coffee filters

You know, it's the little things in life that can be the biggest blessings - water, electricity, working vehicle, etc. A few years back my husband bought me an ipod and I've loved it ever since. I love to put on my earphones and listen to godly music that brings my focus back on my Lord. Another thing I really enjoy is my Kindle. We all know the struggle of trying to stay under 50 pounds in each of our suitcases as we return to the mission field from furlough! In fact, I still have a stack of books that I was given probably 4 years or so ago that never quite made it into my luggage. So to have a Kindle that I can download books in just minutes is amazing!!

So what does all that have to do with coffee filters?? Well, during Christmas we stayed with some dear friends while we held special meetings in their village. Upon arrival I was admiring the snowflakes her children had made with a visiting supporter. However, when Becky told me they were made out of coffee filters I gasped. She laughed and said she knew I would react that way. (Ahhh, the joy of friends!) She later told Beverly about it. Beverly immediately went into her room and came out with a bag full of coffee filters and handed them to me!

What little blessings do you have? Sometimes we can be overwhelmed with the difficulties of living in a culture far different than our own and miss seeing these blessings. I hope you'll take the time today to thank the Lord for the little things...like coffee filters!

Written by Tammy Brouwer in Tanzania

Click here to read her blog.

Former days...

A missionary friend recently sent me, along with some other fellow missionaries, this verse from Ecclesiastes 7:10 - "Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this." My friend went on to remind us that although it is easy for us to get down during the holidays and remember the "former days" it is not wise to do so. I find myself really missing my boys, who are now grown and living back in America. I remember Christmases gone by and miss not being together.  However, I'm going to CHOOSE to be thankful and content.

I thought it might be good to remind ourselves of things we can be thankful for as we celebrate our Saviour's birth in our respective mission fields. Here are a few of the things I'm thankful for:

1.  In Africa we don't have to hustle and bustle about preparing for the holidays so have more time for family.
2.  I'm thankful that people include my children living in America in their Christmas celebrations.
3.  I'm thankful that I can be a part of sharing the Good News with people that have never heard before.
4.  I'm thankful for the special Christmas money supporters send that show they are thinking of us, and allow us to enjoy special treats.
5.  I'm thankful for the missionary community that comes together and helps us have a sense of family away from "home."

I'd love to read the things that you are choosing to be thankful for this Christmas season!

Written by: Tammy Brouwer in Tanzania

To read my blog click here.



Tasty Tuesday

submitted by Patty over at Mrs. John in Ghana

My Nina was an amazing cook! I loved visiting her each summer, and I loved eating her delicious food!

Not only could she cook, but she could also sew! Every so often, we'd receive a big box in the mail full

of beautiful new clothes she'd made for us.

My Nina went to Heaven when I was just 12 years old. Oh, how I miss her!

But each year at Christmas, we have a little something to remind us of her.....her famous Christmas

Punch! What a lovely remembering it is!

Nina's Cranberry Punch

1 3-oz. pkg cherry gelatin (raspberry and cranberry also work wonderfully)

1 c. boiling water

1 6-oz. can lemonade, pineapple, or orange concentrate (a liter of pineapple or orange juice also work)

3 c. cold water

1 qt. cranberry juice (2 liters of any type of cranberry juice will do the trick - we have a delicious kiwi-cranberry juice we can often find in Ghana)

1 pt., 12 oz. ginger ale (I sub 2 liters of Sprite!)

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in frozen concentrate. Add cold water and cranberry juice. Add ginger ale.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to make this work! And trust me, everybody at your Christmas table

will thank you!

(This is a photo of a picture I took at my aunt's house over Thanksgiving. It was taken when my Nina was 15 years old,

right before she got married!)

Connecting

As I thought about what I wanted to write for this first Thankful Thursday post I couldn’t help but think about what a blessing the Internet can be, along with Facebook, instant messenger, and Skype. When we first arrived in Kenya in 1995 we had none of those things. We truly felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. It was a lonely feeling not being able to connect with family, church, and friends.

During our second term Internet became available – dial-up, but Internet none-the-less. However, even then there wasn’t Facebook or blogs to connect with the daily lives of people, let alone missionary ladies! What a blessing to now be able to read blogs of women who can relate with our lives, and look on Facebook and find a group of Baptist Missionary Women who we can ask for prayer about issues that others may not fully understand. So here is a big PRAISE THE LORD for being able to have access to Internet, and ways to stay charged to continue doing the work he has called us to do around the world!

Written by:  Tammy in Tanzania

Click here to read her blog.

Tasty Tuesday

submitted by Patty over at Mrs. John in Ghana

 

Good Morning, ladies, and welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

I'm excited to share this recipe (actually two!) today! It is perfect for the quickly upcoming

holidays!

When I was growing up, my best friend's mom used to make these all the time. They are quite

possibly the BEST sugar cookie you will ever taste! I promise! Everyone who eats these asks for the

recipe. If that isn't proof that these are the best sugar cookies you'll ever put in your mouth, then I

don't know what is!

A few years ago, I begged Heather to get the recipe from her mom....and she did! And now, I share

it with you. Make them. Today. You'll be so glad you did!

 

 

Mrs. McNally's Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter (no substitutes!)

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/4 cup flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar together. Mix in egg, milk, and vanilla. Blend dry ingredients together

in separate bowl and then add to wet ingredients. Mix well. Refrigerate dough for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll on lightly floured surface, 1/4 in. thick. Cut into cute shapes :)

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 4-6 min. If they start to brown, they've baked too long!

Enjoy as is, or........add the best icing to go with the best cookie!

Mrs. McNally's Sugar Cookie Icing

1 lb. confectioners'/icing sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup shortening

1/4 cup milk

Mix all the ingredients together. Beat until VERY smooth! Now frost those cookies!

(I usually pipe the icing on, but you could also just use a butter knife - it all tastes good!)

Both the cookies and the icing freeze very well. You could easily make some for now and

some for later....or you could just eat the whole batch in one sitting :)

As you can see, my kids love decorating them, too!

Christmas Blog Hop - Link Up!

It's that time - the most wonderful time of the year!  Would you please join our Christmas Blog Hop?!

If you are new to blog hops, here's how it works.  You write a post on your blog.  Click on the title of your post, and copy the url (what is seen at the top ie www.missionarywomenblog.blogspot.com/chirstmasbloghop-linkup)  then add your name and paste the url below.  Once you add your info it says it may take a couple of minutes, mine didn't add so I had to do it a second time...just so you know.

Wondering what to write about?  Christmas!  Share your traditions, your Christmas family photo, Christmas memories, anything Christmas related!  There are no set rules.  It would be great though if you would add the button to your post so others can find us, but not necessary.  This is a great way to get to know each other a little better as well as seeing Christmas celebrated around the world.

If you have any questions, please email us - baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com

Please join our Christmas Blog Hop, then take some time to see Christmas around the world, by clicking on the other links.

Good News From a Far Country ~ Devotional Friday

Proverbs 25:25
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."

Growing up in a missions-minded church, I often heard this verse quoted as it pertained to encouraging missionaries. “Write your missionaries an uplifting letter. This will help the missionary like cold water quenches the thirst of a man in a desert.”

As a teenager, I remember having contests in our youth group, and for each letter we sent to a missionary during that contest, we received points to win a prize. I wrote letters until my hands ached, trying to write as many of our 300+ missionaries as possible! I never accomplished the goal of writing every single one, but I can guarantee you that I showed up to church with a stack of letters to proudly turn in that I had painstakingly spent many hours writing.

I am grateful for the church that I grew up in, that taught the importance of encouraging missionaries with “good news from a far country.” But, now that I am a missionary, I have turned the tables. This verse does not say that the “far country” is America and the “thirsty soul” is the missionary. So, I would like to mention the possibility that quite the opposite could be true here. That “far country” could be your mission field, and the “thirsty soul” could be a church member in America!

Sadly, of the scores of letters I wrote to missionaries as a teenager, I only received two or three responses. I have remembered that and determined that I want to be in that small group of responders. I never want to receive a letter from America that I do not respond to! People in America are keeping me here on the field, financially and prayerfully, and I want to show my gratitude by at least responding to their communication.

People in America need to hear our “good news.” Ladies, we are living where the real action is, and our dear supporters need to know and hear that their giving is not in vain! Just this morning I opened a letter sent through e-mail as a PDF-file by the teacher of a boy (about 10 years old) living in a single-parent home. This was my second letter from this young man, and he and his teacher wrote to tell me how thrilled he was that I had taken the time to respond to his first letter! Is it possible that I can influence this child for his own future ministry? Absolutely!

How about the birthday cards we receive from churches? Yes, many times they are very general, just filled with signatures of ladies who meet once a month in prayer groups. However, I look at those cards as a personal effort on someone’s part to encourage my family and I. So, what do my family and I do when we receive one? We write back! We thank those ladies for their prayers and we thank them for taking the time to think of us! We are so unworthy of their time and efforts, and we want to send good news back to their “thirsty souls,” letting them know that we are doing well and that we are grateful for their thoughtfulness. I have four children, and this project can become overwhelming at times; however, I have prioritized the need to do this and make sure it gets done!

How about you, missionary wife? Is there someone that you can send good news to from your far country? I encourage you to sit down and do that today!

Written by Jolene Sloan

Click here to read her blog.

Tasty Tuesday

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

submitted by Heather over at missionary mama in the making

Ingredients:

1 med. apple, peeled and grated--*calls for granny smith, but I used red delicious*

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups oats, old fashioned or quick cooking

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

generous pinch of ground nutmeg

3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. Peel apple, grate, and toss with lemon juice. Set aside.

2. Beat the sugars and butter in a large bowl until creamy, about 3-4 min. Add egg, beat for 1 min. Stir in the vanilla extract until blended.

3. In a med. bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients and add to the butter/egg mixture slowly beating until just incorporated. Stir in grated apple and walnut pieces.

4. Bake at 350*F for about 10 min for a delicious, soft, melt-in-your mouth cookie. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 min. before transferring to cooling rack. Or even better, wait just long enough for them to not scorch all the taste buds off your tongue and eat every heavenly morsel. Quick!--Before hubby and kids are drawn to the kitchen by the divine aroma that is by now filling your whole house! It won't take them long to sniff out these yummy cookies. And neither you, nor they, are going to be able to stop after just 1. That's my guarantee!

Yield: 2 dozen cookies, and many happy tummies and content, smiling faces!

Enjoy! If you follow the instructions carefully, I KNOW you will!! {wink, smile!}

Our first few days on the field...

Last Wednesday we landed on our mission field.  This is a photo I took a few minutes before landing.  The emotions and feelings I have had the past few days are indescribable, but I'm sure many of you understand.

Our first full day here on the field was Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday.  In Australia Thanksgiving means nothing.  There was a kind man in the church here who found out about Thanksgiving and bought 2 turkeys so we could have Thanksgiving!  How great is our God to put it on this man's heart to buy turkeys so we could still celebrate Thanksgiving!  We had so much to be thankful for!

On second day here was our daughters 9th birthday.  She was a bit sad to not celebrate it with her pappy, grandma, and uncles, but we made the day extra special.  I made her chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, then we went rock climbing with the missionary family here.  For supper we all went to McDonalds!  Autumn came to us later and thanked us for making her birthday so special.

On Sunday, we went to church.  My husband whispered to me, "Look out the window, there's palm trees."  I got teary eyed just stopping to think, "Yes, we're finally here."  I know it's not 'finally' to God, it was all in His perfect timing, but it just felt so good to be here today.  It was a busy day, but we didn't mind a bit.

This week we will be looking at houses (please pray we find the perfect one, and don't get in a rush!), opening bank accounts, and taking care of lots of other paperwork.  Lots of little things to take care of, but most of all we're just looking forward to finding our new normal and getting settled.

While waiting the three years for our visas, I came across this verse, and can "finally:" claim it...

"Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land..."  Psalm 37:34

I stand in awe of our amazing God Who has counted us faithful, putting us into the ministry.  (I Timothy 1:12)

Christmas Blog Hop

Don't forget our Christmas Blog Hop will start on December 5th.

You don't need to do anything special,

just post how you celebrate Christmas on the field,

or your family Christmas pictures,

or a photo of your Christmas tree,

or your favorite Christmas tradition.

Then come back here on December 5th and share your link.

Would you please share our button on your blog?

Just copy the link on the right and post it into your HTML on your blog post or onto your sidebar.

Thanks!

Tasty Tuesday

Submitted by Rebecca Lantz in Uganda

The other day it occurred to me to put this recipe on the blog – I got it from my mother-in-law and have found it so very useful in my cooking… especially if I need a quick meal. I gave the job of making a batch of this on my kids’ job chart for each week. We eat so many foods with it – biscuits, pancakes, coffee cake, chicken pot pie, hot dogs in a blanket, many casseroles, etc. This is the same Bisquick Mix that you can buy in the States.

Bisquick Mix:

9 cups flour

1/3 cup baking powder

1 Tbl. salt

2 tsp. Cream of Tartar

¼ cup sugar

2 cups shortening

Combine the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening (with your hands is easiest). May be frozen for storage.

Missionary Monday

Missionary Interview 

 

Name – Vicki Irene Mansell

Field – Teshio, Hokkaido, Japan

Blog –  www.mansellmusings.blogspot.com

1. Please share your missionary call.

While serving in the youth pastorate in a church in MN the Lord layed on our hearts the needs on the foreign field for church planting during the yearly missions’ conference.  We had no idea where God wanted us; just that He wanted us to go. During one more round of schooling to add some specific missions’ classes, the Lord led a veteran missionary to the campus to share his burden for his area of northern Japan and his willingness to teach and guide us for 2 years so we would not become first term casualties as so many had become in this difficult country.  Within 2 years we were on the field.

2. What do you miss most about the states? —at this stage of our lives—our family members!!; singing in the choir; easy shopping ;-)

3. What food do you miss from the states? flavored ice creams and ‘mixes’

4. What do you love most about your field?  the friendliness and outgoingness to us as foreigners

5. What is a typical meal in your culture? 

Rice; soup; fish; vegetable; some kind of pickled veggie; fruit and except for the rice and soup usually served room temperature.

6. Say something in your language, then translate.--  神は私を愛しえている。God loves me.

7. What are some things you do to help your children not forget family back in the states? when we first came 28 years ago there was no way to keep in contact except through letters and maybe a phone call or two on special days.  So we wrote letters and included pictures and they did the same.  This generation is SO blessed!

8. Please share your favorite Bible verse, or one that has been an encouragement to you.  –My life verse is Proverbs 3:5,6-Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path.  --And along with that is the wall hanging I have: The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

9. What have you found to be the biggest challenge on the mission field?

The LANGUAGE!!  For learning,  but the people are the biggest challenge—they are “Japanese” in their minds and anything to do with ‘our’ God is foreign and not relevant to them.  It takes months and years to reach one soul!! 

10.   Name on thing God has taught you on the mission field.—Patience (see #9)  and waiting on Him for His timing is still always right!

Feel free to share a testimony, word of encouragement or whatever else the Lord lays on your heart.

No matter where God leads us as missionaries/missionary wives we are part of God’s plan for reaching the world.  We need to fit in to our area as well as we can w/o giving up our personal biblical testimony; we need to be extra supportive of our husbands and an encouragement to them; we need to be in the Word together as well as individually; And know that God is with us through all circumstances small or great!!  Nothing is impossible with Him!

Thank you and God bless you,

Vicki Mansell

www.worldtell.com

Learning to be Thankful ~ Devotional Friday

“LEARNING TO BE THANKFUL”

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesús Christ:”

Ephesians 5:20

If we learned to obey this verse, we would all live happier, more peaceful lives.  We have to LEARN to be thankful for the things we’re going through, for the things we have, and for the things we don’t have.

There are two words in this verse, two key phrases, or formulas for happiness, and peace:

 

ALWAYS

ALL THINGS

ALWAYS:  when we have money, and when we’re broke.

ALWAYS:  when our children are right with God, and when we’re having trouble with them.

ALWAYS:  when we feel good, and when we have a migraine.

ALWAYS:  when we got 8 hours of sleep the night before, and when we feel like we’re sleep walking.

ALL THINGS:  for our friends, and for our enemies

ALL THINGS:  for those who encourage us, and for those who criticize us.

ALL THINGS:  for sunny days, and rainy days.

ALL THINGS:  for leisure time, and for too much work

The best way to fulfill this command…because that’s what it is…in Ephesians 5:20 is to follow these suggestions:

1. Take your eyes off yourself.  Did you know there are other people in this world besides you?  There are others out there who are going through things you will never go through.  If you have a headache, thank the Lord that you’re not like others who have brain tumors.  Go to the hospital, the nursing home, the jail.  I just returned from a trip to Ukraine and Israel.  I’ve seen so much suffering that I don’t have a right to ever complain.  Esther and Lisette live in war zones in Israel…Babushka Taya…in Ukraine…Lyuda…fire…Alina.  You’ve heard the saying:  “I complained about not having any shoes until I saw a man who had no feet.”  You can always find someone who is having a harder time than you are.
2. Focus on the needs of others.  Try to be a blessing to others.  God has put so many people in my path who sacrifice to see that I am comfortable…Sue Hutto.
3. Count your blessings.  On my return from Ukraine, my flight was canceled in New York, on the last flight of my trip.  I had to spend the night in the lobby of the Holiday Inn.  I began to thank the Lord for a lovely, safe place to stay, for a sense of humor; for my health; for my sons who were concerned for me, and couldn’t do anything but pray; for my own private nightwatchman.
4. Run the devil off.  The devil’s mission is to make you miserable, and ungrateful.  The Bible says in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  The best way to run the devil off, is to submit yourself to God.  When the devil sees that we’re doing the will of God, the Bible says that he’ll flee from us.  And the will of God is to keep a thankful heart.  If we’re commanded to be thankful, then it’s a sin to complain, and never be thankful for what we have.  Confess your sin to the Lord.  Treat the sin of complaining as the sin of lying, or stealing or adultery.  Ask God to give you the victory over your sin, and He’ll do it…and the devil will flee from you.
5. Show your gratitude to God, by serving others.  Do you know why I’m a missionary?  Do you know why I spent thousands of dollars going to Ukraine and Israel?  Do you know why I feel it is a privilege to spend the night in a chair in the middle of New York City, and spend three months away from home?  Because God has done more for me than perhaps anyone else in the world.  It’s very possible that you’re looking at the happiest lady in the whole world, and everything I do, isn’t a sacrifice to me, because He’s done so much for me, that I could live a lifetime, and never repay Him.  But I can show Him my gratitude serving Him and others the rest of my life.  And so can you.

I Thessalonians 5:18  “In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Written by Mrs. Billie Sloan

Tasty Tuesday

Stuffing Balls

submitted by Tati Cordeiro

 *1 loaf of French bread (cut it into large chunks and let it lay out for 1-2 days until it gets very dry and crusty; then break it into 1" pieces and put in a garbage bag)
 
*Dump 2 cans of chicken broth into the bag w/ the bread
 
*Melt 1-2 sticks of butter (I like 1 stick, mom likes 2) and dump that in the bag with the bread
 
*Finely chop a large onion and dump that in the bag (you can use more or less onion, just depends on how much you like onion...I like it alot and we usually use 2-3 small onions in ours)
 
*Add salt and pepper to taste
 
Mix everything in a bag or a bowl.
 
Gather the bag at the top and then just jumble it all together inside the bag. The bread should be moist enough to form into balls. Put the balls on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until they are brown and slightly crispy on the outside.

It's Not About Me, It's About Him - Devotional Friday

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

John 3:30

A few years ago I went to a Ladies Retreat with a good friend.  The theme for the weekend was "It's Not About Me, It's About Him".  I am always amazed at how God brings these things into our life when we need it most, actually I need to be reminded of this daily. 

Life gets busy.  As a missionary women, wife, mother, you know this.  You get busy in the ministry.  Sometimes we get so busy we forget Who we are serving, and are doing things just to get them done.  Let's be honest, when we the last time you were relived Sunday was over so you could get some rest?  I think we all have, but when we stop and ponder - "It's not about me, it's about Him", it could change your whole perspective.

When my daughter interrupts my devotions for a question, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."  When my son wakes me up in the middle of the night, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."  When my husband ask for a snack just as I was about to take that much needed shower, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."  When a friend calls because she's had a bad day when my to-do list is forever long, I stop and think, "It's not about me, it's about Him."

It's not about me, it's about Him.  Now, I don't always stop and think like I said above, but oh, how I wish I could redo some of these moments.  Instead of thinking of them as inconveniences, I ought to think of them as opportunities to serve.

It's not about me, it's about Him.  It's all for Him.  My daily service to my family.  My daily service to my friends.  My daily service to my church.  It's all for Him.

"He must increase, but I must decrease."  John 3:30

By Jen Bauer - Be Thou Exalted

Christmas Blog Hop

Ladies, Carole and I are excited to announce The Baptist Missionary Women Christmas Blog Hop. No idea what a blog hop is? Well, let me explain. During the week of December 5th we will put up a special post about the blog hop. At the bottom of the post there will be a place for you to link up with your blog.

You do not have to write a special post to link up, but we would love it if you did!  You could share your family Christmas photo, photos of your house at Christmas time, or write about a special Christmas tradition your family does on the field. 

You have some time to think about what you want.  The Blog Hop will start December 5th and go through December 9th.  Carole and I are excited about the Blog Hop, and we think it's another great way to get to know each other better. 

Tasty Tuesday

Tomato Soup

Submitted by Rachel's Reflections

2 liters of tomato juice

Finely dice (1) onion (1) carrot (1/4 – ½) bell pepper (I use an attachment on my mixer that gets it really small)

Add 2 cups of chicken broth (I make my chicken broth with a bouillon cube)

Oregano

Basil

Parsley

Then I make a white sauce in another pan

5 tbsp of butter

5 tbsp of flour

Slowly add 2 cups of milk

Cook until it thickens to your liking

Add to soup and enjoy!

Missionary Monday

We understand the busy life of a missionary. It seems there is never enough time in the day! We also understand the missionary's need for fellowship. We hope this blog will in some way help with that need. We desire for this to be a place for all of us missionary women to come together for encouragement, help, and fellowship.

Here's where you come in! If you are a Baptist Missionary Wife or Single Missionary we want YOU to be a contributor! Below are some of the regular features we plan to add to the blog. Please feel free to add your own suggestions!

Missionary Monday - Share something about life on your mission field.

Tasty Tuesday - Send us your favorite recipes with pictures if possible.

Thankful Thursday - Share your Blessings!

Devotional Fridays - Each Friday we want to post a devotional. If you are willing to write one please send them to our email address.

We want to introduce a missionary each week (or month, this blog is still a work in progress!). If you are willing to participate please email us and we will send you a brief list of questions which we will post, along with your answers, to help us all get to know each other. We'd also like a picture of you! We'll post the "interview", your picture, your blog (if you have one) and your web-page (also if you have one). It will be a fun way to get to know each other and know more how to pray for you and your field.

Each month we will feature Household tips, and a Question and Answer time. The question will be asked in the blog post and all you missionary ladies can answer in the comments section. Email any tips or questions to our email address.

PLEASE email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com if you are willing to be a contributor to this blog! No pressure, you can contribute once or many times.

Thank You All!

Tasty Tuesday

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Submitted by From the Heart of Mrs. Missionary

Prepare pancake batter.  (Click here for her buttermilk pancake recipe.)  In a separate bowl, mix together 1/4 c. butter, 1 tbs cinnamon and 1/2 c. brown sugar.  Pour pancake batter onto buttered skillet and swirl in cinnamon mixture.  Drop it in and swirl with a knife.



Missionary Monday

How does a missionary get their belongings from here to there?  Well, I suppose everyone is a little different, but for my family we packed up what's important and what's necessity into 53 boxes.  Those 53 boxes were organized to fit perfectly onto 3 pallets.  The next time we see our belongings, Lord willing, will be in Australia.

For missionaries, what's the most important thing you to with you to the field?  Anything you wish you would have taken along?

Waiting - Devotional Friday

When we first started deputation we met a missionary family who was finishing up deputation.  I was talking with the wife and she mentioned that it took them over six years to raise their support.  Six years.  This is not what you want to hear when you're just starting!  Praise the Lord He allowed us to finish deputation in just two years.  Once we were close enough to that 100% mark we applied for our visa.  Little did we know that we'd be waiting for three more years.

These past three years have been a huge time of growth for me personally.  God showed me my need of a closer relationship with Him.  I often asked Him why I couldn't learn this stuff on the field, but He chose to have us wait for three years.  Waiting is not my forte'.  I began to study out what the Bible says about waiting, and here are some verse that spoke to my heart...

2 Chronicles 20:12 - "...neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee."

Philippians 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 26:3-4 - "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:"

Isaiah 30:7, 18 - "...Their strength is to sit still...blessed are they that wait for him."

Isaiah 40:28-31 - "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Psalm 37:34 - "Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land."

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways highher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - My personal favorite.

I'm not sure if I will ever know here on earth why God would have us to wait, but I am thankful for the time we were able to work with a church on the Navajo Nation, for seeing my dad remarry a godly lady, and to be able to welcome my brother home from Iraq.  God is good...all the time!

If you are waiting for something, may I encourage you to simply trust in God.  Remember, "Faith in God also includes faith in His timing."

Do you have a favorite verse on waiting? Please share it.

We plan to make this a weekly post.  Do you have a devotional that you would like to share?  Please email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com.  Please share with us what the Lord is teaching you in from His Word.

Thankful Thursday

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us:

and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Praise ye the Lord."

Psalm 117

What are you thankful for today?  Think outside the norm.

• The smile on my husband's face when he found a milk snake in our yard.
• My son's giggles while my brother's dog gives him kisses.
• My daughter excited to go to church for Patch the Pirate club.
• Taping up our last box for the shippers.
• The 2011 Volvo that the insurance company is renting for us this weekend to attend a Mission's Conference in New York.

Please share your blessings.

Missionary Monday

Jolene over at With Love from Ukraine host a weekly theme called Missionary Monday. 

If you post a weekly Missionary Monday please share your link in the comments.  If you would like to write a post and share your Missionary Monday here please email me at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com.

Welcome!

Hello, ladies.  Many of you are coming over from our little group on facebook.  I guess I shouldn't say little, we have over 400 members in our group now!  When Carole and I started this group, I was initially thinking about 50 or so.  God has blessed!

The reason I started this blog is so that we can share our hearts and what the Lord is teaching us.  If you are interested in doing a guest post please email me at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com

Here are some weekly themes I plan to host.  Please note I am in the process of moving to Australia, so it may be a little while before they are going regularly, but I will do my best!  And I am sure to change my mind, I am a woman, you know!

• Missionary Monday - I would like to feature a different missionary every Monday or every other Monday.  Please email me if you are interested!
• Tasty Tuesday - Here I would like to add a new recipe every week, whether it be for food or soaps.  Please email me your recipes!!
• Wordless Wednesdays - Photos from around the world.  I need your photos!
• Thankful Thursday - Sharing praises and giving glory to God.
• Friday Devotionals - Devotionals by you!

If you have a recipe, photo, or devotional you would like to share please email me.  I am also looking for another lady to help me with one or two of the weekly themes.  If you're interested in taking charge of a certain weekly post let me know.

I hope to work on a button for you to add to your blog to link your friends over here.  If you have any other suggestions or ideas.  Please let me know!