Posts by writingjoy

Their obvious otherness intimidated me. What must they think of my exposed hair, my short skirt over leggings, and my bright colors? Were they judging me? Maybe they were afraid I was judging them. Maybe they just didn’t know what to make of our fair skin. Maybe they were just curious, as we piled out…

Driving in Sri Lanka is nothing like driving in the States. They drive on the left side of the road and pass on the right, like the British. They are fond of traffic circles with no directional signs. Most rural Sri Lankan roads are one lane wide for two-way travel, and most aren’t paved. It’s…

He can’t see the forest for the trees. Step back and look at the big picture. What’s under the surface? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t take that at face value. These are just a few of the more popular ways to state that losing perspective is not healthy. But it’s hard work…

I met Mala, Woman of Valor, in her small palm-branch-thatched home in a rural village in Sri Lanka. As we sat in the plastic chairs stamped with flowers in the front room of her two-room house, she stood in the elbow between a handmade standing table and the woven palm branch wall of her home.…

(Looking for Life: Unmasked? Gen of Turquoise Gates is hosting the link-up today. Share your post over here!) I’ve been listening to U2 in the van as we bounce down dusty roads in rural Sri Lanka. It just fits for the kinds of things we’re doing here. I met the two boys we sponsor today.…

Where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die. ~U2 One of the reactions I’ve heard about my trip to Sri Lanka and about supporting World Vision is that we [Americans] should help our own people first. I don’t know if that same sentiment turns up in other first world counries…