Missionary Blog Watch

You'll notice a whole new page here, focused on missionary blogs in Asia.  As you probably know, my plan is to eventually break everything down into broader categories like this.  Before this the only continent to be completed was Africa.

Bloggers in these categories are not being demoted by losing their country link on the side bar.  In fact, as far as search engines are concerned, they'll probably have an advantage.  But it may be a while before other continents are complete.  With so much to chose from, I start with the places that are most in demand - and most people are looking for missionaries by country.  The countries that have been done so far are the most popular.

What countries are the most popular in Asia?  I'd have to say Japan is by far the winner.  Thailand is actually the most popular on this site.  Then would come China, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Our most veteran blogger in Asia is Finding God in China, and our newest (that seems to be currently blogging) is Sandy's Neipu Notebook (Taiwan).


Kiyomizu-dera, Japan
Photo courtesy of yurayura naoko

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Hello? Please respond... ? - Missionary blog tip #10
July 11, 2007 13:19

If you allow comments on your blog, I think you really need to have a way to respond to them.

First, you really should allow comments if at all possible.  I understand there are a few people that just can't do it - they have limited internet access, perhaps, or someone else is posting their letters online.  It's probably better to have a blog without comments than no blog at all.

That being said, it's really pretty much common etiquette these days to allow commenting on your blog at least (and hopefully trackback too).

Comments are part of a conversation between you and those people who are interested in what you're writing about.  I really think you need to have a way to respond to those people.  There are three online ways this might be done:

First, responding in another post, and continuing the conversation.  This might be appropriate with some topics, but it really isn't the answer for every comment.  Pretty soon you'll just be posting about people's comments.  Once in a while, maybe.

Respond with an email.  This is a nice personal touch.  It might be the only way if you need to give a real personal answer.  Obviously if you get dozens of comments every month it could be a lot of work.

Respond with a comment.  This is the most common way to respond, and I think it's the best, although at times you may want to do the other two as well.

I've been noticing a trend - almost all blogs now have commenting, but on a lot of blogs there's no response at all.  So if someone comments they're left wondering - did the person ever read it?  Do they care that I wrote it?  What do they think about it?  You know, kind of the same things you wonder when you post and no one comments!

No, I don't think you MUST respond to EVERY comment.  If you're getting many comments on every post, just an occasional interjection into the conversation is probably enough.  But let people know you're there listening and interested in what they have to say too.

This is especially true if someone new leaves a comment.  I realize that your Mom comments all the time, and you talk to her on the phone.  But there's this new girl that just happened on your site and got interested - let her know you appreciate her input, or her prayers, or her ideas.

Who's been doing a good job on this lately?  May I suggest Sandy's Neipu Notebook, Missionary Mom, Peregrine Sojo - Kitty's Kronicle, and les Davey de France.

Why not look over the last few weeks of posts, and see if there's someone you can respond to?

What do you think - am I waaaay off?  Partly right?  How do you communicate with your visitors?  Leave a comment (I might even respond)!

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More posts with pictures
July 20, 2007 20:56

I decided to do another little hunt for good posts with pictures.  How about these?

Great shots and great thoughts from a silent retreat in Grenada, Spain.

Reflections after a visit to a refugee centre in Brussels, Belgium.  Fantastic shots of the people there in a post entitled Serve The City: Dutch people are cold

Wow, watch out for this approaching storm in Niger!

This missionary has Foto Fridays going with this shot of ladies selling handicrafts in Antigua, Guatemala.

I wasn't supposed to tell, but apparently they do have fun in Swaziland...

And we'll end things off with a post of photos only - images of Beijing, China.

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Postcards - for fun
July 23, 2007 14:55

Usually I don't post things quite like this, but Renae emailed me and we talked about a little fun service she could offer to those of you who want to offer a little encouragement to missionaries.


Renae has collected post cards, and now she wants to mail them.  She would be willing to mail a post card to a missionary of your choice, along with a little text or verse of Scripture.  So the post card would be from you, and she would send it.  You can read more here - Free postcards for missionaries! **UPDATED**.  Sounds like fun!

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