Far from Home with Mabel Ninan

In this special episode, my husband, Simon Ninan joins me in sharing our story as immigrants from India to the U.S. He works as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Strategy for Hitachi Vantara in Silicon Valley. Like me, he was born and raised in a Christian family in India. Simon and I have been married for almost eighteen years and that’s also how long we’ve been immigrants. We discuss the culture shocks and challenges we experienced during our initial years as immigrants. We reflect on how trusting in God’s plan and character helped us endure hard times and constant change. Takeaways Most immigrants are not prepared to cope with the changes they encounter in a foreign country, and the transition can affect them emotionally as well as spiritually. When we go through hard times or face any kind of unexpected adversity, we can remember that God is with us through it all. Sometimes, He helps and comforts us through people or community. Truths we can rehearse to anchor our trust in God: God has a good plan for us, He is in control, and He never changes. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/lXq4ykO2ofI Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

Our guest, Elisa Johnston, is a fellow Redbud writer, a writers’ coach, a nonprofit consultant, and author of two books, Justice-Minded Kids and The Life Mapping Workbook. She explains why she views herself as a “hidden immigrant.” Elisa discusses how to instill values of compassion, empathy, and justice in kids of all ages. She suggests practical ways parents can encourage their children to care for immigrants and refugees, build relationships with diverse groups of people, and use their voice to advocate for them. Takeaways Parents must be intentional about raising kids to be justice-minded, inculcating activities and conversations in their day-to-day lives meant to teach values of compassion and justice. Parents can depend on God to provide opportunities to interact with immigrants and refugees and organically build relationships with them. Since each child is unique, he or she can be encouraged to use his or her voice to advocate for the immigrant community in a way that best suits him or her. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Elisa Elisa’s free resource of Bible verses Connect with Elisa on Facebook Connect with Elisa on Instagram Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home https://youtu.be/1Vyg9qFgtKo Watch & Subscribe on YouTube Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

Our guest, writer and transition coach, Carolyn Grant, is no stranger to change. Born and raised in South Africa, she moved to the U.K. and then to the U.S. In this episode, she and I discuss both the challenges and blessings we experience as immigrants. Carolyn reflects on how her immigrant journey strengthened her faith in God and what inspired her to become a transition coach. She shares tips on navigating seasons of change with purpose and hope. Takeaways Transition is ongoing for many immigrants, who’re constantly learning new things and living in between cultures. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forevermore. He can be our anchor during times of transition. Our identity and sense of belonging are rooted in Christ. Remembering that we are children of God who belong to Him can help us cope with difficult changes. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Carolyn Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/1pCcxvo4RXs Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

February is Black History Month. We’d like to spotlight Keishia Lee Louis, an African American educator and children’s author, who’s using her words to impact the next generation for good. Through both scholarship and storytelling, Keishia seeks to illuminate God’s image reflected in literature and children’s lives. Keishia and I discuss her book Use Your Palabras, Jovita! which is based on the life of a lesser known hero of American history, Jovita Idar. A Mexican-American journalist, activist, and suffragist, Jovita used her words to fight for justice and equality in the face of intense opposition. She advocated for the First Amendment and multicultural/multilingual education in schools, among other issues, in Laredo, Texas, in the early part of the 20th century. Keishia talks about her cross-cultural marriage, representation in children’s literature, the relevance of her book today, and the importance of multicultural education. Takeaways Parents and educators must make an effort to communicate to children that they are created in God’s image and have worth and dignity. Through their unique gifts and attributes they not only reflect Him but also can achieve great things in His name. When children and young people understand that their words carry power, they can make a change for good through their words. Our faith in God informs our practice of justice and motivates us to love others. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Keishia Learn more about Use Your Palabras, Jovita!: How This Brave Journalist Stood for Justice Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/qwCfRnEc2E0 Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

In this special episode, I share a Christmas message with you. Jesus’ birth story demonstrates that He was no ordinary, earthly King. He is humble, servant King who came to love, serve, and save others. His beginnings were humble. Jesus’ parents were poor and He was born in an insignificant village, Bethlehem. When He was only a toddler, He became a refugee along with His parents. Jesus associated Himself with the poor, the despised, the lowly, and the refugee. And this has implications for us: As Jesus’ disciples and citizens of His kingdom, we too must view and treat people the way Jesus does. If you feel unloved or unimportant, or if you’ve been treated badly, remember that Jesus empathizes with you. He loves you and came to earth to sacrifice Himself for you. Our salvation, our adoption into God’s household, and our citizenship in His kingdom are gifts from our Father in heaven. Let this Christmas season remind you that you could receive these gifts only because of Jesus’ sacrificial love for you. Let us remember that just as He is not of this world, we too are not of this world. We are called to follow His example and show radical love toward the poor, the needy, the refugee, and the outcast. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Join online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

The Bible is replete with stories of men and women who were immigrants, like Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and Esther, to name a few. Their experience of living in foreign cultures and lands not only intersected with their personal spiritual formation but also played an important role in the meta narrative of the Bible. One of the goals of this podcast is to highlight biblical immigrant characters so that we recognize how migration intersects with Scripture and draw important truths from their stories not only to strengthen our faith but also to adopt a right perspective on migration and migrants. In this episode I explore the story of Ruth with author and speaker, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, whose latest Bible study is titled, Redeemer: God’s Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite widow, became an immigrant when she moved with her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, to Bethlehem. She’s an important biblical character not only because she’s included in the genealogy of Jesus but because her story points to God’s power and purpose through redemption. Takeaways Both Ruth and Naomi were widows familiar with grief and loss. God redeemed their lives, turning their pain into joy. He can do the same for anyone who’s mourning the loss of someone or something significant. Boaz, the son of Rahab who was also a foreigner, showed extraordinary kindness and generosity toward Ruth. He acted as her kinsman-redeemer, pointing us to Jesus who came to restore and redeem us by sacrificing Himself on the cross. God’s providence is one of the key themes in the book of Ruth. In our lives too, God orchestrates circumstances and appointments in order to accomplish His plan for our lives. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Dorina. Buy the Bible study, Redeemer: God’s Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth. Check out my previous episode with Dorina on hospitality. Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/xWDanInbnqQ Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

Author and entrepreneur Eloise Benoit was born in Haiti and moved to the U.S. after a catastrophic 7.0 earthquake struck her country in 2010. The disaster was traumatic not only for her but also for everyone in Haiti. Eloise shares some details of her life before and after the tragedy. She talks about the challenges and joys of integrating into the American culture as a teenager and the people who welcomed and helped her as she tried to fit in. She and I also discuss the importance of faith in helping her endure wilderness seasons in her life and the inspiration behind her book, Unwired, and her organization, Made for More Legacy. Takeaways Natural disasters and other extreme climate events are major factors that lead to displacement and migration. Poorer countries do not have the resources both to prepare for disasters and to respond to them, leading to widespread devastation of basic infrastructure and a staggering death toll. Looking back at God’s faithfulness in our lives strengthens our faith in him and helps us press on during times of suffering. God has a purpose for every season in our lives. We have to trust that He’s working all things for good that will bring Him glory and mature our faith. Godly entrepreneurs are driven by a strong sense of purpose that aligns with their unique identity and God-given strengths. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Eloise Benoit Buy Benoit’s book, Unwired. Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/MmMvSlI98Bg Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

Jenn Suen Chen is a spiritual director, speaker, and leader in the area of spiritual formation and cross-cultural ministry. In this episode we discuss her latest book, Dim Sum & Faith: How Our Stories Form Our Souls. As an Asian American and a child of immigrants, Jenn’s unique perspective on storytelling and spiritual formation is powerful, thought-provoking, and inspiring. She and I talk about her upbringing in an immigrant household, how navigating two cultures can be both a joy and blessing, how to cope with spiritual dryness, and the role of hospitality in storytelling, among other topics. Takeaways Our value has been assigned to us by God who created us in His image. This powerful truth transforms how we see ourselves and others and how we receive and give love. Many immigrants or Third Culture Kids live between two or more cultures. Being grounded in our biblical identity can make us confident and empathetic as they navigate cultures. Sharing stories helps build empathy, process our spiritual formation journey, and bridge cultural gaps. Hospitality can lay the grounds for a safe space where people can share stories. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Jenn Suen Chen Buy Jenn’s book, Dim Sum & Faith: How Our Stories Form Our Souls Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/c4yaQ31hZPg Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

Our guest, Jenny Miedema, is the founder and director of Remember Ministries, a Canadian charity focused on encouraging and equipping churches to sponsor and welcome refugees to Canada. The name of the organization was inspired by this passage from Scripture: “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:1-3. Jenny felt called to help those who are suffering persecution around the world by sponsoring them as refugees to Canada. She works with churches to welcome and resettle refugees. To her, it’s a practical and powerful way of living out the gospel. Jenny and I talk about the important role of churches in helping refugees settle into a new country and feel welcome and accepted. Takeaways Christians must care about all refugees in distress. Jesus’ magnanimous and unconditional love toward us can motivate us to show love and kindness to strangers in need, especially refugees. We can learn important lessons from refugees whose unwavering faith in God helps them endure persecution with patience and joy. The global church displays Christ’s love when they strive to help their brothers and sisters across the world who are facing intense persecution. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Remember Ministries Connect with Remember Ministries on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/rho-NY_VO4U Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails

Our guest is author Pirkko Rytkonen who emigrated from Finland to Canada when she was a little girl. Raised in a Christian home, her immigrant experience intersected not only with her faith journey but also her unique love story. Her memoir, Between Us: True Story of Longing for Love and Letters, published in 2023, centers around her romantic relationship with her then-boyfriend, Antti, who is her husband. This episode is part two of Pirkko’s story. You can listen to the first half of her story here. Takeaways Believers who’re in a romantic relationship, looking to get married, must take time to know each other while seeking God’s will for their relationship as well as their individual lives. Couples who are dating (and/or engaged) can develop the discipline of praying together to lay a good foundation for their relationship. We do not need a spouse to complete us. As believers, we are made whole in Christ. It’s wise to look for a partner who’s secure in his/her identity in Christ. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Check out Pirkko’s , Between Us: True Story of Longing for Love and Letters Learn more about Pirkko Rytkonen Connect with Pirkko Rytkonen on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/w8DVJoSGcQE Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails