Speaking at the women's retreat

We are having major issues with the speed of our internet connection lately. At times it takes me half an hour or more just to connect to my email program. That is why it has taken me so long to post about last Friday. I know some of you are waiting for that as you have contacted me by email, phone and in person asking how it went. It went well! I arrived there after a two hour plus drive a bit early so I could hang with Lisa and visit with her. I did a bit to help with getting ready and we set up the video projector for my slide show video. Unfortunately the church's video projector had recently been knocked over so the video was jiggly but it ended up working out. It got my message across.

After around 25 ladies arrived and we ate supper, we headed upstairs to have some praise and worship time. Lisa then called me forward. I gave our testimony. I say our because from the age of 13 on I have been with Shannon so most of my testimony involves him. It is a testimony of God turning bad to good, over and over and over again. Shannon and I have had many troubled times in our marriage and it is truly by God's grace that we are together today. I called my talk Pieces of Our Lives and used my most recent quilt as a prop. I held up the many different but boring fabrics. They had ragged edges and aren't all that beautiful by themselves. I talked of how God can take all of those pieces and put them together into something very beautiful. We both are thrilled that he has chosen to use us to fulfill His purposes in His glory. I then challenged the women there to each be watching for their purpose in God's plan. I also showed our slide show video. It was made up of pictures from our trips to Tanzania and the song What Now played in the background. The words to the song are at the bottom of my January page in the archives. You can access it in the column to the left. I haven't quite figured out how to link things. Afterwards, several of the women came up to speak with me about our plans.

We then did some more praise and worship and eventually headed to the basement to play games and eat. We played Apples to Apples, a game I would highly recommend. In fact, the next day I ran to Target to buy the Junior edition to play as a family. We have had fun with it. As the night wore on some women went home to sleep, others went to sleep on the couches and others were still up when I left. I left at 1:30 and arrived home around 3:30AM. It was a long drive at that time of night and it was rainy and foggy.

I really enjoyed my time with the women there. They seem to like having a great time together and were a wonderful loving group. They also have a ladies night out one Friday night per month where they all get together at the church, childless except for nursing babes and play games, socialize and have fun. It would be fun to carry something like that over to our church. I may need to mention it to someone.

Thank you to the ladies of that church. I really had a good time. I hope you were able to take something from my talk and personalize it.

A public thank you

"Serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13b


I just wanted to issue a public thank you to some dear friends from our church who have helped me prepare for tonight's talk. I am so happy that I have been asked to share "just" my testimony as I am familiar with that. I have done it before one on one and in small groups. But, I had a few other things that needed to be done.

The first was that I really wanted a slide show or video presentation to share at the end of my talk. A great big thank you goes out to Julie for helping put my photos into a properly timed slideshow. One that would time out with the song I had chosen. Because it was put into a powerpoint presentation I then handed it over to Torry-last night! Shhhh....I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone how quickly he could work to bail someone out of a bind. I know how fast he did this for me was atypical but I so appreciate it. He was able to take Julie's powerpoint, rearrange a few photos and add the music to it, turning it into a video presentation on DVD. They both did this for me without charge and in a rush. Thank you to both of you. I am so pleased with the finished product.

I also have been wanting, for a long time, not just for tonight, a business card style handout with our info on it. So often people are asking for the website or our contact info and I feel so unprofessional, as I am, as I handwrite it out for them on a piece of scratch paper. One of our church secretaries was happy to do this for me and she did an amazing job. I am so happy with what she has done and will have them tonight and Shannon and I will both carry them in the future to share with others. Rose, also did this for me just this week, in a rush. Thank you, Rose.

One of these days, Shannon and I are hoping to upgrade our computer so that we will be able to do more of this type of stuff on our own. We are glad that Collin has much of the knowledge needed as neither Shannon or I do.

Can I also share here a photo that got added to both the video and the business card? I took this while in the small village of Bukumbi in Tanzania about 2 1/2 years ago. The little girl was hesitant to have me take her photo but her mother nodded at her to do so. She is leaning against her mother's leg and as you can see is not sure about the camera at all. I so wish I could somehow find this little girl to give her a copy. Shannon and I plan to enlarge it to hang in our home.

It had to happen eventually

Well, I knew it had to happen eventually. As missionaries to be, both Shannon and I knew that one day we would have to start speaking. We will need to go around to area churches and try to find financial supporters of our family so that we can do what God has called us to do. There is no way for us to hold a job while doing all that God has planned for us in the ministry and jobs aren't real easy to come by in Tanzania anyway. Neither of us likes to speak much. Sure, I love to talk...but in front of a group of others?

Anyway, just last week I received my first phone call for a speaking commitment. The call came in from Shannon's cousin, Lisa, asking if I would be willing to speak at a women's retreat at their church this weekend. Not only was I not anxious to speak when she called, but the church is over 2 hours away from us. That wouldn't bother me near as much if we hadn't just had three crazy busy weeks and two even busier weekends in a row. My original instinct was to say no but Shannon kept mouthing to me, while I was on the phone with her, to think on it. I told her I would with the intention of calling her back the next day and telling her no. After getting off the phone, Shannon really encouraged me to do this. He knows as well as I, that this is an area we are moving into. I just wanted it to be him more than me. LOL.

The next morning, as I was thinking about calling Lisa to tell her no, a great title came to mind for my talk and as I thought a bit more, the props came to mind. Lisa had asked me to share my testimony and how we had gotten to this point in our lives, the point of knowing we are called into missions and to be willing to go. The way my talk just poured into my mind, I knew it came from the Holy Spirit. As I talked with Shannon about it, I had to admit to him that this was something God wanted me to do whether I felt ready or not. After all, Moses could not speak either but God took care of that in assigning Aaron as his assistant and giving him the words to say. I felt very strongly that God was just wanting me to yield to His will against my own. Although I knew on Wednesday I would be speaking, it took me until Friday to call her back and actually make the commitment.

So, tomorrow I head off to my first speaking engagement. This will be the first "speech" I have given since the 8th grade and I am a bit freaked out by it all but I know that just like Moses, my God will be with me, giving me the words to speak and encouraging me every step of the way.

"The Lord said to him (Moses), 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." Exodus 4:11-12

Glory Conference-Spring 2007

This past weekend End Time Glory Ministries held their bi-annual glory conference. It began Thursday evening and ran through Saturday night. There were 3 meetings per day except for Thursday evening. It was held in a local school's gym where we had plenty of room during praise and worship times to dance, wave banners and just really enjoy the time. Each meeting-one in the morning, afternoon and evening-consisted of extended praise and worship, a teaching time taught by either Rev. Debra or a guest minister she had brought in and a time of prayer and personal ministry for many in attendance. Shannon was involved in ushering at each meeting while I was changing the transparencies for the music being projected on the wall. We took Collin with us Friday evening where one of the ministers there prayed prophetically over him. She was someone who did not know him or anything about him but spoke of him being in the nations and gave him some very encouraging words. Saturday evening we took all of the children along. They really enjoyed the praise and worship time and asked as soon as we left if they could come back again for the next conference that will be held in the fall. It was a weekend where we got very little sleep but it was a great time of refreshing and renewal for all of us.

Saturday evening we brought along a friend of ours who is unfamiliar with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. She attends a church that does not do a lot of teaching on that. She had told the kids there was no way she was going to wave any flags or join the rest of us in our exuberant and unfamiliar to her, worship. We hadn't been there long when she was up waving flags and joining us in her enthusiasm. She later told us that she could feel something there just "fall down" on her. We explained to her that was God's glory. We did a lot of talking with her about the things we are now familiar with that had never been encouraged in our previous churches-speaking in tongues, prophecy, dance, and words of knowledge. She could also see that the words that were being ministered over individuals were from God due to many factors such as how smoothly they flowed from the mouths of those speaking them as well as the things that were said that the speaker had no way of knowing. It was fun to have someone unfamiliar and even uncomfortable in that style of praise to be able to know that it was all very real.

There are many out there that do not believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. I remember when Shannon and I first started attending our current church. As visitors we were curious but unconvinced of the genuineness of what we were seeing. We spent many hours speaking with the pastor there at the time as he met with the two of us to answer our many questions. I am so glad that we are involved in a church and a ministry that does believe in the gifts for today. It is hard for me to imagine not allowing God's words to be spoken over me and through me. If you have doubts I just want to convince you that those gifts are real and that they are for today. The book of Acts is a great place to begin researching if this is something you are unfamiliar with.

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." Acts 2:17

"Therefore my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." 1 Corinthians 14:39

Spring Comes Quickly

It was just 4 weeks ago I posted a picture of the children playing in the snow from our snow storm. Now this past week, we have seen how quickly spring comes. It seems like overnight, the snow was gone, the birds had returned and the grass started greening up.
Here is a pic of the boys latest escapades.
There is a swampy area at the rear of our property. The boys creativity and ambition took over. They made boats out of a children's wading pool with a board in the bottom for stability and a large plastic toy box. A couple of long sticks and they were in business. I think they look like something from a Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Fin novel. By the way, they both ended up being dunked in the icy water several times before they finished playing bumper boats.

There is something to be learned from this. When I find myself in a season of winter in my life, whether it be spiritual, emotional or physical, I need to remember that I have a sovereign God. A God who continues to bring the spring, and quickly, when I least expect it. If you find yourself in such a place, watch for the spring. It will be here before you know it.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

FIREPROOF!

I have been involved in three main bible teachings recently. One is the sermon series our pastor is doing right now on Revelation. Another is the Revelation class through the bible school Shannon and I are doing through End Time Glory Ministries and the third is the Beth Moore bible study of Daniel. So two of my classes are currently in Revelation but the funny thing is, the Beth Moore Daniel class is also very closely related to Revelation and we spend much of the class time in Revelation as well.

Just a couple of weeks ago, all three of those teachings were in the same exact chapter. It all kind of makes one wonder what God is trying to teach me when it is emphasized everywhere I turn. It is something I have spent a lot of time thinking about.

Recently, as our family has been going through some yuck, I have found myself thinking about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace. Those three men were told to worship idols and when they refused to do so were thrown into a huge, very hot furnace. The soldiers that threw them in were burnt alive due to the heat but the three emerged fro the furnace completely unharmed and not even smelling of smoke after being seen walking around inside the furnace with another figure. In class, Beth Moore reminded us that God did not keep them from the furnace but rather joined them in it and saved them from it. They were still thrown in, their faith tested, but in the end, were removed from it in even better condition than they had gone in as, due to their strengthened faith. Others were also brought to worship the true God after seeing their faith.

Up at Camp Lebanon this past weekend, in our work area, there were quilt examples hanging over all of the walls. I could see part of a wall behind several quilts and could see that it had some kind of mural with writing on it. After studying the pieces I could see for awhile, I saw that it said, "Fireproof!" and had a picture of the men in the furnace along with a couple of bible verses. I found tears coming to my eyes as I was once again reminded that God never promised to keep me out of the fire. Rather He has promised to keep me from the fire-to make me fireproof, to strengthen my faith and bring others to Him through that faith. I cannot wait to see where God brings us through the latest trial. I choose to trust Him with those results.

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of Thine hand, O king." Daniel 3:17
"Lo, I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Daniel 3:25

Busyness and a Meeting Place with God

Whew! It has been a busy couple of weeks! We have finished all of the drywalling in the basement. Shannon has primed all of the walls and painted the ones we have paint for. The linoleum is down in several rooms. Then last Monday friends of ours arrived from Oklahoma. Becky and I became friends while they lived in our area after meeting at a local breastfeeding group. Her husband was transferred to Oklahoma 8 years ago. 5 years ago, myself and three kids drove down there to visit for a few days. When Becky, her husband and their three daughters arrived last week, we hadn't seen any of them since then. We all got along great and the kids all enjoyed each others company. There were tears on both sides of the van windows as they drove away. I also have been working nearly every day for the past week on my part-time mail route.

Then last Friday, I left for a 3 day get-away to Camp Lebanon near Upsala where I met my mom, my sister, and one of my aunts for a quilt retreat. Here are the results of 3 days of work.
This is my 6th quilt, my first with triangles. I have decided I don't want to work with triangles again in the near future. Matching all of the points was difficult for me. The outside border on the front of the quilt and the entire back is an African animal print I fell in love with. All of the rest of my 16 fabrics were chosen based upon the colors in it. The retreat was good and although I worked hard on the quilt as I am always determined to bring home a finished quilt top, and got very little sleep, about 16 hours in 3 nights, I feel rejuvenated and refreshed. The camp is a great "meeting place with God" as it says on their sign.

Shannon and the kids did fine without me and stayed busy but were glad to have me home. I am always grateful that Shannon is able to hold down the fort so well while I am away. He appreciates the need for a mommy to get away once in awhile. As tired as I am right now and after 3 days of being cooked for, it is hard to get back into the routine so tonight we are having frozen pizza for supper. Shannon found a quote over the weekend I wanted to share with you here.

"God doesn't call the prepared, He prepares the called." -Linda Seaman

We continue to become more prepared in many ways in our lives, especially over the past couple of months. Pray for us as He continues deepen our family's faith in Him.

Insects and other wild things in Africa

We are on the mailing lists of several other missionary couples. I wanted to share a portion of one we just received from Charles and Tahnya Porter, missionaries with the Assemblies of God, who are currently located in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. They arrived there just a couple of months ago and are currently attending language school.

Our little corner of Africa is teaming with life. We haven't seen much of the larger creatures, (though a friend saw a cobra near our rooms. The gardener says he killed him), but everywhere you look you see life. Tiny ants appear out of nowhere to carry off condensation from our glasses. Beetles and cockroaches the size of small mountains clamber around, and I saw a preying mantis the size of my forearm the other night. One morning we awoke to see large black hook-billed birds that have a splash of red plumage walking through the grounds.
With our return to Africa, we have been struck once again with the enormity of the task. Water shortages, AIDS, malaria and other diseases, rampant poverty, and corruption could cause one to despair. But I still believe in a future for Africa.

Fortunately, most in our family do not have issues with insects, even ones the size of our forearms, unless they are poisonous. It is the cobra that scares me. None of us are very crazy about snakes. When Shannon was there last fall, he saw a dead two-headed snake. Alex described it as a snake with two heads that is very poisonous and there is no anti-venom for. However, it doesn't bite humans as it moves too slow. Dar Es Salaam does have a much different climate than Mwanza as it is located on the coast. We will need to do more research on the creatures of Mwanza before moving there so we are aware of what to watch for.

"God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

Oh, and a PS-Over the long weekend, due to snow days, we were able to get Molly's room completely emptied, pull up the carpet, dry everything out and reinstall the carpet and get everything put back in again. There is more than one way to get a room clean. She is happy to have her room back and we are all glad the damage was minimal.

It's all just stuff

This morning we had a minor issue that caused some major damage. The tub was left running for too long and due to the lack of an overflow valve that was supposed to installed by our plumber many weeks ago, ran over. Water flows downhill so since this particular bathroom is right over Molly's brand new bedroom in the basement, just finished in March of last year, her bedroom was wet, very wet!

The water has ruined many suspended ceiling tiles, gotten onto her bed, making her bedding and mattress wet, the carpet, the padding, ect. When I discovered this as it was happening I had to remind myself(and Shannon and Molly) for the first several hours that it is all just stuff. Most of it will dry up or be easily replaced though this has added many more hours of work onto the finishing we were already doing in the basement.

As we were emptying Molly's things out of the room, most of which was fine, I realized that it is really time for her to get rid of some stuff. Every corner, every shelf, even a container shoved under the bed, is full of stuff. Then I came upstairs to discover (gasp) that the circumstances are the same everywhere! Books, figurines, books, papers, books, toys, books ...it goes on and on, there is just too much stuff. Why do we have it all anyway? My book addiction needs to end too. Is there a 12-step program for that?

So, I have decided it is time to start getting rid of stuff. It's all just stuff and it will make the house easier to clean, easier to sell when we need to, easier for us to move when the time comes and very little of it will go with us to Tanzania anyway. Ebay here I come. I have a bunch of stuff for others who want more stuff-after we get done finishing the basement. We weren't too far from it when this happened.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Serve God as He gifts you

First, I want to share with you a family photo taken last night. We had it taken by our neighbor to submit for the new church directory currently being assembled. I know there are some reading this that have never met anyone in our family personally so here we are. (Notice the white spots on the photo? Those would be from the snowball fight we got into on Sunday when I had the camera in my pocket...sigh. Oh well, we had fun.)

We just returned this evening from Collin's choir concert. Collin(back row, far left in the photo) has this amazing, deep, bass voice-something I don't notice in the day to day but as soon as he gets in front of a microphone it is obvious how low and rich his voice is compared to the others. Tomorrow night our church youth group has a meeting for any teens interested in helping lead praise and worship during the youth group services. Collin has decided to attend that. We are proud to see him wanting to use the gift God has given him to serve God.

Shannon also mentioned to Collin tonight that often radio stations like those deep voices, hinting at the fact that his voice may come in handy when we someday get the radio station up and running in Tanzania. In case you aren't aware from previous posts, the ministry we are working with is also communicating with a local Christian radio station that wants to provide programming for us over there. They already provide programming to about 10 stations in Uganda, Ghana and other locations in Africa. Collin currently knows more Swahili than anyone in our family so that may be another reason to put him on the radio.

Anyway, as fun as it is for Shannon and I as parents to watch Collin wanting to use his God given gifts for God, I can only imaging how rewarding it must be for God to see each of us do so. What is your gift? I encourage you to find out and then search for a way to use it if you aren't already.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him live generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8

Dare to be a Daniel

I am currently facilitating a women's bible study group that is working through the Beth Moore study of Daniel. We are about halfway through it and it has been an amazing journey so far. One thing we have discussed is how Babylon wasn't just an empire but a culture. When comparing the Babylonian mindset to our current culture, especially here in the US, it is not difficult to see the similarities. Daniel was a man who stood out in that culture and it was not at all easy for him to do so. He came under the attacks of others around him and was even thrown to the lions. His God, my God, closed the mouths of those lions to prove to all watching that He was God and that Daniel was on the right track.

I look around me at my current culture, where I can generally have what I want, when I want it and how I want it. It is a self-centered culture focused on what we each want, often with disregard to others. I want to be different from this culture. I want to be a Daniel.

Huh...I thought the book of Daniel was about a giant chocolate bunny and some guys named Rack, Shack and Benny.(Those with Veggie Tales loving children know what I mean.)

"Then King Darius...issued a decree that in every part of his kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth."
Daniel 6:25-27a

It is only snow, after all!

This morning, Sunday, we started moving around at about 7:30, in plenty of time to be out the door by 8:30 to leave for church. A quick peek out the front window showed that we were going to have to move some snow around in order to get to the car and to get the car out the driveway. We received aproximately 10-12 inches of snow in the past 24 hours. Shannon and I quickly threw on our snowclothes. He started using his lawn tractor to blow a path down the driveway for the van while I used a scoop shovel to clear a path from the house to the van. We came back in at about 8:15. I took a fast shower and was getting dressed while Shannon was shaving when it came over the radio that morning and evening services are canceled at our church today. So, all of the kids are outside playing right now while Shannon and Collin are moving more snow. I am in the warmth, cleaning house, doing laundry and typing to you. When I was a child, this much snow didn't stop much and I remember only a couple of times that church was ever canceled. I know one was for bitter cold, it was about 30 below zero and another was in the middle of a whiteout blizzard. Minnesotans have become wimps over the past several years of easy winters. The weather forecast says there is more snow coming later today. If we get a wind we will be in big trouble. The neighbor girls have brought their 4-wheeler and toboggan down to our place and are pulling the kids around the yard. It is fun to watch as our two dogs follow the train around the yard, barking and wagging their tails the whole time.


I was thinking this is something we won't be dealing with in Mwanza. They don't get any snow there, of course. We will deal with two dry and two wet seasons every year instead. Flooding is more likely to be a problem where we will be. It doesn't take a lot of rain there to really make a mess of the roads and paths. A 4 wheel drive vehicle will be a need where the land is located. When the team was there last fall that was one of the first things Shannon noticed. He says much of the time a regular vehicle will be fine but when it is rainy that won't work. Temperatures will generally run between 50 and 90 year round. We check the temperature in Mwanza by computer often. Yesterday at 2:30 PM our time, 10:30 PM Mwanza time, the temperature there was 72F.

Anyway, if you are in our area, have a fun day digging out but take some time to make a snow angel or slide down a hill too. I am hopeful that someone is reading this even though no one posted in the comments of my last post. That is fine but please let us know privately or through comments later that you are reading. I know some of you who are reading, or at least have read in the past. It is weird to write not knowing for sure who I am writing for.

If you are reading this....

I spend some of my free time at a homeschool online forum. It is a place we can chat and share info, laugh, cry and pray together. There are some posters that "lurk" and never post to any of the conversations. They are called lurkers.

Shannon and I see the visit count at the bottom of the page go up each day. We are aware of some of the people who drop by here pretty often but are sure there are many we either don't know or who have stumbled on our site by accident and come back.

If you are reading this, would you be so kind to post a comment by clicking on the comment link and saying hi? We are just very curious as to who our readers are and where they are from. Thank you!

The desires of our hearts grow stronger

As we prepare and discuss our eventual move within our immediate family we all waffle back and forth about our desires to move to Tanzania long-term. It is funny how on one day there will be a member or two in our family who really do not want to go while other members are excited and upbeat but the next week the positions change. We all face a lot of fears, sadness and apprehension but are also experiencing joy, excitement and much, much more. Ultimately, we all know that we are eventually going, that it will all happen in God's time. We know that God would not put the people of Tanzania on all of our hearts and our desires to show them the love of God in such a strong way if it didn't fit into His plans.

Shannon has talked several times of how he used to wonder about his purpose here on earth. He knew that God put him here for a reason, if for nothing else but to worship God, but he talks to me of how the calling we have to Tanzania has really helped him in feeling like he has finally found where he is supposed to be and what he is here to do. I must say that in many ways I agree. I think we both felt that there was something big God wanted to do with us. Because by using us, it will glorify Him. In looking upon our pasts and where God has brought us and what He is still taking us through there is no way for God not to be glorified through it all.

Please keep praying for our family as God continues His work in us.

"Love your calling with a passion, it is the meaning of your life." -Auguste Rodin

Waiting to put the handle on the cup

I was visiting with a friend from church yesterday. Her name is Grace and her name fits her well. She has a ministry, I believe it is called Potter's Hand Ministries, where she uses her hobby and gifting of doing pottery to share about the love of God. Grace speaks nearly everywhere she is asked-at churches, at quilt retreats, women's bible studies, larger conferences and bible schools. She is a busy woman and her message is clear and very engaging to listen to.

As I was sharing with her about how we feel God is preparing us and doing things in us to prepare us for our time in Tanzania she shared the following with me. I share it with you with her permission. When Grace makes a cup she knows that that cup needs a handle. If the handle is placed on the newly formed cup when it is still too damp, the cup will not be strong enough to support it and it will completely collapse. She needs to form the cup, then wait while it begins to dry and solidify, before placing the handle. She will poke it every so often to see if it is ready. Her point in the story was that the cup isn't waiting for the potter but rather the potter is waiting for the cup.

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8