She shall be saved in childbearing???

Bill and I are teaching through the New Testament to our workers. (Pastor Pelegrino and Pendo.) We are currently in the book of 1 Timothy. As we studied chapter 2 about the roles of women and men in the church we came to verse 15. "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." Of course we know from studying other verses that this isn't talking about obtaining salvation by the works of bearing children. Some would say it refers to a woman being the one to give birth to the Messiah, however, the commentary I read says that in the context it is referring to the fact that although women are not permitted roles of leadership within the church, she has the important role of training godly children in her home.

Let us not forget how important our role as wife and mother is. God did not make a mistake when He gave us the great responsibility of motherhood. Just this morning I got the sweetest message from my oldest son Tim who is attending Heartland Baptist Bible College. He said, "I love you guys so much, Mom and Dad! Thank you for being such amazing, God-fearing parents! God has blessed me more than I can ever thank Him for because of you guys!" I didn't write that to toot my own horn. I write it because I know that when our children are little we often don't hear thank you's. I just want to say DON'T GIVE UP! Even when it is hard, just keep pressing on; keep loving them, training them, and preparing them for their future life. Don't lose sight of the fact that the days of diapers and spills will come to an end. If we don't grow weary and faint, we will reap what we sow.

Proverbs 31:28a "Her children arise up, and call her blessed..."

This was originally posted on Tammy's blog  in May of 2010

Skillet Lasagna

Who likes lasagna? I'm definitely raising my hand on that one!
For a long time, I was not able to have lasagna here in Ghana because, one, there were nothing like lasagna noodles (and I've only tried making pasta of any kind once and it was an absolute disaster!), and two, the few kinds of cheese we could get were VERY expensive!
We can now get lasagna noodles, but cheese is still limited and though not as costly as it used to be, it ain't cheap!
When I found this recipe, I was thrilled! And when I made it, my family was thrilled!
Now maybe you can get cheese cheaply where you live. That is still no reason not to make this.
It's cheaper than regular lasagna and much, much faster! Plus, no baking, so on really hot days, no need to heat up the kitchen more than normal!

Skillet Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
8 curly lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
1 jar (26 oz) marinara/tomato/spaghetti sauce
2 c. water
1 c. shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or whatever you've got!)
3/4 c. ricotta or cottage cheese, optional (it really isn't necessary! I've never had either and it still
          tastes great!)

Cook meat in a large skillet over med-high heat, stirring often to break up meat, 4-5 minutes, or until browned. Drain off fat. Stir in noodles, sauce and water; bring to a boil. Cover: reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, 18 minutes or until noodles are tender. Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Spoon ricotta on top (if using); add remaining shredded cheese. Cover 3 minutes to melt cheese.

Enjoy!

Missionary Monday ~ Laundry

This week's theme - Laundry!

Share how you do laundry!

Next week's theme - Your Church

Devotional Friday

In Everything Give Thanks

I Thessalonians 5:18

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you".

Each Sunday we learn a verse together as a church. A few weeks ago this verse was on the board. This is one of those verses that I've known my (almost) entire life. But, for some reason I saw this verse as never before. In every thing thanks. I started to wonder; do I thank God for everything, or just the good that comes in my life? Am I thankful for the many sleepless nights I've sat up with my baby, or am I just thankful when she finally sleeps again?

With this verse on my mind and heart I started to look at my life a bit differently. Instead of complaining of no sleep, I can choose to be thankful for the extra moments I get to spend with my sweet baby who is growing up much too quickly. Instead of complaining of dreary weather, I can choose to be thankful for the time spent indoors with my children working on household projects or playing a new game. Instead of missing loved ones back in the States I can choose to be thankful for the modern technology that allows us to continue to be a part of each other's lives.

The list can go on and on. I've lost loved ones since being on the field, but I can be thankful we will see them again. Instead of grieving over friends who are moving away I can be thankful for the wonderful times we've shared together and the way our lives have been enriched by their friendship.

This week I challenge you, let's be thankful in ALL things. In Everything! I determine to be thankful for each and every circumstance that comes my way, whether it be lovely or not. Will you join me?

What Missionaries Ought to Know about Children’s Adjustment

People living and working in other cultures may think that they do not need to give much thought to taking their preschool and primary children along. Parents may think that although the children may not want to go, they will soon adjust and be happy in the new culture.

Although this scenario is often the case, it is not always so. Children who do not want to go sometimes never adjust, refuse to learn the language, refuse to make friends, and talk about going home for years.

Parents can increase the likelihood that their preadolescent children will make the transitions to and from the host culture successfully. Following are suggestions that may increase the chances of your child having a good experience in another country.

On your mark! (Parenting)

Probably the most important factor in the adjustment of children is the relationship between their parents. Someone has said, “The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” Although parents may not realize it, children are aware when problems exist between their parents.

Living in another culture is difficult for any marriage, so if you have not developed good methods of communication and resolving conflict, please take time to do so before going. Then you will be able to adequately do the following P’s of Parenting:

• Presence. Parents are available for children. Of course, there will be times of separation, but when not out of town, parents should “schedule” time with their children.
• Provision. Parents provide for their children’s needs, not only financial and physical needs but also spiritual, relational, and emotional ones.
• Protection. Parents protect children by setting boundaries and by administering consequences as well as by their physical presence in times of danger.
• Permission. Parents give permission to express emotions in age-appropriate ways as well as to try new things and take risks.

Get set! (Preparation)

Although children need not be involved when the idea of serving cross-culturally first comes up, they want to have their voice heard as a part of the family when it is seriously discussed. Talking with them about it is vitally important rather than just telling them they are going. Even preschool children can process an amazing amount of information and should be included when considering the move. In addition to generally talking about the move, talk about specific things in their new culture and experience parts of it if possible.

• Talk about the food they will be eating when there.
• Cook some of the food while still at home.
• If possible eat at a restaurant that serves such food, and let the children hear the language and see the actions and appearance of the cooks and servers.
• Talk about the place the family will be living and look at pictures of it.
• If children are in school, talk about their school and look at pictures of it.

In all of this, stress positive things about the move and discuss options open to them months in advance of the move.

Go! (Packing)

When you are packing and realize that you cannot possibly take everything you planned, be very careful to let children have a voice in what you leave behind. The following “worn out” or “insignificant” items may be very important to a child:

• An torn blanket
• A wrinkled picture
• A broken toy
• A ragged teddy bear

You may tell a child to leave a cherished teddy bear behind and you will get him or her a new one when you get there. Although that sounds good, it may be the emotional equivalent of someone telling you to leave your baby at home because you can always have another one when you get there.

If you are into the popular pastime of scrapbooking, be sure to take some of those scrapbooks along. They can be invaluable for keeping memories alive. Photo albums are great as well. If you are really cramped for space, remember that in this digital age you may still have the photos in your computer or burned on a CD that can be taken along easily because it is so small and weighs only ounces.

Goodbyes are very important. We tend to say goodbye to people, but we also need to bid farewell to other things as well:

• Places. Take your child to school to tell it goodbye, then to the church, then to the park, and so forth.
• Pets. A cat, a dog, or even a fish may seem like a part of the family to a child. He or she needs to tell it goodbye and see who will be caring for it.
• Possessions. You obviously cannot take everything your children have, so let them give their things away (or sell them at a yard sale) so that they know who will have them.

Life there (Possibilities)

Once you arrive the choices may seem endless where children are involved. You may want your children to play with the national children who live nearby. However, your children have so many strange things to adjust to that the thought of playing with boys and girls who do not speak their language may be daunting at first.

You may want your children to learn the national language as children so that they can speak it without an accent and think in it like you can never do. However, still mastering the intricacies of their own language, they may find the new language confusing and not want to learn it.

You may want your children to take in the incredible scenery of the surrounding countryside or the important historical monuments and buildings in your area. However, they would rather play in the sandbox in the back yard.

The number of potential choices may seem endless, and you will have to use your own judgment. However, remember that there is a big difference between your spending time with your children and their spending time with you.

• If you are all doing something they want to do (play in the sandbox), you are spending time with them.
• If you are all doing something you want to do (seeing the monuments), they are doing something with you.

Of course, you do not have to do everything with them, but be sure that you do enough “somethings” with them. Better to end up with good memories of the sandbox than with bad memories of the monuments. 

School (Preschool & Primary)

School is a very important part of the children’s lives, and you have a broad range of options open to you:

• Local Christian school
• Local international school
• Correspondence courses (traditional or DVD)
• Distance learning (internet or DVD)
• National school (public or private)
• Home school (alone or cooperative)
• Assisted home school (home and other)
• Boarding school (mission or international Christian)
• Satellite school (small or multigrade class)

As you and your children face these choices, remember that no one type of schooling is recommended for all children or even one child over his or her lifetime. Some children flourish in one type of school while other children flourish in another. A child may do well in one school situation when five years old but need a different one when ten years old.

This decision is one that you are likely to revisit several times during a child’s life, so do not be reluctant to make changes when such changes will help. 

“Home” again (Passport `country)

When you return to your passport country, it is similar to going originally to your host country. However, just reentering your “home” culture may be more difficult than the original change in cultures—much to the surprise of the children. In addition, your children are now several years older than they were then, and the issues may be quite different. Here are some of the factors that may affect reentry.

• Age. One child who went as a child may be coming back as an adolescent and have progressed to a different way of thinking. Another child who could barely talk is now in school.
• Personality. Each child is an individual, and the extrovert who is energized being with people may respond quite differently from the introvert who wants to be alone.
• Experience. One child who had a difficult time entering the host culture may dread going home while the other who loved the transition eagerly anticipates it.
• Third culture kids. Your children who were from one culture have now internalized another. However they do not really feel a part of either, they are TCKs.
• Reason for leaving. If going home at this time was on the schedule, it is quite different from one that is a forced premature departure.
• Your attitude. If you, as parents, are eagerly looking forward to going home, your children will have a different attitude than if you want to stay.
• Education. If your children are at “natural breaks” in their education (between elementary and middle school) it may be easier than if they are leaving just a year before that break would occur.

Considering all these issues in your decisions will likely enable your children to have a better international experience.

Article taken from Missionary Care
By:  Dr. Ronald Koteskey
http://www.missionarycare.com/brochures/br_children_adjustment.htm

Healthier Toppings

Since last week I wrote about toppings for desserts, I thought this week I should right about healthier toppings.....toppings for your salads.
Now don't get nervous, these are tasty, too! Plus you need a good, wholesome dressing to help your body take in all the good things in those salads. No point eating your vegetables if your body isn't getting the healthy stuff from them, right!?!

Italian Dressing

3/4 tsp. lemon pepper (don't have it? go HERE!)
1/8 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. dry pectin (optional - use if you like a thicker dressing)
1 pinch dried oregano
1/4 c. vinegar
3 Tbsp. water
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil

Combine all dry ingredients in jar or bottle. Add vinegar, water, and oil. Shake well before each use.

Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. buttermilk (don't have any? use scant 1/4 cup milk and stir in a little lemon juice or vinegar)
3 Tbsp. sour cream
2 scallions, chopped
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Whisk together all ingredients in mixing bowl. Transfer dressing to airtight container and refrigerate until serving time (at least 30 minutes).

Missionary Monday ~ Language Barriers

This week's theme:

Language Barriers

Please link up a post (whether new or written awhile back) sharing your language bloopers!  It's also appreciated if you could add the Missionary Monday button to your post or sidebar.  Thanks!

Next week's theme:

Laundry

(We'll share how we do laundry in other countries.)

Sharpened Servants

From the Heart of Darlene Whetstone

Often times we have been asked, "How do you spell your last name?"  I would reply, W.H.E.T.S.T.O.N.E-- like you sharpen a knife on! Many times I would get this puzzled look as to what in the world is a whetstone?

Definition of a whetstone ---a fine-grained stone 

used for sharpening cutting tools

As I began to think about this, I was reminded that we have God’s Word that works just like a whetstone in our spiritual lives.  We always need to be sharpened, have the rough edges knocked off, and fix the nicks that come into our lives.  These make us get dull and hard to cut the coldness or indifference that often creeps in and dulls our lives.  Just as it would be to try to use a dull knife to cut something, our lives can be affected if we neglect to use what God has already given us to keep us sharp and useful servants - His Word.  We must hide it in our hearts, meditate on it, share it with others and let it guide us each step, as we seek His will for our lives.

Ecclesiastes 10:10  “ If the iron be blunt, and he do not WHET the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.”

If the edge is blunt it will take much more strength to cut and get the job done, but if we use the wisdom we have and the tool that is given for the job; then how much quicker or direct we can finish the task, with a sharp edge.

So the next time you see the word WHETSTONE you will know what it is, and what job it does.  Don’t let our lives get dulled by the world, but pull out the Word of God and apply it to our hearts and minds that we will be the Sharpened Servants that pull out the Word of God and apply it to our hearts and minds that we will be the Sharpened Servants that God wants us to be.

Liquid Gold (aka Dessert Toppings)

I recently noticed on a fb status that somebody {ahem, Jen!} likes Hershey's chocolate syrup. I think she even referred to it as liquid gold. That made me think about dessert toppings.... So today, I have two recipes. The first is for Chocolate Syrup (for when the Hershey's runs out!), and the second is for Caramel Topping, because everybody needs a little caramel in their lives!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup
1 c. cocoa
2 c. water
4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

 In a large pot mix cocoa and water. Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally. Add sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium low and let it boil for three minutes. Remove syrup from heat and add salt and vanilla. Mix well. Let cool for 20 minutes and then transfer to a quart canning jar. Let sit overnight to thicken.

Homemade Caramel Topping

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Place sealed can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot. Cover can COMPLETELY with water. Place lid on pot and bring water to a rolling boil. Let boil for 2 - 3 hours (depending on size of can), adding water to pot as necessary to keep can covered. Remove carefully from heat, as can will be hot! Open can and enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there! This morning I was reflecting on the blessings of mothers as well as their great responsibility. I am thankful for the Godly Mother I am blessed with and cherish the memories of my formative years. Many times in certain parenting situations I think "how would Mom handle this." My Mom was a great prayer warrior and I thank God for the great influence she has had in my life. She truly is a Proverbs 31 lady, and her children do arise up and call her blessed.

I also think of my great responsibility as a mother. I have a tremendous job ahead of me in raising our children. The children I am raising today will be adults tomorrow. How I live today will affect tomorrow!

I think of these verses in Proverbs "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"(1:8), "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother." (15:20). "...but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." (29:15)
As a mother I know that to neglect this God-given privilege can only lead to heartache. I love this verse, also in Proverbs (22:6) "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." I believe this is a promise from God... if I do my job right, how sweet will be the reward!
Each day is a learning process for me as well as my children! I look to the Word, the examples of Godly women, and rely on the prayers of my husband! I look into the precious eyes of my children and know the greatest gift I can ever give them is a Godly upbringing, raising them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

God Bless all you Missionary Moms out there as you are serving our Lord and raising your children on the Mission Field!

Just Wondering...

For our first Question and Answer post we have a question from Dee Dee in Siberia

Dear Ladies,
I have a question for the question and answer blog posts.

My daughter desperately needs culottes. I have made them years ago but I
can't remember exactly how I made them. :) It was like 12 years ago! I
know you can make the ones with a front pleat for modesty without a
pattern so I was wondering if anyone can help me remember how exactly to
make them. I did find one "pattern" online but it is a bit confusing so
before I try it I thought it would pay to ask all of you.


Thanks!

Dee Dee Sterling
Siberia

Missionary Monday

This week's theme:

Show us your house!

Even if you posted photos of your home in the past, please link up! 

I know I'm not the only one who wants to take a peak inside your home!

Next week's theme:

Language Barriers

(We'll link up our funny language ooppsies!)

Questions and Answers

Hello Ladies! We are planning to start a new feature on our blog... a Question and Answer time! This is how it will work; You will email us a question you have and we will post it on our blog (and link to it here) and then anyone can answer the question in the comments below the blog post. I know many  have asked questions on facebook and received valuable advice, but it's so easy for them to get... "lost" on that page. On the blog we'll keep everything labeled so they'll be easy to find :-)

So, Ask Away! Anything from questions about furlough, to deputation, to food, or child training tips, nutrition questions, etc... you get the point! Also, if you'd prefer to ask a question but want to remain anonymous, just state that in your email to us and we will respect your privacy!

Thanks Ladies! Please send your questions to baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com.

 Can't wait to hear from you! :-)

God takes care of His girls

Singleness

By:  Lisa Newland

Missionary serving in Tanzania

When I was a girl the dread of my heart (and I imagine still the dread of most Christian teen gals) is that God would call me to be a missionary in Africa - single. I even avoided praying about it. I figured if being a missionary was in His plans (and heaven forbid, single!) then HE would have to broach the topic.

Well, here I am, 34 yrs old. You guessed it… single missionary in Africa. I imagine God saw the humor in this much earlier than I did; probably when I was still a “tween” trying to avoid the topic of discussion. What I love to recall though is just how God brought me to this place and how God daily sustains me.

A few lessons I was taught as a teenager:  God is all good, all the time. If you believe this, you’ll be willing to surrender all control of your life over to Him. And:  You don’t have to be afraid of His will for your life. He’ll never call you to do something you can’t stand.  Guaranteed… He purposely designed you for whatever His will is for you. Guaranteed… you’ll love it! Now, knowing that I’m right smack dab where God wants me to be… single missionary, in Africa… I can say whole-heartedly… “I AGREE!”

But let me go back...  Growing up I was the shy girl who hid behind her mama’s skirts, too afraid to talk to grown ups. I had two hilarious brothers so I didn’t have to talk much anyway. When asked in youth group, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My reply, “A wife and mother.” I truly had no other ambitions. No careers sounded appealing. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to college.  Bottom line:  I don’t fit the stereotypical strong and independent single woman.

Even more reason for God to call me where I am, I guess. Is not His strength made perfect in our weakness? The part I most love about being here, in the center of God’s will, is that I’m growing, constantly being stretched in my faith, constantly being challenged to trust and love Him more. When I started down this journey of being a single missionary, a dear friend and fellow single missionary, said to me, “Don’t forget, Lisa, God takes care of His girls. He’ll never leave us, and I think He especially looks out for us singles because we don’t have a husband to help keep us in line!” I've been in Africa three years now and can boast confidently, God DOES take care of His girls!

This Saturday I traveled out to a village (45 min away) to lead girls youth group. The clouds looked rather foreboding but Happiness, the pastor’s wife, and I forged ahead. When we turned off the paved road, we saw that rain had already dumped bucket-loads.  The sky was clearing up nicely the closer we got, but the road was a muddy mess. We slipped and slid along. Some puddles were so deep I was worried for my brakes and almost turned back. This past month I’ve been teaching in preschool Bible class that “Bwana ndiye msaada wangu, sitaogopa.” The Lord is my help, I will not be afraid. The lesson on Jesus calming the storm and Jesus’ rebuke to Peter, “Oh, you of little faith,” really touched my heart.  I want to LEARN this lesson. I don’t want to continually need to be rebuked by my Lord. So, before the big puddles I quoted out loud, “Bwana ndiye msaada wangu, sitaogopa.” And before the especially messy, muddy sections of road (that if I slip, how will I ever get out, Lord?), “Bwana ndiye msaada wangu, sitaogopa.” We ended up having a great time with the girls, made it home that night safe and sound with nothing more than a filthy car. God takes care of His girls!

A few years ago I was driving behind a big truck, full of glass soda bottles. The truck drove up and down off a large speed bump (more of a 4 ft wide, 1 ft high walkway across the road). Just as the truck was starting its ascent I had a thought, “You know, it might be safer if I don’t follow quite so close to such a big truck, who knows what could happen.” I put on the brakes to get some distance and just then the truck bounced off the speed bump. The back door flew open and two crates of soda bottles shattered on top of the speed bump. If I hadn’t slowed down those crates would have gone right through my windshield! The Holy Spirit whispered in my ear just in time. God takes care of His girls.

Here in Mwanza, the Lord has surrounded me with a good network of “wazungu” (white people) friends. He’s given me a great house to rent in a very safe compound.  He’s provided a great vehicle at a very reasonable price. I’m doing what I absolutely love, teaching kids. I have many Tanzanian friends at the various village churches I work in. The other day I told the Lord, “You know if all my extended family would just move here to Mwanza my life would be perfect!” OK, sorry… sometimes I can be a bit too sappily (is that a word?) optimistic. I get it from my Grandma. Life isn’t always perfect. There’s days I fight discouragement and despair. Days I long to escape and have no place to go. Days I wish I could just crawl in bed and start over. And even in those days. Days that I don’t feel His presence, I know that God takes care of His girls.

I know I have much still to learn. I’m a recipient of God’s DAILY grace, and it is because of His grace that I KNOW God will take care of me, no matter where He leads.

How about you? Avoiding certain topics in your prayer time?  Afraid of what God might call you to do? Guaranteed… He purposely designed you for whatever His will is for you.  Guaranteed… you’ll love it! Stop avoiding! Plunge in! Just wait and see how God will take care of you!

Mother's Day Craft Ideas

Mother's Day is soon approaching, and I just wanted to share a few craft ideas that you can do at home or in your Sunday School class.  These all came from Pinterest. 

Did you know we have a Pinterest?  Please follow us!  Click here or there is a tab on the right with a link, or just search for Baptist Missionary Women.

(Click photos for original links.)