A Mom's Mission Field

Today I’m talking to Tracey Casciano. Tracey is a wife, mom, church worker, author, and someone I know a great many of my listeners will be able to relate to. Her latest book, Out of The Darkroom, Into the Light, is a story of faith and forgiveness after child abuse. Although this is a difficult topic, I was so impressed by Tracey’s ability to work through her hurt and truly offer forgiveness to those who hurt her.

Since we recorded this interview, Tracey’s book was nominated for the Christian Small Publisher book of the year award! Way to go Tracey! I can’t wait to share her story with you.

Meg is a mom of two through adoption, living on the mission field in West Africa. I love Meg, and I love her heart and her adventurous spirit, but what strikes me is how young she is, and I mean that in a good way. Meg is in her early 20’s and she’s been on the mission field since she was 18. If you are anywhere around my age (I’m 37), think back to what you were doing in your late teens/early 20s. I was not on the mission field, I’ll tell ya that. The thought never crossed my mind at that point. I didn’t really make my faith my own until my mid 20s, and it took me a long time to figure out God’s mission for my me. Meg is already in the thick of it. I can’t imagine the plans God has for her life and she has so many years ahead of her to do the work.

Today Jenny lives with her husband and 4 children in a beautiful farmhouse in the Arkansas countryside where she helps run a ministry that provides food for orphans in the Congo. Not too many years ago she was a regular gal who thought she had her life figured out. Then God took her on a journey of faith that was heartbreaking, terrifying at times, and altogether unpredictable. As God led her away from the life she thought she’d have, she learned to let go of her preconceptions and allow God to build her life and family the way He saw fit. This was a longer interview so I’m going to break it up into two episodes. In the first episode we talk about her struggles with infertility, her surprise twins, and all the events that led them to sell their dream house and pursue an international adoption. In the second part of the interview, we talk about the details behind their adoption that almost didn’t happen, and we talk about their ministry that provides food for orphans in the Congo. I hope you enjoy our conversation today and come back next week for the conclusion.

Lyndsey is a mom of 6 through birth and adoption, plus she has been a mom to multiple children over the past couple years as a foster parent. It was her experiences as a foster mom that led her to start James Mission, a place for foster families and other families in need to get basic supplies, clothes, and furniture to meet the needs of the children in their care. Lyndsey talks about how God used her past experiences, both painful and practical, to give her the skills and insight she needs to connect with the families she serves. We also talk about how she has made missions a family culture and how her entire family works together to make James Mission a reality.

Alicia is a mom of 5 and what you might call a reluctant homeschooler. In this episode she talks about being fully obedient to God in every area of her life and the joy she has found in doing that, even if she went in kicking and screaming at the beginning. She also describes how she pours God’s Word into her kids in practical ways. And finally we talk about a ministry her husband started that encourages men to be better husbands and fathers through a series of Bible studies based on a popular HBO show.