Author Archives: Clinton Bergsma

I spent last week in Malaysia, rounding out my studies considering all things economic.  As always, the world is much bigger (and stranger and scarier!) than I’d previously thought, and there are some intriguing alternatives to the dominant economic narrative … Continue reading →

These past two weeks in West Timor and Sumba have been rather challenging.  My young family came with me this time, and they did incredibly well considering that we moved house every two days, met countless new people and spent … Continue reading →

Ubud, Bali, language training week 1 of 12… So I was having trouble falling asleep the other night – something was bugging the dog next door, and he decided to share those concerns with us by barking intermittently for a … Continue reading →

In this line of work, it’s easy to get caught in a web of cynicism that binds you tight, wondering whether you’re actually making any difference, any headway against the monster of poverty.  It can be difficult to sleep when … Continue reading →

I didn’t ask her name, so let’s call her Gereja. She’s slightly stooped, white-haired, quite frail, her right eye a cataract, her left leg limping – probably in her eighties, an old lady for sure. We were travelling from Waimarang … Continue reading →

During a recent devotion we were encouraged to write a prayer of lament.  I have found lament to be a very helpful way of holding the many paradoxes that arise as I attempt to follow Jesus as a broken person … Continue reading →

This past weekend ACHEA – the Australian Christian Higher Education Alliance – held their inaugural conference in Parramatta west of Sydney (shout-out to Rayna, the wonderful Airbnb host who saved me from a baguette-and-butter dinner with a delicious home-cooked meal!). … Continue reading →

So I’m in my final semester of my masters studies in ‘transformational development’ through Eastern College of Australia.  The course has been profoundly helpful on a number of levels: the space to explore the interaction between theology and community development, … Continue reading →

So I found myself reflecting on the biblical narrative of Babel as I wandered past the language school last night on my search for dinner.  I’m in Ubud, Bali for a language proficiency assessment and trial – I hope to … Continue reading →

Iced coffee, take away Departure lounge in Denpasar Engrossed in a book About ecological damage By  airplanes, disposable containers   Black coffee in white cups With Waimarang colleagues In a language and culture Of hardly-grasped beauty Wishing it all black … Continue reading →