Scratch Cooking Week

So LAST week, we had some classes designed to teach us how to cook meals from scratch.  When you're in a remote tribe, you usually don't have the luxury of fresh ingredients, prepared items or electricity for different appliances.  So, all this week, we've been cooking from scratch, with the kids helping.

Our days start like any other, with oatmeal.  We've done this for years, and this week is no different.

Monday for lunch was one of my favorites, Lentils dal over rice.

For dinner, Simon chose beef/potato pie, and he helped make it.

Then, yesterday, Eli helped me make banana bread from scratch, which I've done many times.  However, I've never done it without the aid of an electric mixer.  But we both managed to get it all mixed...

...And out came two lovely loaves.

Life & Death & LIFE

December 2012 will be a month to remember.  

We finished up our first semester in training, and the class before us graduated.  Twelve people, ready, willing and able to take the Gospel to where it has not been named.  "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to LIFE.  Who is sufficient for these things?  (2 Cor. 2:15,16)  We count it a privilege to know them, and pray for them.  Even though you may not know them, we invite you to pray for them also.

                                   Graduating class of December 2012

After our last day of classes, before we went to Florida, we headed to my parents' place for a few days to celebrate Christmas with them.  I'm not really sure how to write this next part, other than to say that while there, I suffered a miscarriage.  God was so gracious in it, and prepared my heart for the loss.  I don't know how to describe how He did that, but I will say that Bill and I are truly OK and at peace with yet another DEATH in our family. We would appreciate your continued prayers as I heal physically, and our family heals emotionally.  Our children were very excited about a new sibling, and some are struggling right now.  Pray that Bill and I will teach our children to suffer well.

On our way to Florida, we stopped in New Jersey to visit friends that we knew in Florida.  He is a rescue swimmer with the US Coast Guard, and is now stationed in New Jersey.  I had the privilege to be at the birth of their first child 2 1/2 years ago, and she is expecting again.

                     Our dear friends Cory & April with their daughter Kinley.

I had the privilege to be at the birth of their first child 2 1/2 years ago, and she is expecting again.

                                                        Sweet Kinley!

I was reminded while being with them, that God alone gives LIFE, both physical and spiritual.  He alone is sovereign over our bodies and lives.  Although our bodies are decaying and dying as we live, for those who have trusted in Christ as their Saviour, trusted that His DEATH satisfied the payment a Holy God requires for our sin, there is LIFE to look forward to.  Not just eternal, but here. Now. Abundant LIFE.  Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have LIFE, and have it abundantly."  (Jn. 10:10)


* Scripture taken from the English Standard Version (2001)

I Choose Peace...

We're expecting a baby.

VERY exciting words for most couples.  And initially, the thought of being pregnant is incredibly exciting.  But then the thoughts of fear come...

For those who know our story, you would know that SaraGrace was delivered in November 2006, the week of Thanksgiving in the USA.  Elliana Hope was born, and died on August 20, 2010, the birthdate of my dad, who died when he was 34.  And then last year, I miscarried in September.  A lot of loss, which can lead to a lot of fear.

When I was pretty sure I was expecting yet again, I spent about an hour wrestling with the whole range of emotions.  And at the end of that wrestling, I heard GOD...

...as clear as I hear Bill whisper "I love you".  And what did God whisper?  "Choose peace."   That is what I'm doing.  Even though I know that hormones will fluctuate, I will not feel good at times, I might let the fear of losing another life consume me, I can look back at that one moment where He whispered to me in His still small voice, "Choose peace."  And because of that we can say with so much excitement...

WE'RE EXPECTING A BABY!!

It Feels Like Freedom

I have been a homeschooling mom of five, for 10 years. It is not a career path I would have chosen for myself when I graduated from high school, but have enjoyed it nonetheless. Bill and I knew that, in order for us to get missions training, we would have to let the homeschooling go for a period of time. It was not an easy decision to make, and during that process, it almost felt like it might be too big of a sacrifice. One I was not sure I was willing to make.

How did we know we were "supposed" to be missionaries? God didn't speak to us audibly, but from the age of 5, I can remember, I have "wanted" to be one. That desire has not waned in over 30 years, and so I think it's safe to say He has given me that desire. He also put it in the heart of my husband to be a missionary, and Bill has been leading our family in that direction.

So if God is the one who gave us this desire, He should know ALL aspects of what this would entail, right? Well guess what? HE DOES! He knows our hearts, desires, passions, likes, dislikes, proclivities (I love that word); and guides us with all of that in mind. So what does homeschooling have to do with missions exactly?

Well, first, our children are our (Bill & I) first mission field. All of our children have made a profession of faith, so therefore we have been discipling for a while now. Discipling by homeschooling. It's a lot harder than it sounds, but a job I was more than willing to do. But how willing was I to give that up, for the sake of obeying Christ? Because in order for us to complete training with NTM (New Tribes Mission), I (Debby) would also have to attend classes full time, and our kids would have to be in school.

So here we are. In training. With our kids in school. I'm also going to school. And we're doing well. REALLY well in fact. God has taken such good care of us and our kids. Our oldest, is homeschooling herself, and the 4 boys attend the Academy, located here at the training centre. The teachers care about our FAMILY, and how we all are doing. They have been INCREDIBLY willing to work extra with the boys who needed a little extra help. They have been so encouraging, even when some of my failures, as my kids' teacher, was exposed.

So in reality, our boys being in school is really a simple act of obedience. In wanting to obey what we feel is God's call on our life, to be missionaries overseas, we are surrendering our children to Him. He will take care, AND educate them better than I ever could. He is using the teachers here right now to do that, and Lord-willing He will use me again as their teacher. And right now, it doesn't feel like a sacrifice at all. It feels like freedom.

Obedience is not always easy, but it is always rewarding. God is not ignorant of what is involved in obedience. He knows everything that surrounds an act of obedience, and is SO willing to lead, guide, and provide in that.

What simple act of obedience is God calling you to today?

We had a "killer" time...

 

 So, this past week, Bill and I had the opportunity to help out some fellow students kill and prepare some chickens.  It brought back a lot of memories for me.  Growing up in farming country, we spent some summers growing chickens not only for our family, but also to make a little money.  Funny how you never forget some skills:)

            Is it ironic that Bill is wearing his Chick-fil-A hat while holding a dead chicken?

Bronia (along with friend Cassie) getting in on the action, and fine-plucking the chickens.

                       
                To me, it looks like I'm having a little too much fun with this dead chicken...

New Kids on the Block...

 

Well, as the title suggests, our kids are the newsest ones to be here and explore the lay of the land.  We are now in the full swing of things, and wanted to share with you a little of what life looks like for our kids. There are about 100 acres here, and it is a child's dreamland! From canoeing and fishing, to playing in gravel pits, there is not a lot of down-time for the kids, which they, AND WE, love! There is plenty to keep them busy, including homework:)

 





 

 Bronia is still homeschooled, but she is most certainly not lonely. She has a Home Ec. class twice a week, where they've already done card-making, and are now learning cake-decorating. Some other skills coming up are home decorating, Thai and Mexican cooking, crocheting, knitting, sewing, candy-making... You get the idea:) She also participates in sports twice a week, and just took and passed a babysitting course, including infant CPR. There is a great group of girls her age, for which we are so thankful for.

 

Bronia with an icing rose...

 

...and making cards.

 

 Simon too is busy. There is a good group of about 6 guys in school, and he is enjoying making friends. He not only participates in school sports, but also in the adult soccer games three times a week here on campus. He even had the opportunity to play some soccer in a men's league here in Durham a couple of weeks ago. He is finding that he really enjoys sports. He also says he is enjoying this colder weather:)

 

Simon in the middle of a soccer game.

 

Liam turned 13 last month, and was able to have a little pizza party with his classmates and family. He got a slingshot for his birthday, and is enjoying shooting at targets. His goal is to kill a squirrel. As for school, he likes World History.

 

Liam and his friends enjoying his birthday pizza dinner...

 

...and trying out his birthday gift of a slingshot.

 

Eli thinks we live in a dream land. He too enjoys the sports, but he REALLY loves being outside and doing all the boy stuff. From running around in the gravel pits, to canoeing and fishing, to just hanging out with friends, Eli is having a good time. Simon caught a garter snake the other day, and didn't have time to skin it, so Eli did it, and had a blast doing it. He also gutted it so we could cook it up later and eat it. Needless to say, there is not much meat on a garter snake:)

 

Eli with his skinned and gutted snake...

 

...and getting ready to go for a canoe ride with Ethan.

 

 

As for Ethan, he is enjoying his classes. His teacher reads The Chronicles of Narnia every morning, and last Friday, they went to her house for snacks and to watch the movie. He loves running around catching grasshoppers, shooting a longbow that he made, and exploring. He wishes he could share these experiences with his Flordian friends though, and misses them.

 

Ethan practicing with his homemade longbow...

 

...and playing ping pong.  (with himself:)

 

We want to thank you for your continued prayers for our family. We feel like we are all adjusting well, and know that in part, it is due to many of you praying.   Monday, the 8th, was Canadian Thanksgiving. We realize we have so much to be thankful for, and at the top of that list is you, loved ones who pray for and support us. We could not be here without you. God is continuing to provide for us, and we really have ABSOLUTELY nothing to complain about. HE is a great God, and completely trustworthy.

Becoming...?

I Corinthians 9:22b  "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

As most of you know, Bill and I are in school to specifically learn how to become cross-cultural missionaries.  And yes, it is something you "become".  It is not something that comes naturally to most people, this being able to live and communicate in a culture you were NOT born into.  So how does one go about "becoming " something you're not, in order to communicate a message more effectively?

Believe it or not, "becoming" IS theological.  It's all about God using and changing us in order to take the Gospel, HIS good news, to those who have never heard.  What is that going to look like?  What are we going to need to let go of in order for that to happen within us?

Our identity affects the situation we're going into.  Language sounds, dress, customs, etc. all form our first identity.  Our second identity was formed when Christ saved us.  Our challenge then becomes, can we lay aside our first identity, in order to accurately communicate that second identity?

According to 1Cor. 9:19-23, laying aside certain aspects of our identity is something that MUST happen, in order for the Gospel to be effectively communicated.  There is a HUGE gap, or valley between those who have not heard the Gospel, and those who bring the Gospel.  It is OUR job to bridge that gap.  We must walk down into that valley, and up the other side to share that Gospel with those who have not heard.  It is not "their" job to bridge the gap.  We must "become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

But where does this motivation come from?  Why do missionaries do what they do?  Why leave home to go to a completely foreign land to share something with someone who may not ever care about what we're sharing?  ICor. 9:23 tells us why.  "Now this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you."  We go because we are compelled by the Gospel, so that we can partake of that eternal life together.

But make no mistake, that drive can ONLY come from Christ.  When there are huge cultural barriers that we can't seem to cross, when we can't seem to learn a particular sound in their language that is crucial, when we are weak and tired from living in a climate we are not used to, when we come to our limit, we MUST tap into the limitless supply of all things pertaining to LIFE.  LIFE=CHRIST!!

That "becoming" is happening in us now.   It doesn't start when we get to the foreign field.  What things from our first identity are we needing to let go of now, in order to share the Gospel?  Stay tuned to read about what God is doing in us right now, as we train.  :-)

What do YOU need to let go of, in order to share the Gospel?