Author Archives: sharonbernhardt

I almost missed you… I was like everyone else on their morning commute, eyes on the road, thoughts on the day, ears on my kid’s voices… And then I saw you… And my heart ached. Hair–matted and filthy, skin–almost blackened by the sun’s rays, bones–visible through your taut skin… Barely dressed, hunched over–touching your hair,Continue reading “I See You”

People have often said things like, “I admire you so much!  I could never live where….-insert something here- ex: there are squatty potties in most bathrooms, there are lots of roaches/ants/lizards/rats/snakes/whatever, you can’t go to Walmart, etc..”  They tell us how much they admire us for our sacrifice.  Ever since we began this journey withContinue reading “Unexpected Feelings”

Our school has to have six different Christmas and Easter services.  With around 2500-3000 students, it is difficult to find a place where everyone can gather together.  Things happen in shifts.  The church which founded the school and helps us be here, has recently built a new church building.  The services take place in that building. Continue reading “Be Like a Child”

The news here has been captured by a case of rape at the international school in the capital city.  Hearing about the brutal attack on a five year old child by members of the janitorial staff has been devastating.  Two have been arrested for the crime, although others have not completely been ruled out.  ApparentlyContinue reading “A Heart Overwhelmed”

I’ve been in my kitchen for the last few hours, getting things put away from shopping and fixing food.  Tonight the family had tacos for dinner.  It made me think of how Mexican food was one of the easiest and quickest meals to cook when we were in the States.  Grab yourselves some tortillas offContinue reading “Some Ways Easier, Some Ways Harder: In the Kitchen”

  Thank you for all of your kind words and your prayers.  I know that many of you have walked through journeys of intense suffering, and I don’t for one minute believe that my sadness is any greater than yours.  I know that each of us has our own burdens and challenges.  I appreciate theContinue reading “Why I Feel the Way I Do”

My Dad just had his annual assessment with his neurologist. The doctor is a really neat guy, who has cared for my Dad for quite a few years. He is retiring, and that’s challenge, for he has walked with my Dad through the difficult stages of this disease through his annual evaluations. He understands, andContinue reading “By Degrees”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to theContinue reading “My Daddy”

Words can’t paint it, They can’t describe it, Clearly or concisely,  They can’t wrap around it, The words just don’t “fit”. Try as I might they don’t do justice, They can’t express it so you can see it, Or feel it, Or know it. They just come up short. Try as I might, in my poorContinue reading “Mean to Me”

The sweetest memories I have of my grandma are some of my faintest memories. Since so much time has passed, I just have overall feelings and a sense of things more than distinct sharp memories. The place where most of those memories arise from was Crow Agency, Montana. My grandparents lived on the Indian reservationContinue reading “Memories”