No Problem Mon!

My wonderful friend has a birthday coming up which resulted in an unforgettable trip.

I have never taken time to think of Jamaica as a vacation spot.  I do have a friend who is Jamaican and I do appreciate Jamaica Blue Mountain coffees... it's just that I never really considered going there.

My wonderful friend, however, did.  I am glad she did.

me with my beautiful friends Grace and Carola (both on staff with Metro Ministries)

She made all the arrangements... and a week ago I landed on a beautiful Caribbean island.  What struck me first was the happiness that radiated from everyone we met.  Everyone was joking and laughing (I don't think I stopped laughing the entire time I was there).  

 I loved Jamaica.  I almost wish I did not have to come back (I would much rather have Bryan come join me there).  The weather and the landscapes are breathtaking.  The people are very friendly. No matter what our questions were the only thing we heard in reply was, "No problem mon!"

being kissed by a dolphin

********************************************************************************************************

If you're interested in making Jamaica your next vacation destination or want to know more about great savings on travel to many other countries - feel free to drop an email to Grace at gblodget@att.net and she will let you know about the great deals available.

True Religion

One Thousand Gifts - #103-117

My eyes are searching through a list of YouTube titles.  I wish I had an idea of who the original performer was.  I select a name that seems the oldest and most authentic...

As the first notes start playing, she is flooded with memories.  The memories we share - the ones I should not be able to remember and yet somehow I do...  the memory of my head resting on her shoulder as she sang me to sleep.  Who would've thought that a tango would become my favorite lullaby?

But there are other memories, I'm sure.  She stands up and starts dancing.  She is so beautiful.  She looks so happy - and all of a sudden so young.  I can't take my eyes off her.  I wonder if she's remembering how she danced with grandpa.  I wonder if I ever get to see her again.

How can I capture this moment?  How can I freeze it in eternity?  How can I stop it right here - her dancing, me watching her?

I can't help but wonder where she will spend eternity...

All this time away from Bryan, all this studying, all this exhaustion - it is all worth this moment right here.

my beautiful grandma

I am grateful...
- for the best grandparents one could ever wish for
- for living under the same roof with my grandparents till I was eleven
- for living in the same town with my grandparents till I was twenty
- for all the reading, and playing and caring that my grandparents did
- for my first English word
- for memories that we share
- that my grandparents always believed in me and thought highly of me
- that they always accepted me no matter what I had done
- for the simplicity of grandma's cooking
- that some things in their apartment never changed
- for YouTube where one can find almost any song these days
- that I have a video of my grandma dancing to "Утомленное солнце"
- that I watched my grandparents love each other deeply
- for learning that my family's been teachers for generations
- that their disapproval of my choices becomes a test of my obedience to God

Summit VII

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: 

to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, 

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

(James 1:27)

I wish I were able to attend this summit (my ministry here in New York will prevent me from doing so).  It will take place in Louisville, KY on May 12th - 13th, 2011.  I believe all of us are called to minister to the orphans of the world.  It does not always have to be through the mission trips or actual adoptions. There are so many ways to get involved.  Whether you are actively involved in orphan ministry today or not - you should prayerfully consider attending this summit.  For more info - click here.

The Pursuit - Whose Dream Is It Anyway?

I keep coming back to thinking about this.  How we allow others to define who we are and how we feel about ourselves... How we take upon ourselves burdens that are not ours to carry just to please people who'd never be pleased regardless of what you do...

Do you have people in your life like that?  Do you ever feel that no matter which decision you make someone (at least one but dear to you someone) will be unhappy?

What do you do then?  How do you break free without burning the bridges?

Valentine's Day with JESUS

Valentine's Day with Jesus

Jesus does not send perfume
To linger in the air
Instead He sends salvation, sweet
To show how much He cares.

He doesn’t bring me candy hearts
In boxes of delight
Instead He always lets me know
I’m precious in His sight.  
             
He doesn’t pass out pretty cards
Trimmed in shades of red
Instead He gave His life for me
His precious blood was shed.

He doesn’t hand out fancy gifts
Like we would send to mother
Instead He sends a message clear
To always love each other.

He doesn’t give me teddy bears
That whimper, “Please be mine”
Instead He gave His heart to me
I wear it all the time.

He doesn’t give me roses, pink
For all the world to see
Instead He gave eternal life
That’s good enough for me.

Written By:  Marilyn Ferguson

I Have Never Been Unloved

Today as many countries all around the world celebrate Valentine's Day... as all vendors bring out the pink, and the red, and the soft and cuddly, flowers, toys, chocolates... as many of us either bask in the love of our dear ones... or wish we had that someone special in our lives...

... let us not forget what true love really is ...

"You are MINE."  - God.

(Isaiah 43:1)

One Thousand Gifts - #92-102

They have all known each other... for quite some time now.  I am older than them too.  The gap that lies between us seems overwhelming.  I fail miserably to make friends.

Those were my thoughts two weeks ago.  And yesterday... I could almost feel tears coming to my eyes as I had to say good-bye to them.  Is it not absolutely amazing to you how a few mere days can link hearts together so strongly?  I almost wish I had more time to get to know them...

I am grateful today for:
- the wonderful girls in Group 417 of Minsk State Linguistic Univeristy
- and all the help you've given me
- and all the laughter we shared
- and all the homework we shared (literally)
- and for our inbox
- and for our incredible four always ending up in the cafeteria together
- and for making me feel part of your group
- and for Nastya having sushi with me
- and also helping me with methods of teaching
- and for the favor I had during my exams
- and for the great professors

The Pursuit - Locating Your Destination

"Nothing quite as heartbreaking 
as realizing you've wasted your time"

(Oraia Speaks)

Before you can get anywhere in life, you must find out where it is that you're going. At any given moment in your life you have thousands of invisible ropes tugging at you, pulling you in all different directions:  your parents want you to have a career in business, your grandparents think you should pursue your artsy gifts, your best friend wishes you had more time and more money, your significant other has expectations in the relationship that you may not even be aware of... you're reading statuses and looking at the pictures... and watching TV, and reading self-improvement books, and trying to lose weight, and trying to be happy, and trying to find time, and trying to get a raise, and trying to be happy while making everyone else around happy as well... and trying not to kill yourself in the process... and somewhere... in the midst of it all... in this massive chaos of everything... your dreams lay.


You have to find them.  Sifting carefully through your preconceived ideas and expectations.  Digging through the learned behaviors.  Examining every page of your heart, every little corner.  To find the real you.


It is so easy for us to try to become what others expect us to be.  We want people around us to be happy.  


But be careful, my friend.


Do not pick up the shattered pieces of your parents' desires.  Do not cut your hands on the hurts of your friends.  Do not attempt thinking that you could piece those together.  You can't live everyone's life.


But you can live yours.  Fully.  


See, pursuing the unprofitable will never yield you a good reward.  You need to be certain of your destination.  You need to know that whatever you're doing right now is the best thing that you could be doing with this time.  Don't settle for anything less.


What if you could indeed make one wish for your future and see it come to pass?  What would your one wish be?  I dare say your one wish is probably something you should pursue.

The Pursuit - You Are Here.

It is nearing midnight and I am willing to do anything else... but studying.  I have studied for months now - on my days off, on rare evenings when I was home alone.  I haven't done anything but studying in the past few weeks.  I am willing to put up with sleepless nights and excessive amounts of coffee that make my stomach turn and absolute lack of any social life and even my state of complete exhaustion because I am PURSUING my education.

We all have things in life that we want to accomplish or see happen.  We all have at least one area in our lives where we look at it and realize that we're not quite where we want to be.   We want to be over there (with a degree, married, with a better job, in a different town, with a bigger ministry, with more children, with respect from others, on a vacation, playing a guitar, sewing... what not?)... but we are here - in our life the way it is.  Here is where our dreams have not happened yet.  Here is where we are frustrated with the way things are.  Here is where we are discontent.

But here is also where we have a choice to make.  A friend of mine shared this quote with me the other day “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Here does not have to be a place of perpetual desperation.  Here can become a place where you can look ahead, mark your trail - and set off towards a new adventure and PURSUE your dream!!!

The Bitter Truth

I am faced with the truth...
... and I don't like how it sounds.
The sound of unwelcomed truth in unprepared mind is bitter.
Can sound be bitter?  I feel it can.
Do you want to know how it sounds?
"You have no one but yourself to blame!"
The past, the hurt, the family, the expectations...
... the pressure, the stress, the ministry...
... the loss...
...the unexpected, the unannounced...
left bitter scarring in my soul.
I have stories to swap and reasons to share.
But swapping stories and pity parties never help.
They just hide the truth... the bitter truth.
And the truth is...
He is the Healer - so if I am hurting still - I have not followed His directions
if my wounds are still bleeding - I must quit scratching the old wounds
He has all I need - so if I feel empty - I've tried the wrong cisterns
I know it's not easy
I know it hurts
I know it keeps coming back at you
I live it too
I still do
I am hurting too
But the truth is...
"It'll never change - unless you change it!"
So will you walk with me?
out of the darkness?
out of the hopelessness?
out of the despair?
out of the past?
out of what others did to you?
and out of what you have done to others?
Will you run with me?
Run to our Healer?

One Thousand Gifts - #78-91

Belarus...

... being back here always feels strange.  Things are changing here and every time I come some things are different.  New routes for buses, new stores, new buildings, new "fashion".  And yet some things never change.

I miss my dear husband... greatly.  And I also miss insignificant things like Starbucks and... Charmin ;)  I both laughed and cried the first time I went to the public restroom in Minsk and there was no toilet paper provided.  I didn't remember that here you have to carry your own everywhere you go.  And did I mention that the one they do use is super hard (think 'gentle sandpaper')?  So I had to go and get an imported kind from Poland.

Yet there're so many things I missed and I am grateful to have them back even if for a season.

- my mom's cooking

- kitchen talks with my wonderful childhood friend

- great hot tea made with pre-brewed tea starter

- subway trains that you never have to wait for any longer than 3-4 minutes

- windows that open easily and face the outside (not another apartment)

- well-dressed and well-groomed men and women everywhere

- school life (as tiring as it is)

- late night chats with grandma

- cheap cell phone rates

- a school record that only has 9s and 10s so far (10 being the highest mark in Belarus)

- rich dark bread

- salted herring

- great-tasting pickles
- spotless squeaky clean streets

A Home For Lisette

"The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears."

(Ellen Goodman)

I remember there was a time in my life when one of my biggest fears was to give birth to a child with special needs.  A fear known to many mothers who might have been told that their pregnancies have complications.  And as I have given my fears to God, He started surrounding me with beautiful people who give all their love to children with special needs and through those people He helped me see how beautiful life is to Him... even life that we consider unfortunate.

It is one thing to give birth to your own and take care of them no matter what their complications are.  But there are thousands children all around the world who are abandoned by their families because they are not quite what those parents hoped for.  Most of these children will never find a forever family because of fears in our hearts.  As a result many are institutionalized for their whole life and often die very early.

Today my guest is Faith Jobes, a beautiful woman who together with her husband Evan are seeking to give hope to one such girl - named Lisette.

Here's their story:

Faith writes, "Evan & I met and married after only knowing each other about 4 months. I was only 18. We got pregnant right away but had a miscarriage. It took us a long time to get pregnant again but we now have a 7 year old son named Morgan. In 2006, we were blessed with a beautiful daughter named Nora.

She was born with a variety of genetic abnormalities including 5P-, also known as Cri Du Chat (Cat’s Cry Syndrome). Her care was very intense but we now talk about how she showed us the value of all human life, no matter their disability. She was in and out of the hospital her whole like and passed away when she was 3 years old from Chronic Lung Disease. We believe she is with God now where she can dance and sing and waits for us.

 

We always wanted more kids but we were hesitant because we were in the hospital so much with Nora.

After much thought and prayer about how to fill the void left in our hearts and lives, we decided they simply have too much love as a family and would love to share that with another child who has special needs.

We have poured everything we have into this adoption and are only $3500 away from being fully funded. We just found out that our leave from work to travel will be unpaid so now we have to start praying for money to cover bills when we return.

This whole process is so trying for me. We have done so many fundraisers and accepted straight donations from even total strangers! I just HATE asking people for money, relying on others, being so exposed and transparent after being so hurt by losing our daughter is definitely the hardest thing I can imagine but I want to save that little girl so I keep on going! I guess Lisette has had other families “commit” to her and not be able to continue. BOY do I know that feeling. We originally committed to adoption Robyn from Russia but we couldn’t come up with all the money in a decent amount of time. It was heart breaking to “release” her. It felt like a second loss. But we had to focus the importance of saving a child, any child. There could have been another family who had the money or could come up with the money for Robyn’s adoption sooner than us. And we could come up with the money for Lisette’s adoption much sooner than the amount for Robyn’s soo…the difficult choice had to be made. Now we are so excited to bring Lisette home.  Our son cannot wait. He says every day, it’s taking so long! But we tell him it will be worth it!"

Lisette is currently living in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. She is almost 4 years old and weighs only 20 lbs. She needs a home and a loving family so badly, and Evan & Faith very much want to be that family for her. Going into this they knew that they would have to work VERY hard to fund an adoption. God has provided in ways that they could never have imagined, but they still need your help to bring Lisette home. Please consider a generous gift for this beautiful little girl! If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation towards Lisette's adoption - please visit http://reecesrainbow.org/sponsorjobes

Faith has also started a blog that is full of give-aways and gift ideas to help fund Lisette's adoption.  You will also be able to get updated on what's going on with their family - feel free to check it out.

The Unborn Paradox

I read this article in New York Times and thought it's worth sharing:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/03/opinion/03douthat.html?_r=3&partner=rss&emc=rss

Moving Past The Broken Resolutions

The loud noise is quieting down.  All Christmas decorations have been taken down and once so beautiful Christmas tree is now waiting outside to be picked up.  Today is January 3rd which means the New Year 2011 has officially begun... and most of us have already messed up on their New Year's resolutions.

Let's face it. Many will probably not lose as much weight as they have resolved, even the most determined will probably cave in once in a while and go over their calorie norm for the day.  Even those most disciplined will probably struggle with their quiet time at some point during this year and spend meaningless time on the Internet or TV instead.  We are human and the momentum of the new start in the new year often wears out in the face of temptation.

If I have one resolution to make this year - it would have to be this one.  I will move forward no matter how many times I fall.  No matter how many times I mess up on my resolutions... I will keep moving.

This year if you find yourself breaking those New Year's resolutions - will you resolve to keep moving?

Belarus Elections: The Aftermath

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/opinion/24iht-edbildt24.html?_r=2

One Turn of Head

Buried in blankets... hiding myself from the world on the other side.
One word, one decision, one turn of head... changes everything.
Ever wished you could take something back?
Something you had said, or had done?
Or simply a careless look, a facial expression?
Ever wished you could take it back?

As you look upon those you love today - choose your words carefully.
To build... up!
To esteem... highly!
To cherish... greatly!
To honor... always!

As you look upon those you love today -
My prayer for you is
that you will live without regrets.

One Thousand Gifts - #72-77



Patty with some kids at her Sidewalk Sunday School site



 Many of us have heroes, people we want to be like.  We read about their qualities in books, admire them.  Allow me to ask you today, have you ever wanted to be like someone you personally met?  Have you ever desperately desired to develop the qualities you see someone execute daily in front of your very own eyes?  I could never say that before.  Now I can.

I am grateful that God has given me an opportunity to work with this woman over the course of 2010.  That was probably the biggest unexpected blessing in my life.  I have watched her respond with grace always.  I have watched her have positive attitude always.  I have watched her show gratitude always.  I have watched her serve... selflessly... always.  I have seen Christ in her attitude and her actions.  I desire that people can say the same about me one day.

Her journey continues.  Next  month she will be packing her things and going back to her home country of Mexico.  Please pray for her.

I am grateful for:

72 - Patty and the time I had to spend with her

73 - finding the last jar of my mom's homemade raspberry jam to help me fight sickness

74 - having a bed

75 - friends who brought medicine, shared the burden of cleaning, covered my work load, and called to check up on me

76 - friends who prayed for me

77 - orange juice

The End

I woke up this morning   afternoon   evening to a strange realization.

Fall Semester 2010 has come to an end.

Spending last two days of it in bed with fever definitely made my finish line somewhat anticlimactic.  I did not get a chance to say a proper good-bye to the interns or enjoy the grandeur of the last Christmas sessions in Sunday School.

But despite my sickness, despite the struggles we faced this semester - it has all been worth it.



Metro Internship - Graduating Class Fall 2010

Happy kids after our Christmas Stocking Give-Away



Many came to hear the story of Jesus on the last day of Sunday School

Change of Plans

On Saturday, January 8th, Change of Plans is premiering on Fox.  It is a story of a young family who is faced with a choice to take in four children whose parents died. If you would like to read a review - you can find one here. Also if you have a minute hop over to check out the homepage for Change of Plans.

Are We There Yet?

Are we there yet?

Impatiently, I look at the clock of my life, ticking away... quietly... steadily...

When will I finally arrive?

When will I finally learn the easy way?

When will I be everything that You have created me?

Are we there yet?

I often wish I were perfect.  I wish I could know everything, do everything right, always say the right things, and always be in tune with the Holy Spirit.  I see the years of my life slipping by... almost unnoticed in the general rush of life... and I wonder how long it will take me to get to that place.

As a little child to whom an hour's trip feels like eternity... I grow impatient.

And you, my friend?

Are you growing impatient also?

One truth we must remember as we grow uneasy in our passenger seats... He knows where He is taking us...  and He knows exactly how to get there.

One Thousand Gifts - #60-71

I am sorry we have not kept you up to date on our ministry adventures.  Thanksgiving and Christmas season  are so busy here.  Soon and very soon many of you will receive a newsletter from us in your inbox (and if you're not getting one and would like one - just leave me a comment with your email address).

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the last week of Fall Semester 2010.  Only one more week of Sidewalk Sunday School left.  I am grateful for the team I've worked with this semester.  These wonderful people have great hearts.


Kat (Germany), Susi (Germany), Janelle (Canada), Ken (USA), Helen (Belarus), Bryan (USA)
Patricia (Mexico), Hayley (UK)


My list of gratitude continues...
- free customized Christmas stations at pandora.com
- resolved disagreements
- smell of evergreen filling my living room
- cancellations that give me a few extra hours to catch up on things
- anticipation of family coming to visit for the holidays
- that my husband is still my knight in shining armor
- ingenious idea to use earl grey in cookies
- Christmas markets where such cookies are sold
- people who inspire me to be better
- that I am not very technical and gadget-y
- and that I am totally cool with it

One Thousand Gifts - #56-59

They asked Jesus, 

“Do you hear what these children are saying?”

   “Yes,” Jesus replied. 

“Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? 

For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants 

to give you praise.’”

(Matthew 21:16)

This video was taken 2 days ago in our Preschool Class.  We had over 400 preschoolers (ages 3-6) singing to the Lord.

Today I am grateful for:
- raised hands
- and lifted voices in praise to our God
- warm flannel PJ's
- hearing my husband open the front door

All I Really Want For Christmas

I cried listening to this song...

... I pray it challenges you today.

She Asked "WHY?"

I had a conversation with a childhood friend the other day.

I mentioned to her that we want to adopt.

She asked, "WHY?"

I have no answer that I feel would be suffice.  How can I explain that longing?

And as I try... awkwardly... I am realizing that the concept of adoption is radically counter-cultural for Belarus.  Seen as the absolute last resort even after the option of simply not having any children adoption is a foreign concept to many Belarusians (especially those not of the household of faith).

And yet I know that tides turn and a few committed people can make all the difference.  Please watch this video of the adoption explosion in a small Ukrainian town of Slavyansk.



If it can happen there - I know the time for Belarus is coming!!!

Others Are Re-Thinking Too

I am encouraged today by finding these two posts (here and here) by precious dear women who are also doing Christmas differently.

In Search of a Perfect Gift

A lot of Christmas season stress and anxiety comes from the pressure of having to find great gifts for family and friends without having to empty out your bank account or plunging into credit card debt.

A gift giving tradition on Christmas comes from the 3 wise men who brought gifts to Jesus, comes from the understanding that Jesus Himself was a gift to our fallen humankind.  Today however it has become a heavy burden to many.

One thing that we have done in our family to make Christmas more meaningful is... my husband and I will not be buying each other Christmas gifts this year... [gasp].  There I've said it! No Christmas gifts between us! And oh the freedom that comes with it!  On Thanksgiving Day we (as a family) have picked a missionary who will receive a Christmas blessing from us instead.  And this Christmas instead of running around in search for the biggest discount - we will pray and be at peace.

What will you do this Christmas to simplify and de-stress?

Our Christmas Tree

Yesterday we bought our Christmas tree.  We do not have many ornaments or pretty decorations (and I am quite happy about it this year).  In our quest to make this Christmas stress-free and more about Christ we will only put 2 types of decorations on the tree this year.

1) Ornaments for the Jesse Tree.  Our Christmas tree is our Jesse Tree this year.  We are using a Ann Voskamp's Advent devotional to prepare us to celebrate our Savior's birthday (you can get a free downloadable devotion book with ornament print outs included here).

Christmas tree @ Sweeneys house in AZ

2) Our yearly meaningful ornaments.  Each year we get an ornament from Bryan's mom that represents that particular year in our lives.  The Christmas tree at their house may not be color coordinated and matched with the rest of the decor... but every little ornament tells a story, carries a special memory, reminds of the moments past.  I could stand by that tree for hours and just listen to the stories of what these ornaments represent.

Christmas Is For CHRIST

This will be the third year that my husband and I will be celebrating Christmas as a family.  It is taking us a while to sort through many practices and traditions, and expectations of the season to finally figure out one simple unchangeable truth... Christmas is for CHRIST.

Today is the first day of Advent.  The word "advent" means "coming" or "arrival".  The focus of this entire season should be to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus on his very first Advent many years ago and to anticipate the return of Christ the King.

So this season we are walking away from the craziness, from the pressure, from the expectations... to focus on Christ.

Freedom to Worship

As American families get ready for Thanksgiving and Facebook statuses abound with thankful updates - I take a minute to ponder what I am really thankful for.

I came to the United States over 8 years ago... and one of the main things that I am grateful for today is the freedom that this country is giving me to worship God.

Below is a short video about the history of one of the biggest protestant churches in Belarus.  It's worth the watch to help you understand what the situation is like over there.



May your heart overflow with gratitude today.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Starting and Growing a Church-Based Orphan Ministry

God has given the Church a mandate - to care for widows and orphans (James 1:27)
For those interested in orphan ministry - this is the recording of a webinar by Christian Alliance for Orphans


Starting and Growing a Church-Based Orphan Ministry from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Resources mentioned in the recording:

Hope for Orphans (website)

Launching an Orphans Ministry in Your Church (book by Jason Weber)

One Thousand Gifts - #45-55

Today I am thankful for...
45. good laughter46. Jamaican curry chicken47. pumpkin chai48. heat49. taking a week off from doing outreaches to refresh and refocus50. Thanksgiving - a time forcing people to focus on how much they really do have51. a microwave (#47 got cold)52. real books with real pages53. unexpected no-pressure gatherings of friends54. being surrounded with people who love the Lord55. visitors (I love having people come visit us and see what we do in ministry)

Do You Believe In Happy Endings?

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Forgotten Sinners

I posted this video yesterday.  And I couldn't stop thinking about it.

It is easy for those of us in ministry to focus on the group that we feel "called to".  It is easy for me to extend love and forgiveness to hurting children, victimized by their environment, hurt by those who are often closest to them, caught up in the never-ending cycle of family problems, addictions, secrets, and pain.

But today I am throwing this out there - for all of you to think about...

What about those who victimize those hurting children?  What about the murderers, the adulterers, the liars and the gossipers, pedophiles and rapists, drug dealers and gang members?

How do I treat those who have fallen?

Am I extending God's grace to those who slipped?

Grace Is For Sinners

Amazing testimony, isn't it?

For those of you who are interested in checking out Serena's blog - she blogs here.

One Thousand Gifts - #31-44

Today I am grateful...


for finding boots that fit for the price you can afford
for "I think of you" gifts from far away friends
for peppermint hot chocolate that is less of a drink and more of a "hug"
for seasons in nature (they don't have those everywhere you know)
for crisp air
for the gift of joy and laughter

and for those who bring it into my life

for the best chocolate chip cookies in the world made with love in our own home
for moments of refreshing when I feel like I can't go on
for challenges at Women Living Well which inspire me to pay more attention to my family and home
for finding cheap candles (why are they such a luxury item, does anyone know?)
for getting my vacation dates approved by the leadership
for hope
for seconds of time and inches of space that make all the difference between life and death

Challenges

Just wanted to give a little update for those of you who are praying for our situation.  Our Sidewalk Sunday School looks a little bit different these days.  No truck.  No sound system.

At first it felt very strange... strange and quiet...

... and then kids started coming... and the quiet area became filled with voices and laughter and songs.  We had a great time on Friday with our kids (even without the truck and the sound).

I am reminded once again how little one really needs to make a difference in a life of a child.

Please keep praying for favor with authorities as we are still trying to sort everything out.

Prayer Request

This holiday season our ministry is facing a challenge of great proportions.
Please pray for favor with the housing authorities, housing managers, police officers and all those involved in the decision-making.

Give What You Have

"He who gives to the poor will not lack, 

but he who hides his eyes 

will have many curses."  

(Proverbs 28:27 NKJV)

I live in one of the biggest cities in the world - New York City.  Millions of people... so busy... rushing to their daily activities, meetings, functions... overwhelmed with the responsibilities of life.

There are so many beggars in New York that one almost must become immune to them to keep their paycheck.  Every time I take a train to the city it's almost a definite that several people would approach me and ask for money.  When I drive our Sidewalk Sunday School truck to one of our sites there's always a lady in a wheel chair asking for money at the red light.  And then there's another lady who lives close to our parking lot.  I see her daily.  She is one of the most beautifully spirited homeless people I've ever met.  It is easy to hide our eyes from these people... because then we're not confronted with their need... and if we're not confronted with their need - we don't have to do anything about it.  Right?

Or how about this one?  They're probably asking money for drugs or alcohol.  I can't support them in their addiction.  This is not good for them.  Right?

WRONG!!!

God never made a difference in His Word that our giving can depend on the amount of people who ask.  He never gave us a right to judge their motives.  He simply says, "Give to him who asks of you" (Matthew 5:42a).

And for those of you (myself included) who can't afford to give money every time someone asks, I want to share with you what we taught the children a couple of weeks ago in Sunday School.  We taught on the story of Peter and John healing a lame man from Acts 3.  This is what Peter says to the man when he asked him for money, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you" (Acts 3:6).  Then Peter proceeded to minister to the man and he got healed.  Last time I was in the city I gave the man my coffee.  And the woman who lives by our parking lot often just wants to talk.  I gave her some cookies when I saw her last and she was happy.

So be encouraged, dear friend.  Give what you have and amazing things will happen.

Another wonderful thing in that passage is that Peter fixed his eyes on the beggar (v.4.).  He did not turn away, or pretend to be busy in the conversation with John - Peter gave the man his attention. May I dare suggest that many of these people just want to be noticed.  They need someone to connect with their pain, to understand that even if their situation is brought about by their own choices - it still is no easier dealing with it.

I want to challenge you today not to hide your eyes from the people in need.

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There's still time to give for Blessie's surgery (story here).  We have not been able to raise a full amount needed yet.

One Thousand Gifts - #30

Today I am grateful...

... for random and unexpected dinner parties where fridges and cupboards get rampaged through in search of various ingredients that have nothing in common but their purpose - to make an unexpectedly great meal




Make time to connect with good friends this week!

Making Home A Haven: Fall Favorites

Today is the last day for Making Home A Haven challenge over at Women Living Well and we're talking about cooking.

My mother is an amazing and incredible cook.  All those who ever sat at our table can testify to that.  But she never taught me to cook.  She could not stand anyone in the kitchen and felt like things would go wrong.  I found relief in knowing that my grandmother was the same way.  My mother became and exceptional cook learning from the cookbooks... my hope is that one day I can measure up too.

Oh do not get me wrong.  I love cooking.  I wish I had all day to do menu planning, grocery shopping, and cooking from scratch.  Life in ministry does not give me such luxury.

My challenge this week was not so much in getting to the business of cooking.  It was finding the time to do so.

And I loved it.  My husband and I ate a homemade meal each day this week.  It tasted much better than take out and saved us quite a few pennies too.

What made it a success?

Making it a priority I guess.

1) I did not cook EVERY night.  Instead I cooked more than my husband and I could it and arranged the leftovers in small plastic containers in the fridge.  Next time we wanted a homemade meal we just turned the container over onto a plate and heated it up in the microwave.  At times I freeze the containers for longer keeping.

2) I stuck with EASY recipes.  A simple homemade dish may not always stand up to a gourmet dinner at a fancy restaurant but sure beats McDonald's every time.

Here are 3 of my favorite easy recipes this week:

Pumpkin Pancakes (recipe from Raising Homemakers website)
Easy Morning Breakfast Casserole (recipe from Parents Connect website)
and one of my favorite Vegetarian recipes of all times:  Squash Creole

SQUASH CREOLE











Ingredients
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced, optional
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp flour
2 cups canned or cooked tomatoes
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups diced butternut squash


Directions:
1) Saute onion, garlic, and pepper in oil until tender.
2) Blend in flour. Gradually add tomatoes, mixing well.  Cook over low heat.
3) Add sugar and seasoning. Stir until thickened.
4). Place squash in greased 1 1/2 quart casserole.  Cover with sauce and bake 60 minutes at 350.

Serve on a bed of white rice. Enjoy :)

Seeing the Light

The girl on the picture above is Blessie. She is 10 years old, lives in the Philippines and is involved in our Sunday School program over there.

Her mother tried to have her aborted and as a result she was born with several birth defects, including brain damage, problems moving her limbs and major problems with her vision.

Right now Blessie is going blind.  She is totally blind in her left eye and her right eye is going blind too.  She can get treatment for her eyes but the family does not have the money for the surgery.  Her family has been praying for people to help.

The cost of the surgery is $400.

We're trying to raise money to help Blessie get her surgery.  We believe that through the kindness of others she will be able see not only the natural world around her but also the supernatural, unconditional love of God.

Will you prayerfully consider helping Blessie to get her surgery.

If you would like to give - please call 718-453-3352 and ask to speak with Becky.

If you are not concerned about your donation being tax-deductible you can use the Paypal button on the right to send money to our Paypal account.  Please write me a quick email or a facebook message (or comment on this post) to let me know that you gave so I can keep you updated on Blessie's situation.

And please pray for the kids and the workers in the Philippines.

Agency Adoptions: Pros & Cons

Found this very simple article on pros and cons of agency adoptions on "Focus on the Family" website.

This website has a lot of resources for adopting or looking-to-adopt couples in their transition period.

If you're considering adoption - you should stop by there.

Dealing with Discouragement in Ministry

I already blogged about her here.  This has been going on for a while.  I have spent years supporting her trying to make sure her world does not collapse.  Despite all my efforts and all my tryings - I saw pieces shattered on the floor yesterday.  Her choices determined her reputation, the outcome of her actions.

I stand and wonder, "Have I done anything wrong?  What else could I have done?"

God is silent.

I think.  Hard.

And at that moment I do not understand what could have been different.

Another conversation with another person.  The entitlement and ungratefulness seeping through her comments.

Those two put together in one morning... and I am just so... angry... so frustrated and sad.

Everyone who's ever tried to witness to someone or disciple a new believer in Christ will eventually face DISCOURAGEMENT.

Discouragement - that desire to lower your hands, throw in the towel, exhale and... walk away... from it all...

Yes, from it all... from the good and the ugly.  Just be done with it.

But how can I?

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  

(Romans 10:14)

I am reminded why I am here.

And I try again.

Lionhearted and Lamblike

In the first months of our marriage my beloved husband and I have spent a long time re-assessing what we thought we knew about the roles of husband and wife in marriage.  Transferring what we remembered reading in the Bible or hearing someone teach in church into our personal convictions was hard.  Even harder was looking deep into ourselves and adjusting our behavior to be more Christ-like towards each other.  And trust me - we're still working on that.

This summer I blogged a lot about being the wife that my husband needs (if you're interested and new to this blog - just scroll down on your right and look for theme search - then click on label "completing him challenge" and all posts will show).

This morning I thought I'd share a little about the role of a husband with you.  I loved this sermon by John Piper "Lionhearted and Lamblike: The Christian Husband as Head".  I think that best describes what a husband should be: a strong and determined yet gentle and humble leader.

You can watch / listen / read Part 1 of the sermon here and Part 2 here.

Hope it blesses you like it blessed me.

Making Home A Haven: Sorting Through Messes

I walk through the door and I am oh so tired.  It is after 9.30pm and it's been a long day...

My life runs like that: meetings, ministry, work, serving, studying, school, friends... non-stop.  The first thing to suffer or be left out in that whirlwind of activities and things to do is... our home.  As I walked through my small one-bedroom apartment today I noticed lots of messes, spaces filled with clutter that I refused to notice this week.

But the little messes here and there is not what I want to talk about today.  I will focus on where the big mess is - my bedroom.  The biggest danger that a busy wife faces is keeping common areas clean and inviting while allowing your own bedroom to overgrow with clutter.

If we want our homes to be a place of peaceful harmony - we need to make it our priority to create that atmosphere.  

My challenge to you today is to walk through your bedroom doors and ask yourself whether your bedroom is a haven.  Is your bedroom a place where you both can unwind after a long and tiring day?  A place where you can hold each other and talk about how your day went?  Share your dreams?  Be passionate with each other?  A place where everything is pleasant to your eye? and your smell?

If it isn't - maybe it's time for you to de-clutter your bedroom.  When I do not have much time - I often just throw everything that's out of place into a clean garbage bag.  When I have a bit more time I go back to the garbage bag and sort through the items.

Don't allow your bedroom to become the messiest place in the house.  Make it a haven for you and your husband.

But isn't that interesting how my life is like my apartment.  I keep the common areas nice and clean.  Whenever you stop by my heart - what you see looks nice and inviting.  And then as I open up His Word I am confronted with the bedroom of my heart - a private chamber, filled with the clutter of disappointment, and hurt, and discouragement, and pain, and discontent, and jealousy, and fear.  Those things you do not see. But I do.  This is a mess and so I set my priorities on de-cluttering my heart.  Sorting through my emotions, checking it against the Word.  Two piles: THROW and KEEP.

Will you dare sort through your messes today?

Pray for Belarus

The presidential elections have now been scheduled for December 19th, 2010.  Due to the current political situation in Belarus, it would require nothing short of a miracle to bring about a real change.  The current (and only) president of Belarus has served since 1994 and has no intention of leaving the office.

I am hoping for a miracle today.
Will you join me in prayer for the country of Belarus and her people?

One Thousand Gifts - #26-29

I lean my head against the wall and exhale.

I am faced again with... nothing... the emptiness... the quietness...

My heart yearns for rest.  Rest from anxiety.  Rest from worry.  Rest from stress.

Even rest from anticipation.

And so I rest... for a minute... leaning my head against the shower wall...

Warm trails of water saturating my hair... racing down my spine...

His Spirit giving me a new hope, developing stronger trust.

And I am grateful... and willing to wait for His promise.

#26 - a wall of bathroom tile to lean my head on
#27 - the privacy of my shower (the place for my deepest sighs and most sincere prayers)
#28 - the gift of time (and how everything changes as it passes)
#29 - the rich legacy of answered prayers (in the Word of God and my personal life)

Making Home A Haven: Playing Catch Up

Courtney over at Women Living Well is hosting yet another challenge.

I was very excited about the challenge... My life is very hectic right now.  I am trying to juggle many ministry activities (fall semester is often the busiest for those in ministry and it is definitely true for me), doing school on my days off, still trying to find time to invest in those dear to my heart, focusing on being a better wife, and doing all that without forgetting about my personal relationship with the Lord.

Needless to say, my home is not always getting the attention it needs (but that's about to change).

I was even more excited about the challenge when I realized that I already had a nice big candle that someone blessed me with...

Remember the juggling?

So here I am - it is already Sunday - the challenge's been going on - and... I keep forgetting to even light the candle (leave alone praying for my home when I do)...  I guess that is what this challenge will be all about for me - decluttering my own self first... focusing myself on my home and my husband even in the midst of my busiest season in life...

Let me share with you the most important lesson I've learned so far.

You may try so hard to please your husband that you forget to do what actually pleases him.

My beloved husband turned 30 this week.  I was so determined to make it extra-special for him that for the past year and a half I have been secretly saving up for a surprise trip for the two of us.  Everything was falling in place.  We flew to Phoenix AZ on a Sunday and Bryan's dad and brothers took him out for some speed racing men time while his mom and I were putting the last details together for Bryan's surprise birthday party.  In the evening we went to a very nice hotel where we got a sweet upgrade.  But that was only a so-called appetizer.

My main gift for my husband was going jet skiing.  He's wanted to do that for years and I was thrilled that I could plan something that would make him so happy.

The fun part started when we both realized that we weren't quite sure how to get to the spot on the lake.  I had the directions and GPS service - but I was contacted by a representative in the morning with a set of directions and I was specifically told not to follow the GPS or Google Maps and use those directions only.  Before you knew it - we were arguing (as most couples do when they are uncertain of their route while traveling).  I was upset and he was upset and we were angry and we were frustrated.

And that's when it hit me.

What was the point of all my effort?  of all the money that I have so diligently saved up?  of all the stress?  What was the point of it all if I allow it to disappear in a irrelevant and ridiculous argument?  Everything I had worked so hard to plan and organize was losing its appeal in my stubborn refusal to let it go and put my husband first.

Me and my beloved husband jet skiing @ Lake Pleasant, AZ

And that's when I had to bite my tongue...

Dear ladies, how often we do that!  We spend so much energy caring for the home, doing what we think our husbands would want us to do (and they do) but then forgetting how important it is for us to simply follow them and love on them and admire them.  All our effort is lost in nagging and arguing and tension and frustration will quickly build up if you're not careful.  That's how marriages fall apart.

Today, I refuse to allow my effort and energy go wasted.

Today, I will love my husband fully.

Today, I will take care of my husband and my home - but I will do so with JOY.

What will you do today?