Following the Leader: How to Stop Planning Your Own Life
The water was cold. Some of the other details are fading from my mind now, but I remember that. It wasn’t deep—most of the time, it just...
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ruthieburrell
Jun 12, 20154 min read
Single-Minded: A Look at the Lives of Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton
Two women, born in 1820 and 1821 respectively. One known for her nursing work in the Crimean War, the other for hers in the Civil War....
ruthieburrell
Jun 8, 20155 min read
A Mentoring Missionary: Kevin Cacy, Freedom Fire
This is 2 of 4 in a series of posts about Freedom Fire, a ministry to youth and families living in urban contexts. You can read about the...
ruthieburrell
Jun 5, 20152 min read
Summer Reminiscences
Summer is finally here, and with it come so many memories. Riding bikes with my family around the lake at the local park and eating ice...
ruthieburrell
Jun 3, 20154 min read
The Pleasure of God: Bruce McGregor, Freedom Fire
This is 1 of 4 in a series of posts about Freedom Fire, a ministry to youth and families living in urban contexts. A few years ago, Bruce...
ruthieburrell
May 29, 20151 min read
Memorializing the Past
In memory of the many past Memorial days, here’s a glimpse of my thoughts at age sixteen, revealed through a poem I wrote after visiting...
ruthieburrell
May 25, 20153 min read
Drawn Toward Ministry: Edgar Soriano, Mission Adelante
This is 4 of 4 in a series of posts about Mission Adelante, a ministry to the Latino and Bhutanese communities of Kansas City, Kansas....
ruthieburrell
May 22, 20156 min read
Glass Walls
The room was set for tea. Two place settings of white china with pale pink roses waited for the diners, one on each end of the long,...
ruthieburrell
May 18, 20154 min read
Learning English and Meeting Jesus: Yuri Alonso, Mission Adelante
This is 3 of 4 in a series of posts about Mission Adelante, a ministry to the Latino and Bhutanese communities of Kansas City, Kansas....
ruthieburrell
May 15, 20154 min read
When Ministry Wounds You
One year ago, I was getting ready to leave a ministry where I had worked for a year. I was tired, often discouraged, ready to leave, and...
ruthieburrell
May 11, 20154 min read
A Different Normal: Kristen Maxwell, Mission Adelante
This is 2 of 4 in a series of posts about Mission Adelante, a ministry to the Latino and Bhutanese communities of Kansas City, Kansas....
ruthieburrell
May 8, 20154 min read
Celebrating Victory and Hope: The 70th Anniversary of VE Day
Seventy years ago today, VE Day was celebrated in both Britain and the United States, marking the end of World War II in Europe. I could...
ruthieburrell
May 4, 20155 min read
Compassion for the Foreigner: Jarrett Meek, Mission Adelante
This is 1 of 4 in a series of posts about Mission Adelante, a ministry to the Latino and Bhutanese communities of Kansas City, Kansas....
ruthieburrell
May 3, 20154 min read
Simple Acts of Bravery
Deeds of Kindness in Oxford Written January 2011 during a study abroad trip to England Eyes covered in shades of black, Tip tap, tippity...
ruthieburrell
Apr 27, 20154 min read
Unlimited: Julie McLean, Champions Special Ministries
This is post 4 of 4 in a series of posts about the staff members and volunteers of Champions Special Ministries, which “serves persons...
ruthieburrell
Apr 26, 20155 min read
Remembrance
They sat in the same room, but they lived a hundred miles apart. The woman was in her rocking chair, which slowly creaked back and forth....
ruthieburrell
Apr 20, 20154 min read
Called Deeper: Nich Bergstrom, Champions Special Ministries
This is post 3 of 4 in a series of posts about the staff members and volunteers of Champions Special Ministries, which “serves persons...
ruthieburrell
Apr 17, 20153 min read
Paul Revere: A Messenger’s Tale
Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man...
ruthieburrell
Apr 13, 20154 min read
Called to Serve: Caroline Coleman, Champions Special Ministries
This is post 2 of 4 in a series of posts about the staff members and volunteers of Champions Special Ministries, which “serves persons...
ruthieburrell
Apr 10, 20152 min read
Friday Night, Age 5
The couch was an odd color—a plaid-like pattern of burnt orange, dark brown-black, and yellowish puce, a bit like the color I imagine a...
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