Choices

I can remember that day, like it was yesterday.  My father took me by the hand. Mother and the other children followed behind, as we walked out into the crowd. 

My little mind did not understand everything that was happening that day. I  knew there was war and talk of war, still my world was filled with familiar things like cooking, cleaning, feeding the livestock.

Even still, I knew that something important was going to happen. I quickly glanced around to see if I could spot some of my friends. Yes, there were some familiar faces. Sadly, after that day, I never saw some of them again.

A hush fell over the crowd, as I heard a voice all too familiar to me. It was an older man whom my father greatly admired. When he spoke, it was with the authority that you could tell was not his own. He spoke about our father Abraham and of Isaac and Jacob. He also spoke of Jehovah in a way that I have only heard few people speak. It was as if he had spoken to God personally.

People around us began talking amongst themselves about what he was saying.
I could tell that he was saying something important, because I felt a change in my father's hand that I was holding.
My thoughts came back to what the man was now saying.

"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: 

and put away the gods which your fathers served..."

 The whispers stopped. 

My father and a few other men cheered, while others remained shocked and silent.

Now the eyes and ears of the crowd were glued on the speaker. It seemed as if we all knew what would come next was the most important part.

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood,

 or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:

 but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

It was as if he had drawn a line in the sand. 

We had a choice. 

For my father, it was not a decision he had to think about. He knew that the only One to serve was the God whom he loved.

- - - - - - -

Years have passed since that day.
Many families were happy to choose to serve God, while others reluctantly chose because they knew they should.  Many of those families have died off or become slaves to our enemies as a result of their sins and greed for worldly gain.

My family has survived from generation to generation, because we have learned from our father to put God first. 

They say we will soon be able to enter the Promised Land...

Yes, that day seems like only yesterday, because it was the day our whole lives changed.

- - - - - - -

The previous was a thoughtful, but fictional account taken from Joshua 24.

The day that Joshua challenged the people to choose truly changed their lives. 

What a great challenge for us today!

Joshua challenged the people to turn from their familiar traditions to serve the Lord God.

Our challenge should be the same.

If Joshua had addressed that challenge to me, would I be willing to choose serving God over my family and cultural traditions?

As you ponder that thought, I leave you with the closing remarks from this passage in Joshua.

"And the people said unto Joshua, 

Nay; but we will serve the Lord.

And Joshua said unto the people,

 Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. 

And they said, We are witnesses.

Now therefore put away, said he, 

the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey."

Trading Places

This past week,  I was in the church of the woman taking my place on the mission field.  She is there so that I could come to the States to report and rest.

As I was chatting in the hallway to one of the ladies, a little boy came up to greet me. He was the son of the woman I was speaking to.

His mother began telling him that I was the lady from Zambia that Miss Amy went to help. He looked a little confused.

We then told him that another lady had to take Miss Amy's place at their church, so that Miss Amy could take my place in Zambia.

"They traded places", we said.
His face smiled then.

We knew then that he understood what we were saying.

Trading places, living someone else's life- sounds like a movie, doesn't it?

No, it is real!

People all over the world do it, so that God's ministry continues and so that missionaries can do what they are commanded to do.

I looked at the little boy and asked,
"If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would it be?"

He looked at me and then ran away.
Where did he go?

In a few minutes he returned and said the name of a missionary in the Arctic.

I had expected him to say the name of one of his heroes,  but instead he ran to the missions wall to decide who he might trade places with.

Innocence and sincere love for God are reflected in the heart of that little boy.

His mother and I just looked at each other, knowing that at that moment God planted the seed for the possibility of being a missionary in that little boy's heart.

Let me ask you, "If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would it be?"

Would it be someone rich and famous?

Would it be with someone who has a nice physic?

Would it be with someone serving the Lord?

Maybe you wouldn't trade, because you are content in God's will for your life right now.

If you are not where God wants you now, then where should you be?

What Makes You Grow?

"Bloom where you are planted",

"Read your Bible, pray everyday
and you'll grow, grow, grow..."

You have probably heard these phrases before, but have you ever thought about how differant plants need differant climates to grow?

African Flame Lily

Take the African Flame Lily, for instance.
I have only ever seen this beautiful flower bloom in the midst of a dry African plain in the wild bush of Zambia.  Such exquisite beauty!

Over seven years ago, when I first started deputation as a missionary to Africa, an experienced pastor shared with me some words of wisdom.

He said, "A number of years ago, my wife and I were young missionaries at a conference with other missionaries.
One of the older veteran missionaries asked me, 'So why are you going to __________?' Before I had a chance to respond, he answered, 'I know that you are going to say that the people of ___________ need to hear about Jesus.'  Again, before I had a chance to respond, he said, 'But isn't it every Christian's duty to tell others about our Saviour?'
He was right, in Matthew 28, Jesus commands all believers to 'GO'!
The seasoned missionary went on to ask another question. 'Did you ever think that God moves His people to differant places to help them to grow?'"
That thought has stayed with me all of these years.  After serving over 5 years now in Africa, I can certainly say that I have grown tremendously because of the things that I have gone through and experienced.  I have only grown in certain spiritual areas of my life, because the Lord has 'planted' me in Africa.
I still live a 'normal' life like you do here- going to church, teaching at school and Sunday School, helping my neighbors and community, telling people about Jesus...all things that a child of God should do, only, I do it in another country.

Have you ever thought that God might be prodding you to be a foreign missionary because He knows you can grow more closely to Him by the things He can only teach you there?

How are you growing?

Where are you growing?

Does God want you to move yourself into His will in order for you to grow?

Are You Available?

Since arriving in the States, there have been a few pockets of time to relax and rest from being on the "front lines".
But mostly, I have been busy,
not even home for a whole week at a time.

Don't get me wrong, part of the reason you come home on furlough is to report to supporters and share the ministry in new churches.
I have really enjoyed the fellowship.

With all of the travel, I am not at my sending church very often. When I am there, I get asked one particular question by at least 5 people each time.
"Are you available to do something with me this week?"

Sometimes I am available, but sometimes I have other things that are top priority to get accomplished.

As I have been pondering missions, I have been thinking about the lack of people who are committed to going out into the "highways and hedges". 
My thoughts took me to the fact that people are really not available.

People are so busy with what they want to do, that they are not available for what God wants them to do.
It may be that people are doing good things like -
working a job to support your family,
traveling out of town to visit family,
going to get groceries,... 
These things are good, but they don't bring souls to Christ.

Could it be the we maybe need to rearrange our schedules, so that we are more available to serve our Saviour?

When a couple is first in love, they will move anything aside to do something for the other.  How does our love for Christ motivate us to arrange our schedule to be availble for the things of God?

On the thought of availability, also comes the qualification to evangelize.
We know that first of all, we must be saved in order to tell others of the Saviour.
I could go on about this, but I would like to focus on the fact that a Christian must be saved, seperated and serving.

How can we start serving if our personal lives are not consecrated (set apart), for our Master's use?

We cannot be used of God if our vessels are not empty, clean and ready to be filled by the Lord.

Do you have a daily, personal walk with the Lord?

Are you growing by learning more about your Saviour, daily confessing sin in your life, and by waiting to hear your Saviour's leading?

What is my attitude toward God-given authority?

Am I listening to the Bible preached by my pastor and obeying the Word that he has preached? (After all, God is the One who gave him that message for me.)

What about service?  Am I willing to serve in my local church?
Am I making myself available to be used by God?

Many in our churches are unavailable.  Why?

Because of sin in thier lives,
because of financial debt that would prevent them from going to a mission field,
because of investing so much time and money in earthly possessions,
because of a weak homelife that is not right with your husband, wife, parents, or children,
because of love of self and money,...

Are you available for God to use you?

If not, what can you do to make yourself more available to God?

What's Your Excuse?

Over the past few years I have invited friends, acquaintances,  and fellow church members to come to Africa for a visit, just a little taste of the mission field.

Some of the responses I get are-
"I think that's too expensive"
"I am afraid of flying"
"I don't want to travel that far away"
"I could not bear such a long flight"
"I can't, because I have too much debt to work off"
"I would never go to Africa with all of those spiders and snakes"
"I don't want to get shots"
and the list goes on...

What do all of these excuses have in common?
You guessed it- "I"!
Just a one-letter word that holds a whole life in balance.
The major problem with our culture and lives is that selfish and sinful word "I".

In fact, it is our own sin that keeps us from taking opportunities to be used of the Lord.

It could be the sin of debt, or fear, or wanting to do my own thing, live my own way...
We miss being used of God when we make decisions based on what WE want, rather than on what God wants.
Do we ever stop to think that maybe God has a specific soul He wants us to reach?

The One who gave us this life, gave His life, so that we have lives to live for Him.

Ask yourself, "what is He asking me to do for Him?".
Are you doing it?
If not, WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

Furlough Travels , so far

For missionaries, 

a furlough is a time to come back to report to supporting churches, 

gather more support, 

reconnect with friends and family, 

and gain refreshment to have strength to go back to the "front lines".

Here are a few pictures of some things I have been able to do so far-

Teaching at a Ladies' Fellowship & Paint Day

with the ladies at Susquehanna Valley Baptist Church

Traveled through northern PA and saw a black bear

Helped my dad put in a new floor

Went on an outing with the Ambassadors 

(60+ group from Mt. Zion Baptist, my home church)

Went to Arkansas to report to one of my supporting churches

and got stuck in an airport for a day

Enjoyed some beautiful scenery along the way

Got to see some people baptized at my home church

Attended a one day retreat for pastors and missionaries

Spent time with some young ladies from my church

Of course, I haven't included everything.

Since I have been back in the States I have been in a different church 

almost every weekend to share a ministry report.

In reality, I always forget to take pictures,

because I am enjoying the wonderful fellowship.

I am thankful for the health, travel safety and friends that the Lord brings my way!

Please continue to pray that the Lord would quickly add to my support 

and that the rest of my time here will be profitable.

Missing You...

There's no place like home, there's no place like home...

While "home" can be both a broad and generalized term, there really is no place like it.

Where is your home? - what country?  what state? what kind of house? who lives with you?

As a missionary, I have a number of places I call "home".  Sometimes it seems like no place is home, because of the amount of moving around that you do.

Regardless of that, right now I call Kabwe, Zambia my home.

Since being away for about 8 weeks, there are things I have grown to miss.

I miss:
- the bright African sun rising to greet me each morning as I walk out to open the gate
- my happy dogs jumping to greet me as I do my morning chores
- my Bemba helpers who meet me every day with smiling faces and a willingness to help
- the crow of my handsome red rooster and the clucking of the hens as they lead thier chicks around the yard
- singing songs in the car with the children on the way to school
- the boys hiding behind the gate at school waiting to jump out and suprise me
- telling Bible Stories to my preschoolers
- receiving hugs, tugs on my skirt, and sweet little voices telling me stories
- beautiful clear skies
- harmonious singing with God's people in church, both in English and Bemba
- lunches with friends
- walking in the bush with my "sister"
- horseback riding on Saturdays
- deep discussions on faith and trials with some of the dear ladies
- tea times
- teaching in my various ministries
- foreign greetings
- a simpler way of life
- watching the birds from my veranda
- beautiful and very colorful sunsets
- night sounds of crickets, beetles, birds, and owls

Even though I am glad to me in American, my other "home", these are the things that I am missing.

The In-Betweens

The other night, I was awakened out of sleep by a loud - CRASH!

After coming fully awake, 

I realized it was just the sound of a large avocado falling off the tree 

and onto the tin roof of the shed behind my house.

It was probably the 50th one that fell that day. 

So, content on the identification of the sound, 

I rolled over to fall back asleep.

I don't know about you, 

but every time I go to fall asleep, 

I seem to kind of "take inventory".

The day had been a good one.

The week had been a good one.

God is so GOOOOD!

That got me thinking about all of the ups and downs in life.

Since arriving in Zambia,

I had gone through sickness, broken limbs, pain, 

periods of constant headaches or ear aches.

Even though there were breaks in between,

 the breaks are easy to forget when you are always 

going through some sort of thing.

Tonight, 

this night, 

I was thankful for the days that are just normal, 

no present pain or sickness, 

no unnecessary drama in my life, 

just a day, 

a good one.

In the Christian life, we go through many ups and downs.

We experience spiritual mountain tops; highs of great spirituality and victory.

Then we experience valleys; deep, dark valleys of trials, 

heartaches, and testings.

Even though we should strive for those spiritual highs, we can't always have them, otherwise they would become "normals".

We need all three present in our lives to truly grow in His grace 

and in the knowledge of who He is.

Tonight, I am just thankful for the comfort, strength 

and rest that comes in the "in-betweens"!

Little Lumps of Clay

School this year had an amazing start.

It is hard to prepare for the unknown.

I say unknown, because each child is differant. 

Its not like I can find out how the children are from thier past teachers.

No, they are fresh clay, ready to be molded and made for the Master's use.

William and I with some of my students

This year I have twelve students.

(Not all are pictured above.)

They come from differant homes and differant backgrounds.

Some even come from differant countries.

Every day is a new adventure in learning.

With each day, I learn more about thier personalities

and each day I learn more about myself.

We are almost half way through our school year here.

(Zambia schools start in January and run till December,

 unlike American schools that start in September and end in May/June).

Each day is filled with smiles and sillyness.

They learn to do the fun things,

as well as the challenging things.

We are molding young lives,

training them for the future.

This Little One

As a missionary, you wish you had time to really do 

everything you would like to do.

There are so many people with so many needs.

So many talents and experiences that the Lord has given you, 

but not ever enough time to share them with others.

Every day, week, month, year we are faced with choices.

Since I can't do everything (after all, I am not wonder woman),

I have to decide what I can do that will make the most impact for the Lord.

Where is HE leading me?

What does HE want me to do or not do?

In reality, it takes many precious years to work with someone,

and in the end, it is just a small impact,

YET, A BIG IMPACT TO GOD!!!!

Recently, I have noticed that this little boy has been struggling in school.

         He is a very clever boy, but yet struggles

 to get all of his work done in class.

I hardly have extra time for anything.

My schedule is so jam-packed with school, visiting, ministries, 

house cleaning, laundry, dishes,....

 but the Lord prompted me to take a little time twice a week

 to help this little one regain his confidence back.

I tutor him twice a week.

it is just a short time,

BUT

a great joy!

Every week I go home blessed.

First of all, because when you obey 

what the Lord is telling you to do,

then He blesses you.

You know,

 when we have our little times together,

it seems like time stands still.

I never feel like I am 'sacrificing' my time,

I never have an anxious spirit (what I mean by that, 

is when you feel like you just want to get to the next thing),

I feel totally at peace during these times. 

All I can say, is that it is because of obeying the Lord.

Another thing I love about my times with this little boy,

is to hear him pray.

He still speaks in broken English, 

but when he prays it is with a heart to please God.

He prays for his teachers, that God would help him with his work 

and that God would help him be kind to others.

Precious, precious, precious!

My time with this little one may not change the world,

BUT IT COULD!!!

Isaiah 60:22

A little one shall become a thousand, 

and a small one a strong nation: 

I the Lord will hasten it in his time.

Footsteps of Faith Easter 2017

On the weeks leading up to Easter,
the Footsteps of Faith kids memorized Bible verses and songs
to share with the congregation on Easter Sunday.

Our Theme this year was,
"Yes! Jesus Loves Me!"

The program started with the children reciting John 3:16.

Then the littlest children sang Jesus Loves the Little Children.

Romans 5:8  
But God commendeth his love toward us,
 in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.

The children then sang the following song in a round-



Matthew 28:1-6
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward 
the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake:
 for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women,
 Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. 
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Song: Christ Arose

John 11:25
 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: 
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Song: Christ the Lord is Risen Today

I Corinthians 15:3-4
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again
 the third day according to the scriptures:

Song: Jesus Loves Even Me

Isaiah 53:5-6
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, 
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; 
we have turned every one to his own way;
and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Song: Wounded For Me

Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

We made matching head bands as gifts for the girls 

and William, my brother, made origami birds for each of the boys' pockets.

The View From The Car

The other day I was looking at some pictures

 I have taken over the last few months.

I thought you might like to see some of the things 

that I see everyday as I drive around Kabwe.

Come take a drive with me!

Drive out my front gate at my house

The bumping dirt road that leads to the main road

Stores on the side of the road

Marketeers, ready to sell you anything you need, or don't need

Ladies carrying carrying their babies, tied to their back

Men pushing carts full of veggies to sell at the market.

Women with things on their heads

Properties with dams full of water

Beautiful skies