Maggie's March Blog

I was reminded this afternoon of wondrous African memories: lizards falling from roof beams, down my shirt and trapped in my bra - a respectable reason to give up wearing one; a green Mamba jumping from a basket into my hair before slithering down my arm. Slipping in muddy red clay after a thunderstorm. Lying in bed debating whether the drip from the ceiling was a rain drop or lizard  pee. Monkeys everywhere, Lieutenant Dan moments of screaming at God over the harshness of life and earning my

There hasn’t been much time for ‘Porch Ponderings’ – it’s been wildly busy with one large team after another – staff and students have worked for weeks without days off; up at 4 AM to bake bread and muffins and falling into bed around 11PM after full days of cooking and cleaning. These are the months we give the students a taste of what working in the hospitality business is like year-round. These are days of the great exams; faced with multiple groups, followed by a group of 38 on retreat for

CHANGE. – It’s a word I fear. It’s a word I yearn for. I am learning much about resting in the mystery of God. I am learning about my need for self-care, compassion as well as unconditional acceptance of myself and others. I am learning about saying “Yes to life from the belly of sorrow”. At this season of my life I stand at a ‘Threshold’. Thresholds require a ‘crossing over’ into the unknown; demanding vulnerability, surrender and an ‘opening to receive new life’. As I live a mindful and

Living in the remote bush of Africa without daily news, radio, internet has made me an observer of world affairs. The lack of current news creates detachment from world events and keeps me focused on my community. When people come to the ranch, I see the polarization of politics through our visitors’ eyes and emotions. It will be interesting to see how history writes itself of our current times. As a student of history with many historical events playing out in my own life, I keep learning to

​Dear friends, I am being bold in this blog asking if you would consider supporting one of next year’s students or contributing to AHI’s general fund.  Financially, this has been a difficult year.  We have been blessed over the last few years to not have to raise our sponsorship costs.  We have lost the support of several large foundation supporters recently that covered the costs of our after school work program, internships, and staff wages during the erratic economy. We would still like our

My sending church, Eastside Foursquare Church in Bothell, WA is going through a transition. Change is painful and confusing. This is what I shared last Sunday. Many wanted copy of my notes – I think it may be a good word for all of us. I hope it speaks to your heart and gives you strength and courage to step out and do that One Small Thing God is calling you to do. DJ – I want to thank you for your years of service at Eastside. I want to thank you for modelling how to listen to God and then how

2016 July Blog There are times in our lives when we travel a deep anguish. Times when the mystery of God overwhelms and our only hope is in crying out to God and friends. In God’s grace I find comfort in Psalms 88 – words that describe a season when the journey grows dark. I find hope in crying out; learning like Jacob that God was here all the time. And I understand now how Jacob must have come to treasure the limp, the wound, he grew old with after wrestling with God. I wish I was a more

We are a world at war. That truth was brought very close to ‘home’ recently. Last month, 3 pastors were killed in a car accident outside of Kampala. 2 of the pastors were from Washington working with WOMF. The brakes on their car were working...then they weren’t. The movie War Room has come to Uganda. I cringe when new Christian movies come out. I want their impact to be profound. My expectations and disappointment are too much. Especially movies about spiritual warfare. I been told the enemy

2016 blog March If all of our graduates only become employed, AHI has failed. I want, I dream, I insist that our students have more than a job. Jesus offers us a full and abundant life – a life that will be more than we can imagine – a life of spacious, care-free freedom that blesses others. Few of us live that. I don’t. I have been accused of using my blog as an extension of my ‘therapy’; too long and too personal. It’s true. Everything about moving to Africa, creating AHI, the motivation and