THE TYRANNY OF SHOULDS

[The audio version of this article is also available. Listen to it on the Pondering Purple podcast by clicking HERE.]   As I’ve spoken with Missionaries’ Kids (MKs) of all ages over the past thirty years, a few commonalities have emerged—traits shared across locations and demographics within the cross-cultural world of missions. One of the […]

SEVEN LESSONS ON LOVING WELL

[The audio version of this article is also available. Listen to it on the Pondering Purple podcast by clicking HERE.]   I marked a huge milestone a few months ago: thirty years in MK ministry. That’s three decades of conferences, articles, keynotes, videos, consultations, retreats and debriefs. It’s aha moments and hard conversations. It’s sleepless […]

REMEMBERING MARILYN SCRIBNER

In memory of Marilyn June Scribner June 9, 1930 – December 24, 2021 I reluctantly headed out to a women’s gathering at Blanchard Alliance Church shortly after I moved back to the States eleven years ago. I’m a introvert, so the thought of stepping into a circle of well-established social connections was daunting. But I […]

LIVING WELL IN A SEASON OF GRIEF

[A previous version of this article focused on the losses and grief Missionaries’ Kids experience. It can be found here. This version explores the same topic from the perspective of a broader population, as life can be brutal and none of us are immune to pain.] This article is not a nine-step plan detailing how […]

MICHÈLE’S OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER

For anyone who might be interested in my broader ministry—beyond the articles I post here—my newsletter is below. Simply click on the black arrow at the top-left of the PDF to enlarge it. To receive my updates via email in the future, simply write to shellphoenix@gmail.com and write “Subscribe to updates” in the subject line. […]

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