Originally published on July 13, 2018 at www.melissajmacdonald.com  For the last 7 summers I have done camp ministry. I travel from camp to camp as a speaker to kids. I love it. By the end of this summer I will have done a total of 39 camps in 7 years. Yes, I absolutely love the […]

Do you have days when you need a little encouragement? Recently, I looked back over my pastoral career serving children and families. I wondered, What returns are there for all the effort—the cookies, story times, costumes, murals, songs? Truthfully, I was tired. I not only was looking for encouragement; I also lacked energy to go […]

How would you feel if the community labeled you with your weakest trait? Suppose you were in the grocery store and a familiar voice called out: “Hey, it’s Mr. Can’t-Dance” or “Mrs. Bad-at-Math!” How would you feel? As a teacher in Uruguay I found myself wondering how to inspire fourth grade boys to reach out […]

Two years ago, as I was reading Larry Bergeron’s Journey to the Fatherless, the Lord opened my eyes and my heart to the plight of the orphan. I was wrecked! That day I told God I would do whatever He desired of me to help His children. The Lord has since called me to raise […]