Tasty Tuesday

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

submitted by Heather over at missionary mama in the making

Ingredients:

1 med. apple, peeled and grated--*calls for granny smith, but I used red delicious*

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups oats, old fashioned or quick cooking

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

generous pinch of ground nutmeg

3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. Peel apple, grate, and toss with lemon juice. Set aside.

2. Beat the sugars and butter in a large bowl until creamy, about 3-4 min. Add egg, beat for 1 min. Stir in the vanilla extract until blended.

3. In a med. bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients and add to the butter/egg mixture slowly beating until just incorporated. Stir in grated apple and walnut pieces.

4. Bake at 350*F for about 10 min for a delicious, soft, melt-in-your mouth cookie. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 min. before transferring to cooling rack. Or even better, wait just long enough for them to not scorch all the taste buds off your tongue and eat every heavenly morsel. Quick!--Before hubby and kids are drawn to the kitchen by the divine aroma that is by now filling your whole house! It won't take them long to sniff out these yummy cookies. And neither you, nor they, are going to be able to stop after just 1. That's my guarantee!

Yield: 2 dozen cookies, and many happy tummies and content, smiling faces!

Enjoy! If you follow the instructions carefully, I KNOW you will!! {wink, smile!}

Our first few days on the field...

Last Wednesday we landed on our mission field.  This is a photo I took a few minutes before landing.  The emotions and feelings I have had the past few days are indescribable, but I'm sure many of you understand.

Our first full day here on the field was Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday.  In Australia Thanksgiving means nothing.  There was a kind man in the church here who found out about Thanksgiving and bought 2 turkeys so we could have Thanksgiving!  How great is our God to put it on this man's heart to buy turkeys so we could still celebrate Thanksgiving!  We had so much to be thankful for!

On second day here was our daughters 9th birthday.  She was a bit sad to not celebrate it with her pappy, grandma, and uncles, but we made the day extra special.  I made her chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, then we went rock climbing with the missionary family here.  For supper we all went to McDonalds!  Autumn came to us later and thanked us for making her birthday so special.

On Sunday, we went to church.  My husband whispered to me, "Look out the window, there's palm trees."  I got teary eyed just stopping to think, "Yes, we're finally here."  I know it's not 'finally' to God, it was all in His perfect timing, but it just felt so good to be here today.  It was a busy day, but we didn't mind a bit.

This week we will be looking at houses (please pray we find the perfect one, and don't get in a rush!), opening bank accounts, and taking care of lots of other paperwork.  Lots of little things to take care of, but most of all we're just looking forward to finding our new normal and getting settled.

While waiting the three years for our visas, I came across this verse, and can "finally:" claim it...

"Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land..."  Psalm 37:34

I stand in awe of our amazing God Who has counted us faithful, putting us into the ministry.  (I Timothy 1:12)

Christmas Blog Hop

Don't forget our Christmas Blog Hop will start on December 5th.

You don't need to do anything special,

just post how you celebrate Christmas on the field,

or your family Christmas pictures,

or a photo of your Christmas tree,

or your favorite Christmas tradition.

Then come back here on December 5th and share your link.

Would you please share our button on your blog?

Just copy the link on the right and post it into your HTML on your blog post or onto your sidebar.

Thanks!

Tasty Tuesday

Submitted by Rebecca Lantz in Uganda

The other day it occurred to me to put this recipe on the blog – I got it from my mother-in-law and have found it so very useful in my cooking… especially if I need a quick meal. I gave the job of making a batch of this on my kids’ job chart for each week. We eat so many foods with it – biscuits, pancakes, coffee cake, chicken pot pie, hot dogs in a blanket, many casseroles, etc. This is the same Bisquick Mix that you can buy in the States.

Bisquick Mix:

9 cups flour

1/3 cup baking powder

1 Tbl. salt

2 tsp. Cream of Tartar

¼ cup sugar

2 cups shortening

Combine the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening (with your hands is easiest). May be frozen for storage.

Missionary Monday

Missionary Interview 

 

Name – Vicki Irene Mansell

Field – Teshio, Hokkaido, Japan

Blog –  www.mansellmusings.blogspot.com

1. Please share your missionary call.

While serving in the youth pastorate in a church in MN the Lord layed on our hearts the needs on the foreign field for church planting during the yearly missions’ conference.  We had no idea where God wanted us; just that He wanted us to go. During one more round of schooling to add some specific missions’ classes, the Lord led a veteran missionary to the campus to share his burden for his area of northern Japan and his willingness to teach and guide us for 2 years so we would not become first term casualties as so many had become in this difficult country.  Within 2 years we were on the field.

2. What do you miss most about the states? —at this stage of our lives—our family members!!; singing in the choir; easy shopping ;-)

3. What food do you miss from the states? flavored ice creams and ‘mixes’

4. What do you love most about your field?  the friendliness and outgoingness to us as foreigners

5. What is a typical meal in your culture? 

Rice; soup; fish; vegetable; some kind of pickled veggie; fruit and except for the rice and soup usually served room temperature.

6. Say something in your language, then translate.--  神は私を愛しえている。God loves me.

7. What are some things you do to help your children not forget family back in the states? when we first came 28 years ago there was no way to keep in contact except through letters and maybe a phone call or two on special days.  So we wrote letters and included pictures and they did the same.  This generation is SO blessed!

8. Please share your favorite Bible verse, or one that has been an encouragement to you.  –My life verse is Proverbs 3:5,6-Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path.  --And along with that is the wall hanging I have: The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

9. What have you found to be the biggest challenge on the mission field?

The LANGUAGE!!  For learning,  but the people are the biggest challenge—they are “Japanese” in their minds and anything to do with ‘our’ God is foreign and not relevant to them.  It takes months and years to reach one soul!! 

10.   Name on thing God has taught you on the mission field.—Patience (see #9)  and waiting on Him for His timing is still always right!

Feel free to share a testimony, word of encouragement or whatever else the Lord lays on your heart.

No matter where God leads us as missionaries/missionary wives we are part of God’s plan for reaching the world.  We need to fit in to our area as well as we can w/o giving up our personal biblical testimony; we need to be extra supportive of our husbands and an encouragement to them; we need to be in the Word together as well as individually; And know that God is with us through all circumstances small or great!!  Nothing is impossible with Him!

Thank you and God bless you,

Vicki Mansell

www.worldtell.com

Learning to be Thankful ~ Devotional Friday

“LEARNING TO BE THANKFUL”

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesús Christ:”

Ephesians 5:20

If we learned to obey this verse, we would all live happier, more peaceful lives.  We have to LEARN to be thankful for the things we’re going through, for the things we have, and for the things we don’t have.

There are two words in this verse, two key phrases, or formulas for happiness, and peace:

 

ALWAYS

ALL THINGS

ALWAYS:  when we have money, and when we’re broke.

ALWAYS:  when our children are right with God, and when we’re having trouble with them.

ALWAYS:  when we feel good, and when we have a migraine.

ALWAYS:  when we got 8 hours of sleep the night before, and when we feel like we’re sleep walking.

ALL THINGS:  for our friends, and for our enemies

ALL THINGS:  for those who encourage us, and for those who criticize us.

ALL THINGS:  for sunny days, and rainy days.

ALL THINGS:  for leisure time, and for too much work

The best way to fulfill this command…because that’s what it is…in Ephesians 5:20 is to follow these suggestions:

1. Take your eyes off yourself.  Did you know there are other people in this world besides you?  There are others out there who are going through things you will never go through.  If you have a headache, thank the Lord that you’re not like others who have brain tumors.  Go to the hospital, the nursing home, the jail.  I just returned from a trip to Ukraine and Israel.  I’ve seen so much suffering that I don’t have a right to ever complain.  Esther and Lisette live in war zones in Israel…Babushka Taya…in Ukraine…Lyuda…fire…Alina.  You’ve heard the saying:  “I complained about not having any shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.”  You can always find someone who is having a harder time than you are.
2. Focus on the needs of others.  Try to be a blessing to others.  God has put so many people in my path who sacrifice to see that I am comfortable…Sue Hutto.
3. Count your blessings.  On my return from Ukraine, my flight was canceled in New York, on the last flight of my trip.  I had to spend the night in the lobby of the Holiday Inn.  I began to thank the Lord for a lovely, safe place to stay, for a sense of humor; for my health; for my sons who were concerned for me, and couldn’t do anything but pray; for my own private nightwatchman.
4. Run the devil off.  The devil’s mission is to make you miserable, and ungrateful.  The Bible says in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  The best way to run the devil off, is to submit yourself to God.  When the devil sees that we’re doing the will of God, the Bible says that he’ll flee from us.  And the will of God is to keep a thankful heart.  If we’re commanded to be thankful, then it’s a sin to complain, and never be thankful for what we have.  Confess your sin to the Lord.  Treat the sin of complaining as the sin of lying, or stealing or adultery.  Ask God to give you the victory over your sin, and He’ll do it…and the devil will flee from you.
5. Show your gratitude to God, by serving others.  Do you know why I’m a missionary?  Do you know why I spent thousands of dollars going to Ukraine and Israel?  Do you know why I feel it is a privilege to spend the night in a chair in the middle of New York City, and spend three months away from home?  Because God has done more for me than perhaps anyone else in the world.  It’s very possible that you’re looking at the happiest lady in the whole world, and everything I do, isn’t a sacrifice to me, because He’s done so much for me, that I could live a lifetime, and never repay Him.  But I can show Him my gratitude serving Him and others the rest of my life.  And so can you.

I Thessalonians 5:18  “In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Written by Mrs. Billie Sloan

Tasty Tuesday

Stuffing Balls

submitted by Tati Cordeiro

 *1 loaf of French bread (cut it into large chunks and let it lay out for 1-2 days until it gets very dry and crusty; then break it into 1" pieces and put in a garbage bag)
 
*Dump 2 cans of chicken broth into the bag w/ the bread
 
*Melt 1-2 sticks of butter (I like 1 stick, mom likes 2) and dump that in the bag with the bread
 
*Finely chop a large onion and dump that in the bag (you can use more or less onion, just depends on how much you like onion...I like it alot and we usually use 2-3 small onions in ours)
 
*Add salt and pepper to taste
 
Mix everything in a bag or a bowl.
 
Gather the bag at the top and then just jumble it all together inside the bag. The bread should be moist enough to form into balls. Put the balls on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until they are brown and slightly crispy on the outside.

It's Not About Me, It's About Him - Devotional Friday

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

John 3:30

A few years ago I went to a Ladies Retreat with a good friend.  The theme for the weekend was "It's Not About Me, It's About Him".  I am always amazed at how God brings these things into our life when we need it most, actually I need to be reminded of this daily. 

Life gets busy.  As a missionary women, wife, mother, you know this.  You get busy in the ministry.  Sometimes we get so busy we forget Who we are serving, and are doing things just to get them done.  Let's be honest, when we the last time you were relived Sunday was over so you could get some rest?  I think we all have, but when we stop and ponder - "It's not about me, it's about Him", it could change your whole perspective.

When my daughter interrupts my devotions for a question, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."  When my son wakes me up in the middle of the night, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."  When my husband ask for a snack just as I was about to take that much needed shower, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."  When a friend calls because she's had a bad day when my to-do list is forever long, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."

It's not about me, it's about Him.  Now, I don't always stop and think like I said above, but oh, how I wish I could redo some of these moments.  Instead of thinking of them as inconveniences, I ought to think of them as opportunities to serve.

It's not about me, it's about Him.  It's all for Him.  My daily service to my family.  My daily service to my friends.  My daily service to my church.  It's all for Him.

"He must increase, but I must decrease."  John 3:30

By Jen Bauer - Be Thou Exalted

Christmas Blog Hop

Ladies, Carole and I are excited to announce The Baptist Missionary Women Christmas Blog Hop. No idea what a blog hop is? Well, let me explain. During the week of December 5th we will put up a special post about the blog hop. At the bottom of the post there will be a place for you to link up with your blog.

You do not have to write a special post to link up, but we would love it if you did!  You could share your family Christmas photo, photos of your house at Christmas time, or write about a special Christmas tradition your family does on the field. 

You have some time to think about what you want.  The Blog Hop will start December 5th and go through December 9th.  Carole and I are excited about the Blog Hop, and we think it's another great way to get to know each other better. 

Tasty Tuesday

Tomato Soup

Submitted by Rachel's Reflections

2 liters of tomato juice

Finely dice (1) onion (1) carrot (1/4 – ½) bell pepper (I use an attachment on my mixer that gets it really small)

Add 2 cups of chicken broth (I make my chicken broth with a bouillon cube)

Oregano

Basil

Parsley

Then I make a white sauce in another pan

5 tbsp of butter

5 tbsp of flour

Slowly add 2 cups of milk

Cook until it thickens to your liking

Add to soup and enjoy!

Missionary Monday

We understand the busy life of a missionary. It seems there is never enough time in the day! We also understand the missionary's need for fellowship. We hope this blog will in some way help with that need. We desire for this to be a place for all of us missionary women to come together for encouragement, help, and fellowship.

Here's where you come in! If you are a Baptist Missionary Wife or Single Missionary we want YOU to be a contributor! Below are some of the regular features we plan to add to the blog. Please feel free to add your own suggestions!

Missionary Monday - Share something about life on your mission field.

Tasty Tuesday - Send us your favorite recipes with pictures if possible.

Thankful Thursday - Share your Blessings!

Devotional Fridays - Each Friday we want to post a devotional. If you are willing to write one please send them to our email address.

We want to introduce a missionary each week (or month, this blog is still a work in progress!). If you are willing to participate please email us and we will send you a brief list of questions which we will post, along with your answers, to help us all get to know each other. We'd also like a picture of you! We'll post the "interview", your picture, your blog (if you have one) and your web-page (also if you have one). It will be a fun way to get to know each other and know more how to pray for you and your field.

Each month we will feature Household tips, and a Question and Answer time. The question will be asked in the blog post and all you missionary ladies can answer in the comments section. Email any tips or questions to our email address.

PLEASE email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com if you are willing to be a contributor to this blog! No pressure, you can contribute once or many times.

Thank You All!

Tasty Tuesday

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Submitted by From the Heart of Mrs. Missionary

Prepare pancake batter.  (Click here for her buttermilk pancake recipe.)  In a separate bowl, mix together 1/4 c. butter, 1 tbs cinnamon and 1/2 c. brown sugar.  Pour pancake batter onto buttered skillet and swirl in cinnamon mixture.  Drop it in and swirl with a knife.