Missionary Monday - Meet Sarah Litson

Name – Sarah Litson

Field – New Brunswick, Canada

1.    Please share your missionary call. 

When I was a little girl, a missionary from South Africa came to our church and showed her slides.  I told my parents that night after church that I knew God wanted me to be a missionary someday.  As I got older and other worldly influences started to creep into my life, they continued to remind me of that decision.  I am so thankful for my parents.  As a senior in high school, I again determined to follow what I felt God had called me to do.  I met my husband as a sophomore in Bible college.  He too, had already surrendered to missions.

2. What do you miss most about the states?

Technically, I can see the state of Maine from my house :) , but it is still a long ways from friends and family in Oklahoma.  I also miss Mexican food!

3. What food do you miss from the states? 

Flaming Hot Cheetos  :) 

4. What do you love most about your field?

We’ve only been here since last September, but I would have to say after living 10 years in a tropical climate, I am really enjoying the change of seasons.  Fall was just beautiful.

5. What is a typical meal in your culture?

 During the winter months, they eat a lot of soups and stews.  So yummy on a cold day!

6. Say something in your language, then translate.

S’il vous plait, priez pour la famille et pour l’Eglise Baptist Independante d’Edmundston.  Please pray for our family and for Edmundston Independent Baptist Church.

7. What are some things you do to help your children not forget family back in the states?

We skype as often as we can.  It helps them to see their faces as we talk.  We have a digital picture frame that we filled with photos of our kids with cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. 

8. Please share your favorite Bible verse, or one that has been an encouragement to you. 

 Philippians 1:20-21  “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Missionary wife, Tanna Collins shared those verses with my 9th grade Sunday School class and just a few years later, she, her husband and their five children were killed in a plane crash returning to the field.  Her testimony at our missions conference that year was amazing and really stuck with me.

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

Canada is so much different from Africa and I have to remind myself not to compare the two.  For example, daily life in Africa was at times, quite difficult, but the ministry there was very rewarding.  Here, the day to day life seems easier, while ministry is slower.  God is in control of both situations and it’s important for us to stay faithful wherever He puts us.

10. Name on thing God has taught you on the mission field. 

There is always someone who has it worse than you.  I’ve tried to always tell myself that no matter where we are and what is happening at the time, that I just need to “buck up” and not feel sorry for myself.  There is someone out there in a worse situation than me.  I think we are spoiled as missionaries today.  Those who went on before us, did it without the internet, without skype (or any telephones at all), and without the opportunity to pack up and fly home at a moment’s notice.  We are so blessed!

Are you interested in being interviewed?  Please email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com

This weeks theme was for you to share your Sunday!

Next weeks theme - Share your house.

When Life Is Not What You Pictured

Living in Reality

Article by:

Suza Rasmussen

Instructor, West Coast Baptist College

http://ministry127.com/ladies-ministry/when-life-is-not-what-you-pictured

Do you remember when you were young and dreaming about the future? That’s usually a time when we are very idealistic. We think, “I’m going to have the perfect marriage…just like in the old movies. I’m going to be a really good wife, and my husband will be rich and handsome. My kids are not going to act like that! I’m going to get to travel and have exotic vacations. I’m going to be a really good Christian…” and on and on we would dream.

A few years later, when the road gets a little bumpy, if we’re not careful, we can become pessimistic. We think, “This marriage thing is not as easy as it looks… I can be such a nag. This cycle of cleaning and cooking never ends. I wonder how my kids are going to turn out… it’s so hard to always be consistent. I don’t think the teachers at school like my kids. There is more month than money. I must not be a very good Christian for all these things to be happening.”

Instead of becoming pessimistic (which can lead to being cynical), let me encourage you to become realistic.

Realize God loves you unconditionally. When earthly relationships are challenging, God’s love for you never changes. This will give you the security to go on (see Jeremiah 31:3).

Realize that God is good all the time. Be positive and look for the blessings. Don’t dwell on the negative (see Romans 8:28).

Realize that whatever God is doing is just fine with you, because God knows best. When your dreams are dashed, God has something better (see Isaiah 55:8).

Realize that happiness and contentment come from God alone. Don’t rely on anyone else for your happiness. With God, there is always hope (see Romans 15:13).

Realize that you must keep short accounts with God and with others. Forgive and let it go. Forgive yourself. God does not forgive us because we deserve it; He forgives us because of what Christ did for us (see Ephesians 4:32).

Realize that God will give you grace to live with the consequences of your sin (see Romans 5:20).

When we come to realize all of these truths, the final stage in our spiritual journey is contentment. This comes from trusting God; He will bring us into our desired haven (see Psalm 107:25-30). My challenge to you: don’t float along in the idealistic stage or sink into the pessimistic stage, but allow God to grow you through realizing all He has for you so that you rest in contentment!

I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11b

Green Pepper Chicken

Hello, wherever you are in the world!
At this moment, I'm in Michigan, but a week from today, I'll be getting on a great big plane and flying home to Ghana!
How very excited I am (along with all the other emotions I'm feeling right now)!
Hope you've enjoyed the copycat recipes over the last few weeks!
Today I'm going to bring you a Sorta-Chinese dish. I say sorta because I'm positive it's not authentic. But, I'm posting it here because it is still delicious, and I'm not really sure what other description I could post it under.
Besides, you eat it on top of white rice.....that makes it Chinese, right?!?
{I'm sure any missionaries to China might disagree!}

Green Pepper Chicken

2 Tbsp. oil
1 lb boneless chicken, cut into 1-in. pieces (whatever cut you prefer, breasts or thighs)
1 c. water
1/2 c. ketchup
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. flour
1 lg. onion, halved and cut into thin slices
2 green peppers, cut into thin slices
1 can sliced mushrooms, drained

cooked white rice for serving

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add chicken; cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally. In a medium sized bowl whisk water, ketchup, soy sauce, and pepper; gradually whisk in the flour. Remove chicken from skillet. Stir in the water-ketchup mixture and bring to a boil; add chicken and the onion. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add peppers and mushrooms and simmer, covered, for 15 more minutes, stirring occasionaly. (Watch closely at the end as it will start to stick).
Serve over rice.

  Do you like Chinese food? I do! And I'm definitely eating my fill of all the kinds I can't get in Ghana before we go back :)
What's your favorite Chinese dish?

Missionary Monday

A Day in the Life of YOU!

Please share how a typical day goes for you.

Next week's theme - Your Sunday

Change Your Attitude!

I don't know how many times over the years I have said this to my children..."change your attitude!"  Kids just don't like to be told what to do. They don't see things from our adult vantage point. They only know they don't like it!

Just the other day we had some friends over for the night. She and I were preparing breakfast when she needed to stop and correct her daughter. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Megan cross her arms in protest. Becky, the good Mommy she is, didn't let that pass. "Meggy, you don't cross your arms at Mommy." What Megan needed was an attitude change.

Sometimes there are things God brings into my life that, well...I just don't like. I don't see them from His vantage point - only mine. With arms crossed I have my little attitude. I can picture Him looking down on me saying, "Tammy, you don't cross your arms at your Father." Now you know what I'm going to say next...what I need is an attitude change.

How do we change our attitude? Well, changing our attitude isn't about changing our situation. It's about changing the way we choose to react. Like how we react when the neighbor's music is too loud and it's past midnight. How we react when we're cut off in traffic. How we react when we're called a derogatory name because we're foreigners. Or how about how we react when someone eats the last horded Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. Now I'm preaching to the choir! This is where we are at. We live in places where everything around us is different. Some days we just really don't like it! BUT,  that is exactly where God wants us. He is not only using us to spread the Gospel, He is using our environment to conform us to the image of His Son.  Romans 8:29a - "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..."

When we surrendered to God's call to go to another land and give the Good News of the Gospel, and see lives changed, we didn't realize that much of the change was going to be in us. We only saw part of God's plan. Sort of like Jonah. Jonah knew God wanted to warn the Ninevites of their coming destruction if they didn't repent, but what he failed to understand was that God also wanted his own heart to be changed.

So let's be challenged today to let the Word of God transform us - to change our attitude. It's not us trying harder. It's allowing Him to work in our hearts and change us from the inside out.

Missionary Monday

Lord, I give up
All my own plans and purposes,
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all,
Utterly to Thee
To be Thine forever.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit.
Use me as Thou wilt,
Send me where Thou wilt,
Work out Thy whole will in my life
At any cost,
Now and forever.- Betty Scott Stam (Martyred in China, in the 1930s)

I've been pondering this Missionary Monday these past few weeks.  Trying to decide how to make it more "popular" if you will.  So, I thought we would try weekly themes.  Every Monday I will announce the following week's theme.  This gives you a week to get your post ready.  I know there are many of you who blog (because I read your blogs!).  So, this week, just link up a recent post of something you did...anything!

Next week's (4/23) theme: A Day in the Life of You! 

Post how a typical day goes for you.  This should be fun!

Devotional Friday

Losing the Weight of the World

Julia Bettencourt

Today Julia Bettencourt of Creative Ladies Ministry posted a weight loss devotional.  I know weight loss is something many women deal with and I enjoyed how Julia also brought in how to lose the weight of the world.  Please take a few minutes to click on the link above and read this devotional!

Our New Button

I created a new button for our blog, and would love for you to add it to your blog's sidebar.  Simply use the code there on the right under the box.  Thanks!

Missionary Monday

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.

How was your Easter?

Come link up...

Devotional Friday

This is a special time of year when we remember the death and burial of our Lord and Saviour and Rejoice in His Ressurection!  As missionary wives and mothers what are some ways you celebrate His Ressurection while on the Mission Field?  Do you have special traditions that you do each year with your children? 

Jolene who blogs at With Love fom Israel has been placed in Israel for a time.  It has been exciting to read about her and her family's life there as well as learn more about The Holy Land.

She has recently started a new series and I thought this week would be an appropriate time to share this.  Jolene shares great pictures and very interesting information about the Jews and their Homeland.  Please take a moment to stop by the Tour Israel Series!

The Dawn

 Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Allelujah!

Praise the Lord and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has made us Easter people by raising Jesus from the dead.

He lived and died in past history.

But He lives today and influences present history.

Christ is risen. He is alive.

We celebrate His triumph.

We recognize His presence.

We applaud His achievements.

We declare our love for Him.

Rejoice, then, even in your distress.

He has called us from darkness into light.

Allelujah!

by: Charles Swindoll

The Darkness and the Dawn

Copycat Rotisserie Chicken

.

Who couldn't use a recipe for rotisserie chicken in their crockpot? Certainly not me! This is lovely for dinner, but is also great for sandwiches and salads at lunch time! Thanks,Emily!

Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken

1 broiler/fryer chicken (3.5-4 lbs)
2 Tbsp Paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional!)
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
2 Tbsp garlic powder or 3 cloves garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Place all of your ingredients in a small bowl and stir in water by the teaspoon until a paste forms. Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and place the chicken in, breast side up.
Coat the chicken inside and out with the paste. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or on high 3.5-4.5 hours. Make sure the thickest part of the thigh registers at 180 degrees.

This is a great make-ahead recipe...what are some of your go-to foods when you need something quick?

Missionary Monday ~ Meet Jen Bauer

MISSIONARY INTERVIEW

Name – Jen Bauer

Field – Darwin, NT Australia

Blog – www.bethouexalted.blogspot.com

1.  Please share your missionary call.

Growing up I had surrendered to full-time Christian service.  I had assumed I would be a pastor’s wife.  After my first semester in Bible college, I felt the Lord calling me into missions.  I had no idea where, but I was willing to go wherever He wanted me.  Before my second year of college I began dating a man (who is know my husband!).  He had been called to Australia when he was six years old.  We knew the Lord’s will included us for each other.  So, we joked that I was called to Patrick, and he was called to Australia.  But it was during our survey trip in 2004, that the Lord burdened my heart for the people of Australia.  I remember we were helping with a youth activity, and I was sitting amongst a group of Aboriginal children, and I just felt the Lord speaking to my heart, telling me this is where I belonged.  This was home.  I still get choked up thinking of that special moment the Lord gave me.  I never thought it would take us nearly 8 years to get back here, but it was worth the wait.  This is our home!

2. What do you miss most about the states?
My family.  My church. The variety of restaurants. Hersheys.  Kohls.

3. What food do you miss from the states?
Reese’s peanut butter eggs.

4. What do you love most about your field?
The people.  Their accent!  Living 20 minutes from the ocean. The flowers. 

5.  What is a typical meal in your culture?

It’s very similar to America.  Meatpie is something I find they really enjoy here, and vegemite on toast.  They also sell kangaroo in the grocery store.

6.  Say something in your language, then translate.
G’day mate…she’ll be right, mate…you get the idea!

7.  What are some things you do to help your children not forget family back in the states?
Lots of photos around the house.  Weekly calls home, and occasional video chats.

8.  Please share your favorite Bible verse, or one that has been an encouragement to you.
Isaiah 55:8-9…I often need to be reminded that His ways are higher than my ways, and He doesn’t need my help.

9.  What have you found to be the biggest challenge on the mission field?
Loneliness.  I think most women struggle with this.  I also miss date nights with my husband.

10.  Name one thing God has taught you on the mission field.

That He is in control.  Don’t get me wrong, I know this, we all do, but we all need to be reminded…sometimes daily!

We waited for nearly three years for our visa.  He has a reason and plan for everything.  I sometimes still wonder why he had us wait that long, but one of my closest friends was met during that wait. 

We also had some misconceptions when arriving (as I'm sure most of us have), but my husband and I prayed and left it all in God’s hands, and asked Him to use us and bring glory to His name.  We have found that although things were not as we expected God knew before us when He led us here.  He never makes mistakes.  And honestly, we couldn't have picked a more perfect place to live!  I’ve never been more content with my life than I am right now.  What an incredible honor to serve such an amazing God. 

God is good…all the time.


*The first Monday of every month we interview a fellow missionary women/wife/mother.  Would you like to be interviewed?  Just email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com

Now please link up with your lastest Missionary Monday post!