{"id":3670,"date":"2020-06-07T03:52:38","date_gmt":"2020-06-07T03:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/?p=3670"},"modified":"2025-04-10T21:21:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T21:21:42","slug":"ordinary-people-debbie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/","title":{"rendered":"Ordinary People: Debbie"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Inlander Blog&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#8f8f8f&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/04\/Inlander-blog-header4.png&#8221; background_size=&#8221;contain&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; min_height=&#8221;151px&#8221; height=&#8221;100px&#8221; max_height=&#8221;100px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|1px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||0px|false|false&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Story post&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#3a3a3a&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Lead image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-1024&#215;684-1.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Debbie-W-1024&#215;684&#8243; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Blog Lead Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; animation=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]&nbsp;[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Main post&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#898989&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||60px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#f4f4f4&#8243; divider_position=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; height=&#8221;0px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;50px|10%|20px|10%|false|false&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; header_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<style> body{ font-family: minion-pro, font-size: 16px; serif; } <\/style>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_post_title et_pb_post_title_0 et_pb_bg_layout_dark  et_pb_text_align_center\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_title_container\">\n<h2 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Ordinary People: Debbie<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Sub-head&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Roboto|500|||||||&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; max_width=&#8221;80%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|10%||10%&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<style> body{ font-family: minion-pro, font-size: 16px; serif; } <\/style>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0  et_pb_text_align_center et_pb_bg_layout_dark\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">For Debbie, what began as a two-year ministry term blossomed into a 30-year career<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#f4f4f4&#8243; divider_position=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; height=&#8221;0px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|10%|20px|10%&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Main text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Georgia||||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;2em&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|10%|30px|10%&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<style> body{ font-family: minion-pro, font-size: 16px; serif; } <\/style>\n<p><strong>When Debbie was in college<\/strong>\u00a0studying elementary education, she came across a brochure of missionary teaching opportunities and, in her un-subtle way, \u201cwrote to all of them.\u201d God directed her to Africa Inland Mission, and although she did not yet have any teaching experience, they took a chance and accepted her. God put a stamp on that deal by bringing in all of her support in just four weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Her enthusiasm unchecked, Debbie inadvertently showed up in Africa a week early. \u201cNo one was expecting me,\u201d she laughs, as she recalled being stranded at the guesthouse and begging a ride on an airplane in order to make her way to eastern Congo. Timing would become something of a theme in Debbie\u2019s missionary career. Not necessarily bad timing, or good timing for that matter. Perhaps simply the right timing for a grander plan that God would orchestrate.<\/p>\n<p>In 1988, she landed on the slippery grass airstrip at AIM\u2019s Rethy Academy and became the new fifth- and sixth-grade teacher. Rethy was a bustling mission station set in the hills of northeastern Congo, featuring a printing press, radio station, hospital, church, and the boarding school with forty missionary kids.<\/p>\n<p>Brother and sister teammates David and Joyce Richardson would make an especially important impression on Debbie. Over the course of her two-year term, Debbie watched the Richardson\u2019s in their humble and selfless devotion to the local people and thought to herself, \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave this place until I love these people like they do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And with that, Debbie opened herself up to ministry beyond what she had defined for herself. A love for the people turned into a deeper love for ministering in Africa, and that initial two-year term has blossomed into a career. This May, Debbie marked thirty years of teaching on the continent.<\/p>\n<p>After a short stint in Bible school, Debbie returned to Rethy in time for the August 1996 start of classes, and as she says, \u201cjust in time for the evacuation.\u201d In December, to escape an approaching militia, the entire station evacuated. In January, the station was looted and decimated\u2014collateral damage in what\u2019s known as the \u201cfirst Congo war,\u201d and the beginning of a conflict that would span more than a decade and kill millions.<\/p>\n<p>But Debbie was undeterred. She returned to a different part of Congo in August of 1998 to open a one-room schoolhouse for the small group of missionaries in Bunia. She flew in on the last plane before the second wave of rebellion. \u201cIt was the second time I would leave everything but a ten-kilo bag behind to be looted,\u201d she says. \u201cIn the thick of it, you tend to stay calm. As a teacher, I had an emergency mode, where I don\u2019t think of anything but keeping the kids calm. But later, when you get to [safety], that\u2019s when it hits you. You become jello. It becomes real, and then you ask yourself, \u2018Why didn\u2019t I bring out the chocolate?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Debbie stayed in Nairobi, Kenya for twenty-six days, recuperating, mourning, and praying about what was to come next. While there, AIM\u2019s Rift Valley Academy boarding school in Kenya called, saying they were desperate for a fourth-grade teacher. It just so happened that some of the children who\u2019d evacuated with her from Congo were in fourth grade. \u201cIt was so clear to me that God wanted me there,\u201d she explains. \u201cThe children would have someone who had that same history with them. It was a great decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She served at RVA for twelve years, the longest she\u2019s lived in one place, and eventually, she became the school\u2019s elementary principal, a teaching and administration challenge that prepared her for her next mission: launching a day-school in faraway Chad.<\/p>\n<p>For years, AIM had dreamt of sending missionaries to Chad, a hard-to-reach country in the middle of the continent, but a place open to the gospel message. But the biggest obstacle for recruiting? There was no school for the missionary children. Debbie heard the need loud and clear and arrived in N\u2019djamena, the capital city, in early 2010. In March, they broke ground for Wellspring Academy, and by August 11th, the school term began.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStarting a new school is like having a newborn,\u201d Debbie explains. \u201cThe building was finished, but the school was just taking form.\u201d She and her one other staff member wrote policies and schedules, tutored children to prepare them for an English-speaking school, and ordered books for the library and arranged for their delivery. By the end of the first year, Wellspring Academy had sixteen students. And by the second year, they had a third teacher and the beginnings of a junior high.<\/p>\n<p>Today, the school continues to thrive. The primary school has busy, colorful, well-structured classrooms and teachers who are larger than life, heroes to their kids. Birthday songs and the school anthem fill the humid air, and the children enjoy recess and free time in the dust. No matter how hot and dirty their playground is, to them, it\u2019s \u201cthe best.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These kids will undoubtedly build fond memories: of the felled tree and the tire swings in the courtyard, of the classrooms running ninety degrees or hotter, and of friendships forged in the shared adventure of being missionary kids in Africa. Those memories will be possible, in part, because of Debbie\u2019s openness to God\u2019s calling and God\u2019s timing. She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople ask me if it makes me feel old,\u201d Debbie says. \u201cAnd I say, \u2018No, it makes me feel proud.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,2_3&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Author bio&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/wellspring-kids-playing.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;wellspring-kids-playing&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; animation=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<style> body{ font-family: minion-pro, font-size: 16px; serif; } <\/style>\n<p><strong>Story by Mike Delorenzo and Heidi Thulin, AIM On-field Media<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Students at Wellspring Academy enjoy a spirited game of ball in the school\u2019s playground. Debbie helped found Wellspring in 2010 to provide a quality educational option for the children of missionaries serving in the central African nation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Feeling like an &#8220;ordinary&#8221; person like Debbie, but pondering ways to make a difference in people&#8217;s lives? <\/strong>\u00a0Explore the possibilities for serving on our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/serve\/\">Serve page<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or sign up for our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/explore-more\/\">Explore More<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0email series to learn more.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;http:\/\/aimstories.com\/ordinary-people\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;More articles in this %22Ordinary People%22 series&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;left&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_border_radius=&#8221;24px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|300|||||||&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;50px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;3px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;More posts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#282828&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;35px|||||&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; max_width=&#8221;1080px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Roboto|100|||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;42px&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;35px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>More Posts<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; max_width=&#8221;1080px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_blog fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; posts_number=&#8221;3&#8243; include_categories=&#8221;25&#8243; show_author=&#8221;off&#8221; show_date=&#8221;off&#8221; show_categories=&#8221;off&#8221; show_pagination=&#8221;off&#8221; offset_number=&#8221;1&#8243; masonry_tile_background_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;25&#8243; body_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||20px|&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; custom_css_after=&#8221;padding-bottom: 30;&#8221; border_width_all=&#8221;0px&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_blog][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; height=&#8221;0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/stories&#8221; button_text=&#8221;All Posts&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;17px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;2px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; button_border_radius=&#8221;25px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.2)&#8221; button_letter_spacing_hover=&#8221;0&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_size__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_text_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_width__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_border_radius__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;on&#8221; button_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;0&#8243; button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_bg_color__hover=&#8221;null&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":3675,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ordinary People: Debbie - AIM Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ordinary People: Debbie - AIM Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AIM Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-06-07T03:52:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-10T21:21:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"250\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"rshaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"rshaw\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"rshaw\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eee016cb59553115d9024495231505e4\"},\"headline\":\"Ordinary People: Debbie\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-07T03:52:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-10T21:21:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2166,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/46\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Article\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/\",\"name\":\"Ordinary People: Debbie - AIM Canada\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/46\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-07T03:52:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-10T21:21:42+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eee016cb59553115d9024495231505e4\"},\"description\":\"She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/46\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/46\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":250},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/07\\\/ordinary-people-debbie\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Ordinary People: Debbie\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/\",\"name\":\"AIM Canada\",\"description\":\"Africa Inland Mission\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/eee016cb59553115d9024495231505e4\",\"name\":\"rshaw\",\"sameAs\":[\"Ron Shaw\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aimint.org\\\/ca\\\/author\\\/rshaw\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Ordinary People: Debbie - AIM Canada","description":"She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Ordinary People: Debbie - AIM Canada","og_description":"She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d","og_url":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/","og_site_name":"AIM Canada","article_published_time":"2020-06-07T03:52:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-10T21:21:42+00:00","og_image":[{"width":400,"height":250,"url":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"rshaw","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"rshaw","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/"},"author":{"name":"rshaw","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/eee016cb59553115d9024495231505e4"},"headline":"Ordinary People: Debbie","datePublished":"2020-06-07T03:52:38+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-10T21:21:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/"},"wordCount":2166,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg","articleSection":["Article"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/","url":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/","name":"Ordinary People: Debbie - AIM Canada","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg","datePublished":"2020-06-07T03:52:38+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-10T21:21:42+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/eee016cb59553115d9024495231505e4"},"description":"She\u2019s followed her love for missionary children from the Congo to Kenya to Chad and has (so far) taught nearly four hundred students. Meet Debbie, one of AIM\u2019s \u201cOrdinary People.\u201d","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2020\/06\/Debbie-W-400x250-1.jpg","width":400,"height":250},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/2020\/06\/07\/ordinary-people-debbie\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Ordinary People: Debbie"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/","name":"AIM Canada","description":"Africa Inland Mission","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/eee016cb59553115d9024495231505e4","name":"rshaw","sameAs":["Ron Shaw"],"url":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/author\/rshaw\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3670"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7812,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3670\/revisions\/7812"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aimint.org\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}