Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Digging in the Dirt Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here! I will aim to keep this short, simple, and from the heart. Over time, I plan to read through my entire book, Digging in the Dirt. Think of it as a sort of free audio book! And in addition to the readings, each episode will feature discussions around listener-submitted questions.
So, where would you like to begin? You can submit your ideas, comments, and questions for future episodes here.
I had the chance to talk about a bunch of ideas from Digging in the Dirt on a couple of different podcasts recently. Read about what we discussed, and check ‘em out!
The Clarity Podcast with Dr. Aaron Santmyire: We talked about married sexuality, the danger of centering America in the story of global Christianity, why not to call our kids “world changers,” the uniqueness of having a work spouse, Shiny Happy People, and more.
Missionary Life with Sarita Hartz: We talked about the fun stuff like depression, anxiety, the “missionary life cycle,” and the important distinction between anger and aggression. It’s a vital conversation for those in missions and pretty much everyone else too.
Welcome to ground level, to the dirt and the mess.
We like the mountain tops and the sunshine. We like green grass under a clear blue sky. We like victory and breakthrough and answered prayers. But sometimes it rains, the shadows deepen, and life turns muddy. Sometimes God seems quiet. What then? What happens when depression descends, or anxiety hangs like a sword overhead? What happens when loneliness suffocates, the thief steals more than stuff, and you get blood on your shoes?
In Digging in the Dirt, Jonathan Trotter delves into the disasters, the darkness, and the deluge, and he offers comfort, presence, and a gentle invitation to hope.
With humor and prose, with poetry and Top Ten lists, Jonathan welcomes us to the dirt, to the places where we actually live. He invites us to boldly see life as it is, with eyes wide open, and reminds us that even when the digging is scary, we are never alone.
To the ones who are dealing with devastation and distress, welcome. To the ones who need to uproot, to pull out, to clear ground, welcome. To the ones who seek desperately to plant seeds of grace and hope in once barren soil, welcome. To the missionary abroad and the believer at home, welcome. Receive the invitation, and join with Jonathan here at ground level, together.
Come, dig in the dirt.
From the preface:
Hello and Welcome!
I’m Jonathan, and it’s such a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to journeying with you through these pages. Together, we’ll delve into the dirt of life and relationships, of sorrows, pain, and loss. And maybe we’ll plant some things too.
Perhaps, along the way, we’ll see small, green stalks of life and hope begin to poke through, watered with the tears of the journey. Digging like this can be messy, but it can be good too.
These musings will meander from the hot dirt of Cambodia to the sticky mud of American politics. Some of these musings are inspired by international missionary life; some of them are firmly rooted in an American context. But whether you’re American or not, whether you’re a missionary or not, I hope that you find them all a blessing, an encouragement, and perhaps sometimes a challenge. I wrote them for you, and I share them with you with my whole heart.
Start reading Digging in the Dirt wherever you’d like, and feel free to skip ahead or go backwards. Are you a cross-cultural missionary? Start there if you want. Are you interested in developing emotional intelligence, or are you exploring whether or not Christians are allowed to have feelings? Consider starting in the Emotions section. Are you reeling from recent life events that have left you feeling like you’re choking on the mud and muck? First of all, I’m so sorry. Second, breathe a slow, deep breath, look over the Table of Contents, and start wherever you need to start.
Wherever you are, and whatever your story, welcome to ground level, to the dirt. It is here that the real work happens; the good, hard, sweet, healing work. It is my deepest hope that here, among these musings, you may find grace, peace, and a hope that just might be strong enough to crack through the crust.
All for ONE, Jonathan Trotter
What people are saying about Digging in the Dirt:
A genuine book where no topic is off limits, Digging in the Dirt hits you right where you are regardless of location or vocation. This book is a must-read for anyone who is or is thinking about serving in missions and ministry! – DeAnna Anderson, former Director of the Launch Team for Wycliffe Bible Translators and missionary
Digging in the Dirt is a breath of fresh air for Christians. – Kim H.
Jonathan has such an authentic insight into life on the field, and he addresses the hard things in such a real and tangible way that helps you to know you are not alone. I would totally recommend this book for anyone who is serving overseas, sending someone overseas, or remotely interested in mission life. – Sydney, PI Leader for Southeast Asia
Rarely does an author bring the perspective of a missionary, nurse, theologian, pilot, counselor, parent, and gardener to cross-cultural ministry, family dynamics, depression, grief, politics, and the church, all in one book. Even rarer is a book that combines all of those things in a way that rings authentic and meaningful. Digging in the Dirt manages to do both, bringing thought-provoking and heartfelt lessons out of an incredible range of real-life experiences. – Reuben James
Digging in the Dirt is a must-read for anyone in missions or ministry. It’s refreshingly humble and vulnerable, and no matter what stage of life and ministry you’re in, you’ll walk away with some wisdom and new insight. – B.W., Stateside missions support worker
For a few generations now, the Doxology has been a family favorite. It is simple, easy to sing, and old (over three hundred years). And you know, the older I get, the more I appreciate simple; the more I appreciate ancient and solid and historical.
I also appreciate new and fresh. I love songs that are beautiful, singable, and memorizable. So I jotted down some new words (that are ancient truths) and put them to an old tune…
I love my job so much that I’m trying to get better at it. Want to help?
Thanks to the generous support of so many churches and individuals, I’ve served as a pastoral counselor and coach to missionaries for about nine years now. Last week alone I met online with missionaries serving in or returned from Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, west Africa, Japan, Cambodia (six clients), Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, and Tanzania.
Shortly after our return to the States, Elizabeth and I decided that I should go back to school. I’ve been in grad school studying clinical mental health counseling for one year now, and I have a year and a half to go. I hope to use this education to continue serving missionaries around the world for many years to come. So…
Here’s the request
Like many companies and churches, our missions agency provides an educational reimbursement benefit up to $5,000 per year. This is fantastic and could be extremely helpful! However, because Team Expansion is a missions agency, and because we serve in a support-based position, we have to raise our own benefits.
In other words, we won’t get the benefit if we don’t raise it. Maybe that sounds weird to you, but we’re super grateful for even the chance of this benefit, and that’s just sort of how things are done in the missions world.
So, we’d like to invite you to consider giving especially for this educational need. (It’s tax-deductible for folks in the US.) Some have already given, so we’re only $3,700 away from our goal!
Many of you gave towards this last year, and we are soooo grateful! It was immensely helpful in deferring some of the school fees!
If you’ve been blessed over the years by our writings or pastoral counseling ministry, or if you’d like to support this preparation for future ministry, would you consider giving through PayPal (preferred) or Team Expansion’s giving portal here? Note: if you donate through Team Expansion’s website, please add “education” to the notes section.
Team Expansion has taught us to invite boldly, so here we are. We’re not using regular donations to fund this education benefit — only money raised specifically for it.
As I’ve said over and over, we couldn’t have gotten this far without y’all, and we can’t get a whole lot farther without y’all. If you have any questions, please let me know.
In the meantime, we’re going to keep trying to “follow close” behind Him, serving missionaries and cross-cultural workers around the world, equipping them to see the hearts of the hurting people around them, for his glory and for the growth and health of the global Kingdom.
All for ONE,
Jonathan T.
One of the counseling rooms at Mt. Hope Christian Counseling Center here in Joplin. I started my part-time internship here last week!
Living Well, Cambodia
Counseling room at our international church in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Trotter Family 