I used to kindly roll my eyes at those espousing the importance of fair trade. I never really understood it, and, honestly, living on a youth pastor’s salary with three kids is no joke when it comes to stretching the ol’ family budget. I know what it’s like to try purchasing decent Christmas presents for your 17 [...]
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I complain. I whine. I grumble about what could be better, what hasn’t worked out. I pout, I wallow. I hold onto grudges and pick specks out of other eyes. I look at this and want that, doubt the present and think-cynical about the future. I resent the work motherhood and marriage and ministry requires– [...]
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“We stop at the stoplight, me and my blonde children in our air-conditioned van, and she appears at my window. She holds up the flowers she is peddling, and she looks at me through the glass with brown eyes that have seen far-too-much already. My kids are dancing to Hannah Montana in the backseat eating [...]
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I wanted to share this quick illustration of the three different components of the fight against human trafficking. This word-picture could be applied to many social justice issues, and I heard it first from our friends over at ZOE Children’s Homes. Call me crazy, but I just do better with simple analogies I can understand. . [...]
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This week is going to be self-proclaimed “Human Trafficking Awareness Week” at aLifeOverseas.com . I have several posts coming your way about the issue of trafficking and modern day slavery, along with ways that you can {really} help. Be sure to stop back by and check it out. So perhaps you care deeply about social [...]
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My husband is an inspirational leader– an Inspirational Leader. And when he worked as a student pastor, he challenged kids with Jesus-living time and again. And this week as we were looking through some old kid-videos, we found these clips from a message he gave once at the local high school during a global awareness [...]
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Remember when we posted about the little girl from Burma who needed corrective surgery? Thanks to the generous giving of people in the states, the support of Joy to the World Foundation, and the practical service of our staff here, who sat and interpreted for the child’s aunt at the Thai hospital, Sanglee’s surgery was [...]
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It’s hard to communicate what it’s like to live in an environment surrounded by stories of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and rampant prostitution. Thailand is seeped in the darkness of it, as are so many other countries around the globe. Just before we left for the States, in fact, Matt and I were sitting outside [...]
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We had heard that ex-Navy SEALS go in under cloak of darkness. We had heard they relocate entire villages minutes before the Burmese Army descends to destroy homes, families, and lives. We envisioned them in full army gear with green paint on their faces and ninja-moves like Jackie Chan. For about five years, actually, we’d [...]
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Asking for money is not something I enjoy. Nor is it something I do all that often. In fact, over the past year and half of blogging here, even though our family’s salary is completely donor-based and even though we are surrounded by poverty on a daily basis, to the best of my memory, I’ve only [...]
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Remember this? It’s a video I took briefly back in October when we started raising money for new bathing/toilet facilities for the 42 girls here at Breanna’s House of Joy Children’s Home. . . Because of the generous donations of so many across the United States, construction finished this week on a brand-new, indoor locker [...]
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ALifeOverseas.com / LauraParkerBlog.com.
My family is living overseas in Thailand, where my husband is directing a Christian Humanitarian Foundation. This blog is the honest recording of our journey– squatty potties and all. 
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Destined Traveler.
Mentoring Young Adults, Hosting Teams, Educating about Human Trafficking.