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Category: Africa Stories

#alt=The Christmas Candy House, debbiejoneswarren.com
The Christmas Candy House

The Christmas Candy House

Comments 10 comments

“Christmas will be here soon,” my first-grade teacher said. “In a couple of weeks, you kids will fly back to your parents on their mission stations for the holidays. Today you’ll make a Christmas craft to take home.” Twenty happy faces beamed around the sunlit classroom at the boarding school for missionary children in Nigeria, and cheery voices called out. “Yay! It’s almost Christmas!”  “Crafts are my favorite subject.” “I can’t wait ‘til we go home.” During the next half…

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#alt=The Day Deborah Oladipo Nearly Drowned, debbiejoneswarren.com
The Day Deborah Oladipo Nearly Drowned

The Day Deborah Oladipo Nearly Drowned

Comments 19 comments

Drops of sweat covered my brow, and I set a basket of folded laundry on my bed. “Mom, I’m all sweaty.” I wiped my face with the bottom of my shirt. Mom walked past me, carrying another load of clean clothes to her bedroom. “Thank you for taking the clothes off the line and bringing them in for me, Honey.” Pushing a plastic basket ahead of him along the smooth, cement floor, six-year-old Grant followed Mom. “Can we do something…

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#alt=Rock Ministries International, debbiejoneswarren.com
ROCK Ministries International

ROCK Ministries International

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Do you have a heart for orphans? Have you ever wanted to travel to Kenya? Today I’m delighted to share the ministry that my sister, Cindy, and her husband, Kyon Yi, have taken on. Come with me to Kenya–a beautiful country I haven’t actually seen–but through this blog post, we’re both visiting virtually! Twenty-two years ago, Kyon’s mom, Elaine Yi, witnessed the plight of street orphans in Kenya when she visited there with World Vision. Previously, Elaine had partnered with…

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#alt=The Proposal, debbiejoneswarren.com
The Proposal: He Asked and She Said …

The Proposal: He Asked and She Said …

Comments 14 comments

Today our daughter, Heather, contributes to this blog post for you as this month we celebrated Chris’s 65th birthday with his dream golf vacation in Scotland. All of our adult kids, including Andrew, his wife, Sarah, Heather, her boyfriend, Aaron, and Robby, joined us. We took in the sights, visited friends and relatives, golfed, shopped … and enjoyed much excitement around a surprise proposal, which Heather shares here: STORY TIME! Aaron proposed on Princes Street with Edinburgh Castle in the…

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Shower Troubles, debbiejoneswarren.com Nov 2018, bathroom sink
Shower Troubles Revisited

Shower Troubles Revisited

Comments 20 comments

Jutting out from the green-painted walls, three shower heads loom dark and shadowy under the single lightbulb that lights the bathroom. I’m scared to take my first dormitory shower in this open room with a dozen other first-grade girls…. I’ve rewritten this story using the present tense, and I would value your honest feedback. Does this tense flow well and bring you more deeply into the story? Or does it sound awkward? What other thoughts do you have? Shower Troubles…

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#alt=The Longest Hug, debbiejoneswarren.com
The Longest Hug

The Longest Hug

Comments 23 comments

Back in March, I shared with you that I had a story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, but I wasn’t able to post it here. I’ve since found out that I retained all rights to it, so I’m able to print it on my blog after all. Thank you to those who purchased the book, The Advice that Changed My Life. If you’re interested in buying a copy, here’s the link. Otherwise, I’m glad I can share my…

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The Land of the Scots

The Land of the Scots

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Come with me on a photo journey as we meet up with Chris’s family and friends in his home country of Scotland. In March 2023, we had a fabulous time in the land where Chris was born and in which he hopes to retire. (Chris and I are still in negotiations about that, haha.) As I consider spending more time in my husband’s home country, it is a special gift that I have found friends in Scotland–connections from my childhood…

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Scotland Vacation

Scotland Vacation

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This year, Chris and I spent the entire month of March in Scotland celebrating two great events. My husband wanted to be back in the land of his birth, on the day of his birth. In 1958, he made his grand entrance into the world on March 19 in the maternity hospital in Bellshill, near Glasgow. This year marked his 65th birthday. All month long we celebrated that momentous event as well as our 38th wedding anniversary. In my next two…

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Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Advice That Changed My Life

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Advice That Changed My Life

Comments 34 comments

Hi Friends, I’m excited to reveal the secret I’ve been keeping: I’ve finally had a story published with Chicken Soup for the Soul. I was surprised to hear Chicken Soup accepted this story because I submitted others to them but they were rejected. Last summer I mulled over my idea for their newest edition titled, The Advice that Changed My Life. However, I was sure my efforts wouldn’t be good enough so I didn’t write anything. Then two days before…

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#alt=Happy Valentine's Day, debbiejoneswarren.com
Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day

Comments 8 comments

I stared out the window of the second-grade classroom at the tall mango tree and listened to the birds tweeting in its branches. The drone of the teacher’s voice faded quietly into the background at the boarding school for missionary children in Nigeria. My racing heartbeat slowed for a moment. Then the chalk screeched on the blackboard, and I quickly turned my head toward the front of the classroom. I don’t want to get yelled at again for daydreaming. I…

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