Miracles and Blessings
It was a miracle. Danny had always been a challenge. We understood. He endured years of abandonment, neglect, and abuse before he came to...
Susan Brown
- Dec 9, 2020
- 6 min
He is Our Strength, Our Song
The pickup rounded the corner onto our property – and what I saw in the back almost made me cry with joy.
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Susan Brown
- Nov 13, 2020
- 6 min
A Taste of Paradise
A guttural, outraged growl suddenly shattered the peace of the seaside. The lighter feminine voices screamed and the little ones...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 13, 2020
- 4 min
New House, New Opportunities
Home at last! We are finally moved in and mostly settled in our new building. What a joy it is to have all the kids and activities close...
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Susan Brown
- Sep 10, 2020
- 4 min
Working and Waiting
Home dedication ceremony. I slung the heavy, wet blanket over the clothesline and stretched my aching arms. This was load number 12 of...
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Susan Brown
- Jul 22, 2020
- 7 min
Back to Work with Joyful Hearts
The blinding rain fell in heavy sheets of water. It's like standing beneath a waterfall, I thought as I slogged through the mud to the...
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Susan Brown
- Jun 13, 2020
- 5 min
Heading Back to Normal
“Can I have this, Grandma?” one of the kids asked, holding up a pair of snazzy sunglasses. “Sure,” I replied cheerfully. “But you will...
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Susan Brown
- Apr 18, 2020
- 6 min
Grace in Troublesome Times
“The spider I saw in the kitchen was as big as the palm of my hand!” I exclaimed. Molly wasn’t impressed. “Lahu people like to eat them,”...
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Susan Brown
- Mar 23, 2020
- 6 min
Reaching Out from Home
The smoke hangs in the air like a heavy fog, hiding the sun and making it difficult to breathe. The slash and burn agriculture at this...
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Susan Brown
- Mar 13, 2020
- 5 min
Progress and Updates
I carefully stepped around the pungent piles of pig manure. Next time we come, I vowed silently, I will bring a shovel and at least clear...
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Susan Brown
- Feb 26, 2020
- 6 min
Let the Little Children Come Unto Me
They swarmed in, clutching their coloring contest pages and grinning in anticipation. It was English Camp day, and we had more than 100...
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Susan Brown
- Feb 5, 2020
- 5 min
Life -- Full and Overflowing!
Faster than a speeding bullet. No, not Superman, but our lives. Some seasons of life are waiting seasons. Even here in Thailand, we...
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Susan Brown
- Jan 11, 2020
- 5 min
New Year -- New Blessings
“HOW many people are coming?” I asked in disbelief. “They said 100,” Nora answered. We had heard that some people from a nearby village...
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Susan Brown
- Dec 8, 2019
- 6 min
News and Updates
“Grandma, I’m sorry for yesterday,” she said. Her eyes were soft and a little abashed and her tentative smile was sweet. Best of all, she...
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Susan Brown
- Jul 25, 2019
- 4 min
Full House – Full Hearts
I looked with surprise and some dismay at the bright pink tent. It was a very nice tent, but its location was troublesome. “Um. We...
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Susan Brown
- Jun 8, 2019
- 7 min
Trials and Blessings
I was going to fall. The tires skidded in the soft dirt on the shoulder and slid sideways. Desperately I tried to regain control of my...
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Susan Brown
- May 18, 2019
- 3 min
Answers to Prayer!
More updates are coming soon, but I wanted to make sure everyone knows about our big news. Here is Paul’s latest newsletter in case you...
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Susan Brown
- Apr 25, 2019
- 4 min
Taking a Deep Breath — Ready to Plunge In
“Why did they think this was a good idea?” I muttered. I stopped to catch my breath and looked with dismay at the steep path still...
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Susan Brown
- Apr 13, 2019
- 5 min
Moving On and Moving In
Sweat dripped into my eyes as I bent down to open yet another box. I sighed. Why was this move more difficult than the others, I...
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Susan Brown
- Mar 16, 2019
- 5 min
Celebrating Success!
We sat in eager anticipation, not really minding the discomfort, because it was a big day. Graduation day. Each of the graduations are a...
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Susan Brown
- Feb 25, 2019
- 5 min
Updates and Moving Dates
Some days make all the trials fade to nothing. Some days are worth it all. Like Sundays when we have baptism. We had that joy recently....
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Susan Brown
- Feb 6, 2019
- 4 min
Gearing Up for Challenges Ahead
I shoved the last book into the bookcase with a sigh of satisfaction. Empty boxes and packing paper still littered the tiny living room,...
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Susan Brown
- Dec 27, 2018
- 5 min
Friends from Near and Far Away
The boy’s brown eyes lit up and a smile broke across his grubby face. The stuffed toys we brought were unceremoniously A ladies’ group...
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Susan Brown
- Dec 7, 2018
- 4 min
Glad Answers and Sad Goodbyes
I plopped down on the chair and looked at the clock. Only 7:30 in the evening. I sighed. I’m not quite old enough to go to bed at...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 29, 2018
- 4 min
Surprises at Canaan
The truck shuddered and slipped sideways on the slick clay. With a bang it slammed into the side of the mountain. We all gasped and clung...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 14, 2018
- 3 min
First Thanksgiving of the Year
Running sores dotted the baby’s legs and he looked lethargic and ill. That’s not what concerned the mom, though. Moses translated, “He...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 11, 2018
- 3 min
Blessings Behind Us and Ahead
I grabbed my stomach and groaned. “I have diarrhea and vomiting,” I bellowed. “I have diarrhea and vomiting,” the crowd of men shouted...
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Susan Brown
- Sep 4, 2018
- 3 min
Dangerous Escapades, Discomforts, and Blessings
“Paul, please don’t do it,” I begged. “There’s no other way,” he insisted as he put the shaky ladder on top of the patio table. “Let...
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Susan Brown
- Aug 29, 2018
- 5 min
Son Number Eight?
I slid into the car and took a deep breath. I had a complicated message to give in Thai to the Grab driver. Grab took over from Uber here...
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Susan Brown
- Aug 20, 2018
- 3 min
Never Lukewarm
We clutched our thin raincoats around us and shivered in the cold wind. The kids had an unexpected day off so we had traveled to Doi...
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Susan Brown
- Jul 25, 2018
- 2 min
A Place of Our Own
“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call...
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Susan Brown
- Jul 8, 2018
- 3 min
Birthday Season
I pawed through the drawer with desperate haste. Where did I put the candles? I had a one-shaped candle and a four-shaped one put back in...
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Susan Brown
- Jun 3, 2018
- 3 min
Daily Challenges and Blessings
The dragonfly-sized bug fluttered near the desk lamp, it’s stiff wings rustling as it buzzed near the light. With lightening-quick hands,...
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Susan Brown
- May 23, 2018
- 3 min
Enjoying God’s Faithfulness
On second thought, she pulled it back and looked at it doubtfully. Then she smiled, pulled off the doll’s head and handed me the...
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Susan Brown
- May 14, 2018
- 3 min
Back from the Twilight Zone
They call it the Twilight Zone — or at least, I call it that. The place where you feel suspended between cultures and time zones. Neither...
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Susan Brown
- Apr 11, 2018
- 4 min
Saying Goodbye — and Waiting for the Glad “Hello”
The icy wind whipped the tent surrounding the open grave into billows and slapped the mourners standing nearby with aching chills to...
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Susan Brown
- Mar 21, 2018
- 3 min
Teaching, Training, and Travels
Late! I stumbled out of bed and began throwing on my clothes. The rice won’t be done in time, I thought frantically. They won’t eat...
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Susan Brown
- Jan 24, 2018
- 3 min
Mountain Travels and Serving
“Tomorrow where you go?” Danny asked. “Say it correctly, please,” I answered. He paused, his thick black eyebrows drawn together in...
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Susan Brown
- Dec 27, 2017
- 2 min
Giving Thanks
I awkwardly folded my legs under me on the bamboo floor. Definitely should have picked a fuller skirt to wear today. It was December 25,...
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Susan Brown
- Dec 18, 2017
- 4 min
Weeping May Endure for a Night….But Joy Cometh in the Morning
The tears pressed against my eyeballs. I fought them, but they won, as usual. They overflowed and slid down my cheeks. These were just...
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Susan Brown
- Dec 11, 2017
- 4 min
Busy Days and Answered Prayers
“It is illegal. It will have to be destroyed.” I gulped and looked at the expensive – and borrowed – suitcase full of dental equipment....
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Susan Brown
- Nov 9, 2017
- 3 min
Arrivals, Ceremonies, and Blessings
“Watch,” Paul replied. He took three of the fried bamboo worms out of the bowl on the table and tossed them in his mouth. She looked a...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 27, 2017
- 10 min
Thanksgivings and Thankful Hearts
I swallowed hard, trying not to cry. The rain beat on the roof of the partially enclosed pavilion and shrouded the bridge over the...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 18, 2017
- 4 min
Terrors and Traveling
I jerked awake with a start. “What was that?” I mumbled, still befuddled by sleep. “Phone,” Paul said as he fumbled to find and answer...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 11, 2017
- 4 min
Running the Race Before Us
“Time – 845 hours, 46 minutes, and 16 seconds per mile,” the impersonal voice announced. I stopped running and looked at my phone. I know...
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Susan Brown
- Oct 2, 2017
- 4 min
Drama, Trauma, and Blessings
“Where are you going with that?” I asked suspiciously. My things have a way of disappearing, not to be found until days later in some...
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Susan Brown
- Sep 25, 2017
- 2 min
True Treasures
I ran up the steps, panting and struggling to hang onto the armful of red heart-shaped balloons. “Hurry up,” I called back to the teens...
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Susan Brown
- Sep 18, 2017
- 3 min
Troubles — But Under His Control
Seizure. Spastic jerks wrenched Andy’s body as he lay on the dining room floor. Foam flecked his mouth and his eyes gruesomely rolled...
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Susan Brown
- Sep 10, 2017
- 2 min
Learning and Teaching
The kids and the store clerk burst out laughing. What? All I did was ask where I could find the sugar. “No, Grandma,” Moses said through...
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