First, just some personal thoughts in a post entitled Hope.

Next, and interesting story about the use of technology in primitive conditions for medical purposes – First World Technology in a Third World Country.

Next, a thought provoking post about faith and choosing to go to the mission field, entitled Logic vs Faith.

Finally, A Hope in Swaziland?  Some of the issues that people face in the country of Swaziland – can we help?

Victoria Falls, Zambia

Let’s pay a visit to the beautiful country of Zambia today!  It’s obvious that we haven’t talked about Zambia nearly enough here, so it’s time to change all that.

First of all, did you know that one of our missionary bloggers in Zambia has released a book?  It’s called Embracing the Baobab.

The author is currently in the USA sharing about the ministry in Zambia.  He has some good thoughts in his post Less than Perfect.

So how does an "independent, liberated, single American woman" adjust to the culture in a country like Zambia?  Here are some thoughts in Where’s the help?.

And now, don’t miss the latest pictures from a nurse in Zambia… entitled May madness!

For example, in this post, What I have been doing, is that water or… ?

Oh, and speaking of strange liquids…

Question: What does it take to become a career missionary?  Answer.

Some thoughts about The Comfort Zone (oh, and if you’re wondering about the accident…).

Every once in a while you need some pictures of Fuzzy Friends.

And since we’re celebrating, why not get to know a part of the country and read a little history?

Finally, check this out.  Coming from Keeping an Eye on Paraguay, this is apparently a traditional bottle dance – and also part of a ministry event (a women’s tea) from 2010…

And very appropriate after my last post, Ode to the Veterans from Under the Marchegian Sun.  But these aren’t blog veterans (many of whom are fairly new missionaries!), but veteran missionaries in Italy.

And now, from Caleb and Linda’s Update Site, and older ministry post Live a Trieste: Nicola Milone.  Caleb and Linda just finished up a visit to the USA according to Heading Home.

Finally, don’t miss the great photos from Henry and Michelle.  This is one of my favourites.

Ships docked at
Ancona, Italy

While you’re reading blogs, you get a lot of glimpses of particular events, days, and topics.  But sometimes it’s nice to get a general overview of what is going on in a certain missionary’s ministry.

And that’s what you can do today – hear a 4 minute 41 second talk by John Chesney, a missionary in Spain.  Get an overview of the country, and some thoughts on ministry and the church right here:  A Glimpse at the Church in Spain

Stop by to encourage some missionaries who are on their way to Spain – and learn more about the country – in the post 1 in 200 vs 1 in 40

To learn more, visit our page all about missionaries in Spain here.

I’ve been looking at some excellent blogs out of Thailand today.  Thailand is a country very popular with our visitors (see a summary of Thailand blogs here), and we also have a lot of bloggers blogging from there.  So here’s the latest from a few of those blogs:

• Bob’s Final Bridge!  An engineer builds something for the Kingdom.
• Power in blood  More about the red protests…
• Yes, We’re Going Back  Answering a surprisingly common question!
• A great retreat!  Just what it sounds like.
• Spiritual Warfare  Unique challenges this time of year…
• Observations on Chiang Mai Coming From Isaan  Sometimes you get a unique perspective from the change of scenery.

Finally, check out this video that The Stark Truth has linked to (it’s graphic – viewer discretion advised).

So, here’s a whole bunch of great posts!  There are stories of real people (ie Raising Witnesses, A Look Into a Thai Person Coming to Christ), general glimpses into missionary life (ie First Quarter Highlights), lots of culture (ie Ordaining a tree, Thai alphabet song), news about the recent upheaval in the country (ie Crisis in Thailand : Update, Prayer for Thailand), and thought-provoking personal glimpses (ie Depression, It’s about time…).

Some incredible posts here, and some interesting pictures and video.  Don’t miss this 2010 tour of Thailand!

• Raising Witnesses
• Crisis in Thailand : Update
• A Look Into a Thai Person Coming to Christ
• Thai alphabet song
• Translating Scripture with Lung Seri
• Ordaining a tree
• First Quarter Highlights
• Soccer Evangelism in Thailand
• Depression
• Litter-picking in a Bangkok slum
• Prayer for Thailand
• It’s about time…

A market in Thailand

First, a couple of posts specifically about the World Cup.  Next, some more general posts.

• World Cup Vibe ========<() !!!!  "I’m not really sure how to begin to describe the feelings from my first ever World Cup experience, it really was a stunning event…"
• Unevangelized "According to OM’s 2010 World Cup Prayer Guide Siya Thandaza, the top unevangelized countries participating in the 2010 World Cup are…"

And now, more from South Africa…

• Culture  "The other day at the mall, I went to draw money from the ATM…"
• Two from one blog:  No Quick Fixes, thoughts on missions and technology, and Dumisani’s Reason for Existence  "My last post referred to the tragedy recently experienced by a local Christian family whose eldest son committed suicide. Well, one day last week…"
• Mama Marie says that she is now a rugby fan…  "So Mom has decided she is a rugby fan. I think that’s rad, because rugby is awesome. It was so much fun! Trent took us and his mom and dad…"
• Contrasts  "On Saturday afternoon after Alan returned from a morning meeting, I ‘ran away from home’ for a while. I found a store that had moved, drove in a…"
• plot 45  "Last week a received a random phone call from Sello Modiba, a member of the Stoffel Park Council. “Can we meet tomorrow?” I agreed even though…"
• African Culture Shock (not really)  "So, yesterday Given and I were ministering to a woman who lost her husband. During our visit…"
• Mandela House & Hector Peterson Museum  "In early January Rachel, Amber, & I went and visited the Mandela House and Hector Peterson Museum in Orlando West, Soweto. We had a fun day and learned some interesting stuff…"
• Behind Bars  "This blog is for a friend who wanted to know what it is really like living in one of the highest crime capitals in the World. Well, here goes…"
• Ngikhuluma isiZulu  "I speak Zulu. One of my passions is to speak to people in their heart language…"

• Mpe jina – Wow, that’s just cool.
• hospitality and rest: answers to a missionary predicament – how do you find rest in another culture?  Here’s one family’s answer.
• Illuminate – just a picture and a caption.  Love it.
• Fishbowl – an outing and reflection as a family ends its time in Tanzania.  Pictures here.
• May – what he’s up to now that he’s back.  In pictures.

• Answers to Prayer – ah, the little and big challenges in the lives of missionaries!
• I’m a Little Sheep – sometimes this translates well, sometimes not so well…
• In the world, but not of the world! – the challenges of medical missions.
• I Pray – ah yes, but how do you keep track of all those people you want to pray for? (from someone preparing to go to Ukraine)
• March 2010 – another summary of ministry.
• Found Him! – one of the people God is using in Ukraine!
• Just a couple of pictures of Kyiv – the traffic and a quieter shot.
• So what constitutes A nearly perfect Friday for a missionary?

Kyiv, Ukraine