Ministering Around The World- Part 2- Greenland & Iceland

Greenland & Iceland

Welcome to the story of the worlds largest islands.

I was amazed and intrigued as I spent time studying out life and ministry in these two very large islands. They have both been largely controlled by Denmark & Norway. Iceland was settled by Vikings and in fact still has many remnants of the Viking culture remaining. Iceland is a completely independent country now, while Greenland only has partial Independence. Iceland was listed as the 13th most developed country in the world, while Greenland is said to be a third world country with a first world facade.

 

Iceland is a volcanic country and has a tourism industry that brings in income. Iceland draws people with its beautiful volcanoes, waterfalls and northern lights. It is a country of 300,000 with 0.01% being Bible believing Christians.

 

Greenland on the other hand is a country largely made up of ice with no roads to connect any of the towns and supportered 90% by the fishing industry with hardly any flights coming in or out. Greenland is the worlds largest island but is also the worlds least densely populated country, with only 57,000 people. However it is 3/4 covered by ice.

 

Greenland has 3 months of the year that has complete darkness and 3 months that are complete sunlight. Only those who have lived in areas like this can truly understand the power of dark and light on the psyche. The constant darkness affects our energy and largely affects our mood and spirit. Depression is a very big problem in areas like this. Couple this with the sins of alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, abuse and godlessness and you get Greenland, who has the highest annual suicide rate in the world. The natural thought would be that the three months of sunlight would be full of joyous rejoicing. While that could be the case with Jesus in your heart and life, without it, sadly it results in even more suicide due to sleep deprivation as they stay up partying constantly. Another facet of this extremely uniques ministry is the missionary in Greenland, the Shulls, have found suicide counseling to be an active part of their outreach. People from all different parts of the country will call them, looking for help when they are struggle with suicide. While it is heartbreaking to see the need for this, what a blessing that the Lord has risen up a family to "stand in the gap" and spread the gospel to these people.

 

Along with suicide counseling they have several ministries for outreach. They have children's ministries, prison ministries, nursing home ministries and most recently a boat ministry. With their boat ministry, they are now able to reach some of those towns around the country that have no roads to reach them.

In Iceland, there is a family named the Weimers, there working faithfully with the Icelandic people. They have been there 18 years now. Bro. Weimar has been working on the arduous task of translating the Bible into the Icelandic language for 10 years. As we can see in time past, anyone who has worked on Bible translation such as William Carey, have dedicated most of their life to this task. It is a huge and daunting task. I am so thankful for men of God who take up the this huge task and labor to make Scriptures available. They also have bus ministries, English ministries and karate classes they use to reach out to their community. In Iceland people are largely agnostic and take upwards to 7 years to take the step to trust Christ for salvation.

Also something that I really appreciate about both of these families ministries is their emphasis on outreach being in part their faithful church services. My husband has often described the church as a lighthouse to the community. Something that you can always count on to be shining the light, no matter the conditions or popularity. Sharing the gospel once is great but their is miraculous power in a faithful church open to the community that they can always count on to be ready and waiting when they decide to take a step towards Christ. I know it is extremely challenging to run a church when it's only your family. I know the doubt that comes to your mind when it seems you have a church that no one comes to. But I have also seen the importance of consistency in pioneer mission fields. It speaks volumes to those unsaved who are watching and considering your message. Places where the gospel is new will many times watch for a long time before they ever consider your message. They will wait for us to quit. They will hope we will. But what a testimony when missionaries stand strong in Christ and remain faithful when it's not glamorous. Their watching and we must be faithful.

The Shull's church

Shockingly, Greenland has NEVER been evangelized! This blows my mind. Through all the years of time the Schull family is the first and ONLY missionary to these peoples. Also while Iceland has had missionaries come through the years, only one remains and only one church has been planted. I can slightly fathom living in a country where there is few Christians. But there is something about the word, ONLY. Have you ever been the ONLY one? The ONLY one who was different. It isn't easy! We are built to desire companionship and comradarie.

I was privledged to meet the Schull family about two years ago on one of their brief visits back to the states since being there 10 years I believe. While they are not only the lone missionary, converts also are slow in coming. People are steeped in the Lutheran church that declares all babies saved at their infant baptism and they are extremely hesitant to stray from it. Another challenge they face is the Greenlandic language being one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. They brought their family back for a brief multiple week furlough. They hastened their return due to lack of church leadership at the time. It was such a privledge to meet them. I can honestly say, my husband and I frequently talk about the Schulls being our heroes. They have faithfully pioneered a work for God in a hard and lonely place and yet they possess a very meek, humble and sweet disposition. They are a walking picture of Christ. While frequently challenged by the largeness of their cause and the lonliness of their mission they are also filled with the peace and joy that only Christ can give to those following him.

www.arctic-adventures.blogspot.com

 

I have not had the privledge to meet the Weimar family but I strongly respect their service and ministry through the years to a people that need to hear about Christ. I'm thankfully for their faithfulness and determination to continue on in this pioneer mission. They are truly a missionary hero!

It is always amazing to see Christ guide and provide in Pioneer mission fields. When the Schulls began their journey there was no way to enter Greenland as a missionary, you had to be a ctiizen. To acquire citizenship you had to live in Iceland for 7 years. The Lord miraculously opened doors and they were in Greenland in a little less than two years and now have status as a church leader and can freely sponsor other missionaries into the country! They have fervently and faithfully prayed for laborers to come. They have done the pioneering and started the arduous task of breaking the soil for Christ there and this next year they will be blessed to sponsor a new missionary coming to Greenland.

They are extremely excited to have co-laborers in their field. As you can see from the article they will both need fervent team effort in prayer to help them in this battle field mission. Discouragement is a very very real thing that Satan loves to use in the lives of all Christians but especially those attempting to reach those who Satan has had his grip on for years. Please lift up Greenland and Iceland in your prayers. They are largely unreached and few have taken up the yolk to labor for their souls. Pray for laborers. Pray for strength. Pray for encouragement. It makes a difference.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

My Princess, Be Pure (Part 4 and 5: Setting Your Affections and Life)

If you missed any of the My Princess, Be Pure series, here are the links:
Part 1: Setting Your Goals

Part 2: Setting Your Standards

Part 3: Setting Your Boundaries

Our conversation continued to be open, honest, beautiful, and fruitful. This little retreat was just what we needed for so many reasons. We were growing in our knowledge of each other as well as our trust and respect for each other. She ministered to me as much as I was ministering to her.

The topics thus far had been very positive, but this next section was a little more blunt on the tragedies and pitfalls.

It was time to talk about setting her affection.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth." Colossians 3:2

There are two stories that stick out immediately of people who allowed earthly affection to draw them away from the Lord: Solomon and Samson. In our next session, we talked about how God had warned Solomon that ungodly women would turn his heart. Solomon, the wisest man, did not heed the wisdom. His heart was turned. (1 Kings 11:1-8)

We talked about Samson in Judges 14-16, especially Judges 14:3. He felt strong and invincible. He chased the desires of his flesh and paid the price with his life. We talked about how we may pridefully think we can handle things in our strength, but how in our own strength we will fail. We talked about how God still got glory out of Samson even though he failed God in many ways.

This was the perfect time to talk about what my daughter should do if she makes a mistake. I want to always leave the door open for her to talk to me even if she makes bad choices. What would we do if one day she came to us and told us she was pregnant? What would we do if she felt like she got herself backed in a corner because of foolish decisions she made?

We want her to know that our door is always open. Our hearts would always love her. We would meekly approach the sin if needed, but it would always be an atmosphere of love and compassion. After all, we are sinners, too. We cannot judge her, but we can always reach out to rescue her in love.

We also talked briefly about the woman at the well in John 4. Why did she have so many husbands? It wasn't because there is something wrong with marriage. Women often look to relationships to fill a void in their hearts. It is a void only God can fill. It is unfair for us to look to men to fill that longing. They cannot satisfy it! And when we look to them to satisfy it, both people in the relationship pay the price.

We ended the conversation talking about in order to have a successful, godly relationship, she doesn't need to look for a relationship. She needs to look for God. She needs to be heavenly minded. Then God will, if it is His desire, place the right person in her path in His time. If she loves the Lord above all, she will also attract someone who also loves the Lord the same way. (If you want to catch a Godly fish, you gotta use Godly bait!) Again, we emphasized not looking for the right one, but being the right one. We also emphasized not waiting around for Mr. Right, but pursuing God and trusting that if He wants her to marry, He will bring the one of His choosing into her life.

This session lasted ten minutes because my daughter is very familiar with these Bible passages.

Because the fourth session was so short and easy, we went right on into the last session: Setting Your Life!

We simply read her favorite chapter in the Bible: Proverbs 31!

There is something about reading that chapter that ignites a flame in a Christian woman. That passage reminds us of who we want to be.

After we finished reading, we transitioned into the "blushable" conversations. Reading Proverbs 31 really made the transition easy because we were talking girly things already!

I was very honest with her that the topic made me blush, too, but that I want her to hear these things from me instead of the world. I wanted to make sure she had a biblical perspective.

We talked about breast health and self exams. She has a family history of breast cancer on her dad's side, so I really wanted to make sure she understood how important this was. We also talked about how in the next few years she would have a new doctor that specialized in women's health. We talked about how to pay attention to her body and any changes.

Then we moved into reproduction. There were some things she already knew because of conversations we had when she was younger preparing her for her period, but she was very innocent in details. Yes, I asked her straight out to tell me what she knew about sex. I discovered I literally was starting with a practically blank slate! (This is very rare, so please don't be shocked if your daughter has already been "informed" by someone else on some details. You can still help her see things from a biblical perspective. I do recommend explaining to your daughter that if someone attempts to talk to them about this subject that she needs to tell that person this is a topic that is for mom and daughter only.)

My philosophy is to share on a "ready-to-know/need-to-know" basis. I know my daughter well. Through the Lord's guidance, I chose only to share the details that she was ready for and truly needed to know at this point. We used all the correct terms for parts and activities. I drew a stick figure diagram of her internal anatomy and explained the function of each. To explain the male counterparts, I did not draw a diagram. She has a little brother who use to enjoy streaking when we least expected it. She knows boys look different from girls. I explained the purpose of the difference between the male and female parts by using what she had learned in science about flowers. Boys are the stamen and girls are the pistil. I did not go into the logistics of how things happen other than the two must meet in order for the egg to become alive and be a baby.

We talked about how God had designed this method from the beginning and that it was pure and beautiful in the context that God designed it. But Satan and our sinful flesh like to twist it to please self and to rebel against God. I don't ever want her to think of sex in marriage as dirty, but I want her to know outside of God's design sins against God and robs her of the joy and fulfillment God designed it to bring.

The topic really isn't that complicated and we don't need to dump too much information on our daughters all at once. They don't need full disclosure all at once, but in stages as they are able to spiritually, mentally, and emotionally digest it.

This session literally took about 15 minutes, and at the end she told me that yes, it made her uncomfortable, but that she was glad I was the one sharing it with her.

And I was glad, too.

**************************************************************

I hope this series has been helpful to you and your daughter(s). I have to admit this was all new to me. I simply researched and prayed. I wanted God to guide me as I guided my daughter. I am sure He will do the same for you.

Please leave a comment to let me know how the My Princess, Be Pure series has helped you.

Valentines Yummies

 

It's that time of year. Hearts, cards, and love is floating everywhere! And it has floated right into my kitchen:) We got home late last night from three days of driving and I decided to have some fun kitchen time with my munchkins and save some of the goodies for my big love too! So we started the morning with heart pancakes. Heart shaped for Mommy and Daddy and chocolate chip hearts for the kiddos.

We made of course our tried and true favorite pancake recipe.

Then when that sugar high wore off and naps had been had we donned our aprons and began cupcake making!

 

 

While living overseas, I found a link in all recipes that I'll share that has recipes for the normal flavors of boxed cakes. I found it a handy conversion when I found a recipe that called for a box mix.

http://pin.it/h1jKk7R

As they were cooking we decided to whip up some icing. As my habit is, I found myself running low on butter so we decided to make something new for the icing. I found a cream cheese/ cool whip type icing that was begging to be tried.

It was definitely worth the try. I made a half recipe, as I feel icing recipes are always too big!

1 C powdered sugar

4 oz. cream cheese

Beat these two

Separately beat 1 C of cream with 1t of vanilla until peaks form, then blend together. EASY EASY EASY!

Cool the cupcakes.

 

Then came the icing and sprinkles of course! The kiddos are dying to take them to the little kid get together they are going to tonight and share with their friends and we had a fun valentines together. Hope yall had a great Valentine's Day and ate something yummy!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Why Are We Losing Our Sons?

I’m noticing a trend in ministry: sons are rebelling. These are outstanding families. They have solid marriages and great kids. They gave their children a Christian education, lots of love, fun times, and security. So, why are their sons doing whatever they want to do—instead of following God? Not every son is living in a terrible way, but some are. They’re out of church and seemingly turning their backs on their upbringing. Why is this happening?

I’m not sure.

Maybe, though, it’s what I’ll call the Successful Dad Syndrome. I think it’s difficult for a young man to follow in the footsteps of a successful father—in any occupation. When the father is outstanding, I believe the son feels pressure on him—justified or not—to be like his dad. People expect him to live up to a high standard. That’s daunting, to say the least! A sensitive young man may feel defeated before he even begins. I’ve watched it happen over and over again. The dad is amazing. People look up to him. And then, here comes his son. People think the young man will take up the baton and run with it—and many sons get the baton in their hands, look at it, and throw it to the ground. Do they want to be their dad? Are you kidding? Absolutely not! So, they reject what Dad represents, even if it’s spiritual leadership.

Why are we losing our sons? I don’t believe it’s the parents’ fault, the siblings’ fault, the church’s fault, or necessarily the lure of the world.

It could be the pressure of expectations and the young person’s inability to find his own way.

Another reason might be childhood abuse. I’m using “abuse” in a global sense: bullying, sexual, physical, or verbal abuse. Many children (male and female) in pastors’ homes have been abused at one time or another. It is damaging, and it’s real. I believe that one of the reasons young men have turned their backs on the faith of their fathers is that they were badly hurt.

Or, maybe the son has seen all the stresses and heartbreaks in ministry, and he becomes disillusioned. I’ve watched my parents suffer. Why should I want to serve God and subject my own family to these kinds of pressures and disappointments? The greatest heartaches are in the ministry—but also the greatest joys. Maybe he missed seeing the joys.

Why are we losing our sons?

Maybe we’re failing to help them over their hurdles. I believe it’s important for a young man to have someone alongside his father (not in place of) to mentor and counsel him. What other man in the church or Christian school can help him transition from childhood to manhood? Who can help him make sound decisions about studies, goals, and his future? Who can he call on for biblical advice and counsel? With whom can he pray?

The Bible has many instructions for sons. (They’re for daughters, too, but especially for sons.) I believe God wants to see strong Christian men from generation to generation. Let’s read a few of these passages. They’re all in Proverbs and begin with . . .

My son:

• hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck (1:8-9).
• if sinners entice thee, consent thou not (1:10).
• walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path (1:15).
• if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee (2:1).
• forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments (3:1).
• despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction (3:11).
• Hear . . . and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many (4:10).
• attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding (5:1).
• Do this now . . . and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend (6:3).
• keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother (6:20).
• Cease . . . to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge (19:27).
• if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine (23:15).
• give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways (23:26).
• fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change (24:21). 

Our sons need to know that it really doesn’t matter what others think. God only wants them to be obedient servants. Then, we’ll have successful sons.  I know that’s what my husband and I desire for our son. I’m sure that’s what you want for yours, too.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;

but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,

that thou mayest observe to do according to

all that is written therein:

for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,

and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8).