The House of Mourning

I lost a dear friend recently.  I say lost, but actually she is not lost.  She has just gone on to be with our heavenly Father before me.  My life is so much better because of my friendship with her.  She taught me so much about how to live in our country of service.  She was always a listening ear when I needed one.  I remember well the day she needed a listening ear.  I was truly humbled that she called me.  

It is never easy to lose someone you love, but God's grace is amazing!  Several years ago, I wrote a blog post for my personal blog about going to "the house of mourning."  I have returned to this time and time again to remind myself of the lessons that come through mourning.  I thought I would share it here.  I hope it will be a blessing to you.

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It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. – Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

“Funerals are more instructive than parties, according to the wisest king,  for a funeral will cause a man to consider his own end—the end of every man.”  -Jim Berg, Changed Into His Image, pg. 289

I have had several opportunities in my life to visit the house of mourning.  Perhaps none has had such a profound effect as the death of a dear high school friend of mine.  She was 41 years old at the time.  Her concern was not for herself, but for her unsaved husband and her 4 children.  She was ready to meet her Saviour.

I graduated from a small Christian high school in the hills of Pennsylvania.  There were 17 of us in that graduating class of 1980.  We have all scattered.  I have lost touch with most.  Two from that class died within months of each other.  One suddenly of a heart-attack and my friend with cancer.  My friend thought she was one of the blessed ones.  She was given a glimpse into her future.  Although she did not know the exact day she would die, she knew it would be soon.  She was given time to “put her affairs in order.”  She had the opportunity to teach her children what was really important about living and dying.

I know in her flesh she must have struggled at times with what was to be.  Those of us who were able to spend any time with her never saw this.  Her words were full of trust in her God.  She left a letter for her husband that was full of love for him and the truths she was learning about God in this circumstance.  She knew that God’s way was best.  He had all the wisdom, knowledge and love.   He would take care of her family after she was gone.

As she went through that trial,  I thought about her and her response to her struggles and I was instructed.  Recently, I heard of another friend’s passing into eternity and those lessons were reviewed in my mind.  Do I spend the time I have left doing what is truly important or do I fill it up with meaningless activities?  I know that God gives grace when we need it for the great trials of life, but what about now?  Do I call on that same grace for the “little” trials that plague me daily?  Am I teaching my children what is truly important about living and dying?

None of us know when we will leave this earth.  Some of us may get notice.  Many of us will not.  It is my prayer that I will live each day as if it might be my last.

Some of you who are reading this article may not have made that one most important decision in life that my friend made.  It is not the good deeds we do or the church that we attend that allows us into heaven.  It is our decision to trust Christ as “the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14:6).  He alone can grant us forgiveness of sins and give us eternal life in heaven.  He is longing to do this, because of His great love for each one of us.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Many of my friends and loved ones are now in the presence of the Lord singing in the heavenly choir.  Sometimes when sitting in stillness, I can almost hear the song, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing,” (Rev. 5:12).  Some day I will join their song!

Egg Roll Wrappers - With Video

I LOVE egg rolls! Well, let me re-phrase that. I LOVE homemade egg rolls! 

My mom has been making egg rolls ever since I can remember! However, we didn’t use to have to make the wrappers for our egg rolls. For some reason they don’t sell those here in Papua New Guinea.... 

We have two recipes that work great! I’ve tried a couple different ones, and none seem to work all that well. They fall apart, or get super greasy, or just have terrible textures. 

The two recipes I’m going to give you today I found in an old Chinese cookbook that was written by a couple of nuns during WWII. They were missionaries in China, and were captured by some Japanese soldiers. They spent several years in a prison camp, and after the war returned to China.....too bad they were Catholic! 

Type One:

4 cups white (plain) flour

Enough hot water to make a soft dough 

Mix the flour and water until you have a nice soft dough that is easy to work with. 

Roll out the dough into eight inch circles. (I never measure mine...and often they are different sizes. Don’t tell the nuns.) 

Place your filling in the center of the circle. Fold the top half of the circle over the filling toward you. Then fold both sides to the middle. Then roll. 

Handle the egg rolls with care. Set them gently in hot oil and fry till golden brown on both sides. 

DO NOT FRY IN DEEP FRYER! 

These egg rolls are too delicate and fall apart when in a deep fryer. 

Type Two: 

2 cups white (plain) flour

1 egg 

2 3/4 cups water 

Mix the batter until smooth. 

Pour about 1/3 cup of batter into a hot non stick pan. (Depending on how “non stick” your pan is add a little bit of oil.) Once the top is dry, flip, cook for about a minute on the other side. If wrapper starts to brown turn the heat down. 

Place your filling in the center of the circle. Fold the top half of the circle over the filling toward you. Then fold both sides to the middle. Then roll. 

Handle the egg rolls with care. Set them gently in hot oil and fry till golden brown on both sides.

DO NOT FRY IN DEEP FRYER! 

These egg rolls are also too delicate and fall apart when fried in a deep fryer! 

My family likes Type Two best. They have a crispy and chewy texture! But Type Two takes longer to make than Type One. When we make egg rolls we make LOTS! So for my family Type One is more practical. Type One is still great! Nice and crispy, and good texture! 

Don’t add salt to your egg roll wrappers. A lot of the fillings you would put in there already have a lot of salt in them. Salt in the wrappers would probably be too much. 

When frying, take the egg rolls out of the oil just before they get to the color you want. They continue cooking even after you take them out of the oil. 

We use these wrappers to make egg rolls and wontons. You really could put anything you want in these! 

Later on this week (unless my class goes totally crazy) I’ll be posting videos on how to make egg roll filling and egg roll sauce. Check out my channel on YouTube, Third Culture Cooking. 

Comments are always welcome and appreciated! 

Songs in the Night

Psalm 32:7, "Thou art my hiding place...
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."

Life is hard.  We've all been there: when those moments hit that you just don't understand or hurt so badly you feel like you can't breathe.  We just started studying Revelation in our family quiet time.  And it hit me that while John was in one of his darkest nights--exiled, alone, misunderstood, hated, persecuted--he had a one-on-one encounter with the glorified Jesus Christ who gave him a message for the churches.  Jesus gave John the greatest glimpse and prophecy of what's to come to share with all and give us all hope that this is not the end.  I am so thankful that during those darkest nights in my life, God has comforted me with a song.  I can take shelter under His wings and find deliverance from myself through songs of praise.

Ministry is hard.  There have been two (specific) times in ministry that hurt deeply: one when I was very young and another when I was much older.  The first time, I was very hurt.  During that time, my pastor sang a song before he preached that God used to speak truth and comfort to my soul: 

"I Found the Lily in the Valley"

All alone and broken-hearted, trying to calm the raging battle in my mind

I searched for answers my troubled heart couldn't seem to find...

He'll be the lily in your valley

He'll be the strength when you are worn

He'll be the place to leave your burdens

He'll give you refuge from the storm

A place to trade your dark skies for beaming rays of sunshine

He'll be the lily in your valley and He'll bloom all the time.

The second time, I was more angry than hurt.  I remember the moment I broke down by the side of my bed, crying out to God to take away the anger, bitterness, and desire to walk away from the church.  I begged Him to change my heart because I knew the road I was walking down was sinful and completely unlike Christ.  He did comfort my heart that night, but the next day as I was driving a country road alone, He gave me a song:

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Look Up)"

Oh weary mind, oh troubled soul; all the broken pieces that you hold

Turn them over, give them up, and then watch what Jesus does

Oh heavy heart, oh heavy load, lay it down and let it go

Leave your broken yesterdays in the open arms of grace

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face
And watch the world grow dim standing next to Him

In the light of His glory and grace.

Motherhood is hard.  My path to motherhood, like many others, has been a difficult journey.  My first pregnancy was a walk in the park.  I thought: "I have got this thing down."  ;-)  Then, the day came: he was ready to enter this world...but my body wasn't going to let him.  After an emergency c-section that happened so fast they didn't have time to count the instruments, my sweet Ethan Jeremiah was born and taken directly to the NICU.  A day later, he was transferred to another hospital.  When they brought him to me to hold his hand before transporting him, I honestly didn't know if I would see him again.  However, I had an unexplainable peace pour over me during this entire time being separated from him.  The night he was transferred I poured out my heart: "God, I know you are in control.  I know this child is yours.  But, I need to hear your voice and feel your presence."  God immediately brought to my remembrance my life verse, Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee.  Be not dismayed, for I am thy God.  I will strengthen thee, I will help thee, and I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."  And a song: "Hold me Jesus".  This song is actually about surrender, but the line I clung to was: 

"You have been my King of Glory, now please be my Prince of Peace."

Thankfully, Ethan's condition improved dramatically in just a short time, and he is now a very energetic ten-year-old who loves Legos, reading, and video games.

Two years later, we found out we were expecting again; but, this time, I knew quickly that something wasn't right.  After two weeks of tests and treatment, I was being admitted to the hospital to have urgent surgery due to a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.  I sought the Lord for comfort, and once again, He gave me a song:  Jesus, Bring the Rain.  Every word was comforting, yet challenging at the same time.

Jesus, Bring the Rain

I can count a million times people asking me how can I praise You with all that I've been through

The question just amazes me: can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You?

Maybe since my life was changed long before these rainy days it's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, O Lord, my only shelter from the storm

But instead, I draw closer through these times

So I pray...

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free,

Bring me anything that brings you glory

And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain

But, if that's what it takes to praise you

Jesus, bring the rain.

I am Yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above

Because you are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me by suffering your destiny

So tell me: what's a little rain?

So I pray..

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.

We longed for another child.  During the years of infertility that followed, I struggled with why God wouldn't bless us with another (even though I knew in my heart we were blessed with our one!)  A song God brought to me during that time was one that was only popular for a short period of time, but was exactly what I needed to encourage my heart: 

While I'm Waiting

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

and I am hopeful

I'm waiting on you, Lord

Though it is painful, but patiently, I will wait...

The Lord did grant us that second child, 4 years later.  Emily Jane is now a four-year-old ball of fire and she has definitely shown us that joy does come in the morning.

Transition is hard.  I went from living in the same town for 39 years to being called into full-time missions.  My husband and I have lived in the same house for 17 of our 18 years together.  Now, we will be transitioning wherever God leads: right now in Costa Rica for language learning then on to Mexico.  So, most recently, "Lord, I Need You" has been the song playing in my heart and my mind for the past two years.  As a newbie missionary, a wife in ministry, a parent whose parenting two strong-willed and energetic children, and a student in language school, I need Him every single second of every single day.

Lord, I come.  I confess.

Bowing here, I find my rest.

Without you, I'd fall apart

You're the One who guides my heart.

Lord, I need you

Oh, I need you

Every hour I need you

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need you

Links to the songs listed in this blog post:

I Found the Lily in my Valley

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Look Up)

Jesus, Bring the Rain

While I'm Waiting

Hold Me, Jesus

Lord, I Need You

Scriptures From Around the World - Hungary

Sour Cream (With Video)

Sour cream is another one of those things that can be hard to get on the mission field. 

It’s often expensive, and, in our case, rotten! Yuck! 

If you can get box cream, or shelf stable cream, then you are good to go! 

All this homemade sour cream takes is box cream and vinegar. 

What You’ll Need:

200 ml box cream

1 Tbs vinegar or lemon juice

Mix the two ingredients together and stir well! 

If the cream isn’t thickening try adding a little bit more vinegar or lemon juice. 

This sour cream works best when the cream is cold. 

Also, for some reason (like the powdered milk cheese) some box cream doesn’t work. I don’t know why this is the case. Some brands are just not very agreeable, I guess. 

Try making this with a couple different brands and see which one gets you the best results. 

This sour cream is great on anything you would normally put sour cream on! 

It also works great for recipes! 

I hope this recipe works well for all of you!

I would love to get some feedback from you ladies.

If you have a certain recipe or something you would like me to do, just let me know in the comments! 

Also, if you have another recipe for sour cream I would LOVE to hear about it! 

I’m always up for trying new ways to do things! 

Enjoy! 

Three More Temptations of Jesus

Luke tells us that after Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he departed for a season.  The devil would be back.

One of those return visits was when Jesus was hanging on the cross.  We read this account in Matthew 27:39-44.  This time the devil used some of his most willing accomplices to tempt Jesus - other people.

The first temptation was for Jesus to prove Himself.  "If  you really are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"  In other words, "Prove yourself!"  This temptation is very much still in play today.  Why?  Because it is so effective.  The devil doesn't need new tricks because the old ones are still in great shape.  How many of us as teenagers made foolish choices in an effort to prove ourselves?  How many people have hurt their relationships in an effort to prove themselves?  How many of us in ministry have made foolish choices in our service to the Lord and others because of the real or perceived pressure to prove ourselves?  What was Jesus' response to this pressure?  Silence.  Steadfastness to His mission.

The second temptation was to compromise in order to win acceptance.  "Come down from the cross, and we will believe you."  The devil keeps this tool well oiled too, doesn't he?  The position you are taking is too radical.  You will have more friends/followers/adherents if you could just lower yourself from that lofty position up there.  A little concession here and there will help people be able to see that you are just like the rest of us.  By the way believer, you are to be peculiar - not ordinary.  Also, we are called to win people to Jesus, not ourselves (Joel 2:13).  What was Jesus' response to this pressure?  Silence.  Steadfastness to His mission.

The third temptation was to defend God.  "He trusted in God, let Him deliver him."  If God is a God of love, why would he allow this in your life?  Why would He allow you to suffer like this?  Why would he ask of you this sacrifice?  Why would he ask you to raise your family so far from your family?  Why would he call you to minister in a place where you aren't wanted?  Why would he allow you to suffer so?  Why would he leave you so alone?  We've all heard at least a few of these, right?   As we read Scripture, we see that God is the great Defender.  He defends us.  Nowhere are we told to defend God.  Twice we see Paul defending the Gospel, but never are we told to defend God.  We are told to trust God and put our faith in Him.  First John 5:4 tells us that the victory that overcomes this world is faith - faith in the hard times.  Matthew 8:10 tells us that faith impresses our Lord.  Romans 1:8 tells us that our faith is a testimony to others.  Romans 4:20 tells us that our faith gives God glory.  Romans 5:1 tells us that faith brings peace. What a testimony that is!

So how can we respond to these types of questions?  Don't try to defend God, but rather trust God for the victory through faith.  Glorify God through faith.  Exhibit the peace that faith alone can bring.  Trust Him for the results.

How did our Lord respond to this?  Silence.  Steadfastness to His mission.  How could He do that?  He knew that there was a great day of reckoning coming.  He was going to rise from the dead!  There is a great day of reckoning coming for all of us.  Let's live in light of eternity! Let's walk by faith!

Scriptures From Around the World - China

That Light Bulb Moment

Missionary Jobs

Missionary work is diverse from one field to another, from one missionary to another, and even from one day to another.  Toilet cleaning and mopping at church, grocery shopping in extreme weather conditions (no one-stop shopping here), struggling with red-tape legalese in a foreign language - these are some of the less than glamorous jobs.  Though those time eaters can be unpleasant, there are some really fulfilling things that we get to do, too.  Some of the best jobs are telling a person broken down by sin that there is forgiveness and hope in Christ, rejoicing with a new Christian over his first answered prayer, or sharing a meal to encourage a family.  My favorite job, though, the one that makes me want to get up every day, is teaching.  

That Light Bulb Moment

One of our children who is headed to college in the fall but is uncertain what the Lord wants him to study spent this last week helping a young lady study for a math exam. She told me that he was able to help her really understand the math like never before. In her words, "He should really be a math teacher." 

I asked him what he thought about that.  Did he like teaching her? Would he like to be a math teacher?  

He replied, "I don't know if I'm supposed to be a teacher or not, but I can tell you one thing.  I loved that light bulb moment."  

I know what he means.  I love that "light bulb moment," too.

In The Beginning

As with many European countries, Iceland has experienced a larger than normal number of immigrants.  One of them, a lady from Ghana, has been coming to our church.  Before meeting this lady and others like her, I took for granted the opportunity I had been given to go school, to learn to read and write. She was never afforded that opportunity. 

At home she, her husband, and her children speak their mother tongue Twi.  She can also speak a little Italian that she picked up while in Italy for a few years but when she came to Iceland, she could speak neither Icelandic nor English. While diligently trying to learn Icelandic along with her children, she also wants to learn English.  

For the last several months, we have been studying both the mechanics of reading and the English language together.  We had to be very creative at first to communicate with each other since neither of us spoke any language the other spoke. Adding a little color to our lessons, at least one of her children is with us during lessons playing, nursing, or sometimes crying.  The learning process has been slow at times, but she is a hard worker and studies what we learn together.

Today was really exciting.  I had an English Bible for her but was waiting to give it to her until she could read it.  As we got to the end of our lesson, I told her that I had a surprise for her.

When I pulled out the Bible, she looked confused.  "I already have a Twi Bible," she said.

"Right," I replied, "but this one you know how to read." 

We opened the Scriptures to the first page.  In broken, thickly accented English she read, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." 

I cried.  What an honor it is to share the gift of reading so that someone can read God's Word for the first time! I am so excited that I get to watch her grow in the Lord as she reads all about Him. 

Hearing for the First Time

When there are no pre-printed Sunday School curricula in your language, you make your own. Creativity is the name of the game here.  At first, I thought it was a handicap not to have anything in Icelandic ready to order. In time, though, I have changed my mind.  By having to do lessons "from scratch," I am able to better tailor each lesson to the children that I am teaching.

Recently I have been struck by the tremendous honor it is to teach someone the Bible for the first time.  God is amazing; telling children about Him is actually so very fun.  From a literary perspective the Bible is written in such an entertaining way.  He makes it too easy for us.  His stories are exciting, funny, scary, miraculous, but most of all true.  Teaching a child to add or subtract is rewarding, but that pales in comparison to the privilege of getting to share true Bible stories with them for the first time.  Watching their little faces stare in wide-eyed wonder at what we are reading is such a treat. The greatest, most wonderful thing of all, though, is that in sharing these amazing stories with the children, I know that they are getting to know the God who loves them.

Yes, sometimes days are long and hard, and many jobs we do seem insignificant and thankless. They are not all like that, though. I feel so blessed to have the honor of teaching, of helping someone read God's Word for the first time, of sharing the timeless treasures in the Bible with children, of watching that "light bulb moment."

Vicki and Patrick Weimer in Iceland since 1999

Granola - With Video

I am not a mother, but I am a teacher. I know that sometimes mornings can be pretty crazy! I don’t know how you mom’s do it! 

Sometimes I forget to set my alarm, and wake up realizing that I have an hour to do devotions, get ready for school, get Miranda (our little adopted girl) ready for school, feed my very loud and always hungry cockatoo, and make breakfast! Those mornings are terrible! 

But I know that on those crazy mornings, granola has my back! 

I don’t know where we got this recipe, we’ve had it for forever though. We’ve changed it, and adapted it, and now it’s perfect! Or close! 

This granola takes me about 30-45 minutes to make. It’s super easy! And it’s super nice because you can change things up to match your taste buds!

What you’ll need 

8 cups oats 

1 cup powdered milk 

1/2 cup sugar 

1/2 cup honey/syrup 

1/2 cup oil

4 tsp cinnamon 

1 tbs sesame seeds 

4 tsp vanilla 

(or whatever extract you like) 

Mix up the ingredients in a large skillet. On medium to high heat start cooking the granola. You’re gonna want to stir the granola very often! Because of the sugar in the granola it will burn if you leave it for too long. 

Once the granola has evenly turned golden brown then cool the granola. 

Once cooled you can add a variety of things to your granola! 

Chocolate 

Nuts 

Dried fruit 

Seeds 

Toasted coconut 

Crispy rice cereal

Yogurt covered raisins 

Store granola in an airtight container or zip top bag. 

Here are some variations of granola you can try:

Tropical 

Change out oil for coconut oil

Change out vanilla extract for coconut extract

Add toasted coconut, dried pineapple, dried mango. 

Apple Crisp

Change out 2 tsp vanilla extract for orange extract 

Add 1/2 tsp each of ground nutmeg, ginger, allspice

Add dried apples. 

S’mores 

Add 1 tsp almond extract 

Add mini chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. 

A Gift from the Father

Don't you just love when God gives you a special "I love you" reminder?

God delights to give gifts to Believers. As a father who cherishes his children, so God is a Father who delights in providing good things for His children. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11)

Yes, some of His gifts go unnoticed and unappreciated. Some are hidden in circumstances that are hard to understand. Some come as answers to prayer. And yet others are special- meeting the wish, desire, or deepest dream in the heart of His child- and it is His delight to give such a reminder of His love. "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
(Psalm 37:4)

This last week, I received one such "I love you" gift from my Heavenly Father.

All throughout deputation, I kept seeing a particular multi-function bag. The brand name put a slightly more expensive price on it than I could justify on a deputation budget. Besides, I kept telling myself "Like when do I carry a purse???" Everywhere I went, I carried a diaper bag. Anything I remotely needed for a meeting or an outing went in the diaper bag. (Why carry a purse too?)

On the field, I carry a bag only when I'm out by myself. Otherwise, everything goes in a backpack that my husband carries. (He's so sweet!) A shoulder bag IS nice on occasion, but I didn't expect to see the particular brand I really wanted in a foreign country.

And then, my husband saw an ad for a yard sale. Yard sales are a foreign idea here in Georgia, Europe. Only foreigners would host such an event. We went because we saw they listed booster seats, and one of our boys needs one. We found all kinds of things. It was great. There were two tricycles (so our two boys couldn't fight over just one), and a easel just perfect for backyard Bible club, puzzles, books, and a large area rug. The prices were great, and we found a lot of good deals.

Just as we were getting ready to leave, I saw it- THE BAG. Brand new with tags because the straps hadn't come with it! I paid US $5 for it. I was elated. This was God's special gift to me. The straps were an easy fix- I just took the strap from one of our wheeled duffels that we had brought (and is now in storage) and affixed it to the bag. Perfect!

What a blessing to have a Heavenly Father who delights to care for His children in even the smallest of ways. He loves us. He really does. And sometimes, sometimes we see Him fulfill our heart's desire.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
(James 1:17)

Scriptures From Around the World - India

"HER CHILDREN SHALL ARISE AND CALL HER BLESSED"

For the past nineteen years, I have been blessed to hold the title of Mom.  The Mirriam Webster dictionary defines Mom in three parts: a female parent, a woman in authority and an elderly woman.

When I looked this up I was rather disappointed.  While I could probably claim any of the three at different times of the day, they don't make my role sound as beautiful as our Father's definition in Proverbs 31.  But then when I read Proverbs 31, it's hard for me to insert my picture beside it.  Like most women I suppose I take my definition from the examples of my mother and my grandmother.  I look back and remember my grandmother keeping my cousin and I in line with her list of rules; no running in the house and cleaning your plate before you leave the dinner table.  But above that I remember the feeling of safety and love I felt when I was with her.  When I recall my mother's care it takes me back to Christmases with countless gifts and a perfect meal, I remember my yard sale buddy and the one who helped me pick out my wedding dress.  I so wish my daughter Madison could have had both women throughout her years as I did.  But the Lord saw fit to take them both before she would turn 4 years old.

There are so many days I would give anything to be the wonderful "mother" they were.  I think if we were all honest we all live in the shadow of our mothers to one extreme or the other.  For many years our family lived what this world would call the American dream.  Both my husband and I had good careers, we took great vacations and I was even in the PTA! But in 2013, God revealed that he wanted a different title for our family...missionaries.  Now, five years later we are living the missionary life. We've never felt more fulfilled in our lives. But I know that many of you can relate when I say that in our world's eyes and even some Christian's eyes, we have failed our daughter.  While on deputation I had one woman tell me that it wasn't fair to our daughter for us to take her from her friends just, so we could become missionaries while one of my daughter's friends shared that her parents said we should wait (five years) when she would be out of school and then go to the mission field.  I must say that there are days when I am down and Satan whispers in my ear and says they were right.  We've lost a lot of friends in this journey to follow God's call.  But then come those days like this week when ministering to ones God has called us to, I look up and there is my daughter serving the Lord right beside me. In a living picture where God confirms in me that His plans are best.  She's happy, she's loving and best of all her life is reflecting her Lord.  Her life is calling me blessed. Maybe, just maybe I can claim a little piece of that Proverbs 31 woman after all.

I know this Mother's Day, many of you will be far away from your mothers and/or your children.  Maybe like me your mother has passed. May God bless you with comfort and love this special day.  For the moms who still have your children close by your side, may God bless you with a day filled with hugs and smiles.  For all of you please know that I will be praying for you on this special day.  May God bless each of you  and lets you know how invaluable you are in the role He created you for, Mother. 

^" Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

                                                                                                              Proverbs 31:28

Toppling the Pedestal

We’ve all been there at least once in our ministry life.  You know the place I am talking about…that pesky pedestal.  In my much younger years and early in my marriage and ministry life, I always placed missionaries high up on that pedestal.  

They had a special calling from God.  They had a unique and vibrant relationship with the Lord that I could only dream about.  They were able to trust the Lord no matter what came their way.  They faced dangers, illness, loneliness and persecution without flinching.  Hebrews 11 often came to my mind.  

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

For years, missionaries sat perched up there in my mind.  I only saw them once every four years or so, if that. That 10-15 minute presentation along with their testimonies was all I ever saw of their life.  They were the perfect Christian…unable to do any wrong…and then I became one.

I knew I was so unworthy.  I wasn’t like all the other missionaries.  I had/have so many fears.  I did not always “count it with all joy” when illness after illness struck for two years in a row.  I do not always face loneliness with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.  The persecutions I have faced were nothing compared to some parts of the world, but to me they felt so very real.  Yes, I was not always facing these things without “flinching.”

Then I started to talk to other missionary women and I realized that we were all pretty much the same.  If we are willing to be transparent and share our struggles with one another, others will realize that we are normal.  We don’t have to be up on that pedestal.  Not only that, but we can“comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4)

We do have a special calling from the Lord.  He called us to go.  But my calling is no different than the one that was called to stay.  We all have a calling from God on our life.  We all are supposed to be “missionaries”  wherever we are.  The early church was called to be witnesses at home first and then spread out “to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)

Missionaries do need to have a vibrant relationship with their Lord. Having said that, it doesn’t have to be unusual or unique.  We are all told to know our God.  Daniel 11:32 tells us that “the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”  That applies to the missionary as well as to the Christian serving in the same town they were born and raised in.  

I do not always trust the Lord as I should.  My ability to trust Him is directly related to how well I know Him.  We had a young female intern with us in recent years.  When she asked how she could prepare for a future on the mission field, she was not expecting the answer I gave.  Although there were all kind of practical things that she could do to prepare, my answer was “know your God.”  If she learned to know her God and trust Him, everything else would fall into place.  I believe that with all my heart.  

We never stop changing and growing.  I am now in the empty nest stage of life with adult children that are stateside.  I have aging parents that I often long to be with.  Things happen from time to time that could send me in a tailspin.  These are all situations that should drive me to my knees and bring about a greater knowledge of my God.  

After the great faith chapter of Hebrews 11, chapter 12 goes on to say, 

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

We can endure just as they did.  These verses tell us how.  

         

         1)  Follow their example.

         2)  Lay aside the weight and sins that holds you back.

         3)  Run or endure with patience what God has called you to do,

              whether it is at home or abroad.  

         4)  Most important of all, keep your eyes on Jesus.  He is our 

              ultimate example.  When we are weary and we want to quit, 

              consider Him and all that He endured.  Know your God!

Instead of putting others up on that pedestal and feeling like you will never measure up, let us each strive to emulate Jeremiah 9:23-24.  

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

*****

If you long to know your God, but you don’t know where to start, I would like to recommend Mardi Collier’s study, What do I know about my God?  This method of study has been very helpful to me and others over the years.  If you would like to read more about this life-changing study, click here. If you are serving in Japan, we have a handout written by Mardi that explains this study and helps you get started that has been translated into Japanese with her permission.  I would be happy to share it with you.  Please email me to request it at lifeinthe10.40window (at) gmail.com.

Bow-Tie Pasta - With Video

Bow-Tie Pasta

You would think pasta would be hard to make, but it’s actually very easy! Like most homemade things it is a little time consuming, but totally worth it! 

This recipe is really nice because you can cut the dough into whatever kind of shaped pasta you want! 

If you want ravioli just make two squares and put filling in the center.
 Leave enough space on the sides to put an egg wash and seal the ravioli. 

If you want fettuccini just cut the noodles to the desired width. 

This recipe makes awesome lasagna noodles! Boil the noodles and make your lasagna as you normally would!

What you’ll need:

10 ounces of flour (2 1/2 cups) 

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons water 

1 1/2 tablespoons oil

2 eggs

Mix the flour and salt together.

Make a well in the flour.

Add water, oil, and eggs.

Mix and then knead the dough until it is smooth. 

Divide dough. 

Chill for 30 minutes. 

Divide again. 

(The reason I divide the dough is just because it’s easier to work with a quarter of the dough instead of all of it or half.) 

Roll dough out until you reach the desired thickness. 

Cut dough into one inch wide strips. 

Cut strips into two inch long pieces. 

Pinch the center of each piece to make a bow-tie. 

Dust sheet pan with cornstarch.

Place bow-ties on sheet pan. 

Freeze the pasta until ready to boil. 

Boil for three to four minutes. 

Remove. 

Strain. 

Serve with your favorite sauce and enjoy! 

I normally double this recipe for my family of seven. (We have three growing teenage boys) 

I hope you enjoy making these noodles as much as I do! A good friend taught me how to make bow-ties, and I think of her every time I make them!

Yep...I did that

     It is Monday morning and sometimes the pressures of ministry are weighing heavy on our hearts and minds. As I talked about in my original post, "Please Let Me Introduce Myself," I continually have things in life that happen to make me know that life isn't always serious and if you can't laugh, life would be just plain boring. While my last post about the banana bread was more serious and a great story about God working in the heart of a young lady, today's post is just a good old-fashioned funny story. I hope it makes you laugh as it has done with many others before you.

    When my older girls were younger, and we had recently bought our house, a local hardware store was going out of business. Being the frugal person that I was (and still am), I thought that getting a good price on things to help upgrade the house would be a great idea. So off I went with my two daughters and my good friend, who always helped me when it came to decorating, to find some great deals.
   After spending a few long hours in the store, and looking in nearly every department I think, we were on our way to the checkout, when I saw something that interested me. It was wooden chair rails. You know, the wooden pieces that divide a room in order to put paint or wall paper on the bottom half and do something different on the top half. (This used to be a popular interior design, although I think it is probably not as popular today.) These planks were about nine feet long and looked to have an oak finish to them. I thought that I had the perfect place to put them, but I wondered one thing. How do the ends match up? I mean I was sure that there was some way that they fit together, but did they cut them so that the wood grain matched? I enlisted my friend to help me see.
     I directed her to hold one while I took another one and lifted it to see how it matched up with hers. Well, as you can imagine, nine feet is pretty long, and I should have checked to see if there was anything, or anyone, behind me...but I didn't. As I lifted it to meet hers, I felt it bump something. She was standing facing me and the look on her face could be described as total shock--I can still see her standing there with her mouth open. I turned around to see a man who was short in stature, putting his hand on his forehead and pulling it away clearly checking to see if it was bleeding. While I knew that he was not hurt--it was pretty light weight and there was no cut or even scrap on his head, I did feel terrible about what I had done and apologized. I turned around to see that my friend's expression had changed from shock to hysterical laughter.
     After grabbing my children we left the store, without purchasing anything that we had so diligently gathered and spent the next half hour in the car laughing to the point of tears and laughing to the point of breathlessness--you know the kind that happens when no sound comes out. Over the years, this is one story that can bring laughter between friends. I hope it helped to make you smile and give you a good start to your Monday. Have a great week serving our awesome God!!

              Psalm 126:2  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.

By Sherrie Lester

Scriptures From Around the World - Germany

Old Missionaries Never Die

General Douglas McArthur, in his farewell speech said, “the old never die, they just fade away.”

What happens to old missionaries? Usually there are two tracks: retirement and dying on the field.

Have you given them any thought? (Don’t feel bad if you haven’t. My husband and I didn’t until we were close to sixty.) Our co-workers retired—and they’re actively serving the Lord now. Good friends retired—also still active in the Lord’s work. A close friend passed away. Other good friends want to stay on the field until the Lord takes them home. That’s how God led them.

What happens to old missionaries? Do they just fade away?

The brutal truth is yes. As we get older—my husband says it’s the year he turned sixty-two—we physically have less stamina. We might have infirmities or not, but all of us slow down a little. This doesn’t mean men can’t pastor until they’re eighty, and it doesn’t mean older people are worthless. We just move and think slower, and our ministries need to be a little less run-run. For me, my ministry changed radically because of the needs of the church. A missionary works with the people God gives him. The ministry ebbs and flows. Our near-and-over-sixty missionary friends are doing all kinds of things. Some are starting new churches. Others are focusing on training the next generation. And, some are working on finding a pastor for the church that they began. Some are providing support and help for their adult missionary kids.

Older missionary women become mentors and teachers. It’s the way it should be. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded (Titus 2:1-6).

To retire or not to retire, that is the question. (Sorry, Shakespeare!) Is there a right or wrong? Well, maybe it depends on your theology. (I hear some amens.) Do Christ’s servants retire? No. Once signed up, it’s for life. Is it sin to have a change of ministry? Is it wrong to leave the field because of health problems? Of course not. God leads and gives peace.

Let me share some true examples with you:

• Many years ago, a missionary friend went back home to care for his ailing parents. He was an only child, and one parent was ill and the other suffered from Alzheimer’s. Was he right to leave the field? Yes, absolutely. After his parents passed away, he founded a Hispanic church in a needy part of the country.
• A young missionary wife suffered from multiple serious health conditions. Were they right to seek medical treatment back home? Of course. I am happy to report she has since had a specialized surgery completely changing her quality of life—and she’s a published author and advocate for trafficked women. Her husband has recently begun a new ministry.
• An elderly pastor felt sincerely that, if and when he could get a native pastor for his church, he would be able to retire. It took many more years than he would have wished, but now, a young native pastors the church, and the work is thriving. The older couple retired, and now they are helping a church plant.
• Other missionary friends served on different mission fields filling in for those on furlough. God led him to represent a mission board, and now he preaches all over the U.S. and the world, encouraging missionaries as he goes.

Does God lead different people in different ways? Absolutely. It is amazing how He directs circumstances to help us see His way. Then, He confirms it.

I have no idea how God will lead you. Will you retire or will you live your final days on the field? Ask God for His direction. Follow that path, and watch Him open and close doors for you.

… And, never, ever retire from serving God!

One of my missionary heroes is David Livingstone, the Scot who traveled all over Africa, learning native languages and cultures, and spreading the gospel. When he passed away, May 1, 1873 in Chitambo’s Village, the natives didn’t want his body shipped back to England for burial. They insisted that his heart belonged to Africa. When they finally gave in, they cut out his heart and buried it under a mpundu tree. His body is buried in Westminster Abbey.

May our hearts always belong to our field, wherever God may guide. I know a great part of me will always feel Spanish-Basque. I have lived my best years here, raised my family here, and invested in friends young and old. I’ve cried my most bitter tears in this place and suffered mocking and persecution. I’ve also witnessed miracles of transformed lives and watched people get the vision to serve God. Disappointments are part of life, but they seem exaggerated when you are in the Lord’s work. On the flipside, the surprises and joys of ministry are the best thing in the whole wide world. They leave me in awe of my great God.

But, you know what? I think the best ministry God ever did here was His to me, personally. Because I followed His leadership, He graciously taught me. He held my hand through the darkest days and nights, encouraged me to meditate on Him (not on people), and used His Word in my life in a way that leaves me with my heart full of gratitude. Had I stayed home, I don’t think this would have happened in the same way.

The icing on the cake is different for every missionary woman. For me, it is art and travel. I had no idea when we said yes to Spain that we would be able to see the greatest art and architecture at every turn. On our family vacations, we saw most of France and Spain and even traveled over to Austria and Switzerland one time. The beauty of just about every town in Europe is impossible to capture in mere words or photos. For me, the history and beauty is the icing on my cake.

Old missionaries never die. They have a hope of heaven. They may fade away, and they may even move location, but they never die. Praise God for the promise of eternal life!

That being justified by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope of eternal life.

(Titus 3:7)

May the Lord find us faithful!

by Lou Ann Keiser, in Basque Spain since 1984