"Do not go where the path may lead..."

Even a Luddite can master click bait. But seriously, my application essay for GETI was about sex and poop. Or rather, the stigmatization of these issues. Here it is: What do sex and defecation have in common? They are normal human behaviors, equally necessary for human survival. Each is responsible for transmitting disease in every country around the world. Despite their universal importance and threat to human life, both are often too stigmatized and shameful for frank, honest discussion in the global Church. For millions, this silence means death. I spent over three years living and working with indigenous groups in Panama focused on the HIV/AIDS and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) crises. We built latrines together, repaired water systems, practiced community conflict resolution, and discussed safe sex practices. I saw what it looks like when community-based interventions succeed and I wrestled with the dozens of reasons why they do not. It became clear tha...

Hello! I am reviving my blog as I begin a new adventure. But first, some housekeeping. 1. The Central America Travel log is not lost! Although three months of stories are missing, I have them written down elsewhere. Someday when my academic survival doesn't rely on weekly readings and papers, I will have time to blog for enjoyment again. 2. I also went to Cambodia and Vietnman and didn't blog it. Photos and stories are stored for safekeeping, I promise! 3. If you were an avid blog reader before, you may notice some pages from the site are missing. They reflect a person in transition. A woman who has finished her full-time life in one country and is still working out who she is in another. I took them down to do some hard-core reconstruction work. Ya know, with all my free time. So here we are. On the eve of another adventure. The nervous/excited rush feels both nostalgic and new. Where are we going this time? Why? The answer is Arusha, Tanzania . For the Global Ecum...