Sometimes you think you have all the time in the world. Other times, you realize the sobering truth... You never know what the day may bring and what doors will be closed.
Today, my thoughts and prayers are for, the missionary kid. What blessings they are! They love their unique lives on the mission field, for the most part, ;) but, every now and then they wish they could give a hug to a family member they left back "home" in the US, or enjoy a special treat like they had during their family's last furlough. One of those yummy treats our kids miss is pudding! I wanted to share several recipes for pudding that I was so excited to find upon first arriving on the field. Every now and then pudding is still a special treat for our family. All of these can be made ahead by combining the dry ingredients and storing them in an airtight container to be added to milk and cooked later. Hopefully, we can satisfy a craving for your favorite pudding with one of these recipes!
Vanilla Pudding Mix
3 cups nonfat dry milk (I use whatever dry milk I can find!)
4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
3 cups cornstarch
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Combine all ingredients except the vanilla and store in an airtight container until ready to make.
To prepare: Mix 1/2 cup of the dry mix to 2 cups of milk. Heat and stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Cool, then add 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract. Serve.
Combine all ingredients except the vanilla and store in an airtight container until ready to make.
To prepare: Mix 2/3 cup of the dry mix to 2 cups of milk. Heat and stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Cool and serve.
Coconut Cream Pudding Mix
3 cups nonfat dry milk
4 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 cups cornstarch
1 1/2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
1 tsp. coconut extract (This is not available here for us so I substitute with vanilla extract)
Mix the extract and shredded coconut in a small bowl until the extract is absorbed. Add the coconut to the other ingredients and store in an airtight container until ready to make.
To prepare: Add 2/3 cup of the dry mix to 2 cups of milk. Heat and stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Cool and serve.
Butterscotch Pudding Mix
2 cups nonfat dry milk
5 cups brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. salt
3 cups cornstarch
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container until ready to make.
To prepare: Add 1/2 cup of the dry mix to 2 cups of milk. Heat and stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Cool, then serve.
Did you ever stay in someone’s home, and as a result your family was changed forever? This happened when my husband and I were traveling for a summer with a singing group for our college. We met so many wonderful people that summer. One couple, in particular, was a pastor and his wife, with their very young children.
I have to admit, when we pulled up to stay with them in their tiny trailer with their two babies, I was a little nervous. Despite my anxieties, however, when we walked into the pastor’s home, the living room was the picture of peace. Two babies were playing quietly on the floor and our hostess, who looked happy and refreshed, had soup and sandwiches waiting for us.
After lunch, the littlest baby started fussing. The pastor’s wife picked up the baby and excused herself to the baby’s bedroom. Not a moment later, the mother was right back in the living room with us and…everything was quiet! “He’s already asleep?” I asked in great surprise.
“Oh no. But, he’ll be asleep in just a moment.” Just like that. No struggle. No crying. I was shocked. The baby awoke about an hour and a half later singing in his bed and was very happy to get his little snack. When bedtime was just as easy for both babies, I was in complete awe of this mother. “This is the mother of the year,” I thought.
The next morning, we were greeted by two happy babies eating their breakfast. I was amazed with this mother! Here she was with two young children, a toddler and a baby, and she was not complaining about her lack of sleep or how hard mothering was and on top of that she was being a blessing to others! I was ready to write down any advice this mother had! “How do you have such well-behaved babies and how do you get them to sleep so easily?” I finally asked her...
To read the rest of this post by Katie McElreath click here. Katie and her family are missionaries in Ethiopia.
So, what if you have family in both places? Where is home? You have parents in America, and your husband and children in your place of service.
Often missionaries are torn between two places, the place where they grew up, where parents, siblings, and childhood friends live and the place the Lord has called them to serve.
Where is home?
Oh, we have a Heavenly home, you say. This world is not our home, we're just passing through. But for the here and now, for where we are "just passing through" where is home?
I am only one person, and I cannot speak for missionaries everywhere, but here are my thoughts and then I'll share the thoughts of other missionary women.
In short, missionaries will always have home in two places. I spent 32 years in America, and have been in Australia 3 years. How does one just pack up and move from a place they've known their entire life, and no longer call it home?
On Christmas morning, I remember sitting there looking at my dad, stepmom, brothers, and nephew, then looking at my husband and children. I realized then that at that moment, home was right there. It was so simple. Most of my loved ones all in one room. I wanted that moment to last forever. But, alas, time moves one.
I am now sitting in my home in Australia. A part of me will always want to be there in America with my family, but a part of me will always want to be here, to the land where God has called me, to the people He has called me to.
We have a pull between two places, home and home. Most of us know that as much as we love our "old home", time has moved on, our family has moved on, things and people have changed, and we will never fit in that "old home" again.
We look at our "new home" as home, yet as long as we have family and friends there we all have a little yearning for our "old home". Thus, we will always be torn between the two.
I asked our ladies in the Baptist Missionary Women group on facebook, "Where is home?" And here are their responses (I know it's a bit lengthy, but if you want to know how we feel, please take the time to read)...
~ Home? What is that? I know for my kids and husband the hardest question for them is "where are you from?" I just don't get why we have to define home or put a location on it.
~ Home is where family is. Or, home is where your wifi connects automatically (that's is, if you have wifi...)
~ Being "real" at the moment, I find myself very conflicted when thinking on this. Most days, I genuinely feel that (where we are serving) is my home. God called us here, I live here, my things are here. But there are those days in my heart that I long to be "home" - where my children and grandchildren are.
~ Home is not a house or a place, it's where we as a family are together. I will never forget my son yell "home sweet home" when we arrived at our hotel room after a long day at a missions conference.
~ We have lived here for almost 15 years now. I will be honest... I look forward to going home some times. Although, that is where my church is, but really no longer where my friends are since my real friends are in the ministry also. My family is spread all over. But, when we've been in the states a few weeks, I'm ready to go home again, which then I say is back (where we are serving). I love being in the states where I can read everything in English, but I feel more comfortable here (where we are serving) in my house with my things. It's a hard thing to say really where my home is. Is it where we live now? Is it where we serve, where are hearts are? I'm home here. But I miss so much in the states. And when I'm in the states, I miss so much from here. So , where is home? That's a hard question.
~ Missionaries are kind of a people without a country. That said, we love our field and have no desire to live in any other country. When we refer to home it's the mission field.
~ Home is where my family is...and if I ever get the idea that I'm "home sick" it's never for a specific place, just for a stationary place (because we're on deputation). I just try to think about how in years past, women would travel half the world with all they owned in one box and set up a tent for home or dig a house out of the hills in the parries or whatever. I just try to make myself think like that and realize that home really is what you make it.
~ Not having "home" for years on end was turning me into a mess. I realized I needed to invest myself wherever I was, for the time I was there. It hurts a little more to leave it, but the comfort of embracing where I am is healing. Sometimes it takes a while, but it's worth the effort! Love people around you, connect with them, get involved in the ministry if possible, Love the place God puts you and the people He puts you with. I have "home" in many different places! ~ Home is where my heart is which means it is in too many places to name. ~ Home is wherever God's will is for our family. At first, living in this country it didn't feel like home, but it was home nonetheless. Being in God's will brought peace enough to endure until it felt like home. This year, it feels like home. ~ 'Home' is relative to a missionary wife, or at least to me. It is a tentative term. It sounds super spiritual, but it is in truth a sad heartfelt cry when a missionary says home is Heaven! Home is where we are welcome, comfortable, in control, surrounded by loved ones, etc. this is neither the mission field, or the states for me- and it is in ways both. I can honestly say I do not feel completely at home in either place, and yet I so love both places! I am content knowing the Lord guides and places us where He wants us, and that is our home for that time; but it will change, It always changes.
I share all this to also show that we are real people, we are not super spiritual Christians. We miss our family, our friends, our home church, Cracker Barrel, Wal-Mart, and the list goes on, but at the end of the day, we are right where God wants us, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
So, we may not necessarily know how to answer you when you ask "Where is home?" or "Where are you from?" Don't feel sorry for us, having two homes is an adventure!
1 Peter 3:14 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:
and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;”
In the States, my picture of suffering was very different than it is now. To me, suffering was:
The rejected tract at Walmart
The criticism of Christians by the Atheists downtown
The Facebook comment that bashes biblical Christianity
The anti-creationist blog post
The city law requiring a permit for street preaching
The restaurant manager who says tracts may not be distributed there
The student told he couldn’t bring his Bible to class
Those things are difficult and most certainly are a form of persecution.
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
But I must admit, my views of suffering have transformed since coming here.
It now looks more like this:
The daughter kicked out of the home and family for becoming a Christian
The wife rebuked for going to church
The Bible college student beaten for wanting to plant a church
The husband/son-in-law rejected for refusing to worship a statue
The church bombed
The man chased out of the village with machetes for being a Christian
The political group fighting to force the nation to return to being Hindu-only
The anti-Christian rallies
Taxis driving around with loud speakers threatening Christians
And in recent months as have watched the news, my view of suffering has changed again. It looks more like:
The mother raped and killed because she will not reject the Saviour
The child beheaded because he owns a Bible
The father shot execution style because he will not convert to Islam
Heads mounted on stakes to drive fear into the heart of Christians
People fleeing to the mountains, with no food or water
But there is another face of suffering that we as Christians should never forget…
Acts 16:23-25 “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
The news will never show it. It doesn’t fit their agenda. It doesn’t gain an audience. The “happy are ye” crowd.
“… if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye…”
I have seen the "happy are ye" crowd. They walk into church with a smile on their faces. They preach with bruises. They attend Bible college without family support. They pray for their persecutors. And they sing.
In the States, I wasn’t in the “happy are ye” crowd. I was the victim. I couldn’t believe that I could be suffering such persecution or rejection. I had my rights. And I should be treated fairly! But the more my view of suffering changes, the more my response to it changes, too. I am no victim. I am blessed.
I wonder how many of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ are singing, though through tears at times. I wonder how many times the news media cameras edited out the Christian who praised Jesus with their last breath. I wonder how many people have knelt down to pray and tell Jesus He is worthy of it all. I wonder…
Sing on, my brothers and sisters. Your suffering is not in vain. And joy comes in the morning. Happy are ye…
Pray for our persecuted brethren.
Pray for our fellow missionaries who are reaching in to these areas.
And search your heart.
Are you really suffering?
If not, is it because you are not doing anything to exalt the name of Christ?
If you are not facing persecution, it may be a symptom of a much greater problem in your life…
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
So, is everyone as tired as I am with sweet desserts and candies after the holidays?! Although we have enjoyed the snacking and special treats at parties and gatherings this time of the year, our family is ready to return to a normal schedule with some more consistent meals. This Chicken Parmesan recipe is a great one to serve for your family or more company as it makes your house smell delicious! It is also pretty easy to prepare.
The left over butter is sprinkled on top to help crisp the chicken upon baking.
Ingredients:
2 cups dry bread crumbs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup dried parsley flakes
1/8 tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Oregano
2 Tbsp. Salt
Directions:
Mix above ingredients well and set aside. Melt 1 cup of butter (if unsalted butter is used, add a little salt for flavor). Dip chicken in melted butter then roll in crumb mixture until well coated. Arrange breaded pieces in shallow foil lined baking pan. Pour remaining butter over chicken. Bake in moderate oven (180 degrees Celsius) for 20-30 minutes until juices run clear and chicken is golden brown.
**I must note that normally when I make this dish for our family of five I use HALF of the recipe above. It makes quite a bit of breading, even enough for about a kilogram of skinless, boneless chicken breast.
I serve this with pasta and some marinara sauce. Top with a little grated Parmesan cheese. Garlic bread on the side. Delicious!
You've heard it over and over: PRAY FOR YOUR MISSIONARIES! Why do you need to pray for us? Because bad things can happen to us. I hope if nothing else, this post will keep your missionaries at the top of your prayer list.
Our regular Missionary Monday contributor, Amy, is on a little break from posting. With her permission, I'd like to share her and her family's horrific story.
One week ago our family went through a harrowing, life-changing experience. This is how my husband described last Tuesday evening in a prayer update:
Last night at about 9:45 pm at our house, Caleb announced to Amy and I as we worked on a paint job in the children’s room that three men had just entered our back door. When I got to the door, I saw two guns brandished among the three criminals. Though we offered all our money and goods to them they beat me and hit Amy twice. We are praising the Lord that after about 15 minutes wherein they tore the house apart, we were able to chase them away. They took some material possessions, but our lives and honor were spared because of the good hand of our God who placed a wall between our lives and their weapons.
Tomorrow, we are taking a leave for our family. Please pray that we would be comforted the way the apostle Paul was comforted when he was in pain (2 Cor. 1:5). We also need wisdom as we consider how best to honor God in light of our family (1 Tim. 5:8) and the gospel (2 Tim. 2:10).
Trusting God,
Seth and Amy
To read more about the events that took place that day, click here to go to their blog.
Please pray for Seth, Amy, and their family as they continue to heal from all this. Missionaries need your prayer. When the Lord wakes you in the middle of the night to pray, don't fall back asleep, PRAY! When you see our prayer card on your fridge or on your Bible, don't overlook it, PRAY! When you see our country in the news, don't just pass it by, PRAY!
I am not a huge fan of baby showers or bridal showers. I am not exactly sure why. OK, actually I am pretty sure I know why. It is because I feel like I am such a terrible gift chooser! I can just picture as people open my gifts, the expectant mom or bride pasting on a smile and saying in a timid voice, "Wow... um... that's really... sweet of you." As I purchase my gifts I usually console myself with, "It's the thought that counts, right?" Sigh... But since showers are such a great opportunity for fellowship, I usually go.
Here are a few true
ministry scenarios. These examples are typical of
ministries all over the world, including yours. My purpose in sharing is to
encourage. (Hang on, the good stuff’s coming!)
Many years of effort and hundreds of dollars help a young
man with a heart for missions get a college education and start on deputation.
He marries, divorces, remarries . . . .
A young woman comes to church, gets saved and baptized. She
drops out of church, marrying an unsaved man and having other
immoral relationships. A life issue brings her back to church, and she starts to
grow and change. Later, she backslides and goes back to old habits, including
dating another unsaved man.
A person makes a business decision that harms another
believer. When confronted, there is no favorable resolution, so the offended
party gets the pastor involved. Instead of resolution, the whole family leaves
the church.
In counseling, a divorced woman is advised to give up the
boyfriend she’s interested in. There are red flags all over the place. (This
will be yet another abusive relationship.) She continues toward another harmful
marriage.
A man ignores all sound, biblical advice and does exactly
the opposite of what he should. Now, he wishes the consequences of his actions hadn’t
happened.
A mother balks at the teaching that she can and should
protect her children from the world. She criticizes. How can her teacher be so narrow-minded? Years later, sadly,
this lady only has one out of her many children attending church services.
A wife will not respect her husband. She puts him down,
criticizes, and is unthankful. She doesn’t see the problem, though she has been
counseled many times to change how she talks to her husband.
The pastor’s wife has to confront several young women
one-on-one about their lifestyles, specifically fornication. The women never
return to church.
Sometimes, it seems
there are more failures than successes.We did and said exactly what the
Bible says to do. We did our best to be kind, loving, and Spirit-led, but we got the
result we least wanted:
We wanted resolution and got rebellion.
We wanted restoration and got leaving the church.
We wanted to encourage growth in the Lord and got more
sinning.
We wanted to warn and got stubbornness.
Now, for the
encouragement:
Our ministry is not in vain.
God says so. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
When you take biblical, loving steps, God honors them.You might not see the results you want, but you’ve been faithful. That’s what
counts! God judges our faithfulness. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for
that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12).
Each person is responsible for his own reaction to
admonition or correction.Your responsibility is to give godly advice in a
sweet, loving manner. The other person is responsible for heeding it. Son of man, speak
to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a
land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for
their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the
trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet,
and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be
upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his
blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But
if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be
not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken
away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So
thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel;
therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me (Ezekiel 33:2-7).
God uses His Word in His way and in His time.Never think
what you have shared from the Bible was useless. You never know how or when the
Holy Spirit will speak to hearts. The word
of God is not bound (2 Timothy 2:9b). For the word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
In this New Year, remember:
When you see failure, God sees
faithfulness.
When you are disappointed in
people, God is not disappointed in your biblical message and actions.
When you followed the right
steps toward conflict resolution, God knows you did right.
When you warned, you did the right thing. It’s the listener’s responsibility after that.
When you see no “results,” you
might not be seeing the whole picture. There are many testimonies of Christians
who never knew in their lifetimes the impact of their consistent witness.
Remember to Whom we’re responsible. It’s God’s work, after all.
On Christmas morning, I remember sitting there looking at my dad, stepmom, brothers, and nephew, then looking at my husband and children. I realized then that at that moment, home was right there. It was so simple. Most of my loved ones all in one room. I wanted that moment to last forever. But, alas, time moves one.
