Missionary Monday ~ What Is Your Normal?

A while back, I wrote about some of the things that are "normal" for us here on the mission field.  Tonight as I was fixing my evening cup of coffee - not in my "Tiny" Cup or my "Elegant" Cup - I got to thinking that you might find it interesting not just to read about what is normal for us, but to see what is normal.  My Sweetie is really going to scratch his head and wonder why in the world I took all those pictures of our pantry items.....until he reads my blog!  So here we go on our visual journey of what is normal in our daily home life on the mission field....

My normal morning routine

My children don't know that in other parts of the world milk comes in plastic 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon jugs!  They think milk comes in boxes that you get from off the shelf (not refrigerated) in the milk aisle at Tottus (our local grocery store).

Many condiments come in these sachet-type packages.  I don't buy mustard or catsup this way (I can get those in plastic bottles), but I do buy mayo, crema de aji (chili sauce), and huancaina (creamy sauce that is used with potatoes), tomato sauce (Sorry - I didn't think to take pictures of the other sauces!) in the sachets - they fit into my refrigerator better - you know that top row in the door of the "frig" that always ends up holding all the condiments you could ever want....yep - that spot!

Mayo

Tomato Sauce

Then there are some things that are just staples in my pantry - things that can be made in a hurry - you know in case you have starving-children-who-won't-last-another-five-minutes-until-mealtime circling you like piranhas and you have no idea what you're going to fix for lunch because you failed to plan a menu for the week...you see where this is going.... 

Canned Corn and Boxed Cake Mix - A treat!

When we go to Wong (another grocery store we frequent), we can find Betty Crocker Cake Mixes and canned corn!  Wong is where I can find Italian Herb Seasoning and "Lemonade Salt" (Martha's creative name for Lemon Pepper!)

And last but not least...what is in that bag anyway?  Eggs, of course!  Doesn't everyone buy their eggs this way???  This is when I buy them from the market...though I used to buy them this way also from the grocery store in the Philippines.

I can buy them in a carton from the grocery store.

Here a carton of eggs is 15 eggs.   How I buy them depends on if I have time to make a trip up to the market or not - I can usually get the same amount of eggs if I buy them by the kilo as if I buy a carton, but by the kilo is usually cheaper!

This is my normal, and I love it!  I love going to the stores here - it is always an adventure - for example....Tottus recently rearranged their store - the milk and the snack aisles trading places!  I am still getting used to the "new normal"!  I love going to the market also!  My kids like to go past the stand with all the pets....puppies, kittens, rabbits, birds, and cuy (guinea pig)....if they could convince their parents, they would bring home one of everything every time they walk by (make that everything, not just one of everything!)

This guest post was written by: Sarah McKendree, she blogs at My Cup Runneth Over.

  

So...what is your normal?


 

"A Song from my Brain" and Other Stories

Bonnie, our four-year old, likes to make up songs. She often says, “Mom, I need to sing a song for you. It's a song from my brain.” Last night, it was a song about loving her precious baby and communication – quite the combination!

(This is Bonnie, our little songbird.)

One morning, Bonnie was humming a “song” and asked me if I knew which song it was. When I could not guess the song from her monotone humming, she said, “You know, Mom. It’s ‘Amazing grace how sweet the stars.’”

When we got home from church one day, Bonnie was singing, “Give me that all time division! Give me that all time division! Give me that all time division! It’s good enough for me!” Sometimes she just make us roll laughing! She heard “Give me that old time religion…” for the first time at church that day; that was what she got out of that song! : ) None of our kids understood the song; so, we explained it to them.

One day after it had just rained, our dog found a turtle. The funny thing was that the boys were asking the dog, “Max, where did you find that turtle?” They asked him repeatedly, and they expected an answer.

Every few months, we set a day aside to go to the ocean. Our town is right beside the ocean. We drive to a place about an hour away to go to a cleaner beach. Danny loves to ride the waves on the boogie board. The last time that we went, he let everyone else have a turn on the boogie board; then, he was back out there again. Gilbert does not usually like to go on the boogie board. Joe finally talked him into it. The biggest wave would have to come along about that time. It flipped the board over. When Gilbert told the story, he said, “I held my breath for four hours!” Danny said, “Gilbert, we weren’t even in the water for four hours!” It was more like five seconds, but it seemed like an eternity to Gilbert.

If you have a funny story that you would like to share with us, please e-mail it to me at loconsford@gmail.com. Please include the name of each family member, your field of service, and a picture of your family if possible.

Until next week, keep your sunny side up!

The Importance of God’s Word in Our Homes - Guest Post

Today's post comes to us from  Anna (Sloan) Lopez

As wives and mothers, we have the power of building up our homes, or of tearing it down. How we struggle day by day to strive to build up our homes! God has given us a very powerful tool in building up our homes: His holy Word.


The Word of God is quick, and powerful…sharper than any two-edged sword…

The Word of God can discern the thoughts and the intents of the heart.

What a valuable tool! How much do we use this powerful tool that God has given to us?

In this day of wickedness and danger, sin abounds everywhere. However, we can raise up children for God and have a stable and happy home because we have God’s Word to purify and guide us.

As one of eight children who were raised on the mission field where the Word of God was a part of our daily lives, I can testify to the fact that the Bible has had a tremendously positive effect in my life. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Psalm 119:9

Every day, before breakfast, we all sat around the table with our Bibles and read a passage from the Word of God and memorized Scripture. At least once a day, the pure and precious Word of God was repeated by our lips for at least 15 minutes (solid Scripture memorization). I say this, not to glorify my parents, nor as a statement of pride, but to point out what a positive effect it had in the life of eight children who matured into adults who are now (by God’s grace and mercy) living their lives in service to Him.

I know that the following was true for our family, and has been true in my own personal life.


The Word of God Purifies. Psalm 19:7-10

Through the Word of God, we can have a pure, clean and sweet atmosphere in our homes.


The Word of God Protects. Psalm 119:11, 105

God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. How God’s Word has brought protection from sin in my own life!


The Word of God Prospers. Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8
Psalm 1 says that the man who meditates day and night upon the Word of God will prosper. The promise in Joshua says that if we are obedient to God’s Word, our way will be prosperous, and we will have good success.


The Word of God Prevents. Prov. 2:16-20; Prov. 23:29-35

Dad and Mom helped us memorize literally hundreds of Bible verses. I know that in my own life, when I was tempted to sin and do evil, the Holy Spirit would bring to my memory passages that prevented me from doing certain things.


The Word of God brings Peace. Psalm 119:165

Many times the Precious Word of God has brought peace to my heart as I have struggled with different things.

The peace of God which passeth all understanding can rule in our hearts and in our homes today. Are you taking full advantage of God’s Word? Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom….

Using the Word of God to build up our homes is a choice. What a shame it is if we only pick up God’s Word when we are headed out the door to go to church and never open it the rest of the week. Take advantage of this great treasure within your home. Begin today by reading, memorizing, and meditating upon God’s Holy Word. And then teach it to your children, that their lives may be blessed as well.

Dessert of the Month Club ~ Frozen Strawberry Pie

Please do not notice that I missed sharing a dessert for the month of April.
Please do not remind my hubby either.
Thank you.

Life has been a little bit nuts around here recently.....okay, for a while.
For those of you who missed our announcement, we are expecting baby #4 in September, and I'm a little bit whooped on most days.
Happy, but not at my full energy level.
Making desserts falls under the category of things that don't absolutely have to be done.

But this dessert?
It makes it easy to keep my promise to my hubby.
In fact, I've made it twice since I found it!
It is that good and that easy.

If you've got strawberries where you live (yes, it even works with frozen ones!), then hurry up and make this dessert.
It is the perfect summer treat!

Frozen Strawberry Pie

Crust:
8 oz. graham crackers (about 2 cups)
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
optional garnish: 1/2 c. strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced

Filling:
2 c. whole-milk vanilla or plain yogurt
3 Tbsp. honey
2 c. strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Prepare crust.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Crush the graham crackers either by pulsing them in a food processor or placing them in a plastic bag and rolling over them with a rolling pin.
Combine the crushed crackers, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and stir until fully mixed.
Press the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate, covering the bottom evenly and pressing the crumbs halfway up the sides.
Bake the crust 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and cool completely before filling.
Prepare the filling.
Combine the yogurt and honey in a large bowl.
Stir in the strawberries.
In a medium-sized bowl, using a mixer or whisk, beat the cream and vanilla until billowy peaks form.
Fold the whipped cream into the strawberry mixtrue.
Assemble the pie.
Pour the filling mixtrure into the cooled crust.
If desired, arrange sliced strawberries in a circle around the outer edge of the pie.
Freeze at least 4 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Recipe and photo are both courtesy of Ashley English at Small Measure.

How to Pray for the Single Missionary Woman

1. Pray for our relationship with God.
He is quite literally our all in all: our Confidante, our Best Friend, our Companion, our Protector; if something is not right in our relationship with Him, everything in life is out balance, and life can be quite unbearable. Pray that our work for Him does not distract us from our relationship with Him.

2. Pray for our relationship with other missionaries.
Pray that we can be submissive. Pray that we get along with the other missionaries. Pray that we don't "wear out our welcome" with the other missionaries.

3. Pray for our ministry.
Pray for souls to be saved. Pray for lives to be changed. Pray for doors to be open. Pray for God to use us according to His will.

4. Pray for our health.
Something as small as the flu can keep us from being able to do what God has sent us to do. Also, not having anyone around to help care for us when we're very sick can be quite difficult. More serious health issues could cause us to have to leave the field for medical treatment. Pray that we stay healthy.

5. Pray for our finances.
Many missionaries are struggling financially. Churches in America are struggling, and in turn, they must drop their missionaries' financial support. Most missionaries are unable to work to bring in extra income. This adds stress to lives.

6. Pray that we do not get homesick or lonely.
Lack of friends who understand us and lack of family nearby can be particularly difficult for us. Loneliness (especially in the first year on the field) can be unbearable at times. Pray that God brings us good Christian friends and that He keeps us from getting lonely.

7. Pray that we do not get discouraged.
-When we are discouraged, there often is no one there to "sharpen our iron" (Proverbs 27:17). Pray that we will be encouraged in the Lord and not get discouraged when things don't go as smoothly as we expect (since they almost never do on the mission field). As a side note to that, letters and packages from home always encourage us. Take a few minutes to write us, to remind us that we're not forgotten. Even a short email will bring a smile to our faces. (Also, birthdays and holidays on the field can be some of the most discouraging times for us. Pray especially hard then).

8. Pray for our safety on the field.
Pray for God to be our Protector. We all take all the precautions we can, but we cannot live in a bubble. There are risks and dangers as a single lady in a foreign country. Pray that God protects us and that Satan will not have power to harm us.

9. Pray for our reputation/interaction with single native men.
It is quite easy to make a cultural blunder in interacting with members of the opposite sex in a foreign country. Pray that we do not unwittingly cause damage to our testimony or the work of Christ through something we inadvertently do that might be offensive or improper in our host culture.

10. Pray for people to be willing to help us with small things.
Most of us don't know how to fix cars, build houses, or fix plumbing. Pray that God will bring along people who can help us when we have problems we can't fix ourselves.

11. Pray for us as we travel.
Flying alone can be particularly difficult for some of us. Navigating a foreign airport, rushing to make a connection, or trying to find the right bus to the hotel can be quite frustrating when you're by yourself. Also while traveling on deputation or furlough, we often have to make long drives on our own; we have no one to take over when we get tired; we have no one to talk to us to keep us awake. We don't have a co-pilot to navigate.

12. Pray for our language abilities.
Language barriers can be very difficult. Please pray for us as we learn the language. Pray for clarity of thought and understanding. Even after "we've learned the language," pray that we can communicate clearly and effectively.



This post was written by Jenn Scarfi.  She is a single missionary lady serving the Lord in Vanuatu.  You can read her blog:  InTheirOwnLanguage.

Language Laughs and Waste Woes

My husband and I have been studying Fante, the tribal language in our area of Ghana. Our teacher comes three times a week for two hours each time. Fante is a very literal language. The word for please loosely translated means, “I beg you,” but when it is literally translated, it means, “Something good for my hat.”

The other day, we were reading from a Fante storybook. Joe and I got tickled while reading a section about recycling. It was talking about recycling paper. It was mentioning different uses for recycled paper. We found out the Fante word for toilet paper; everyone usually just calls it “t-roll.” But, the Fante word for toilet paper is “egyanan nkrataa,” which when literally translated means “father’s leg papers.” 

Our children are also learning Fante. They learned the alphabet and are still working on the reading part. They pick up the spoken Fante much quicker than we do. We recently found a more detailed dictionary. It also includes some idioms. Joe was looking through the dictionary and ran across the idiom, “Ɔama mframa bɔn,” meaning “He has blown a bad wind; he has flatulated.” That was the wrong phrase to say in the presence of the children. Danny asked what it meant. When Joe told him that it meant, “He tooted,”  Danny did a deep belly laugh as he repeated the Fante saying. Can you guess what we have been hearing a lot lately??

In the book that we were reading, their idea of recycling was also rather humorous. They considered using newspaper as toilet paper to be recycling. They also said that giving your clothes to a younger sibling was recycling. Or, using a plastic bottle again for another item was also considered recycling. That puts a whole new spin on the word “recycle.”  

They have not figured out how to recycle their trash yet. In some areas, there are large dumpsters that are emptied after they have overflowed for a while. When the dumpsters are emptied, the contents are usually shoveled out onto the ground and burned. The things that would not burn are placed back in the dumpster. When the dumpster is full of things that would not burn, then it is finally taken to a landfill. In the areas where there are no dumpsters, the trash is just burned. In the residential sections of the bigger towns, they now have a trash service in which the trash is picked up on a weekly basis.  We live too far out of town for that service.

If you have a funny story that you would like to share with us, please e-mail it to me at loconsford@gmail.com. Please include the name of each family member, your field of service, and a picture of your family if possible.

Until next week, keep your sunny side up!

Grace and Faithfulness ~ Guest Post

Greetings from Teshio, Hokkaido, Japan. I am Vicki Mansell, and my husband and I are in our 30th year here in a rural dairy and fishing part of the country. While I do not feel qualified at all to share with you here, when I saw Jen’s request I remembered my promise to God when we started furlough—God, I will never turn down a request to speak to ladies. And while I was not asked personally, the Lord just seemed to say, "You should contribute." So I prayed and asked the Lord what to share with you, and I hope it is a blessing to someone today.

I have no gift in speaking, actually no love of speaking before people, and my gifts are in helps and listening—so I am a behind-the-scenes person and the busier the better!! When I asked my mother at the beginning of our deputation (a whole other life ago!), what am I going to do when I am asked to speak? She gave me these wise words—BE YOURSELF!! Just talk about what you know and don’t pretend to do anything else. By God’s grace, that is exactly what I did. Yes, I had to write every word out on my note papers (not just outlines) so when I panicked or lost my train of thought it was right there in front of me to read when I needed to. Yes, I had to write everything out because it was so easy for me to suddenly not know what I had been saying! (I now know that various symptoms I have had since I was in junior high were due to extreme sleep apnea which was diagnosed this last year), but I spoke in S.S., in women’s meetings, at women’s retreats and once just briefly in the ladies’ dorm where my daughter was living in Bible School. It is and was God’s grace that helped me with that difficult desire.

So my first thought is what would we do without GRACE! My life's 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 paths." As I look back, I can definitely see God’s direction as we sought God’s will for our lives, and I know we were in His will when we were in the youth pastorate in Minnesota. But after we came to Japan, we knew that call was just one of the links for our final work and destiny here in the northern parts of Japan. So by the grace of God we were ‘in the way, the Lord led me…’ (Gen. 24:27). To go along with that verse, I have also claimed the saying (and I know there is a whole poem to this), “The will of God will never take you where the GRACE of God cannot keep you.” By God’s grace I know two things for sure—He has helped me keep that promise to never turn down a request to speak even when it greatly took me out of my comfort zone, to the point of embarrassment a couple times, and has kept us here in Japan—one of the hardest languages to learn in the world and one of the hardest people to reach in the whole world. We have been told by those groups who go to summer or winter Olympics that the two groups who refuse to take tracts or listen to someone talk to them are the Muslims and the Japanese!! I could go into so much detail on how difficult it is to reach people, but I mention it basically to recognize God’s grace to keep going when the going is tough, not one day but every day!

And that brings me to point two—faithfulness! Proverbs 20:6- "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"  In Matthew 25 (and Luke) it says, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” In I Cor. 4 we find “Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord” and I Tim. 1:12 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” Some of you, praise God, are in fields that lend to openness of heart and see people come to know the Lord and follow Him in baptism over and over, and your churches are growing. I do NOT EVER regret you had that opportunity. But I also do not feel our work is any less important. BUT when it comes to writing a prayer letter (which my husband and I work on together each month), pride loves to step in and say, “Well, what are you going to say this month…no new people came; you haven’t seen anyone saved in several years; you have nothing important to tell them.” I have to tell Satan, "Get thee behind me…," for when we search our hearts we know we ARE being faithful: we are sharing the Word with those that will listen both in word and in tracts; my husband preaches to whoever comes to services whether one or many (3 or 4 ;-) and we seek to find those that God is calling unto himself. Yes, it takes a long time—we have been teaching one high school nurse for three years now, and she is SO CLOSE to being saved (has finally admitted there is only one God and not thousands and yes, she needs to be saved) but she is afraid—afraid of her family’s response (In this country, it can be equivalent to emotional persecution and possible family rejection); afraid of going a different direction in ALL ways of life if she gets saved. Even when one gets saved here, you must bathe them in much prayer and encouragement for days and months, and age does not count. A young man who lived far away from home in his early 30’s got saved, was discipled, and desired to be baptized; so knew he should tell his family. We bathed that in prayer, and he told us which day he would do it. We received a phone call right afterwards saying he would never come to church again, did not want to see us, and would call the police on us if we tried to see him. When Ken tried ANYWAY, he refused to answer the door. To this day, we have no idea what powerful words his parents said to him about what he had come to believe or why he responded as a grown man to such pressure!!

We also fight the ‘transfer work system’ here in Japan. Most jobs in this country require their employees to transfer to a different town/city after 3-5 years. No option included. So we know that unless we reach a local businessman or family member, the ones we work with will eventually be gone from the work again. But we need to be here for them as well. Maybe we can plant the seed of hope and salvation so that when they move to the next place, God can use someone else to continue sowing and maybe even see the fruit. So faithfulness is the key—faithful to share the Gospel no matter whether we get results or not; faithful to disciple and teach even if they, as one young lady did after five years of study, reject the final step saying she could not break off the family chain of praying for her ancestors by accepting Jesus Christ; faithful to death, the Lord’s return, or other leading—just be faithful day by day, hour by hour.

There is so much more I could say, but ladies, let me just close with this—if you are on deputation: be willing to go beyond your comfort zone to minister what you can to each person and church you are in contact with. Look on deputation as the first stage of your ministry, not just a have-to-raise-funds trip. Be faithful in the steps of ministering to churches as you travel so they can minister back to you! Are you happy in front of your children and positive about this part of the ministry so they do not get the idea that deputation is just a necessary step in getting to the field of your calling?

Then if you are on the field now, whether in your first term and struggling with all that brings—new foods, new people, new customs (Which can I partake in, and which ones are not a good testimony?), new languages…new, new, new—so much to take in and learn. Or are you in a stable ministry and maybe have even had the joy of turning a work over to a national and moving on to a new location—be faithful again, moment by moment, day by day…when the tears of frustration come over situations – turn them into fountains of rejoicing that God IS FAITHFUL ‘who also will do it’!

Thank you for being faithful to His calling in your lives wherever you are and in whatever you are doing!! That is all God asks for—not numbers, not continual positive moving forward—just faithful in all He asks us to do—first as wives and then as mothers and THEN finally to the people He has called us to.

This guest post was written by

Vicki Mansell.

Read more about her life and ministry at their blog and/or website.

Thanks, Vicki!

Side Dish Ideas: Accordian Potatoes

Are you looking for a yummy side dish that isn't the same old thing?
Look no further!
We enjoy potatoes at our house, but after a while, baked or mashed can get a little tiring, don't you think?
Well, I think so; so I went looking for a new potato recipe.
I love these, and my die-hard mashed potato man?
He does, too!

Accordion Potatoes

8 large potatoes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, optional

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Rest each potato in a wooden spoon and cut down until the knife can't go any farther, making sure to slice them thinly.
Place on baking sheet.
Carefully drizzle oil between slices.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste.
Roast 25-40 minutes or until lightly browned {this depends entirely on your oven!}
Transfer to platter and sprinkle with parsley, if you wish.
Enjoy!

Missionary Monday - Advice for the New Missionary (part 2)...

Missed part 1?  Click here.  As mentioned last week, this question was posted on our BMW facebook group page:

What advice would you share with new missionaries

to help them adjust and survive the first term?

We had a great response.  Here is some advice from veteran missionaries. (Since there was so much great advice given, this will be in two parts!)...

- I am only in my second term, but one thing that has helped me tremendously is remembering that I am not the first missionary woman to have faced this (whatever it may be) challenge. So many godly women of all ages and in all stages of life have gone before me. Get to know the other missionaries within the country and glean from their wisdom about the culture, family life, and ministry opportunities.  -Hannah

 

- Balance sure is the key. Our kids go everywhere with us, but we have family day on Tuesday, and it is sacred!!  -Althea
 

- Patience. Lots of patience--learning the culture, learning the language, etc. No matter what language, it takes months to be able to hear and use the language with fluency; and some languages take years. You have to have a lot of patience with yourself.  -Marcia
 

- 1. Where you can--. develop and encourage the local customs in your home--example: we eat Japanese food with whatever utensil they would use i.e. chopsticks, spoons, etc.; we leave our shoes downstairs in the entryway; we learned the words used for entrance and leaving; we learned the way to bow to various 'types' of people, etc... Your testimony in spiritual things will go a whole lot further if you try to do as they do when it is no harm to your personal testimony. When it does, we politely stand away from it, and now they know what we don't partake in and are not offended.
2. Encourage godly biblical associations with missionaries that may be in your general area because you need fellowship, but be careful of SO needing English speakers around you that you eventually break down your stand. We didn't have this problem because we started in the non-computer era--but be careful of filling the needs for English, family (from far away), etc. that your time around your daily schedule is filled with computer time so that eventually you are not developing relationships with those you seek to reach.
Those are the main two I would think to add to the family matters that have already been talked about. And #2 I even have to be careful even after 30 years--not so much because I need the English speaking, etc...that isn't the reason any more--it's the grandkids and family I have on the other side of the world that could take up a lot more of my time than I should. And God bless--those struggles you go through the first couple years especially can be overwhelming at times--take them to the Lord in prayer--He will meet you there!!  -Vicki
 

-  I agree with the ladies in finding your ministry. Yes, my family is my #1 priority, but it helped when I could be more involved. I started a ladies' Bible study, and we meet weekly. I look forward to it each week, and it gets me deeper into God's Word. I also helped start a weekly co-op with our homeschool group. This has been a huge blessing. I also have made time to take one of the ladies from church out for lunch every week or so. Please note, I'm not boasting, just sharing what has helped me. Another thing that helped me was I prayed and asked God for an Aussie friend who would help me learn the culture. Although Australia is similar to America, there are still many differences. The Lord brought me a wonderful friend who helped me with the different words from cooking to just learning the area so I could be more independent. Most importantly, and this is for whether it's your first term or tenth, keeping your relationship with God as your priority is key. When you feel friends and family have deserted you, He is ALWAYS there.  -Jen
 

- Before we had children, I was involved in many different ministries. When I had three children who were three and under, I could not be as involved in all of the ministries that I had been doing. It was a discouragement at times because it felt like I did not do anything at all at the church, but balance is definitely the key. Now, our oldest child is eight, and the youngest is four. They are able to do ministry related things with us. It is important not to neglect your family, but at the same time, you do not want to completely neglect the ministry either.  -Laura
 

- I remember arriving in Panama a few years ago with a five year old, an almost three year old, and an almost two month old baby and feeling like I was "treading water" in relation to ministry, no energy, confused in the language, etc. I was feeling downright depressed, like I couldn't balance a plate, let alone life! I remember a wise missionary lady encouraging me to dig in and relish this time of life, that I was training my co-laborers in the ministry. Now, a few years down the road and having added another precious baby to our family, I have lots of things I can do in the ministry and lots of things that my babies (now 9, 7, 4, and 7 months) do right alongside me. I feel blessed to have more energy now and a better handle on my fit in our ministry. Sometimes the "little years" with your children can feel like slogging through in slow motion, but when you keep focused on Christ, stay in communication with your husband, and realize how short the years really are, you will turn around one day and have the best of both worlds when your children and outside ministry really start working in harmony or synergistically. I love having my kiddos ask me when we/they can go make visits, hand out tracts, sing a special, take up the offering, attempt to lead music, work with the children, etc. They are having a great time and don't even realize they are working a ministry.  -Ruth

 

 

-  Lots of great advice here! We've only been on the field for (almost) eight years, but I would say to be teachable. Sometimes new missionaries feel as though they already know everything there is to know about the mission field, when in reality there is so much you can learn from the other missionaries as well as from the native people. 


I've also noticed that sometimes the missionary wife does not like her country, and that not only cultivates a spirit of bitterness in her heart but also in her children's. Try to love the people and the place in which God has placed you. Look for the good in everything, and you'll always find something.  -Carole
 

- I would say encourage your family back home to not always be mentioning everything you are missing and how much they miss you. I know my family misses me, but they tell me how much they love me and are praying for me. As a result, I don't feel guilty about not being there for every family function. I have missed some pretty big things, but they get it, and so do I. I have seen missionaries miserable and have a hard time adjusting to their field because their heart is still in the US. Another thing is don't allow or teach your children to think they are missing out on things because they are mks or that they "deserve" something because of it. I worked with several couples who were great in this area . They emphasized how many cool things they got to experience because they were in ministry. Instead of growing up with a sense of entitlement, they grew up with servants' hearts. Make friends with nationals and spend time in their culture aside from ministry...it will be an encouragement to them and you, not to mention for those learning the language immersion is the best way. So, one for singles...remember your mission...it's not about finding a spouse. If the Lord provides in that area fine, but be careful as the decisions you make can greatly affect the ministry you are involved in...in good and bad ways. Remember relationships between guys and girls on a foreign field are NOT always looked at the same as in the States. Be accountable to someone; it's a great idea for you and your testimony.  -Cynthia
 

- I second the comment about being teachable and learning all you can from other missionaries on the field. So many times I was my own obstruction as I wanted to ask a question of an older/more experienced missionary about the culture or an aspect of ministry or life in general. I would figure out what I wanted to say but then back off because of not wanting to seem like I was denigrating the country, culture, or people and wind up offending someone when all I really wanted was to understand. Sometimes ya just gotta stick your neck out!  -Ruth
 

- One more thing; if you are serving God, you are going to be under attack all the time. You experienced that on deputation, but during the time that you are adjusting to the language and culture, the attack will most likely be more focused. You are going through so many changes, and it can be confusing. You will NOT be able to see all of Satan's designs against you. You don't have a chance to survive spiritually if you aren't plugged into Christ every day. Do not, do not neglect your spiritual life. It is over all the most important thing that will help you survive when you are depressed, keep you from being overwhelmed, and help you to remember the blessings that we have as His servants. Then there's another type of attack when you get comfortable where you are, and you don't feel so desperately in need clinging to Christ every minute. Yes, you still need Him. What I'm saying is, don't let any change in your life push you to neglect your spiritual life. Keep a close eye on it, and when you feel out of balance, make the changes you need to get centered back on Him! This is my greatest challenge by far, and the thing I struggle with more than anything.  -Sarah

- Realize it's a process. Be teachable. Cling to The Lord.  -Lisa
 

Did we miss something?  Do you have anything to add?  Please leave a comment!

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all you moms a wonderful mother's day!

All Wrapped Up

This week, we have a great package story from Cricket Young. She and her husband Dan have been missionaries in Panama for over twenty-five years.

A package that they received on the field had a funny history. During a short furlough, they were in a small church during their missions conference. In one of the services, they were asked what was one thing that they missed from the States when they were in Panama. She and her husband had talked and laughed about different things that they missed as they were driving from church to church. When they were asked this question, Cricket looked at Dan, and he told her to go ahead. She said, “Soft TP!” The people laughed as she explained that they graded their toilet paper by how much it was like sandpaper.

The people continued to ask more questions about Panama and the Youngs' work there. The question came up about sending packages to them or to any missionary. They told the church that the best way to send packages to them was to wrap it in Christmas paper if it was sent between October and January and to use birthday paper for the rest of the year. They also explained that the best thing to put on the declaration slip was zero value and that it should be marked as a gift. They told the church that it is a good idea to let the missionary family know that a package is on the way without letting them know what is in the package. Many times, it helps to let the people at the post office know that a package is expected to ensure that it is delivered!

About seven months after the Youngs got back to Panama, they received a notice that there was a package in Customs that had to be retrieved from the main Customs office. Her hubby went down to retrieve the package. It was a 24-inch square box wrapped in . . . you guessed it, Christmas paper! It had all of the proper custom documents stating that it was a gift. The custom's officer wanted the box to be opened because it was so big. He did not think that it could be a gift with zero value! Her hubby opened the box in front of the custom's officer. The mouths of both her husband and the officer dropped open when they saw the contents. The box was FULL of . . . TP, a case of different types of four pack “soft” TP! Her hubby took a deep breath and said that the box was from a supporting church in the States. To which he added, “WOW, they must think we live in the jungle!!!” Everyone laughed, but her husband walked out with ALL of their soft toilet paper, and they enjoyed it for a good while!

If you have a funny story that you would like to share with us, please e-mail it to me at loconsford@gmail.com. Please include the name of each family member, your field of service, and a picture of your family if possible.

Until next week, keep your sunny side up!

Fellowship Fridays

This week, I am directing you to Patty once again.  I encourage you to read her series on Raising her Girls to have a Heart for Missions.  It has been great, and I have enjoyed each and every post!

Best Roast Beef Ever!

Last week, I asked on the Baptist Missionary Women's Facebook page what meat most of the ladies ate regularly on their fields.
I learned two things from this little question . . .
1.  Some ladies like to play a bit of "my horse is bigger than your horse!" In other words, I got some really weird answers that I don't think are what the ladies normally eat. {Ha!}
2.  What most of the ladies eat in quantity is not quite what I expected.
{By the way, chicken was #1 followed closely by beef!}

So today I bring you a brand new {to us},  most-delicious-pot-roast-ever recipe!

This recipe {and lovely pic} come to you courtesy of Robyn at Add a Pinch!

If you have balsamic vinegar available to you, try this recipe! It is tasty, moist, and best of all, can be done in your crockpot! What more can you ask for in a roast?!?

Balsamic Roast Beef

1 3-4 lb. boneless roast beef {If they use American cuts where you live, look for a chuck or round roast.}
1 c. beef broth
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, chopped

Place beef into your crockpot.
In a 2-cup measuring cup, mix together all remaining ingredients.
Pour over roast beef and set your crockpot for either 4 hours on High OR 6-8 hours on Low.
Once roast beef has cooked, remove from crockpot with tongs into a serving dish.
Break apart lightly with two forks and then ladle about 1/4 - 1/2 cup of gravy over roasted beef.
Serve with remaining gravy as an au jus.
                    OR
If you prefer a more pronounced flavor, once the beef has been removed, use a fat separator on the gravy and then pour the gravy into a saucepan and heat over medium heat.
Simmer until the gravy has reduced by half.

Enjoy!

Missionary Monday - Advice for the New Missionary (part 1)...

This question was posted on our BMW facebook group page:

What advice would you share with new missionaries

to help them adjust and survive the first term?

We had a great response.  Here is some advice from veteran missionaries. (Since there was so much great advice given, this will be in two parts!)...

- Occupy as much of your time as possible with learning the language. Have daily lessons and spend lots of time with non-English speaking locals. Also, try to make contact with another missionary in the country (if there is one) with whom you can fellowship and from whom you can learn. Also, don't be expecting all of your old friends and family members to keep in touch. Some will, but most will only be able to keep it up for the first year (if that). Don't set yourself up for a major disappointment. It was the toughest lesson of my first term.  -Suzy

- Leave America and what you miss behind. Make this your HOME. You'll never feel 'at home' in America again anyway, to be honest. Love, love, love (through Christ) the people in your new country and be humble and teachable always. -Joy

- Adjusting takes time. Even after you are "adjusted," there will still be those "culture shock" days when everything seems foreign. At times when you are feeling overwhelmed, remember Proverbs 3:5-6. Worrying is "leaning to our own understanding." No matter what the circumstance, we can fully trust in the Lord.  We still at times get culture shock ten years later. Oh, and when you return to the States, you will also have culture shock  -Laura

- I am only in my first term....and not at all experienced; however, I would suggest that you and your family get a nice, clean, comfortable and big enough place to live....one that you (the wife) just love!! Depending on where you are (mission field), language may not even be the issue. The biggest issue for me was the house thing; we looked at many that just made me cry. Then, we found one that I did not think we would ever get...(thought it was out of our range), but God provided.  -Faith Ann

- Don't be surprised by the strong feelings of homesickness. God made us to become attached to family and what we are used to; so it is normal. I feel more homesick over missing family members' kids growing up than anything else. It helps me to acknowledge the ache and be thankful for the privilege to serve God in the same moment. It is not wrong to live with unfulfilled longings because God can use these in a powerful way in our lives!  -Sarah

-  I would say every time you think of something negative about where you live, make yourself think of something positive. Do your best not to compare. Laugh at your mistakes because the natives will!  -Althea

- Don't be cocky. You will alienate those who eventually can be some of the dearest people to you - other missionaries.  -Maureen

- Definitely spend time learning the language!!!! It can't be over emphasized, and it defines your limitations as to what kind of ministry YOU the wife will have. Also, pray early for God to give you a love for the people to whom you will be ministering. He will, and the people will see if you are genuine or not. Also, ladies, strive to have a ministry of your own. I do not mean to offend anyone with this, but I did not come all the way to Siberia to wash dishes and teach my children at home. Those are wonderful ways I can serve my family and provide a Christian education for my children, but I want the Lord to use me directly in the ministry. In Russia, for example, most of the first contacts you have with people are through the wives or ladies. We need to be able to meet them, make friends with them, invite them to church or find other ways to invite them to church activities in order to see them come to Christ. My hubby cannot do that as well as I can! Pray and ask God to use you in more ways than a wife, mother, and housewife. Strive to be needed in the ministry on the mission field, not just a wallflower! Get involved! Pray for God to show you new ways to reach out to women and children and get in there and serve God!  -DeeDee

- I would say to be very careful about comparing yourselves to other missionaries, especially those who have been on the field longer than you have. I did this with material things. I saw the conveniences other wives had and did not understand what it took for them to get to that place. They had been there and accumulated things for years! I now understand that you will not "have it all" your first term or maybe even your second or third. My biggest lesson I learned was to be content with the things God gave me and the ministry He gave us. You also have to learn that the other missionaries have spent years building a ministry, and you will not have that same type of ministry right off the bat. Oh, and you will make mistakes. Get over it, only Jesus did everything right. Learn from your mistakes and let God disciple you on the field. -Sarah

- Take one day at a time. Get up every morning and ask God to help you get through that day, and then thank Him at night when the day is done. Everything from language to culture takes time, and you can get overwhelmed if you try to take it all on at once. -Marty

- A very wise woman told me to just be myself and not to feel like I had to be like other missionaries. It is very true. God made you who you are for a reason, and He uses your special talents and personality to reach even that one person who needs to know the Lord as their Saviour. That first move is always scary, but once you get settled in and into a rhythm of doing things where you are, things are not so bad. -Amanda

- Have certain times (like holidays) when you try to do things the 'American' (or Australian, Canadian etc.) way, but don't spend every day comparing everything to America. You'll drive yourself (and everyone around you) crazy! Realize that just because it's not the way you did it 'back home' doesn't mean it's the wrong way.  -Amanda

-  Balance, Balance and more balance! I agree that we need to have a ministry to call our own. When my children were young, (we came to the field when they were 3, 4, 5, 9, 10) I felt "home bound" because I was raising, homeschooling, and feeding my kids. So, I wrote in the front of my Bible, "As long as you have your husband and children to tend to, THEY ARE your ministry." I remember someone once said, "I'm investing in my children because someday when they are grown, my ministry will be multiplied through their ministry." It must have worked because our eldest son and his wife are here ministering to the Russian people; our second son and his family will be joining us this summer; our eldest daughter is married to a man called to Russia; our second daughter is already back here working and ministering with us, and our youngest is in medical school desiring to serve the Lord through medical missions. So, I feel that I'm reaping fruit from all these ministries because I was faithful to my main ministry of the family while our children were growing up. If you have a wonderful church ministry yet lose your children because they resent the ministry and think that it stole your attention from their needs, you've lost big time. So, like I said, "Balance, balance, balance!" It doesn't mean you can't have a ministry; it means that you should involve your children in whatever ministry you have and make it their ministry too. Hope this is understandable- I'm not condemning, just saying what worked for me.  -Kathy

Come back next week for part 2.

Do you have anything to add?  We would love to hear your comments.