Homemade Biscuits - With Video

We make these biscuits at least once a week in our house! They are so good! Every Saturday we make these biscuits and sausage gravy! I am getting hungry just thinking about it! 

These biscuits have a nice butter flavor, are soft, flaky, and brown nicely! They taste as amazing as they look! 

I made a double batch here, just because my family goes through these amazing biscuits so fast! 

This flour cup recipe makes about 24 Biscuits. 

4 cups flour (we like to do 2 white, 2 wheat)

8 teaspoons (2 2/3 tablespoons) baking powder

2 teaspoons salt 

1 cup cold, cubed butter or margarine 

2 cups water or milk 

Cut in butter with 2 cups of the flour. Add the salt, baking powder, and remaining 2 cups flour. 

Pour in the water or milk. (We don’t notice a difference when we use water or milk)

Mix the dough until the flour is just mixed in. DO NOT OVER MIX! If you knead the biscuit dough it will make the biscuits more like rolls, more dense and tough. 

On floured surface flatten dough to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut biscuits with biscuit cutter, can, cup....whatever you have on hand. 

Tip - when cutting biscuits try this. Push down, twist, lift. When you just twist and lift the edges aren’t very clean. If you make sure you cut all the way through the dough before you twist the edges aren’t much nicer, and the biscuits are flakier. 

Bake in a 350 degree oven. Bake until tops are golden brown! 

Enjoy with butter, honey, gravy, the options really are endless!

Check out my channel on YouTube, Third Culture Cooking. 

Comments are always welcome and appreciated!

Amber Wells

Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 

Scriptures From Around the World - Italy

To Be "Me"

When I was a young missionary arriving on the field of Spain, I didn’t know one word of Spanish and had never taken a survey trip. “Ignorant” would have been an understatement. In an effort to adapt, I overdid it. Since those first years, I’ve visited in other people’s homes, asked questions, and learned a lot about finding a happy medium—about finding “me.” Let’s explore different areas of our lives where we find it hard to discern where we need to be and who we really are.

Home Décor

Years ago, we visited a missionary family in France. They lived in a traditional French home—complete with tall, ornate doors throughout their living quarters. I noticed, though, that our hostess had transformed their home into a cozy, American living space. She used small-check gingham, cross-stitch pictures, and colors you might find in any American home at the time. I asked our hostess how the French people liked her house, and she answered, “They love it. People expect you to have a home that’s different from theirs.” This statement helped me immensely. I’d been on the field maybe six years at that time, and I had done just the opposite. So, this was a wake-up call for my own decorating. What should you do in your home?

• Make sure the décor reflects your family and your needs.
• What’s your background? Are there any items that make you feel at home? What are the colors you like best?
• What is practical in your field?
• It is perfectly okay--though not necessary--to decorate differently from the natives.

Food

When I came to Spain, I wanted to be Spanish. I literally stood next to the Spanish pastor’s wife—an excellent cook—in her kitchen and watched and learned. (I advise any new missionary to do the same.) I became so Spanish that this happened when we went out to McDonald’s our first day back on furlough: our small children had never seen a hamburger and weren’t too excited about them. Thankfully, they loved the french fries. Soon afterwards, we were down South at a missions conference, where normal American food was served: green beans, corn, meat, rolls, etc. My kids had never seen veggies served like this. I made them try them. That furlough was another light bulb moment. I needed to be more American and expose my kids to American menus.

• Learn to make native foods on your field. Take your lessons from the best cooks in your ministry. You need to know how to make their foods the way they do.
• Regularly, cook a few meals for your family that are typical in your home country.
• Celebrate your home country’s holidays with traditional foods (Thanksgiving: pumpkin pies, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, etc.; Independence Day: red, white, and blue desserts).
• Teach your kids to try new things. Maybe, go out to ethnic restaurants from time to time. Cultivate adventurous palates.

Lifestyle

If you visit ten mission fields, you’ll find ten different lifestyles. If you go to missionaries’ homes, you’ll find that they adapt in various ways. When I got to the field, I tried to be Spanish—but I wasn’t. It took me years to figure out that I would never really be Spanish and that our family needed to find its own comfort level on the field. This will mean different adaptations, but it boils down to one concept: do what works for you. Is this selfish? Not at all! Let me suggest a few ways to find out what's best for your family:

• If you’re married, sit down and have a long, honest chat with your husband. What’s working? What’s not? How can we change what needs changing? Work as a team on this.
• Do you have children (or you or your husband) with special needs? You need to figure out what lifestyle will allow every person in the family to be able to function at a good level. How can you make life easier for the most vulnerable person in your family? Make the needed adjustments.
• “Let Me Burn Out for Thee” isn’t a biblical concept when carried to the extreme. Yes, we should serve God. Yes, we need to work hard. But, workaholic missionaries will burn out and die before their time. Find what level of activity is right for you. It may take a few years of experimentation before you find your happy place, but make sure you get enough sleep, take care of your body, eat healthy, have time for personal devotions, and serve the Lord effectively. As you get older, you’ll appreciate this.
• Family comes before ministry. We attended a wedding once where it was written in the vows that ministry would always come before anything else. I don’t see that in the Bible. The Lord established the family way before anything else—except communion with Him, which was from the beginning of creation. Our priorities should be: our personal relationship with the Lord, husband (if any), children (if any), ministry, and everything else. Too many times, I see missionaries (both men and women) putting ministry at the very top of the list. Serving is everything. The work is all consuming. As a result, they lose sight of their personal walk with God, and eventually, their family suffers. When the priority list goes backwards, communion is lost. If you want to stay on the field, put God first, then family, then ministry. By the way, nothing is more attractive to lost people than a joyful family.

Using Talents

Missionaries are some of the most gifted and educated people in the world. But, God’s plan might be different from what you envision. Years ago, I understood my own spiritual gift. I always wanted to do it. I felt like I had something to offer. Now, I don’t sing solos, play instruments, or have any acting talents at all. I couldn’t deliver a reading if my life depended upon it. But, I do have a gift—just like every other Christian. Over the more than thirty years we’ve been missionaries, I’ve had some opportunities to use my gift, but it hasn't been as I would have envisioned. You see, God doesn’t need me. He certainly doesn’t need my spiritual gift. He can do His work in hearts without me at all. So, why am I here? To serve Him. To obey Him. To be faithful to Him.

• Don’t expect your vision to be what happens.
• Don’t expect other people to recognize your gifts.
• Use your life to serve God and people. This will take different forms as you go on your missionary journey. You will use your gift, but I can guarantee you it won’t be in exactly the way you dreamed—and it might be much less than you might have thought. Everyone is called to serve. Just serve.

So, who am I in the great scheme of things? Several Bible characters asked the same thing.

• And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Exodus 3:11)
• Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? (2 Samuel 7:18)
• Solomon asked, But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? Who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? (2 Chronicles 2:6)

Who are you? You’re a sent one—a woman who has the opportunity to live in another culture and impact the people around you for God. Your identity is in Christ and in your home country and family. Be comfortable that you’re different. Let that feel special to you. Be thankful for all of life's opportunities, and use them to serve the Lord.

Have not I commanded thee?

Be strong and of a good courage;

be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:

for the LORD thy God is with thee

whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).

by Lou Ann Keiser, in Basque Spain since 1984.

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.

*****

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