This air conditioner deal has really been quite a trial to me. It is not the most exciting thing to toss and turn and sweat the whole night through. I've forgotten what it was like when we lived here 3 years without AC. I must say it has been a wonderful blessing to have it as it helps us "cope" with the cultural and ministry stresses. It makes those stresses seem bigger when we are half-dazed due to our nightly encounter with the heat battle.
Last week one day I was praying and pouring out my heart to the Lord telling Him how frustrated I was about the situation. These verses came to my mind: Philippians 3:7-8 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."
I had to face the question: Am I willing to count even that which seems gain for me (a good night's sleep in a comfortable temperature) as DUNG? After some time in prayer, I finally came to the resolution, "Yes, I would count it as 'dung' for Christ's sake!" I wasn't really looking forward to the nighttime sleeping battle, but I would rest in the Lord to help me whether I slept or not!
The Lord has been gracious to us the last few days and relieved us with some thunder showers. It dropped the temperature by 10-15 degrees! Instead of 88 when we went to bed, it was 78 last night. How good God is to His children! He does reward His children, but, I believe, after we're willing to suffer all. I'm sure many hot nights are yet to come, but I will endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ with God's help.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Family News
Congratulations to my brother-in-law in his promotion in the Army from 1st lietenant (as pictured) to Captain yesterday! This picture was taken from his P.A. graduation last year so he doesn't have the proper paraphanalia (did I spell it right?) to show that he is now a Captain. We're proud of him! Congratulations Paul! 
And..........Happy 40th Anniversary to my in-laws tomorrow! Wow! That is a long time! Mucho congratulations! We made a scrapbook for them of people's cards, letters, and own scrapbook pages. They were so surprised! We were shocked that they didn't suspect a thing. We participated in the presentation of the scrapbook via phone. It was so neat to hear their reaction. They couldn't believe all the people we contacted without them knowing. We could hardly believe it either. :-) Thank you to all who participated and who kept it a secret. It was a success and will be something they will treasure forever.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Pondering
This devotional really stuck out to me. I have been "chewing" on it all week. I put in italics the part that especially stuck out.
Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 2:24
Gentleness of Spirit
"The servant of the Lord must be gentle" (2 Tim. 2:24).
When God conquers us and takes all the flint out of our nature, and we get deep visions into the Spirit of Jesus, we then see as never before the great rarity of gentleness of spirit in this dark and unheavenly world.
The graces of the Spirit do not settle themselves down upon us by chance, and if we do not discern certain states of grace, and choose them, and in our thoughts nourish them, they never become fastened in our nature or behavior.
Every advance step in grace must be preceded by first apprehending it, and then a prayerful resolve to have it.
So few are willing to undergo the suffering out of which thorough gentleness comes. We must die before we are turned into gentleness, and crucifixion involves suffering; it is a real breaking and crushing of self, which wrings the heart and conquers the mind.
There is a good deal of mere mental and logical sanctification nowadays, which is only a religious fiction. It consists of mentally putting one's self on the altar, and then mentally saying the altar sanctifies the gift, and then logically concluding therefore one is sanctified; and such an one goes forth with a gay, flippant, theological prattle about the deep things of God.
But the natural heartstrings have not been snapped, and the Adamic flint has not been ground to powder, and the bosom has not throbbed with the lonely, surging sighs of Gethsemane; and not having the real death marks of Calvary, there cannot be that soft, sweet, gentle, floating, victorious, overflowing, triumphant life that flows like a spring morning from an empty tomb. --G. D. W.
"And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).
********************************************
This classic devotional is the unabridged edition of Streams in the Desert. This first edition was published in 1925 and the wording is preserved as originally written. Connotations of words may have changed over the years and are not meant to be offensive.
Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 2:24
Gentleness of Spirit
"The servant of the Lord must be gentle" (2 Tim. 2:24).
When God conquers us and takes all the flint out of our nature, and we get deep visions into the Spirit of Jesus, we then see as never before the great rarity of gentleness of spirit in this dark and unheavenly world.
The graces of the Spirit do not settle themselves down upon us by chance, and if we do not discern certain states of grace, and choose them, and in our thoughts nourish them, they never become fastened in our nature or behavior.
Every advance step in grace must be preceded by first apprehending it, and then a prayerful resolve to have it.
So few are willing to undergo the suffering out of which thorough gentleness comes. We must die before we are turned into gentleness, and crucifixion involves suffering; it is a real breaking and crushing of self, which wrings the heart and conquers the mind.
There is a good deal of mere mental and logical sanctification nowadays, which is only a religious fiction. It consists of mentally putting one's self on the altar, and then mentally saying the altar sanctifies the gift, and then logically concluding therefore one is sanctified; and such an one goes forth with a gay, flippant, theological prattle about the deep things of God.
But the natural heartstrings have not been snapped, and the Adamic flint has not been ground to powder, and the bosom has not throbbed with the lonely, surging sighs of Gethsemane; and not having the real death marks of Calvary, there cannot be that soft, sweet, gentle, floating, victorious, overflowing, triumphant life that flows like a spring morning from an empty tomb. --G. D. W.
"And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).
********************************************
This classic devotional is the unabridged edition of Streams in the Desert. This first edition was published in 1925 and the wording is preserved as originally written. Connotations of words may have changed over the years and are not meant to be offensive.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Another burn out and braving the heat
Oh no! Our air conditioner went out over the weekend. We had a guy come look at it today and he said the compressor burnt out. Didn't I previously say that this is the country of burnout? We won't be getting it fixed right away, so I guess we'll be sweating it out. It's only 91 degrees inside right now. We can be brave. I know we can.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Happy Father's Day
To all you great dads out there......Have a happy Father's day. Keep up the good work.
My own father is deceased. I wish I had a picture of him, but don't here. Maybe in the States somewhere. After 13 years, I still miss him.
My father-in-law has been a wonderful father to me. He has treated me just like a daughter. Happy Father's Day, Dad. We love you.
My husband is also a wonderful father. He has done many heroic things such as change pampers, throw baseball, clean up spills, pull lose teeth, doctor hurts, wipe tears, play games, fix bikes, etc. In spite of his busy schedule, he makes a hard effort to spend time with the children. They know he loves them and respond to him in a loving manner as well. I'm so glad he's the father of my children.
I asked the children so they could speak for themselves, "What do you like best about Daddy?"
Regina - "I like that he plays games and stuff with us."
Ryan - "That he plays with us."
Brandon - "He spends time to play with us."
Jonathan - "ah - uh - ba" (I think it means "He plays ball.") :-)
There you have it. The vote is unanimous. :-)
My own father is deceased. I wish I had a picture of him, but don't here. Maybe in the States somewhere. After 13 years, I still miss him.
My father-in-law has been a wonderful father to me. He has treated me just like a daughter. Happy Father's Day, Dad. We love you.
My husband is also a wonderful father. He has done many heroic things such as change pampers, throw baseball, clean up spills, pull lose teeth, doctor hurts, wipe tears, play games, fix bikes, etc. In spite of his busy schedule, he makes a hard effort to spend time with the children. They know he loves them and respond to him in a loving manner as well. I'm so glad he's the father of my children.
I asked the children so they could speak for themselves, "What do you like best about Daddy?"
Regina - "I like that he plays games and stuff with us."
Ryan - "That he plays with us."
Brandon - "He spends time to play with us."
Jonathan - "ah - uh - ba" (I think it means "He plays ball.") :-)
There you have it. The vote is unanimous. :-)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Baptism pictures
A few weeks ago we had a baptism. It was on a holiday and much to our surprise, when we got to the river, it was full of people swimming etc. There was discussion as to what we should do. It was finally decided that it would be a testimony to all those observing and we would go ahead with the baptism. We sort of made our way into the river and others moved out of the way, watching as they swam by. It was a wonderful time and perhaps more of the way it happened in Bible times. Six people were baptized and God met with us. 
Cindy testified that although she got saved a long time ago, her decision to get baptized is more of a definite decision to follow God. 
We were thrilled to see Blenski, Euddy's brother, get baptized.
Also Lissette, Blenski's wife, got baptized. 
Edy, Algenis' mother, also got baptized. She got saved a year or so ago. Algenis is a young man who got saved several years ago and has a real gift with young people. He moved to Boston shortly before we arrived here and is currently living there. 
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Another saint makes the crossing
This morning my mother called to tell me that my Uncle Abe Yoder made his landing in heaven last night. I believe he was 93 years old. He was a very Godly example to all of us. I'm thankful he made it to heaven and that we will be reunited with him someday, yet he will be greatly missed here on this earth. The wisdom he shared with us will be forever treasured and we will miss hearing his wise counsel.
Uncle Abe lived a simple life striving only to please God and not to gain wealth or approval of people. He proved that he had found the real meaning of life as his face always had a smile. He has left behind a great legacy.
Uncle Abe lived a simple life striving only to please God and not to gain wealth or approval of people. He proved that he had found the real meaning of life as his face always had a smile. He has left behind a great legacy.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
English Muffin recipe
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/English-Muffins/Detail.aspx
I use http://www.allrecipes.com/ for everything! If I am hungry for something and don't find it here, I look up the recipe and make it!
The only thing with this recipe is that I did not cook my muffins for 10 minutes on each side. They would have burned! Maybe I had my heat too high - easy to do with gas stove. I did about 5 minutes each side.
I use http://www.allrecipes.com/ for everything! If I am hungry for something and don't find it here, I look up the recipe and make it!
The only thing with this recipe is that I did not cook my muffins for 10 minutes on each side. They would have burned! Maybe I had my heat too high - easy to do with gas stove. I did about 5 minutes each side.
Comment of the Day
After being told to eat clean up his plate containing one of his least favorite meals, Ryan sighed and said, "Dad, if I wasn't so tired, I would eat it all." You can't imagine how tiring eating is. :-) Especially when it's something you really don't like. But, it's good missionary training, they say.
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