On the last day I was in Uganda, I spent some time with several men on death row at the Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Kampala, Uganda. The inmates are referred to as "condemned men". As we went through all the security points and the long walks through various hallways and doors, we finally arrived to … Continue reading Hanging with Condemned Men
Category: Faith Reflections
Focus on the Person
There are many ways to protect the dignity of individuals whose dignity is threatened by life situations. One of the challenges that we face when caring for a neighbor is the challenge to honor and respect him. Sometimes we are so focused on doing a deed or seeing a result that we trample on the … Continue reading Focus on the Person
Driving in Kampala Stirred Up More Than Dust
Has it really been almost two months since I posted last? Sorry about that. It hasn't been for a lack of things to blog about but rather from an abundance of living. November was a blur but a wonderful blur. I spent two weeks in Kenya and Uganda on vacation. I have an amazing amount … Continue reading Driving in Kampala Stirred Up More Than Dust
Elizabeth Olten and Forgiveness
Being home sick today gave me a lot of time to think about what today was going to be like for my youth. I was praying last night and today for you. Praying especially about the ramifications of Elizabeth Olten's murder, for the things that would be said about the accused, for the many rumors … Continue reading Elizabeth Olten and Forgiveness
Giving Jesus a Ride
Last Sunday, I gave Jesus a ride. He was a middle-aged woman with a yellow backpack and a cane walking north on Highway 63. I almost missed him. After finishing the second service at church, I was running late for a meeting in Ashland, a little town 15 minutes away. Speeding up the highway, … Continue reading Giving Jesus a Ride
Kicking off the Comforter
Today began with the funeral of a wonderful young man who had worked at our church as a recreation associate. Craig Hendrickson was a larger-than-life guy who made anyone feel relaxed in his presence. He was fun. He was light-hearted. He was devoted. He was a fighter. He struggled with Hodgkins Lymphoma for several years … Continue reading Kicking off the Comforter
Somebody Ought To Do Something About Him
Meditation by Claudia Mair Burney in the book Justice in the Burbs by Will and Lisa Samson (pp. 80-81) "Jesus lives next door. He's an eight-year-old girl and her three-year-old brother. The Son of Man looks like those starving Ethiopian children. He only gets breakfast and lunch at school, when he makes it. His mama … Continue reading Somebody Ought To Do Something About Him
Healing and Hoping
I'm two days into my annual solitude vacation. For a few years now, my parents give me a week away for my birthday. They know their daughter well. Solitude and meditation are healing for me and after a busy summer of travel, this week was very needed. I've slept in. I've not seen a person … Continue reading Healing and Hoping
Surviving Summer and Other Things
What an amazing summer. I really wish I had blogged more throughout it. I did but not on this blog. If you want to read about the summer, you can read our church's missions blog where I posted while on my travels. It was so awesome. I loved the people I met and the new … Continue reading Surviving Summer and Other Things
Shift
I'm in Chicago for the week attending the Shift conference at Willow Creek Community Church. My first time at Shift and at Willow Creek. I've wanted to visit the campus for quite awhile and I must say it is impressive. It is huge and overwhelming but they have a lot of friendly, helpful volunteers around. … Continue reading Shift
melissahatfield.blog 