Growing up, my dad always told us kids to “not despise the day of small things,” as he and our mom worked in the garden or talked with strangers passing by in the street. This continues to be their daily rhythm of life. “Small things” are those things that we would consider to be ordinary, mundane, dismissed, or simple that can be found in nature, moments in time, words, or people. In small moments throughout his daily life, Jesus would touch and heal lepers or talk with a foreign woman at the well, while showing compassion and speaking of kingdom things.

My lifelong desire to live overseas and serve in a rural mission hospital was not only motivated by compassion care and empowerment for those who are often forgotten by the rest of the world, but to also discover the smaller things that make life more meaningful and extraordinary- even if they do not meet the world’s standards. Having drawn from my own experiences in various communities and healthcare settings across West Africa, and inspired by the words in Zechariah 4:10*, this idea for my blog sprung forth. Through a collection of short stories and reflections, I hope to share those small moments witnessed in the hospital as family members care for their sick ones during the malaria season, or the conversations with mothers and their children on the importance of breastfeeding. It is easy to lose sight of the big picture in mind when we overlook the small things in life. And, personally, I do not want to forget.

*(A well-articulated article that illustrates the significance of Zechariah 4:10 can be found here: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/do-not-despise-the-day-of-small-things)