FRIENDS, FOOD, FUN

Matthew 7:9-11
"Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

God gives good gifts to His children.  It seems that many of the times, the gifts that lift my heart aren't items or things, but people, circumstances and encouragement.


This past week was one of those "gifts".

We traveled through to Durban (2 hours south) on Saturday.  Spent the night with the Pastor and his family (7 kids + our 3= lots of fun!).  Great conversation, lots of laughs, and most importantly- went to bed encouraged by the Christian fellowship and time spent with brothers and sisters in Christ.

These two were inseparable!

Sunday morning, we drove 45 minutes to the north side of Durban to be at a celebration service.  30 years of ministry at Fellowship Baptist Church started by ABWE missionaries.  What a wonderful time to look back on God's faithfulness and His incredible work.

That evening we stayed with Vic and Nicci Willis- the Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Chruch.  They will always hold a special place in my heart.  We stayed with them on our survey trip back in 2005.  They taught us so much about the country, helped us laugh at the things we didn't understand, and pushed us to brainstorm about the future.  After arriving here to live, they continued to help us adjust, cried with me while we missed family and always had hugs available for our girls.  

Nicci Willis and me

Monday morning, we packed our stuff up again.  Piled in the car and headed into Durban city center to work on Kyle's passport at the US Consulate.  Then rushed north 45 minutes for Abby's orthodontist appointment.  Thankfully, we rolled back into Richards Bay just in time for Emily to head to rhythmic gymnastics practice.  

But, it doesn't end there . . . 

Wednesday was a public holiday- Heritage Day.  So back to Durban we drove for a fellowship time with all the other missionaries and pastors.  The kids played so hard and loved every part of the day.  Definitely worth the 5 hours in the car :) 

Lots of time in the car!

FORGETTING THE BASIC JOYS

It is so easy to forget some of the simple truths of the Bible.  Truths that we've heard for years that probably thrilled our heart at the beginning, but have somehow faded to just a plain fact.

Wednesday night's Bible study brought this idea front and center.

Kyle leads a Bible study at the Care Home.  Sometimes there are several people there, sometimes no one.  This Wednesday- just one.

We were studying Adam and Eve's sin in the garden and talking about Genesis 3:14-15.  Kyle was unpacking how God had a redemptive plan for humans through Christ from the very beginning.  He explained that God wasn't "thrown off" by their sin and then had to scramble around for hundreds of years to come up with a plan.  No, God cursed the snake and gave a glimpse into His saving plan.

The lady there that night said, "Wow, I've never known that.  That is big.  Comforting.  I'm going to have to take a bit to think through that.  Thanks."

It is big!

It is also a fact that we sometimes forget to dwell on.  A fact that gives deep peace in uncertainty.

Nothing surprises God or sneaks up on Him.

Nothing gets out of His control and leaves Him scrambling to fix our messes.

I love watching people get excited over God's truth.  But, I also love the opportunity it gives me to become re-excited over facts that somehow have become just facts.

10 YEARS OF MINISTRY

Funny thing . . . . 

This July marked 10 years serving with ABWE.  We just didn't know it.  

They had a recognition service at the Missionary Enrichment conference we attended in July.  

We were supposed to have read the notice in our registration packet . . . . we were supposed to be at the service early . . . we were all supposed to sit in the front . . . .  (noticing a pattern?)

Needless to say, we were late, sitting in the back row and didn't even know we were part of the service until they called our name.  All I could do was laugh.  Next time, maybe we'll read all of our registration packet!

But, this past month I've taken time to reflect on 10 years of ministry.  What has God taught me?  Have I changed and grown any?  What do I look forward to in the next 10 years?

I think I can sum up what God has taught me in one verse, 

 Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD."

This verse can unpack so many hidden sins and stumbling blocks for being properly used by God.

Pride
Self-righteousness
Selfishness

This verse also holds incredible joy and peace!  

In my limited thoughts, my plans are just that- limited.  I can't see through the valley or even understand why the valley is there.  BUT, my Lord knows.  He made the valley and has a beautiful purpose for it.  In my thoughts, I'd rather skip the valley.  This last 10 years has brought several valleys and out the other end of it, we've been able to praise God.  
Praise Him for His goodness.
Praise Him for His faithfulness.  
And, praise Him for the valley itself.


Other thoughts or surprises . . . . 

- never really thought I had the gift of hospitality, but now it is a big part of our ministry and an absolute delight.

- I don't think I'll ever be able to live again without Indian spices to cook with!

- It never gets easier to say goodbye to family. 

- I really can live in harmony with ants :)

- It surprised me that I could so easily forget the brands and products that I liked in America.  Buying laundry detergent or cereal at Meijers is overwhelming

- Being behind the scenes to support and encourage others is truly fulfilling.  

- I STILL LOVE WHAT I DO!  

Praise God for continuing to work in us all and we seek to honor Him with our lives.

BAKING WITH THULI

I'm sure most of you have heard me mention Pastor Clement- a long time friend who has helped us in so many ways here in South Africa.  Below is a picture of his wife, Thuli.  A dear friend of mine.  

She worked for us at the Care Home and then worked as a private care giver in Richards Bay after the Care Home closed.  But, her heart really wanted to be at home with her husband, helping with the Christian School on their property, ministering to church members and taking care of her children.  

Since she had acquired an oven, she spoke to a tuck shop on the main road (small store that sells coke, candy, chips, cell phone minutes, etc) about selling some baked goods.  This would give her a small income and allow her to stay at home.  

Most homes out in the rural don't have ovens.  The ladies cook on electric/gas burners that sit on the kitchen counters or table.  So, baked goods are a real treat!  The shop was very keen to sell her items, but she knew she needed practice first.  She had lots of questions, like- how to cut in butter, how does a tooth pick tell you when something is done?  And, she couldn't wait to watch me separate an egg yolk from the whites.

So, we've been pouring over recipes.  The criteria- easy, yummy and cost-effective.  

It has been a lot of fun to bake with her and watch her confidence grow!  We've tried multiple variations of scones, cookies, and muffins.  She's already been baking lots of bread.

This is her kitchen space.  No running water and we can only run one electric appliance at a time.  The tubs on the table are for washing dishes.  But, isn't the oven in the back beautiful?!

Below are pictures of my drive out to Thuli's.  She lives about 35 minutes outside Richards Bay.  We've been traveling there for so many years, that most people on this road know our vehicle and smile and wave.  But, I do like having the 4x4 for when the road is flooded or I need to "push" through a crowd of guys hanging out waiting for a taxi.

This is Thuli's youngest son.  I spend most of my time there trying to get him to smile . . . so far no luck!

QUICK TRIP TO THE STATES

How do you sum up a 3 week trip back to the States?

    . . . . . . lots of family, lots of food, lots of fun, lots of airplanes and one big Missionary Enrichment conference with our mission board.

The trip was everything each of us needed (whether we realized it at the time or not).  Hugs from family, opportunities to share our ministry at two churches, encouragement from our ABWE home staff.  

There were so many pictures to choose from, but these are a few of my favorites.  

Meeka meeting her cousin Abby for the first time

Bubbles with more cousins

Natalie kayaking with Kyle and Uncle Mark

Great picture of my parents with all their grandkids

Natalie being silly at the zoo

Emily being silly at the zoo

Aunt Sherry and me

THE BLESSING OF VETERAN MISSIONARIES

Kyle and I arrived in South Africa 7 years ago.  At times we feel like it was just yesterday and many days I still count myself a "new" missionary with SOOO much to learn.

But for these past few years we've had a blessing from God living 5 minutes away-  Veteran Missionaries!

Gary and MaryJane Strange served in Kenya before coming to South Africa.  Unfortunately, they are retiring in September and heading back to the states :(  It honestly about breaks my heart.

But, here is my list of the ways they have blessed my family.

They listen to us
They come over and play dominos and eat popcorn
They babysit our children
They understand our struggles and when we miss home
They encourage us
They tell missionary stories we learn from
They give us hugs . . .  this is huge because we don't have family around
They set an example of faithfulness that spurs us on
They celebrate birthdays with us . . and Christmas . . .  and Thanksgiving . . . and Easter . . .

Thanks Gary and MaryJane for living out your lives with us these past couple years!

TIME MANAGEMENT

Time management . . . .  a phrase that sometimes makes me cringe!  

It makes me think of tasks.  All my tasks.  All the tasks that don't get done.  All the cleaning.  All the "good mommy" activities that should be happening in my home. 

This quickly spirals to "I'm not very good at this" thoughts . . . . which rapidly leads to gloomy moods . . . . which instantly ruins my day.

Yup, the phrase makes me cringe!

All that changed when I started working through a Bible study called "Becoming a Woman of Excellence"  by Cynthia Heald.  It was given to me by a veteran missionary wife and I am so thankful for her thoughtfulness.  

Over this past year, it has helped mold my attitude in my home.  It has helped me find perspective!

In a nutshell, the book unpacks the worldly view of excellence vs the Biblical view of excellence.

Worldly view- excellence is accomplishing TASKS with a high degree of proficiency.
Biblical view- excellence is pursing the highest or best in; Godly virtues, Godly knowledge, striving towards holiness

Wow!  What a difference between the two.

I found myself asking, "Do I have a virtue that I would be 'excellent' at? Am I more concerned with having an excellently, clean home or excellent meals for my family?  Do my children see me wanting to be excellent in the Godly management of my home, or just be excellent in the tasks I do?"

Philippians 1:10  "So that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ."

God's things are excellent!  Striving to center my tasks around His will produces excellence.  
This lifted a huge burden off me.  The burden to perform and live up to expectations that aren't fulfilling.  It took some restructuring of my priorities.  I had to "relabel" what an excellent day looked like to me.

Before, being excellent in my day meant; clean house, home schooling accomplished, healthy meals cooked, missionary admin taken care of, blah, blah, blah.  I would come to bedtime and feel if all of the above items were in order then I had managed my time well, accomplished my tasks, proved excellent at my job.

Now (and this is still a work in progress), I come to bed and reflect on my day;  was I patient with my children, did I demonstrate my husband's love language, did anything in my day point my children to Christ?

Yes, I still clean the house and cook healthy meals, but I don't measure my success or my excellence by my tasks.   I'm not striving to finish my "list" by the end of the day, but to practice Godly qualities through my list.  Some days I manage, some days I fail.  But, the process is so much more fulfilling!  The tasks can take on such deeper meaning when they are a means of working on our holiness.  

I can choose to demonstrate patience when my children keep interrupting me while cooking.
I can choose to put down my broom and read a book to Natalie when she asks.
I can choose to invite my children into my tasks and take on a teacher role even though I know it will take me twice as long.
I can choose to be joyful even when I am exhausted.
I can choose not to complain.

Accomplishing a list like above is now what makes me smile at the end of the day, even if the broom is still sitting where I left it.