In Memoriam: Robert James Edmonston
Our dear friend and missionary, Robert James “Mr. Ed” Edmonston, went on to Eternal Life on September 19, 2016. Ed lived a full and diverse life. Born on November 26, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, he graduated from high school at Mt. Berry Schools in Rome, GA in 1958. He served in the United States Army as a supply engineer in…
When God Calls
Sometimes God calls us to do quite simple things – like “Go and pray for a friend” or “Help your sister change her flat tire.” These things can be quite ordinary, but nonetheless they eventually reveal to us more and more, in some capacity, who the person of Christ is. Our lives so far as a family have been filled with these…
I Lift My Eyes Up Unto the Mountains
The roosters had just begun their Monday morning crowing when it was time to get up and prepare for the day. Our family awoke, quickly preparing a small snack breakfast before Fr. Leo, Sr. Marie Eugenia, and a religion teacher named Garvin came to the house to pick us up on our missionary adventure to the mountain communities above our…
DOCAT: What I’m doing NOW
After reading the DOCAT, a newly published adaptation of the social doctrine of the Church, one quote stood out to me as a summation of my missionary life and a summation of how my life reflects the ideals talked about in this book: “’God’s love never ends.’ (1 Cor 13:8). He goes after us, looks for us in our caves and hiding places,…
The Tale of the Free Wedding Dress
Full disclosure: This is NOT the wedding dress or the bride the story is about, but I’m not allowed to post pictures of her until the actual wedding. Fair enough. “Let’s go wedding dress shopping!” A normal statement for a maid of honour to make to a bride-to-be. But this wasn’t a normal situation. Kristi* and Annie* were Americans, working…
Love What Matters
I recently started seeing a lot of posts from the Love What Matters movement on my Facebook feed. It’s touching.. stories, photos, and videos that highlight what’s really important in life, especially when there are so many negative things in the news and in our own lives that try to steal our focus and our joy.
Jesus, I Trust in You: Part 2
Over the mountains and through the jungle…Grandma’s house is on its way to being finished! (Read Part 1 of this story here.) Together, you all have donated over $800 towards giving Ludi and Lope a home where they can be safe and comfortable in their elderly years. That kind of generosity goes a long way here in the Philippines!
A Day in the Life: The Herrmann Family
Today was a beautiful day of being a missionary here in Malabalay, Philippines. We started the morning making 2 cups of “hand-brewed” coffee and oatmeal for the family. Up until recently we had 1 pot and 1 pan. Recently we were given a second pot! We feel a bit spoiled, but it sure is nice to be able to make…
Jesus, I Trust in You!
Ludi Opena is 87 years old. Her husband Lope is 85. We began visiting them every week three years ago. We bring them rice, vegetables, fruit, and their blood pressure medication and we pray with them and enjoy each other’s company. Ludi talks our ears off and cuddles the baby and sings songs to the kids and talks to them…
Jericho March 2016: Life is Beautiful
A couple of years ago we caught the notion that praying, singing, and walking in circles around a village could make walls of sin and oppression come crashing down. That a miracle from the Old Testament could happen in modern-day Isla Bonita; that prayer and faith could free men and their families from the evils of alcohol addiction. (Read about…
Raising Your Children “Wrong” So That They Turn Out Right: A Missionary Perspective
By Sarah Granger I cried folding clothes last week. Not because it is one of my least favorite chores (though it is!), but because I was folding my daughter Alyse’s uniform shirts, and thinking that I won’t be doing that much longer. Alyse is graduating from High School tonight. She’s going off to study Philosophy and Literature at a…
