Tangled Tongues - Part 1

Have you ever had a slip of the tongue? It is easy to get tongue tangled, and things do not always come out right. That tendency multiplies when learning a new language. Today, I am going to share some language bloopers that some different missionaries have shared. I hope you enjoy them!

Even when going from one English speaking country to another, there are things that are said differently. The countries which were colonies of England use different words for things than an American does. For instance, in countries with a British influence, a truck is called a lorry; a cookie is called a biscuit; the hood of a car is called the bonnet; the trunk of a car is called the boot; a trailer is called a caravan; fries are called chips; clothespins are called clothes pegs; a pacifier is a dummy; a trashcan is a dustbin, and the garbage collector is a dustman; an elevator is a lift; underwear are called pants, and pants are called trousers. We are in Ghana, and many of these British words are used here. Imagine the surprised look on people's faces when talking about women not wearing pants – they are thinking underwear and not pants!

Our missions teacher in college told a story about himself when he was working in Australia. A man came up to a little girl who was crying and asked, "What is the matter?  Did someone pinch your  lollies?" Our teacher said he wanted to throw the man out of the church for saying such a thing. But, he found out that "pinch" is to steal and “lollies” are hard candy.

One lady who had just arrived in England went to the doctor. She was pregnant, and she had a cold that she could not get rid of. When she told the doctor that she was sick, the doctor thought she meant that she was vomiting. They were about to admit her to the hospital; all the while she was trying to get them to understand that she just had a cold. The doctor then asked her if she was just not feeling well or if she was vomiting. She learned that day that there was a difference between “being sick” and “not feeling well.”

In Japan, a common mistake for a new missionary is to call a person a carrot instead of a person. Carrot is “nin-jin.” Person is “nin-gen.” Right in the middle of the serious part of a sermon, the missionary said, “All carrots are sinners!” The people started to chuckle. He said it again with a little more emphasis. His wife told him what he was saying; he corrected the mistake with a bow and an apology and continued the message.

Another common mistake in Japan is asking someone to marry you instead of asking them to read something. The two phrases are only one syllable different. Many the first time missionary has handed out a tract and asked someone to marry them instead of asking them to read the tract.

In another country, a lady was trying to say that she planted cilantro (dhuniya) in her garden; instead she told her neighbor that she had planted the world (dhanya) in her garden. Then, she told someone that the fish (macha) growing in the garden was getting very tall; she meant to say corn (makai). She told the ladies at church that a big rain storm came in their house through her purse (jhola) instead of through the window (jyaal). Her husband stopped to help a drunk man on the street. He meant to ask him if he had been drinking, but he told the man that he had been drinking. The drunk man said, “Me too!” and tried to get the missionary to go to the bar with him.

Another lady was trying to pay the cook a compliment. She meant to say that the food was delicious, but she said that the urine tasted great. The main problem was that they were eating at the home of her in-laws.

A missionary to Mexico told the ladies in her class that she keeps her watermelons under the bed instead of her shoes. Her husband offered to “hit” a vendor instead of offering to “pay” him.

A lady in Brazil told the people that the sun was in her eggs instead of her eyes. Instead of saying that she wanted to do a study on the pious woman, she said that she would like to do a study on the gassy woman. It was announced that there would be a dinner for all of the carrots instead of the ladies. All of the ladies and their dogs (instead of their daughters) were invited. She meant to say that she lived in the basement of a church for six weeks, but she said that she died in the basement of a church for six weeks.

Next week, we will be sharing some more language bloopers from different parts of the world. If you have any language bloopers that you would like to share with us, please e-mail them to me at lo@consfords.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 Perfect Sunday School Lesson

Several years ago, I taught a junior age Sunday school class each Sunday.  I loved being very creative each Sunday morning.  We did not use a set curriculum for Sunday school, and I was glad! It allowed me to go whatever direction I thought necessary… and occasionally I even asked the Lord what He wanted me to teach that morning. (Sorry, just being honest!)

DIY Dairy ~ What You Need To Know To Get Started

I must start this post with pointing out that I am no expert in the field of DIY dairy, but I have been making some of my own dairy products for a while now, and I have recently jumped into the world of cheese making. There are a couple reasons I have chosen to do this: the first is that dairy products are insanely expensive in Ghana, and the second is that I can. I do not like paying $20+/lb. for cheese {and I am not talking specialty cheeses here!}, and there is something extremely satisfying about making food from scratch that my whole family will enjoy.

First Step ~ The Milk
All dairy products are made from milk, and what kind of milk you use is important. Our first two terms on the field, we looked off and on for a source of real milk but could not find anything. We used both UHT (ultra-heat treated) milk and powdered (filled ~ skim milk powder with soybean oil added for fat) milk. We finally found cow's milk last year when we returned from furlough. We just had not asked the right people, I guess!
If you have a TRUSTED source of real milk, use it as is! It makes the best dairy products possible.
If you are unsure of your source {like us}, then you will want to pasteurize it. It is quite a simple process that I outlined here.
If you are very new to your field and your body is still adjusting to the different foods and such, or you or your family members struggle with sickness, I would advise reading this article and using the teaspoon test to determine if your source of milk is safe for you.
If you must use UHT milk or powdered milk, you are running a chance of the dairy products not setting up at all, not setting up properly, or having an off taste; but then again, they may set up beautifully and taste delicious! You will just have to try it and see!

Second Step ~ The Cultures
Almost all dairy products need a starter culture of some kind. These can be purchased online through Amazon {offers little info and usually most expensive of all the options}, New England Cheesemaking Supply Company {lots of helpful information and good prices}, or Cultures for Health {offers much more than cheese supplies and has lots of recipes available}.
Beware of two things when buying cultures: if buying a product on the field, make sure it is food-grade {such as citric acid, a common cheese supply}; and if shipping, make sure it is not a product that needs constant refrigeration {like liquid rennet}.

Third Step ~ The Supplies
To make your own dairy products you will need a few out-of-the-ordinary kitchen supplies.
You will need a food thermometer, butter muslin {very finely woven cheese cloth} for certain kinds of cheese, a large pot, cheese salt {also called Kosher salt ~ CANNOT have iodine in it!}, and a bit of an adventurous spirit!

Fourth Step ~ Cultured Dairy
The easiest dairy products to make are cultured dairy ~ yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, and creme fraiche. They are all quite simple to make, especially if you can buy your first supply from the store. If you cannot purchase these products, you will need to buy yogurt starter {yogurt makers are nice, but not necessary unless you live in a really cold place} or buttermilk starter. If you purchase starters, they will come with extensive instructions on how each should be specifically used.

Yogurt 

If you can purchase plain yogurt, it can serve as your starter.
2 Tbsp. yogurt
2 c. powdered milk
4 c. very warm water
           OR
2 Tbsp. yogurt
4 c. very warm milk

Put milk in mixing bowl.
Add water and mix well.
Add yogurt and stir to distribute the yogurt throughout the milk.
Cover bowl.
Set in a warm place, such as the top of the refrigerator or near the back of the stove while cooking or baking.
Let sit for 4 hours.
When set, put in refrigerator.
When ready to use, reserve 2 Tbsp. yogurt for next batch.
If thinner yogurt is preferred, add 1 c. sugar, 2 tsp. flavoring/extract of choice or diced fruit and eat.
If thicker yogurt is preferred, it can be strained by pouring into muslin lined colander and left to sit until desired thickness, adjusting sugar and extract to taste.

Buttermilk

If you can purchase buttermilk, it can serve as your starter.
1/4 c. buttermilk
1 quart milk

Place milk in quart jar and add buttermilk.
Screw on lid and shake vigorously for 1 minute.
Leave in a dark, warm area for 12-24 hours until desired thickness.
Refrigerate.
Reserve 1/4 c. buttermilk to use as next starter.

Sour Cream

If you can purchase sour cream or buttermilk, it can serve as your starter.

1 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. sour cream/buttermilk/white vinegar/lemon juice

In a screw-top jar or mason jar with lid, combine the heavy cream and sour cream/buttermilk/white vinegar/ lemon juice.
Shake the ingredients up a bit to thoroughly mix and let stand, covered, at room temperature for about 24 hours or until it becomes very thick.
You can store your sour cream in the refrigerator in the original jar you mixed it in (or use some other resealable container) for up to one week.
Make sure that your sour cream is well chilled before using.
If you want to make a lighter sour cream, substitute whole milk for 1/2 cup of the heavy cream.

Creme Fraiche

If you can purchase buttermilk, it can serve as your starter.
2 Tbsp. buttermilk
1 pint cream

Fill pint jar with cream and add buttermilk.
Stir together and then cover.
Place in dark, warm area for 24-36 hours, depending on desired taste.
Refrigerate.

Fifth Step ~ Italian Cheeses
If you have stayed with me this long, you must really want to make cheese! We will start with the easiest ones. Italian cheeses that are easily made at home include mozzarella, whole milk ricotta, ricotta salata, and mascarpone. These require citric acid, tartaric acid, vegetable rennet tablets, cheese salt, and butter muslin {all of these products are included with an Italian cheese kit}. Some may also require draining baskets {which can be purchased from any of the cheese supply shops}. You may also opt to add lipase powder to the list, as it adds a bit more of the traditional "tang" to your mozzarella.

When making any cheese, it is important to use perfectly clean stainless steel, glass, or enamel containers and utensils. There must be no soap, grease, or food residues that may taint the final product. The butter muslin can be reused. Simply rinse it off after use, launder, and dry. Be sure all soap is removed during the laundering process.

At this point, I am gonna pass you on to the professionals. I figure it is kind of silly of me to just copy their recipes and everything they have to say when they have already said it so well themselves!

Recipe for Mozzarella in 30 minutes {with a microwave}
Recipe for Mozzarella in 30 minutes with a microwave {with more pictures}
Recipe for Mozzarella in 30 minutes {without a microwave}
Recipe for Ricotta and Ricotta Salata
Recipe for Mascarpone

Sixth Step ~ Fresh Cheeses
Fresh cheeses that are fairly simple to make include Quark, Cream Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Halloumi, and Feta. They will require butter muslin, cheese salt, mesophilic culture and rennet {again, all would be included in a fresh cheese kit}. Some may require basket molds and brining containers also.

As stated above, always use properly cleaned pots, containers, and utensils.

Recipe for Quark
Recipe for Cream Cheese
Recipe for Cottage Cheese
Recipe for Halloumi
Recipe for Feta
Recipe for Feta {with lots of excellent pictures}

Seventh Step ~ The Sky is the Limit!
Once you have mastered all of these cheeses, I am pretty sure you can tackle anything!
Hard cheeses are the hardest to make as most of them require a cheese press and extensive drying/ripening times in dedicated cold storage. If you are interested, take a look through this huge list of cheese recipes; maybe you will find another kind you want to tackle. Makes me wish I had a cave in my backyard.....

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments or on the Baptist Missionary Women Facebook page.

Next week, I am planning on giving you lots of ideas of what to do with all these different, delicious cheeses!

Homeschooling Children for Ministry ~ Part Three

"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book." -Marcel Proust

When it comes to homeschooling, one of the main keys to developing children’s character and their desire for ministry is well-chosen books.  I am not referring to thick, dull textbooks or "cotton candy" novels.  I mean engaging, character building, can't-put-'em-down-'cause-they-are-so-good books.  These stories will captivate you and your children to the extent that you will accidentally let them stay up a half hour past bedtime because you did not notice the time.  Books so fascinating that your kids will beg you to continue reading even when their lunch is getting cold.  Or a plot that is so interesting you will want to read out loud to them even when you are exhausted after a hectic day.  A novel so compelling that your daughter will carry it around in her purse and you will discover her nose buried in it every time you turn around.  A particular story that will leave such an impact on her that for a week or two after she reads it, you can still detect a hint of an Elizabethan speech pattern in her conversation.  She will use phrases that are decades (or centuries) old, but they sound normal to her because she has gotten so involved in the conversations of the characters.  Familiar books can help your children adjust to living in a new country because their imaginary worlds have stayed the same.  My family lives in Indonesia now, but Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy moved here with my children.  There are also the books that make children want to do chores, care for animals, or show compassion to the beggar they see on the street because a character they are reading about does the same.  The books that depict a hero portraying honesty under extreme pressure or bravery in the face of danger are the same ones that build character in your children.  Reading biographies about successful missionaries give your children a reference point as to why their parents do what they have been called to do.  Through reading inspiring books, your children can develop into godly adults with character and purpose.

"Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself." -George Bernard Shaw

What is the key to raising a reader?  Be a reader yourself.  One sneaky method that I found is to read a book in front of your child and let them observe you enjoying it.  Then, tell them the book is too mature for them.  Put it high on the bookshelf and make them wait a few months or a year before they can read it.  Finally, declare that they are old enough to understand, to not be frightened by, or to be able to handle whatever made the book a little too mature for them. With a flourish, hand over the book.  Be sure to warn them to let you know if the book is too difficult or scary.  From my experience, this book will be devoured immediately.  Of course, make sure that the book is enticing enough to deliver the promise that made it worth waiting for! 

Another important step in raising a reader is to save books with more challenging themes until they are old enough to fully appreciate them.  You can only read a book for the first time once.  Make sure that the timing is right!  If your child thinks that a book is too difficult or boring, let them put it to the side for a while.  I introduced my eldest daughter to The Hobbit a couple of years ago.  She did not like the book or the literature guide that went with it, so I gave her permission to put it away.  Just recently, the book came back out, and she read all three hundred pages in four days!  Next, she devoured The Lord of the Rings series because she enjoyed the storyline of the first book so much.  Timing is everything. 

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents." -Emilie Buchwald

When my kids were little, I did not require them to read books outside of their schoolwork.  My two youngest children disliked reading in kindergarten and first grade.  It was difficult and confusing for them.  They enjoyed looking at picture books and listening to me read, so I read aloud to them and occasionally coaxed them to take turns reading with me.  I did not worry because we were working on phonics in school and they practiced their reading then.  Eventually both children developed the desire to read on their own, which accomplished my goal.  Once my daughter “cracked the code,” she discovered the imaginary world that a good book could bring.  With my son, it was peer pressure.  He was the only kid in his Sunday School class who could not read aloud.  Now he brings his children’s Bible to my bedroom and asks my husband to read with him every night.  He practices constantly because he wants to.  Human nature demonstrates that a child is much more likely to want to do something if the idea comes from within.  A child should be enticed into reading, not forced into it. 

"No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally - and often far more - worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond."  -C.S. Lewis

Searching for quality literature must be your goal. Read some of your older child’s literature books ahead of them so that you can discuss the topics afterwards.  If you find the book too distasteful to spend your time reading it, then question why you are requiring it of your child.  Use a book list that has been approved by others who share similar views as you. Books such as Honey for a Child’s Heart contain recommended lists for safe and high quality literature as well.  They also include short summaries of the books.  Do not let your child loose in a library or allow them to read a book by an author that you are unsure of. If in doubt, read it first.  Much harm can be done by a book written to entrap a child's mind.  One of your jobs as a parent is to be vigilant about what your child reads.  However, do not let this extra work deter you.  It is worth the effort to make sure that your children are reading quality literature. 

“What if I don’t like to read?” If this is your question, then you simply have not found the right books yet!  Keep trying.  If you do not have the time to read all of the books yourself, then enlist the help of family members or discerning people in your church who enjoy reading.  My mother used to preview books for my daughter when I was too busy.  The result of your diligent effort is a child with an active imagination, strong character, and a great work ethic.  There is no greater reward than that.

Sources

These are the sources that I personally use to help me find good books for my kids.  I have printed the lists out and carried them to bookstores, used book sales, thrift shops, and anywhere else I may find books.  Do not limit yourself to these sources…there are many other good helps out there.

Honey for a Child’s Heart – Gladys Hunt

Classical Christian Education Support Loop – 1000 Good Books List

http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum Book Lists

http://www.sonlight.com/readers.html

Classical Conversations Book Lists (I use this for seventh grade and above.  Go to the Classical Conversations Challenge section.  Next, look for the literature section under each level.  Here is the link for seventh grade, or Challenge A.) http://www.classicalconversationsbooks.com/chli.html

I cannot vouch for every book listed in these books lists, but these are the sources that I rely on to help me to choose age-appropriate, character-building literature for my children.  When in doubt, I always read them first.

Written by Kristine Lien,

missionary wife and homeschooling mom serving the Lord in Indonesia.

Part One

Part Two
Part Four
Part Five
 

The Pig says . . . "Hroo, hroo"??

The other day as I was listening to my children play outside, I thought about how sound effects differ from country to country. For example, when we were in France, when children were playing good guys and bad guys, their "guns" said, "Claque, claque!" In Ghana, they say, "Po, po" with a long "o" sound. The children in America would say, "Pow, pow!" or "Bang, bang!"

I asked some missionary ladies for some different sound effect words from their country of service. I never realized that animals could make so many different noises!

In America, the dog says, “Woof, woof;” “Bow, wow;” or “Ruff, ruff.” In Russian speaking countries, the dog says, “Guff, guff!” In Romania, the dog says, “Hum, hum!” while in Japan the dog says “Wan, wan!” But, in Dominican Republic, the dog says, “How, how!” In Mexico and Peru, the dog says “Wow, wow.” In Brazil, dogs say, “Ow, ow, ow.”

In Romania, there are no “cock-a-doodle-doos;” the rooster says, “Cucurigoo.” In Japan, the rooster says, “Koe ke koe koe.” In Argentina, the rooster says “Kee-keety-kee.” In France, the rooster says, “Cocorico.” In Peru, the chick says, “Pio, pio” (sounds like pea-o) instead of “cheep, cheep.”

The mice in Romania do not squeak; they say, “Kitz, kitz.” In Japan, they say, “Chew, chew.”

Instead of ducks that say “Quack, quack,” in Romania, they say, “Mac, mac.” But, in Cambodia, they say, “Geh, geh.”

The cows in Cambodia say “Maw” instead of “Moo.” But, cows in Japan say “Moe, moe.”

In Japan, the sounds on Old Mac Donald's farm are quite different. There is not an “oink-oink” but a “boo-boo” coming from the pig and a “he heen” coming from the horse instead of a “neigh, neigh.” In some Russian speaking countries, the pig says, “Hroo, hroo.”

In Japan, there is not a “ribbit” coming from the frog on the lily pad but a “gedoe, gedoe.”

In Brazil, birds say “Pew, pew.” In Portuguese, that is Tweety Bird's name too! “I tought I taw a Pew-Pew! I did! I did taw a Pew-Pew!”

If you were rocking your baby in some Russian speaking countries, you would say, “By, by” to the baby as you rocked him. But, if you were in Mexico, while bouncing the baby instead of rocking him, you would say, “Neh, neh, neh.”

Guns in Romania say, “Poc.”

In Japan, the clocks do not say “tic-toc;” they say “kachi-kachi.”

In Mexico, if something slams with a bang it says, “Pas!” (The a sounds like the a in all.)

In Brazil, instead of saying “Gulp, gulp” to signify guzzling, you say, “Goochy, goochy.” If you laugh really hard after hearing “Goochy, goochy,” it is not “Ha, ha, ha!” but “Wahk, wahk, wahk!”

Instead of saying “Knock, knock” when letting someone know you are at their door, in Ivory Coast they say, “Toc, toc.” In Ghana, they say, “Kɔkɔɔkɔ.” (It sounds like “Cawcawcaw.”) In Uganda, they say, “Koh-dee, koh-dee.”

In Brazil, to sneeze is “AHCHEEN!” instead of “ACHOO!”

In Mexico or Brazil, you might hear a mother saying, “Tsh! Tsh!” to her child instead of “No! No!”

Thank you to all of the ladies who contributed! These are sure to bring a smile to your face.

Next week, we will be sharing some language bloopers from different parts of the world. Of course, we could always use some more sound effects! If you have a language blooper or some sound effects that you would like to share with us, please e-mail them 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 Perpetual Rookie

Jason used to work at a dairy processing plant. He worked there for around 17 years total. It was a practice in his department at this dairy plant to give everyone a nickname. When he would tell me stories about his workplace, I would hear about people named Cornbread and Redneck. There was one guy called Buttermilk... and one of my favorite names... Jughead. So what name did Jason get? Rookie. He even had a nametag with "Rookie" on it. The name stuck around for his whole career at the dairy plant.

Rookie (n.)- Someone who is new to a sport or profession. A novice. (How can someone be a rookie for 17 years?)

Dessert Of The Month Club ~ "Your Favorite" Cream Pie

As I've mentioned before, my hubby loves banana pudding, but you know what he loves even more than banana pudding? Banana Cream Pie!

When I asked him what dessert he wanted for Father's Day, he said he really wanted a banana cream pie. To be honest, I didn't really like his answer.
Why?
1. I hate banana cream pie.
2. The thought of making a cream pie of any sort scared me to death.

Don't cream pies sound complicated? Well, they certainly did to me, but I decided to turn to my favorite cook book {The Joy of Cooking, 1997 edition} and see what I could come up with.
What I found there was the easiest and most delicious all-purpose recipe for every cream pie you can imagine!
That pie was so good that my hubby ate it for dessert Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning, and lunch Saturday afternoon. I'd say the proof is in the pie!

Whatever cream pie you like, be it vanilla, banana, coconut,  butterscotch, or chocolate, this recipe is for you!

"Your Favorite" Cream Pie

*Notes before beginning ~ Before preparing your filling, please prepare your favorite flaky pie crust and bake it until golden. These pies can be topped with your favorite meringue recipe or whipped cream or nothing at all!*

1. Basic/Vanilla Cream Pie
     2/3 c. sugar
     1/4 c. cornstarch
     1/4 tsp. salt
     2 1/2 c. whole milk
     5 large egg yolks
     2-3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
     1 Tbsp. vanilla

Whisk in a medium, heavy saucepan until well blended, sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
Gradually whisk in milk.
Vigorously whisk in egg yolks until no yellow streaks remain.
Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, bring the mixture to a bare simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat, scrape the corners of the saucepan with the spoon and whisk until smooth. Return to the heat and, whisking constantly, bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Off the heat, whisk in butter and vanilla.
Spoon filling into the prepared crust and press plastic wrap onto surface.
Refrigerate for 3 hours, if topping with whipped cream.
                                   OR
If topping with your favorite meringue recipe, top and bake immediately, let cool, and then refrigerate.

2. Banana Cream Variation

Prepare crust and filling for Basic Cream Pie, above.
Thinly slice 2-4 ripe bananas, enough to measure 1 1/2-2 cups.
Spoon a third of the filling into the pie shell and scatter half of the bananas over the top.
Cover with another third of the filling and then the rest of the bananas.
Spread the remaining filling over the top.

3. Coconut Cream Variation

Spread 1 -1/3 c. shredded sweetened dried coconut in a 9-inch cake pan and toast, stirring occasionally, in a 300 degree oven until golden brown, 2-30 minutes.
Prepare Basic Cream Pie, above, adding the coconut to the filling along with the butter.
If topping the pie with whipped cream, you can reserve 2-3 tbsp. of the coconut for sprinkling on the top.
Can also be served drizzled with chocolate or caramel sauce.

4. Chocolate Cream Variation

Prepare Basic Cream Pie, above, but increase the sugar to 1 cup and
decrease the cornstarch to 3 Tbsp.
Finely chop 4 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, add it with the butter, and stir until the chocolate melts.
If topping with whipped cream, it can be decorated with grated semisweet chocolate.

5. Butterscotch Cream Variation

*This can be made with a pecan nut crust, if you prefer.*
Cook 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter and 1 packed cup light brown sugar in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted and bubbly, 3-5 minutes.
Gradually stir in 1/2 c. heavy cream OR evaporated milk. (Do not use regular milk, it may curdle.).
If necessary, return briefly to the heat to melt the butterscotch.
Let cool slightly.
Prepare the filling for Basic Cream Pie, above, but omit the sugar, decrease the milk to 2 cups, add the brown sugar mixture along with the milk, and omit the butter.

Enjoy!

Homeschooling Children for Ministry - Part Two

Setting Goals

Count the Cost

A Biblical principle that applies to any undertaking of great significance is counting the cost.  One way to do this in your homeschool journey is by establishing goals for your children’s education and developing a plan to achieve those goals.  At the outset, pray about what you want to accomplish academically and spiritually throughout their schooling, and then write down your ideas.  A Christian parent’s main priority is to rear their children according to Deuteronomy 6:5-7.  “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”  The first priority for you as a parent is teaching your children to love the Lord with all their hearts.  Academics come after that.  My personal goals for my children include having godly character, being an effective communicator both in speech and writing, having proficiency in math, and being well-read. Armed with goals, you can develop a plan that will keep you on track for the duration of your homeschooling years.

 

Long-Term Goals

From the beginning, I felt called to homeschool my children through high school.  This may vary for different families, but having this settled in my heart ahead of time has helped me to focus and to think long-term.  There is no wavering in my heart saying, "Can I do it?"  If God calls you to do it, He will equip you.  If there is a subject down the road that appears difficult to teach, then you can find a video, computer course, or a tutor who can teach it.  Do not allow fear to limit your planning.  One of my long-term goals is that my children attend a Christian college, so this has influenced my choices of curriculum for their high school years.  My kids have already visited and become familiar with some good Bible colleges and are excited about attending one of those schools.  My eldest is especially self-motivated because she plans to attend a specific college with her best friend.  A motivated child is very easy to homeschool.  Knowing what I expect of them has given my children a framework within which to establish their own goals and a target for which to strive.  You may experience a greater sense of purpose if you determine in your heart to homeschool through high school.  God may still open other doors of educational opportunities, but you will find that you will work harder if you teach your children with a long-range plan.

 

Goals for your children should not be set in stone.  Over the years I have observed the strengths and interests of my children take form, and I have adjusted my goals for them accordingly. A methodical, logical child will focus on different subjects in high school than his artistic sister.  Leave room for flexibility and God’s leading in your children’s lives.  As they get older, allow them to have more input into the classes that they want to take as well.  Instead of being driven by your goals, allow them to be guidelines that help map out an educational path.  For example, I began teaching my children Latin as part of our classical curriculum.  When we moved to Indonesia, however, it seemed to make much more sense to switch to studying bahasa Indonesia since that was the language that they needed to know in order to communicate.  I did not get caught up in my previous goal, but rather changed according to what would best serve my family.  Use goals as tools to help guide and not limit your choices.  

            

Annual Goals

In addition to long term goals, you may also make annual goals based on your children’s strengths and weaknesses. They can be both in the areas of character and academics.  For example, this year one of my goals for my seventh grader was for her to learn to speak and communicate in Indonesian. I wanted my fourth grader to learn the fundamentals of English grammar.  As for my second grader, he needed to get his reading up to grade level.  I am pleased with our progress on all of those points.  So, even though we did not finish our history curriculum for the year, I still feel as though we had a successful school year.  The goals I had set were part of a learning process and not a curriculum checklist.  Annual goals can help you to keep the big picture in mind.

 

In closing, I want to share Luke 14:28.  “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”  As you set goals in homeschooling, you are essentially counting the cost.  What will the end result look like and how do you plan to achieve it?  Both long-term and annual goals can give you the confidence and direction that you need to have a successful homeschool.

 

Written by Kristine Lien,

missionary wife and homeschooling mom serving the Lord in Indonesia.

 

 

 

Part One
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five




 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day!

In many places, today is Father's Day;

so Happy Father's Day!

In Australia, Father's Day is the first Sunday in September.

When is Father's Day celebrated where you live?

A Small World - Part 2

When we were on deputation, one day during a missions conference, we had a free afternoon. We went to lunch with one of the other missionary couples. They were friends of ours from Bible college. My husband told them we would pay for lunch. As we were eating, the waitress came up to our table and asked my husband if he was a missionary. He told her that he was. A few minutes later, she asked if he was a missionary to a French-speaking country. He told her that he was. We were not sure where she was coming up with all of these questions. Her next question was if the French-speaking country was Ivory Coast. When he told her “Yes,” a man sitting across the room groaned and exclaimed that he felt that he was being hustled. The man he was eating with was his employee, and the employee had been in a church where we had presented our ministry several months earlier. We did not even remember the employee, but he remembered us. The employee had told his boss that he thought we were missionaries to a French-speaking country in Africa. The boss did not believe him and said if that were true, then he would pay for lunch. The boss not only paid for that man’s lunch, he paid for ours as well. Our friends who were eating with us said that they would have to go out to eat with us more often!

Sally Stensaas, who is a missionary in Uganda with her husband Keith and their six children, sent a small world story. Her husband recently took their oldest son back to the States for Bible college. As her husband was waiting to board the plane in London to go to Uganda, he saw a couple that seemed very familiar to him, but he could not quite place them. Although Keith did not know it, the other man was also looking curiously at him trying to place him. As they both got up to board the plane, they approached each other. The other man said, "You are Keith, right?" To which Keith said, "You are Karl." Karl and his wife are Canadians who also work in Masaka, Uganda. While out of Uganda, both men had shaved their mustaches off, thus altering their looks.

If you have a “small world” experience 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!

Homeschooling Children for Ministry - Part One

Preparation for Ministry

Our family defines ministry as being the channel through which God meets the needs of others by His grace. When I homeschool my children, my purpose is to prepare them for ministry. The best way that I have found to do this for our family is by using Classical Christian Education. Classical Academic Press summarizes classical education as "a traditional approach to education that employs the historic curriculum and pedagogy of the seven liberal arts in order to cultivate students characterized by wisdom, virtue, and eloquence." (Emphasis mine)  These are my main goals for my children: to possess godly wisdom, to have excellent character, and to be able to effectively communicate Biblical truth. In essence, to be prepared for whatever ministry God may call them to in their future.

Not Just the Curriculum

After nine years of homeschooling, I have observed moms who successfully use a variety of curricula and educational philosophies, and their children have turned out well. I have also seen moms who have used classical education materials without good results. What makes the difference?  My conclusion is the effort and involvement put forth by the mom combined with children who are cooperative and willing to learn. Both of these aspects require a constant dependence on and submission to the Lord, and cannot be achieved outside of His divine help and guidance. Homeschooling is a continual process, and as you grow and gain wisdom through the Scriptures, your school methods will develop proportionately.

Labor of Love

Homeschooling is work. I am not referring to work such as writing lesson plans or grading papers. In order to truly inspire a child to love learning, effort is required. I am burdened for my children to have a high level of academics, yet I am even more passionate about their having godly character and a love for ministry. How is this accomplished? It is achieved by using a quality curriculum that includes great literature and by modeling Biblical character in addition to studying Scripture.  The teacher must interact as a participator and not just an instructor. Children's interest in a topic will rarely exceed that of their teacher's, so the bar must be set high by personal involvement from the homeschool parent. If I do not have that wide-eyed wonder of learning, how can I expect it from my children?  This type of homeschooling requires more energy and labor from the parent, but children who are inspired will delight in learning and will seek to please the Lord.

Results of Sacrifice

One of the toughest parts of educating children for ministry is the sacrifice involved.  My children have yet to participate on a soccer team or play little league. We plan to start extracurricular sports this year, but in the early years it was an extra that we chose to do without because it did not fit well into our homeschool and ministry schedule. At times I have given up personal hobbies for a season. I am an artist, and although I have not permanently given up drawing and painting, some of my artistic pursuits have had to be put on hold. I have said "no" to many things in my personal life in order to provide the best homeschool for my children. It has required constant denial of the flesh. The result, however, is having children who have a greater appreciation for those activities once they can participate in them, and who also have learned a balance in ministering to other people.

Next Time

In upcoming posts, I will transparently share with you more of my journey of preparing my children for ministry. I have homeschooled as a busy pastor's wife, during two years of deputation on the road, through the loss of a loved one to cancer, and during my first year on a foreign mission field.  I will write about the process of getting started with homeschooling, the main ingredient to a successful homeschool, and tips for homeschooling on the road.  I will also include a generous list of books that have helped me. Homeschooling my children to prepare them for ministry is the highest purpose to which God has called me, and I hope that what I share can be useful for your homeschool as well.

 

Written by Kristine Lien,

missionary wife and homeschooling mom serving the Lord in Indonesia.

By the way, it's also Kristine's birthday today (June 10),
so I know it would make her day if you would leave a comment wishing her a happy birthday!



Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five





 

A Small World

Have you heard people say, “It's a small world!”? We have had many “small world” experiences through the years, but there is one that takes the cake!

While we were in language school in France for eleven months, we got to do some traveling to other countries in Europe during our breaks. We would have six weeks of intense study followed by a two-week break. The school recommended that we not spend the breaks studying; our brains needed a rest!

When the first break came around, we did not go anywhere out of town because we did not have a vehicle. Shortly after that, we were able to get a little Peugeot 205. My husband named her “Eleanor.” We got to go a lot of places in good old Eleanor. We had missionary friends in Germany. We went to visit them on the next break that we had.

During one of our breaks, my sister Emily came for a visit. She arrived just before our exam week. We were able to take a couple days off to go to Switzerland to meet up with my dad's parents and my dad's brother and his wife. My grandparents immigrated from Holland to America in 1949. They had come to visit relatives in Holland. It worked out for us to meet them in Switzerland.

Meeting up with them was interesting. We had printed out a map; we were supposed to meet them in Matten, Switzerland. Around 10:00 P.M., we thought we had arrived at our final destination. We were at the end of the road at the top of a mountain. We found the restaurant that they had told us to look for; the only problem was if we turned where they told us to turn, we would drive off the side of the mountain. Joe was talking to the lady from the bed and breakfast on the phone; she was speaking in broken Enlgish. Joe accidentally threw a French word in there. She said in French, “You speak French?! Well then,...” She took off talking in French. We soon found out that there are three Mattens in Switzerland, and we were at the wrong Matten! We did get to see some beautiful scenery though! The Matten where we should have been was two hours away from where we were; it did not look that far on the map; the only small obstacle was the Swiss Alps!

The next day, my grandparents (Opa and Oma) wanted to take a train up a mountain. Joe had talked to the lady at the bed and breakfast and asked her where the best place to go would be. She recommended that we go to Jungfrau. So, we headed that way. My aunt and uncle had my grandparents in their rental vehicle, and we were following in Eleanor. As we were driving along, there were two people on the side of the road who were hiking; they had walking sticks in hand. As my uncle's vehicle passed by them, they started waving their walking sticks in the air. Emily and I looked at the people who were waving their walking sticks. Emily said, “I think that is Oma's brother and his wife.” Oma's siblings (who all still live in Holland) had come to America to visit at different times. We had met some of them. We drove a little farther, and my uncle turned around. So, we followed him. He accidentally passed the place where the people were standing. So, we pulled up next to them first. Emily and I were both still discussing if it might be Oma's brother. We were not bold enough to get out of the car and ask. My husband has never met a stranger. So, Joe got out of the vehicle and asked them if they knew Tony Van Manen (Opa's name). They did not speak much English at all, and they did not understand his Texas accent. They pointed, and in very broken English said, “The town is that way.” Joe tried again. He said Opa's name like Opa would say it. When they understood that he was saying “Tony Van Manen,” they started talking in rapid-fire Dutch. At that point, Emily and I stepped out of the car. As soon as the aunt saw me, she said, “Laura!” It had been at least ten years since we had seen them. They just happened to be vacationing in Switzerland in the same area where we were. What a small world!

If you have a “small world” experience 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!

Come See Our New Look!

If you are reading from a reader or through your email,
please come see our new look -

 I've been doing some updating to our blog.

I've added buttons for some of our more popular posts.

You can find them on the right toward the bottom.

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(or not see!)?

Let me know what you think!



Lunch Time: Egg & Avocado Sandwiches and Pita Chips

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for good lunch ideas.
And today, I have two ideas for you!

Last summer, I got a recipe idea that Jolene shared while living in Israel, and it has become a family favorite!

Egg & Avocado Sandwiches 

The basics:
bread
avocado (sliced or mashed)
boiled eggs
fresh tomatoes
salt

The variations:
mayonnaise
sliced cheese
sliced cucumbers
fresh-cracked black pepper

Put it together any way you like it and enjoy!

My second idea comes from my fav food blogger, Rebecca ~ homemade pita chips!
I've tried making these on my own several different ways {including frying them!}, but I've never found one we all really liked until I stumbled on this one! Since chips of any kind are a rarity here {besides plantain chips}, we love these crunchy guys!

Pita Chips

Cut pita bread {ours comes from the Lebanese bakery} into bite-size pieces.
Place in single layer on baking sheet.
Brush with olive oil and sprinkle mix of 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder over bread.
Bake at 250 degrees, checking {and flipping if necessary} chips about every 15-20 minutes until desired crispness, approximately 45-60 minutes.
Let cool and store in ziploc bag for up 5 days {if they last that long!}

Both of these ideas leave lots of room for creativity!
Give them a try and see if you find a new favorite!

Just out of curiosity, what is you favorite out-of-the-ordinary lunch food?

Missionary Monday ~ Come Join Us!

Happy Monday, Ladies!

Do you have a blog you would like to share?

Today's the day to link up your blog with us!

Please grab our button (code on the side), and share on your blog;

then link up here.

Be sure to visit the blogs and leave a friendly comment!

Be sure to come back next week for a new series called
Homeschooling Children for Ministry.
(It's going to be good!)

A New Adventure

Have you ever felt lost in a strange, new world? We felt that way ten years ago as we embarked on our journey to language school in France. About halfway across the ocean, Joe, my husband, became very ill. He spent most of the remainder of the flight in the restroom. He could not stop puking. I am usually the one who gets motion sickness; I had taken some medicine. It was a very rough flight.

Once we reached Paris, our trip was far from over. We had to take a train from Paris to Albertville. We did not speak a word of French. If the people in Paris spoke English, they surely were acting like they did not. We had purchased our train tickets online. The only catch was that they were all in French. We thought we were taking the fast train, the TGV, all the way to Albertville, but we found out that was not the case.

We could not find an elevator. So, we had to take all of our luggage up the escalator. We had eight large trunks and our carry-on luggage. I went up the escalator first. Joe sent the trunks up the escalator, and I was pulling them off once they got to the top. Joe sent my backpack up, and he was right behind it with the remaining two trunks, his briefcase, and his backpack. When my backpack got to the top, I accidentally dropped it. It fell back down the escalator and got wrapped around Joe's feet. The only thing that kept him from falling backward was the mass of humanity behind him on the escalator.

We took the TGV from Paris to Lyon. Somehow we found our way to the train station. Joe was still looking rather green from the rough flight. We were trying to find our train car. There were numbers painted on the outside, but they were numbered 1, 2, 1, 2, all the way down the line. There was an automated number above each door, but we did not see those. We showed our ticket to someone. They motioned that we should just get on because the train was leaving. We had eight big trunks plus our carry-on bags. We just barely got the luggage inside the train before it took off. We stowed the luggage in the entryway; then, we fell into some very comfortable seats as the train picked up speed. A little later, the conductor came through collecting tickets. Unbeknownst to us, we had somehow ended up in the first class car, OOPS! The poor man did not speak any English, and we did not understand a word that he was saying. He finally just threw his hands in the air and kept going. I guess we did not take anyone else's seat, or they would have thrown us out on our ears. The fast train did not help Joe feel any better.

The TGV stopped in Lyon. We unloaded all of our luggage. At the Lyon Train station, we had to go downstairs before we could go back upstairs to the area where the slower trains were. Getting all of those trunks down the stairs and back up the stairs was quite a sight. I went down the steps to the first landing and stayed with the first load of luggage. Joe ran up and down the stairs until we got all of the trunks to the next landing. Joe looked around and found a man's ticket that looked exactly like our tickets. That man had his skis over his shoulder and said that we could follow him. He stood as far away from us as he could once we got to our train. But, he was kind enough to wait for us to get all of our luggage.

From Lyon to Albertville, we were on a slower train. It stopped in every town. I was trying to read the names of the French towns as we would pass the signs. There were two teenage girls sitting behind us laughing at the American who was slaughtering the French language. At each place that we stopped, more passengers with skis boarded the train. With our eight trunks, we had successfully taken up most of the luggage space. We kept hearing, “Texas!” said in a disgusted voice as people looked at our baggage tags when they were trying to find a place for their luggage.

We finally arrived in Albertville. Someone from the language school met us at the train station. That is a trip we will never forget!

If you have a funny travel 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!