Dear Reader,

As the theme of our first issue of the year, “Homeland” invites us to explore our relationship to the places where we have lived and to the land we live on. 

For some, homeland may be associated with words like “stolen,” “war-torn” and “polarized.” In “Three Books To Deepen Your Understanding of Truth and Reconciliation,” staff writer Sophie Agbonkhese recommends books by Indigenous Canadians for those who want to learn more about the history of this land in advance of Trinity Western University’s Day of Learning on September 26 and Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

To others, homeland may have a more positive connotation, evoking a sense of shared cultural identity. Opinions section editor Cristina Pedraza explores the concept of the homes we live in on the internet in her article “Digital Homes,” asking if our time online is taking us away from the people and places that matter most. 

As Christians, our homeland on Earth is only a temporary one because Heaven is our true home. In this issue’s feature, we remember Assistant Professor of Education Nina Pak Lui and the impact she had on TWU as a passionate educator and the legacy of love she leaves behind as a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. 

While our relationships to our homelands may be ever-changing, I encourage you to reflect on the ground beneath your feet and your countries of origin as you read this issue of Mars’ Hill. Whether you are homesick, wanting to leave your homeland or are in search of a new one, I hope you find a place where the door is always open and the lights are always on. 

Sometimes we find a home in unexpected places, such as in the collegiums over pancake breakfast, when cheering on the Spartans or while walking the Salmon River Trail around McMillan Lake. And if not now, I believe that you will find a space where you belong, welcomed as who you are and who you are meant to be. 

Sincerely,
Sadie McDonald