life and Living
Zero at the Bone
I read this book after reading an article about it in The New Yorker. Wiman is a poet, and is fighting a rare form of cancer. He is still alive beyond when the doctors all said he should be dead. In this book, he offers poems, personal reflections, quotes and other short meditations that combine…… Continue reading Zero at the Bone
Learning from The Race Card Project
I want to share a bit about a book I just finished: Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity, by Michele Norris, the creator of The Race Card Project. I first read about this book in The New York Times, and as soon as I read the story, I knew I…… Continue reading Learning from The Race Card Project
What did you think about “Barbie”?
Did you see the movie “Barbie”? I finally got around to watching it on our flight to Tanzania—I think we all did!—and I’m glad I saw it; it is definitely thought-provoking, and it is also quite entertaining. I read a review of it in The New Yorker when it first came out, and I agree…… Continue reading What did you think about “Barbie”?
Our Last Day in Tanzania
Meeting with our Tanzanian Wartburg alums We are sitting at the airport in Arusha, waiting for our flight to Amsterdam—both looking forward to being home and sad about saying goodbye. It has been an amazing trip and we are still processing all we learned and all the ways we have been changed. Beth’s final question…… Continue reading Our Last Day in Tanzania
Building Relationships over Time
Our group with Bethany & Steve Friberg This morning, we went out to the Ketumbeini Medical Clinic that is owned by the ELCT, and is run by missionary Steve Friberg. He has been here doing this work for over 20 years, and it was very interesting to hear about the changes he has seen in…… Continue reading Building Relationships over Time
Hopes & Challenges
Ketumbeini After a long drive yesterday afternoon, we made it to Ketumbeini. No one minded the time in the land cruiser because of the beautiful scenery—including ostrich, giraffes, dik dik, and gazelle. Our guest house is very nice: the food is good, the chai is wonderful, and the showers have (mostly) hot water. What more…… Continue reading Hopes & Challenges
The Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School
At the entrance to the school Today we spent the day at the Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School (MGLSS) and it was an absolutely amazing experience to hear the story of the school, the story of the graduates, and to meet some of the girls. This is where Beth first taught 25 years ago, and…… Continue reading The Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School
You’re Not the Subject of the Verb
We interrupt our usual Tanzanian programming for a brief theological reflection. Turn the verbs. It’s Lutheran historian Tim Wingert‘s phrase, something I read in one of his books a long time ago, and I’ve never forgotten it. I love it, because it points so clearly and concisely to how we as Lutherans distinguish between law…… Continue reading You’re Not the Subject of the Verb
Worship & the Monduli Market
Inside Monduli Lutheran Church We had another great day today! We started our day with a worship at 8:30. There was lots of singing beforehand, as people drifted in, and the service lasted a little over 2 1/2 hours. But I can honestly say that it went by very quickly. Everyone wears their Sunday best…… Continue reading Worship & the Monduli Market
Happy Lutheran 