Many Hands

As our special weeks for Bible Clubs were approaching,

I wanted to do something different to make our classroom feel special 

(especially because it is the same room 

we always use for our large childrens' classes).

I had grand plans of making all kinds of decorations,

but knew that it would be too time consuming with teaching everyday.

Plus, where would I get all of the supplies to make nice things

 and where would I store the stuff after?

I decided to "keep it simple stupid".

So, on the way home from school one day I popped into the local thrift shop (which I love to go to, 

but because of school I think I only go twice a year.  

Which is probably a good thing.)

I found 2 white sheets almost the same size 

and almost the same shade of white.

Now, to make what is in my head go onto the sheets.

I cut the one down to the same as the other one.

Then had the idea to paint the scene on,

but because there is no place in Kabwe or anywhere that I know of here in Zambia to get those nice Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints, 

I tried using crayons.

They worked great!!!

Probably even better than paints because I already had them at church,

plus we never had to wait for paint to dry.

The work began. 

At first I drew out a bit of a sketch 

of the little lost and found puzzle I wanted to make.

After I began, another lady from church pitched in to help.

Lady from church made these beautiful houses

Then her daughters (10 and 12 yrs old) came along and did their little parts too.

10 yr old's work

12 yr old's work

After a few hours it was really coming together,

but there were just a few things that still needed to be added.

So, one evening I decided to finish it.

Adding animals and trees.

On my hands and knees in the living room,

I began to color in more trees, houses and animals.

The young lady who is staying with me (Brenda),

came in and asked if she could also help.

Brenda added a few little shops

It was such a blessing to work together to get such a project done.

We are so pleased with the way it turned out.  It really made our Bible Clubs special because we used it every week for our theme in the Bible Lessons.

Finished and ready for Bible Club!

Every week, I drew a few new animals that the kids had to find 

(going along with our Lost and Found theme).

I praise the Lord for the many hands that helped to make this possible.

The memories we all made together working on this backdrop for ministry really made it even more special.

I will definetly use the idea again for the next time we do something like this.

Traveling On My Knees

Last week someone gave me this poem:

     As I started my journey last weekend toward my next meeting, I thought about the church ladies I was going to see.  Over 2 years ago, I went to thier church to share my burden for South Africa.  

2 yrs. ago at Race Street Baptist Church

lunch with the ladies (2010)

     They all warmly received me.  After sharing what the Lord has asked me to do in South Africa, they also grew a burden of thier own.  That burden was to encourage and pray for this missionary to get to her mission field.  While reading that wonderful poem, these dear ladies come to mind. 
     Over the past 2 years I have received a multitude of letters from each of them.  They have told me of the prayers that they have prayed for me and the blessings they see as I do what God has asked me to do.  

lunch with the ladies last weekend (2012)

   As I spent time with them last weekend, I noticed that their sweet spirits have not changed.  Some things did change, however.  One of the ladies who wrote more frequently had been in an accident and her mind is not as sharp as it used to be.  I also noticed that more ladies have joined the group.  Each had love for the Lord and their own set of

burdens for others to be saved.

     It was such a delight to share my ministry again with their church, but also to fellowship once more with those dear ladies before I leave for the mission field. I know that they will be "traveling on their knees" on behalf of the Zulus in South Africa & me!

A Promise & Blessings

For over a month now one of my dear friends from a church in MD

 has been asking me to come back to visit her church before I leave for the mission field. 

 Her and "the girls" (what I call them) wanted us to all get a chance to spend some time together. 

 Last weekend, I did not have a scheduled meeting,

 so I attended their church (one of my supporting churches).

As I headed out to visit my praying supporters at Hunt Valley Baptist Church in MD, 

I rounded a corner and saw a beautiful rainbow.

God placed that in the sky for each of us that day.

How does God speak to you through a rainbow?

Rainbows always remind me of God's promises.

I asked the Lord, as I drove, "Lord, what promise can I claim from You today?"

The promise that He brought to me was -

Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

"I am with you always"...

What a promise!

He is always with me,

as I make phone calls,

schedule meetings,

drive long distances,

make important, life changing decisions,

choose what to leave behind when packing for the mission field,

and today,

as I drove yet another distance

to attend a church pastored by my old youth pastor,

 attended by dear old friends and new ones...

What promises would He fulfill in my life today?

In my mind, I was going to update my praying friends 

on how my support was coming along,

get to catch up on how my friends are doing,

 and of course spend some quality time with "the Girls".

God had a better plan!

As soon as I got out of the car in the church parking lot, a dear little boy came running to me all excited, because he was getting baptized.

That is exciting!

I was blessed to be able to see, not only him, but 6 others baptized that day!

In the lobby, I found some dear friends to chat with.

Like me, they too were excited that I will be leaving soon for South Africa.

HVBC Missions Wall

One of my favorite young ladies was so excited to see me.

She asked how I was and chatted away to me 

(I believe God will use her in missions one day).

She informed me that they were having a special day in the bus ministry 

and she could not talk long because her mother needed her help.

To make a long story a little shorter,

I ended up helping a little with their bus ministry.

They were doing special breakfast treats for their special program

 and needed help pouring the juice.

What a blessing to have so many kids in one place!

I guess I feel more at home with the children 

and long for my new ministry among the Zulu kids in South Africa.

A great challenge was given from God's Word.

I think 4 kids responded to the invitation.

While my head was bowed, a hand reached up and tapped me on the shoulder,

"Would you come and talk with one of these girls?"

Would I ???  Of course!!!!

I had the priviledge to lead a young lady named Mackenzie to the Lord!

God's promise to be with me was true!

I don't know about you, but whenever I go through the Scriptures, 

while leading a child to Christ,

 I am always praying on the inside- "Lord, please help them 

to understand Your Word and to believe in their heart".

You know, Mackenzie was just so ready.  

She had been coming on the bus for a while now and knew she needed to be saved.

No, she does not understand everything in the Bible,

but she had the faith of a little child (Mt. 18:2-5; 19:13,14).

After Sunday School, I quickly went upstairs 

(a little late because of talking with Mackenzie).

I was blessed to sit in a pew with a new family

 (at least new since I had been there 2 yrs. ago).

It was great to hear Pastor Bottrell preach again and to be in a growing church.

the "Girls" at our picnic lunch

For lunch, "the Girls" and I went out to Oregon Ridge Park

for a picnic lunch.

We had a delicious spread, lots of laughs and blessed fellowship.

They are truly my "sisters".  I love the times we spend together!

Me & "the Girls"

It is always a delight to serve the Lord.

These ladies are also faithful servants at their church.

I guess that is why we like to spend time together, because we have alot in common!

The full outcome of my day was truly unexpected, but I saw the Lord work 

and His promises fulfilled.

Ice Skating

Monday, was ice skating day!

A family from my home church invited me to go 

ice skating with some of the teens.

I picked up one of the families (like sisters and a little brother to me) 

and we headed over to the York City Ice Arena.

With every lap we made around the rink,

we did our best to become better skaters.

Most of all I enjoyed the fellowship.

I will miss these girls and ladies when I get to South Africa,

but I also look forward to a new ministry with

other ladies and girls.

It almost felt like time stood still for those few hours and I could forget about everything that needs to be done and just skate around, 

laughing and playing with the teens.

We need days like that now and then.

 Of course, the day was not without a few blisters, falls,

slidding on the ice, near accidents, and the whip (led by Kyle :)

I am so glad to have such good fellowship.

As I looked around at each of these girls three thoughts came to mind:

1) they all have great and godly mothers who spend time with them, pray diligently for them, and have taught them to honor God.

2) hopefully, one day each of them will raise daughters to love, obey, and honor God.

3) they are my hope for the future of our church in South Africa.  Wouldn't it be great to have a group of young ladies who love the Lord and desire to serve Him!  Wouldn't it be great to have Zulu girls who have godly mothers!

Keep Praying!  He IS Faithful!!!

Paper, Ribbon, Fabric, and Buttons

 Last week, my friend Libby came over to teach me 

how to make some new craft projects.

We enjoy spending time together because we both have 

a burden for missions.

She is the "flower lady".

We made flower pins and she made a box and card with flowers.

Each of these projects are not just crafts, but gifts for people, 

as well as, things that we can hopefully do with some of the 

children and ladies on the mission fields that God has directed us to.

My mom also came over and did her favorite thing - sew!

I have a "Big Shot" die cutting machine that will

cut through 8 layers of cotton fabric.

 Mom came over to try out the new die that came in the mail.

It is a Dresden Plate quilt design (see the picture below).

It was so easy to have two different size Dresden Quilt blocks 

in just a matter of minutes.

I think all the excitement wore my mom out :)

We accomplished alot and laughed alot.

It was so much fun to be creative and to have a wonderful time of fellowship.

I am so thankful for the family and friends that God has placed in my life.

 Proverbs 27:9 "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: 

so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." 

Friend, Farm, Fun

Winter time for me, means that I can go out and visit 

some new churches that I have not been to.

It is a delight of mine to meet other believers 

and to have wonderful fellowship with them.

When I don't have a meeting, I look for a like-minded church to visit 

in hopes of getting invited to come back later 

to share my ministry with the church.

My friend Ann

Last weekend I visited two churches in Lebanon, PA.

I had the added blessing of being able 

to spend some time with my dear friend Ann.

Ann was a missionary to the inner city kids in the Philadelphia area.

               She lived in the city and has served the Lord faithfully 
                                    since she was a teenager.

Now she is blessed to live on this beautiful farm in the country.

Her days are still filled with the sound of children 

chattering and playing outside.

There are also peaceful quiet moments where she can spend more time studying His Word 

and encouraging other believers.

When you live on a farm, there is alot of work to be done, 

so she helps the farmer and his wife by watching the kids.

She is like a mother, grandmother, sister, part time homeschool teacher, 

arts and craft teacher, hard worker, missionary,....

Anns crafts

Ann is truly a modern day portrayal of the Proverbs 31 Woman.

 Proverbs 31:13 

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

Ann loves to make beautiful things.

God has truly given her the gift of making something beautiful out of nothing.

During my visit, she taught me to knit this pretty scarf.

Since the weekend I have made more scarves and have also taught my mom.

More than making the scarves, I enjoy the times we spent together learning, talking, and making something beautiful.

The scarf I made during this visit will always be precious to me, 

representing the special memories I have with her.

During my visit, we also talked of God's faithfulness to us as we serve Him.

He always provides for our needs and lovingly leads us in His will.

I am so thankful that God has placed His faithful servants in my life.

They have already gone before me and have valuable life lessons to share with others, like me.

The Bible says we should be learning from the older folks.

 1Pe 5:1 ¶ The elders which are among you I exhort, 

who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, 

and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

 1Pe 5:5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. 

Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: 

for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Who are you learning from and 

what spiritual life lessons have you passed on to the younger generation?

Single Servants

1Corinthians 7:32 "But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:"

On my trip to Indiana, a friend asked me to go to breakfast with her and some of her single friends (one of which is now married). It was a great time! We had Starbucks coffee and Panera Bread breakfast items. What a treat!!! It is always a blessing to get to know other single ladies who are faithfully serving in thier local church. The Bible says that the unmarried should care for the things of the Lord. If I am busy serving Him, there is no time to feel sorry for myself. Being single comes with many blessings and many eternal rewards.

After breakfast, my friend took me over to the dunes of Lake Michigan.

As we stood there on that shore, with the wind blowing and snowflakes fluttering, I was thankful that I obeyed God and went with our teen group to Indiana. Thank God for the simple things, like: contentment (most of the time), breakfast with old and new friends, the sand (that is now in my shoes), and the beauty of the falling snowflakes.