So, what do missionaries do?

Well, to sum it up, we work with people. We share the Gospel, which you'd think they'd be happy to hear. Not usually. People all over the world think that they are OK. The same approach, that is getting people to understand that they are sinners, in need of God's forgiveness, is the same world over.
Once someone reaches the point where they understand their need for salvation, then begins the work of growing spiritually. Here we are at a great disadvantage, because we must start from the very beginning. Even basic things like lying and stealing must be addressed. Regular Church attendance is a foreign concept, since they were raised to go to church once in a while.
Of course, teaching isn't enough. We must also be patient, because they will only grow when they want to, not when I want them to. We must also let the Holy Spirit work. After all, if He's not doing the work, we are working in vain.
This process is defferent in every single person. Some grow quickly, some never grow. Some must be dealt with gently, sometimes a little "tough love" is necessary.
Often I wish there was a gauge by which to measure our successes or failures, but there realy isn't. Numbers alone are not a very accurate gauge.
Of course the only true measure for success in the ministry is this. Have I been faithful? If the answer is Yes, then we have been successful.

8 things Meme

Sarah invited me to share 8 new things about myself. I am having a hard time figuring out something interesting to write!
Here we go.
1. While I know that housework is important and a noble job, I really don't like doing it!
2. I have two different colored eyes.
3. I don't like tomatoes or avocados.
4. I cannot watch violent movies. I tried to watch "The Patriot"..... Nope, not even that one.
5. I like old Disney music and movies, in that order. The older, the better.
6. I cannot stand to watch "Little House on the prairie" I love the books and find the show to be sappy and awful. If I have to see Michael Landon cry one more time...........!
7. I have never received a traffic ticket.
8. I don't drink coffee. (weird, I know)


There you have it. That's 8 absloutely irrelevant facts about myself.

Money Matters

I have been reading Mary Hunt from Debt Proof Living and Dave Ramsey. Both are Christians and both were terribly into debt.
I haven't done any of their seminars or bought their premium content on the web because, frankly, I can't see spending money to learn how to get out of debt when I'm not in debt! I am interested in their money savings ideas, but when you're not in control of the family's finances, what-s the point?

Here's my opinion. Debt is bad (nothing new, I know) But its also a heart issue. Its a faith issue, Its a contentment issue. People get into debt when they buy stuff they cannot afford and didn't wait for God to give it to them or save up for it. No matter whose program you use to get out of debt, you still need to address the issues that got you into debt in the first place! Cutting up the credit cards you abused is a start, but that doesn't take care of the root of your problem.

We are in the savings part of money management, but this is where DH and I don't see eye to eye. Oh well.

I can't cut coupons because they don't have coupons here. I can't have a garage sale, 1. because they don't do that here, and 2. I cannot sell my junk to people who can barely afford to eat! We can't stop eating out, because we don't eat out! I make most of my food from scratch already.
What's left is contentment, that is not buying stuff. The best way to save money is not to spend it! (profound, I know!) This will also help me tame the Clutter Monster and Flylady will cheer!

We were supposed to be in Argentina!

Every year, for the past 4 years, we have vacationed in Argentina at this particular time of year. Yes, the week after the annual Bill Smith conference, we pack up the car and head over the Andes into the foothill country of southern Argentina. We spend about a week in a cabin, thankful that the prices dropped after school started 2 weeks ago. We eat delicious Argentine beef and yummy fresh pasta. We visit Bariloche and go bowling and ice skating. We visit the chocolate factory. We head down to our favorite mountain town, El Bolson and rest and relax.

This year, it was not to be. And I am having Contentment Issues.
Does it surprise you that a missionary could have Contentment Issues? Shouldn't missionaries just be thrilled to have a house with plumbing? We'll you're right. I should. I should be thrilled and thankful. So should you. We all should, but we aren't as thankful as we should be. At least I am not, don't know about you!

Well, there's always next year!

John Newton

John Newton wrote hymns. Do you know why he wrote them? To teach doctrine, of course! Yep, when he was preparing his sermons, he knew that he needed some way to drive the lesson home. So he would write a hymn that illustrated the teaching.

Interestingly, his most famous hymn was not popular in his homeland, but in mine. And "Amazing Grace" became popular first among the slaves. Isn't that ironic that a song written by an ex-slaveship captain should be an anthem among those he hurt. Of course they probably had no idea at the time who wrote the song!

Grace is what allows a slaver to become a slave for Christ. Grace is what allows me to breathe! Grace is what allows horrible situations and unfairness to be redeemed for His glory and purpose. And it is truly Amazing!

Wedding gown update and dollar scare

The Bride of the Year went to the city yesterday, and visited the one and only bridal shop in a town of a half a million.
Good news, they don't sell ready-to-wear dresses, you pick a model and they sew it up for you! That means that Bride got herself the coveted 3/4 length sleeves and no worry about showing cleavage. And the thing is only going to cost 150.o0 dollars. Hooray! Not that this has a thing to do with me, but she is my own daughter in the faith, and I am happy for her.

Now, here is where we must put our money (literally) where our mouth is. the dollar has continued to drop reaching 10-year lows. That means that we have 40% less buying power than we had 5 years ago. 40%!!!!!!
WE BELIEVE that God is faithful.
WE BELIEVE that God will provide.
WE WILL NOT PANIC! NOR WILL WE COMPLAIN

OK, we might panic and little, and we might complain a little, but it will be wrong to do so, and we will repent and never do it again.


Waiting for the Rapture,
Rhonda

I just don't know

Seems really interesting how everybody knows that they are right about everything. Good, godly people say thus-and-such is good and right and other equally godly, good people say something different. Birth control........clothing........Sunday School or no Sunday School.

We must be very careful when we take a stand about something. We can and should take a stand about things we feel passionate about, but we must remember a few things.

1. If I am right, my attitude towards those who disagree with me must also be right, that is a loving attitude

2. On issues that are not clearly defined in Scripture, I must be willing to open to the fact that I might be wrong.

I don't need to be right about everything.. I don't need to know everything. Sometimes I just don't know.

John Newton's Wife

I read a biography of John Newton, "From Disgrace to Amazing Grace".

What a great story! Truth is more amazing than fiction, and it doesn't get any more amazing than the life of John Newton. God's grace is evident in his life even though Newton was engaged in horrific ungodliness. How God brought JN to Himself is a testament to His mercy.

Anywho, one of the interesting bits of his life, is that he fell in love at 18 or 19 with a 13-year-old girl, who he eventually married. He loved her and she loved him to what seems like an absurd degree. They both feared that they were idolizing one another to the point of being sinful! The author makes a few mentions to that fact that JN's wife was in no way his intellectual or spiritual equal and seemed surprised that Newton should be so enamored with her.

What the poor author doesn't understand is that Mrs. Newton must have been exactly what JN needed and wanted in a wife, and that had nothing to do with intellect or spirituality. Seems that he wanted and needed an adoring wife, and he got one!

Does that mean that a good wife is an adoring ditz? No, it just means that a good wife is an adoring, loving wife, and that could make up for any other deficiencies she might have. I don't know. It takes all kinds. I just thought that JN and wife made quite an interesting couple, to say the least.

Stepping Heavenward

Yep, I read it! It wasn't an easy read, and I need to read it again. It was very convicting. Seems that wives from every age go through the same things. The same misunderstandings and the same hurt feelings.

I sometimes wish that life were easier or that the Lord would just take us home. But of course, that wouldn't serve His purpose, which is to mold us and purge us of everything that is bad for us.

What I think we all have a hard time understanding is that God is purging us for our own good.

I once heard a friend preach a sermon about tithing, and he said " I tithe because its helps me!"

The inevitable trials and tribulations are for our own good. I know this theoretically, its the practice I'm having a hard time with.

What's up?

I have been looking at wedding gowns (I almost wrote "weeding gown" who needs a weeding gown?) for Sandra, who is going to be married next month. Hallelujah! We are a modest bunch and Sandra is more modest. She even has a hard time with short sleeves! (by personal choice) She is looking for a modest, long-sleeved gown. So what's with all the strapless gowns? At every single website, 95% of the gowns have been strapless, bosom-y affairs. When I got married, all the gowns had puffed sleeves, now we can't even find a sleeve!

Sorry, just needed to rant a while!
Its so much fun to be involved in wedding plans!

Waiting, revisited

The Lord has spoken! After waiting uneasily on the Lord, He has finally showed me His will in the matter that I am concerned about. He answered my prayer. Not in the way that I wanted, but now I see that it is the way it must be. God graciously allowed me independent confirmation from not one, but two sources. I am sleeping better now, although there is still much to wade through. There will be a few more tense moments. I am praying even now that God will deliver us from any such moment.

I hope I am not too dissapointing to the Lord for my lack of faith. I do not like for my faith to be tried!!!!!! I am now waiting to see God's hand move miraculously in this situation and for Him to be glorified in His Church.

Modesty and shamefacedness, revisited

Don't mean to harp on a controversial subject, but I can't help myself!
When an unsaved journalist is more honest than many Christians, its time to take notice!
Today on MSN.com, there is an article about Hannah Montana. I have never seen an episode, but I have seen her photos all over the place.

Here's a link to the article, and below is a quote.
"The virginity shtick, which is overrated, is also pretty insincere. Either that or it's as confused as a hot dog with frosting. There is one point to dressing sexy: to attract sex partners. Anyone who says otherwise is in a losing argument with Mother Nature. "

We need to be more and more modest about our dress! All (ok, alot of) the 'tween girls in the US want to dress and act like Hannah Montana.

Why I blog

I have to admit, I don't know. I love reading others' blogs. So many talented people! Frugal living, home management, parenting, Christian living, you name it. Now, I do all those things, but I am not an expert at any of it. I've been on the mission field since I was 11, but I'm not an expert at that either. In fact, when I read Jungle Mom, I feel totally inadequate as a missionary! We have no big bugs, snakes, piranhas, dugout canoes or huts.

I guess I blog because I need all of you, those I know, those I don't know. Those blogs I visit everyday and those I visit once in a while. You challenge me, encourage me, sometimes you outrage me! But at least I know that there are others like me, imperfect, who need to connect. You encourage me in the Lord. Thank you

Waiting on the Lord

I have heard about "waiting on the Lord" for all my life. I've even told people to wait on the Lord. But you know what? Its not quite the same when you yourself are in a position where you must wait upon the Lord.
Wait..........upon..........the Lord

I have been bombarded lately by God telling me to wait quietly. Listen in the silence, in the darkness. Wait. Truthfully? I'm not doing to good. I want to TALK! I want to ask counsel, but I feel that God is leading me to be quiet and let Him do the talking and the counseling.

I am in a position to have to believe God. Believe that He can do what I cannot. Oh, Ok, so this is what it means to live by faith. Ouch.
God will do what I cannot as long as I do not interfere.
Lord, I believe,......help thou my unbelief!

"Then darkness fled" by Stephen Mansfield

Mom got me this book for Christmas. She knows that Booker T Washington is a hero of mine. I read his book "Up from slavery" in school.
Three years ago, she gave me a book about BT Washington and George Washington Carver. I didn't like that one very much, because it seemed to paint Washington in quite a negative light.

This one I like very much. It seems honest about faults without being entirely negative. It also explained why some at the time didn't like Washington and considered him a traitor to their cause.

What I appreciate about Washington was his Christian character that he displayed in the face of unfairness, and irrational prejudice. I also greatly appreciate that fact that he encouraged those around him to better themselves through hard work and diligence, something I lack at times. Here's a quote: "The cleaning of rooms had a great deal to do with forming one's character"

Here's another about the real and the artificial: "We shall prosper in proportion as we learn to draw the line between the superficial and the substancial, the ornamental gewgaws of life and the useful"
How's that for our materialistic age?

I weep for those who endured slavery and for those who endure bigotry today. I also know that even in the darkest places, and the most unfair circumstances, God is there. And He can make things right and His grace can be sufficient.

I truly enjoyed this book and will continue to do so for a long time.

Submission

This is a topic that comes up too often in my life because I realize that I am not submissive by nature.
Here are a few things that I have learned, and am still trying to practice.
Submission sometimes means that I don't give my opinion, not even with a sigh or a face. If DH wanted my opinion, he would have asked. I say this because I am so opinionated.

Submission is true submission only when I disagree. Otherwise, I'm not submitting, I'm agreeing. Its true submission when he's wrong. Ahh, there it is! the hardest thing in the world to do! This hit me like a ton of bricks!

Now, you can say that a woman has the right to make her opinions known.
Well, yes and no. I say, follow the Spirit's leading when and if you want to make your opinion known. If you have been prudent in the past, I'm sure your Dh will appreciate your imput. If you have been like me, once he learns that you can shut up, he likes it!

Of course this has been a hard lesson and a long process which I am still in.
Once I win this battle with self, I'll let you know how it went!

Another book

I bought "Family Driven Faith" by Voddie Baucham. Wonderful, of course. Even though I don't like the idea of family integrated worship, I agreed wholeheartedly about most of the book.

Several other well-known bloggers have reviewed this book, which talks about the importance of family, namely the father, in the evangelization and discipleship of children. Naturally, I agreed, but what I felt was missing is what to do if the husband doesn't take the spiritual leadership. If a woman reads about how important her husband is in the spiritual growth of her children, it would be discouraging to see him not fulfill that role, and out of place for her to take that leadership role. So, to me, its a book meant for men to read.

I rarley see a man take full charge of his family's spirituality, so what's a woman to do? Taking the leadership herself will backfire. When her kids see her in a spiritual leadership position apart from her husband, they will not be seeing the submission they need to see. Here's where I take a Sovereign God at his word. I believe that if I what is right, my God will make up for the deficiencies of others around me. God promises to reward faithfulness. I know that God will protect the children of faithful women. I have to believe that! If not, women would be desperately trying to make their husbands "spiritual", for the sake of the children. And we all know that you cannot "make" someone spiritual.

The book is great, I'd give it to young men for a wedding gift!

Things are getting back to "normal"

If there is such a thing! After our furlough, the Church seemed a little "limp" Things have begun to pick up and we are grateful for that. We're still trying to get our attendance back up to where it was, but being the middle of Summer isn't helping much!



We had a bit of a dissapointment. During our furlough, big money was raised to buy a building for our mission church in Mafil. We were so happy! We made a verbal agreement with the owners of a large house, right on the Plaza in Mafil. Then, a few days later, we received a call saying that others had come and made an offer of 22,000 more than we had offered and that they were going to take the other offer! Now, we know that all things work together for good and that God is sovereign. And we don't that if God doesn't want us to have that house, we for sure don't want it. Still, we had our hopes up and are a little dissapointed. Its back to square One, but at least this time, we've got the money!

I covet your prayers. Pray for me and for other missionaries you know.

family integrated worship

I am curious about FIW. At our church, we take the little ones out so that people can listen up and pay attention. Those who advocate FIW say that you must train your children to sit through a service. That's all good and well, but what about immature Christians in your church who have no idea about child training? What about visitors? It takes one fussy child to take people's attention off the preaching and onto the baby.
I am curious to see FIW in practice rather than read about it in theory. Anybody see it work?

Wifely advice

Last year I shared with you about a young woman in our Church who was going through a time of temptation to date an unsaved man. We prayed, pleaded, advised, and waited on the Lord. This young woman who is a dear friend to my family, came through the trial shaken, but unblemished. She was a little uneasy, seeing no man in our Church her age that she liked.
Well, wouldn't you know that while we were in the US, God brought back an old beau of hers, "all growed up" and mighty keen on getting her back.
Long story short, he has asked for her hand and she and her parents have accepted.
So now, I have been gleefully dishing up all my wifely advice, thank you Debi Pearl! Thank you, Mama!

I was talking with DH about marriage advice a few months ago and told him that my basic philosophy now was that a wife need to provide "good ministry (wink, wink) and good food" He looked at me, cocked his head while he thought about it and said, " you need to teach that at the ladies meetings!" Could it be that simple? No, not really, but its a good start!