Shannon's Corner

  Visiting my cousins one summer, they showed me a raft they had built. Some planks of wood tied around some barrels. I got to climb aboard with my cousin. Let’s just say, I do not remember us going very far before it tipped.   Transitions are a part of life—whether we’re moving, changing roles, ending a season, or shifting relationships. But how we  leave  matters just as much as how we arrive. That’s where the RAFT comes in: a simple yet powerful tool for saying good-bye with intention and grace so that we can have a healthy ‘hello’.   R – Reconciliation:  Before moving on, is there any unfinished business? Unspoken tension? Hurt that needs healing? Taking time to mend relationships can bring peace to both parties, releasing the weight of unresolved conflict.   A – Appreciation:  Express gratitude for the people, experiences, and growth this chapter brought. Say “thank you” to those who walked with you. Appreciation honors the past and acknowled...

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. I am always learning and growing because one of my core values is stewardship.  This is why I have decided to invest in my skills as a communicator, in raising support by getting around other missionaries and other leaders with being a part of Fully Funded Academy.   I am excited to share with you a newly created platform with the hope to serve you through creating a space where you are able to engage and be more integrated into our ministry.     This platform is a private group on Facebook called,   Shannon’s Support Team .     I will be sending out a separate email that will have the link to join.     If you do not receive the link or have any issues, please reach out to me. There were six ladies who participated in the Velvet Ashes Connection Group and who are serving in various countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Rim.  Why did you join a connection group? ...

Good-byes often feel like abrupt endings—full of emotion, sometimes rushed, sometimes delayed. But what if we reframed them as an invitation to savor?   To  savor  is to slow down, to pay attention, to allow ourselves to feel deeply connected to what we’re about to release. Whether it’s a person, a place, or a season of life, savoring helps us say good-bye with presence instead of panic.   We savor people by lingering in conversation, expressing unspoken gratitude, or simply sharing a quiet moment together. We savor places by walking familiar paths, noticing the sounds and scents, or pausing to take in the view we've seen a thousand times before. We savor things—beloved objects or routines—by holding them gently, honoring their significance, and letting them remind us of what we've cherished.   Savoring is not clinging. It’s a mindful farewell—a way of saying,  "This mattered to me. I was here. I was changed."   So, when good-bye comes—and it always do...