July august13

Daughters Promise of

JULY&AUGUST2013

inthisissue {open} A word from Rae Meet the Team Mission Statement

4 5 7

10

relationship exchange Cultivating the Sacred Gift of Friendship Surviving or Thriving?

10 Ways to Celebrate a Friend

10 18

daughters of God Pursuing Deeper Intimacy with the Father

Rhema: Yes in Christ Following Christ’s Example in Ministry Pearl of Promise

21 22 28

life & style Virtue in Everyday Living The Perfect Summer Picnic Color Love: Green Beauty Quotes

29 32 55

legacy & impact Living God's Heart for the World mINistry focus: Ransom Ministries

44

white spaces Creating Rest, Balance, and Room to Breathe Marlene’s Recent Reads

54

{close} Comments & Contact Info

58

JULY&AUGUST2013

18 29 22

34

the thrift addict

38

NEW! pondering with Tina

42

life through Carmony’s lens

56

the team recommends

56

44

34

open w x o¡pen [oh-puh n]

vb.– to move admit passage.

word Hello to all,

1

The air is thick with summer, caked in humidity and smelling of dry grass. It has been uncharacteristically wet this summer, not as hot as usual. I won’t complain!

Life is good in Central VA. Just over a month ago, a position opened up in a local home health agency and I applied and was hired. It has been a good fit so far—I enjoy traveling around to my patients’ homes and interacting in a much more personal way than most healthcare positions offer!

So many changes have taken place in the last few months it leaves me spinning at times.

“Home” is so many places, with none of them truly feeling like home. This is a new experience for me, but I am learning a lot—about how to be flexible, to keep my priorities, to take deep breaths, and mostly how to enter fully and joyfully into every moment as it happens. I am a work in progress to say the least. Maybe next issue you’ll hear a bit more from me about the things I am learning about dealing graciously with change.  Living in VA puts me closer to my best friend Brittany, who is home for the summer and helping me live it up as only a best friend can do! I also get to see the boyfriend Tim quite often, a personal favorite. He has proven to be an exceptional listener and support as I continue to transition to life in a new community. As you can see in the picture, he makes me happy.  In other news, this issue I am delighted to introduce you to my good friend Tina Newson. Tina and I have been friends for years and she has been a person of great wisdom and insight and humor. Tina holds multiple degrees in counseling and has years’ worth of life experience working with people in clinical settings. She loves to ponder life and understand more deeply who Jesus is and how He desires to change and heal His children. Her writing reflects this and Tina has graciously consented to sharing insights and advice, many of which will be pulled from her blog. I hope you enjoy her writing!

There are a lot of other wonderful articles in this issue of DOP. As always, we love to hear your feedback! Email or check out our FB page and Issuu site and let us know what you think! Happy summer!

Rae

meet our

RACHEL SCHROCK FOUNDER, EDITOR, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rae’s unique life experiences and love for writing inspired her form DOP in 2010. She loves Jesus and longs for all women to experience healing and freedom through an intimate friendship with Him. She is an ardent fan of many things, but especially the color red, jazz, good coffee, being a nurse, and her family. In her free time, she can be found undertaking DIY projects, drinking coffee with friends or behind the lens of her beloved Canon. One of her favorite places in the whole wide world is Mae Sot Thailand, where she spent 6 wonderful months in 2011 and 2012. Above all, she strives to experience the precious gift of life with grace and gratitude.

team BRITTANY SHULT STAFF WRITER

Brittany is a schoolteacher currently living in the lovely state of South Carolina. She loves teaching her 2nd5th graders and learning life lessons from them. Jesus is her Friend; she is thankful for everything He has done for her. She is excited about the plans that He has for her. Some of her hobbies include reading a good book and whipping up some baked goods in the kitchen, especially cupcakes!

She will take a warm sunshiney day and flip flops over cold dreary winter days.

MARLENE STOLTZFUS

CARMIE SANCHEZ

STAFF WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHY

Marlene enjoys learning, living simply, and using creativity to meet a new challenge. She and her husband Kyle live in Guys Mills, Pennsylvania with their seven month old daughter Elia.

They are a staff family at Faith Builders Educational Programs. Marlene is the compiler/author of the White Spaces section of DOP.

Carmie joined the DOP team in January 2013 as the official photographer. Photography has been one of her pursuits for several years and more recently she has acquired a love of sewing, DIY, and hosting people in her little trailer house. She is a newlywed of October 27, 2012 and her wonderful husband is Gerry. Next to feeding him and being a housekeeper, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. Her expressive photography captures the essences of life and inspires many to delight in the simple joy of beauty.

guestcontributors ROSA KING

GUEST WRITER, page 44

Rosa is living in Chiang Mai, Thailand serving with Ransom Ministries. Because of the work of redemption that God has done/is doing in her life, she loves to share what He’s taught her and encourage other women to also find freedom in His loving embrace. She loves traveling and enjoys the occasional opportunities she has to travel to other Asian countries to teach women about their worth and value in Christ. In her free time, she enjoys writing, reading, sewing, playing volleyball‌ and her latest hobby is learning to play the keyboard.

DEANNE WEAVER

GUEST WRITER, page 22

EMILY SITZLER

GUEST WRITER, page 18

In 2003, Emily accepted God’s call on her life to be in full-time ministry. The years following have been an evidence of her pursuit of that calling.

At the age of fifteen, Emily began teaching Sunday School to 4th-6th grade girls. It was during this time God’s call on her life was confirmed.

In 2006, she began to teach 7th-9th grade girls instead and continues to teach them presently. In 2010, she received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Bryan College and began her career as an Elementary schoool teacher. In 2011, she completed her M.A. in Christian Studies from Bryan College. In the same year, she accepted a position as Project Coordinator at Full Circle Women’s Services, a local crisis pregnancy center. She desires to see young people maintain purity in every aspect of their lives. In her spare time she enjoys crafts, cream with a side of coffee, hanging out with her friends, and especially running.

Deanne has 5 sisters and 3 brothers who she loves to be with and enjoy their crazy humor.

She enjoys canoeing and reading, usually not at the same time. Deanne could be called a chocaholic. Her passion is to reach youth girls around the world with the love of Christ. (She has a special interest in Asia after spending some time there studying at IGo.) She is excited to see what opportunities God has in store for her in life. She is on the learning curve of life realizing that God's love is so much greater than she can ever hope to comprehend.

CAROL SCHROCK

GUEST WRITER, page 34

Carol lives in beautiful east Tennessee, where she especially enjoys coffee with friends, quilting, gardening, and reading. She finds joy in making a home for her family and homeschooling “the last chicken in the litter”, as her youngest once said! Being Grammy to a sweet baby girl is a new blessing, and one she finds very amazing!

whoweare WELOVE food. liturgy. music. yellow things. the first spring rain. good coffee. DIY projects. empty notebooks. pursuing holiness. sunshine. green grass. the color red. long walks.



WEBELIEVE

habit forms character. chevron is overrated. planting things is good for people. in God’s goodness. pumpkin spice lattes are the best. in redeeming love. Jesus is Enough.



WESTRIVETO

live with integrity. read broadly. contribute to Anabaptism. give thanks. live simply. celebrate life. be centered in God’s will. advocate for the poor and needy.

or

By Rae Schrock

I

From my earliest memories,

all I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother. Oh yes, there were other aspirations—to be a nurse, to travel, to visit Italy and ride in a hot air balloon, maybe write a book.

But if you glance through the worn journals that tell the story of my life, you will find one dream emerging again and again above all the rest: I long to be married and to have a family. As a young person, I assumed I’d have entered holy matrimony by 21. I figured I would even have one or two children by then. I waited and watched as one by one my friends disappeared into the arms of marital bliss. I thought “Surely my time is coming.” In my mind there was no alternative. For many years, my plans and expectations were but a passing of time until the big day when I would marry the love of my life and become his

princess forever. But the early 20’s came and went and there was no fairy tale romance. I wasted a lot of time in those years, longing for what I didn’t have, putting life on hold as I made marriage my ultimate desire.

Many of you are also walking the road of singlehood. I know how painful the journey can be. There are setbacks and hardships, but I have learned that great joy and purpose can be found in walking with Jesus through this season of life. Singleness need not be a time of twiddling our thumbs, anxiously waiting for life to really begin. Instead, this period of life can be a time of tremendous joy as we practice the art of living fully where God has called us.

Come with me as discover ways to transform the single life into a place of beauty and joy.

Finding Purpose in Singlehood

Lovers of God In singlehood, one of the hardest things to face is loneliness. We long for companionship. We dream of being pursued and passionately loved. From the very beginning of our lives, we acted out little girl dreams of being a bride, dancing in dress-up clothes too big, little hearts beating with the desire simply to be loved. The desires grow with us. So what is a girl to do when there is no prince charming? As single ladies are we doomed to miss out on romance because we have not been chosen by a man? Will the other joys of life always be eclipsed by the reality that we are doing life alone?

I will be honest: I have not always wrestled with these questions very graciously. Sometimes the piling mount of bridal showers, honeymoon stories, Facebook relationship status updates and wedding countdowns churn up a bitterness and jealousy that surprises me. And there have been times when I have embraced self-pity with both arms wide: “I don’t want to hear about your boyfriend or your marriage or one more cheesy comment about how fun it is to cook for your husband. It’s not fair that you’re so happy and I’m so miserable.

You don’t know anything about being alone.”

Maybe you can identify. These are real feelings and real struggles. Loneliness is painful. But need it have this power over us—to kill our joy and breed

jealousy? No. But how can’t it? We wonder as we watch girlfriends experiencing the joy of love that we only dream of. Must we stifle our dreams so we may also suppress the pain of them not coming true? I understand so well this heartache. Yet I am convinced that my dreams for romance were God-created. Yours are too. We must neither idolize them nor lock them away, but instead, allow them to be the channels that take our hearts to Jesus. We long to be pursued and cherished because we were designed for intimate, unbroken relationship with God! Only He can fulfill us completely. Even the love of a man or a wonderful marriage cannot do this as Jesus can. My married friends confirm it. They tell me that as wonderful as marriage is, there are still times of loneliness when the needs are so deep that nobody but the Lord can join you in them. The soul’s hunger for connection and intimacy is only quenched through a relationship with Jesus.

When you wrestle alone in the dark room of unfulfilled dreams, “what-ifs”, and loneliness, remember that Jesus understands your struggle. He too faced times of extreme loneliness, when even His closest friends could not help or understand. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus confronted the darkest loneliness any man ever will. He is compassionate to your yearnings. He cares about your needs. He loves to

Into the shame of

barrenness and rejection, the Lord

declares these powerful words: “I am your Husband. I have chosen you.

You are my bride!” surprise you with His love and captivate your heart as a husband delights in his bride.

Hear His message of love: “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. {Is. 54:4-5}

These verses speak allegorically of Israel as a widowed, forsaken woman but they hold a message for us as well. In Isaiah’s culture, a woman’s value was

sealed by her marriage and ability to bear children. Being single or widowed brought deep shame and often societal rejection. Yet into her shame comes grace by the Lord. Rejection is banished as He calls her to be His bride.

Into the heartache, He declares, “I am your Husband. I have chosen you. You are my bride!” He is her identity—and ours. She is no longer forsaken—and neither are we. In the next verses, God goes onto promise that the years of hardship will be replaced by days of mercy, everlasting kindness, peace, and protection. Can you hear Him shouting the same message of love over you? Christ is our identity and pursuer. What a precious reality for a woman who has not been chosen by an earthly lover.

Sweet friends, use your season of singlehood to cultivate a deep romance with Jesus. Soak up His love.

Confide your secrets and longings to Him. As you develop an intimate romance with Jesus, you will find that the hardships are laced with joy and grace. There will be deep security in knowing your heart belongs to the One who only gives good gifts. What a precious gift, to be able to claim the Lord as our Husband.

Mother of Many In addition to desires for earthly romance, many women dream of mothering children. It is in our nature to bear and to nurture and as the years by, we are conscious—maybe even fearful—that the available time is slipping away. Will our wombs ever carry life?

As I write, many of my friends have recently announced pregnancies or given birth. There is so much joy in their voices, it is hard not to be a little jealous. I long to be a mom—I look in the mirror and know it’s what I was created to be. I look at my hands and know they were made to cradle a sleeping baby, comfort a fearful child, rub an aching back, and wipe tears. I think motherhood will be one of the most challenging, frightening and ridiculously amazing adventures of my life. Yet, time moves on and the dreams await. Perhaps some of you can identify.

It is possible to put life on hold while waiting for the one event we seem to long for most. The result is wasted time and precious opportunity to use the

gifts which equip our dreams for action.

I challenge us to stop sitting on the sidelines awaiting the blessing of children, and get in the game! How? If you dare, follow these instructions from Isaiah 54: "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.” {Is. 54:1-3}

We were created to mother—yet Isaiah says that the children of the desolate woman are more than those of the married wife. The word desolate means “to stun; grow numb.” I wonder if God has created us to be fertile with so much more than our own biological offspring. And if perhaps, by desolation, He impregnates our lives with fruits of love, selflessness, and compassion. A woman whose life has been tested will bring forth virtues that draw people and bless them. Her home will be overflowing with family—those not bound by blood, but by heart.

The Lord is calling us to become mothers of many. Look around! Your world is full of people who desperately need the nurturing of a godly woman.

Stretch out the space in your heart and welcome in those who crave the mothering which God has equipped

you to give. Get busy making a difference in the lives of children and you will soon find that your tent cannot contain them all.

Some of my greatest heroes are women who used their years of singlehood to heavily invest in children. I think of my friend Kristine, pouring herself out in Thailand, loving Burmese refugee kids. There is Brittany, whose dreams of motherhood propelled her through a year of mothering 5 Mexican orphans, and now, teaching school.

Marlena has given countless hours to intensive mentoring, interceding, and building relationship with inner-city youth. Vera lived with fierce passion, ministering to victims of sex trafficking.

There are countless others—women who have poured out their lives to mentor and love the younger among them. My own life has overflowed with countless beautiful children whose lives I have been blessed to be a part of. In their own way, they have each become a part of me.

Get busy making a

difference in the lives of children around you and you will find that your tent cannot

contain them all.

Never pass up the opportunity to invest in the life of a young person. Even if your window of impact lasts only a few moments, you cannot estimate the impact it may have.

You can use the gift of mothering in many ways: sponsor a child overseas; advocate for the unborn at a crisis pregnancy center; join your church’s youth ministry; start a Bible study with teen girls; do some extra babysitting.

The investment you make will bring tremendous joy and leave an imprint forever on those whom you touch.

How to Build a Home As women, we love having a space of our own in which to create a home. It is in our nature to create places of comfort and warmth. For a single woman, having a physical house is not always an option, but this does not have to restrict us from offering the gift of hospitality!

The thought of home brings a sense of comfort and warmth—as if all is right in the world. Home is the place where we can let our guard down and be at rest.

It is a place to anchor our hearts, if even for a moment. Did you know your presence alone can provide this place of rest? You do not need a building to give people the feeling of being at home.

My friend Emily has the gift of hospitality. She has made her life as a single woman one of openness and warmth, a place of welcome where people feel safe. Emily loves doing things with her girlfriends. She hosts Bible

studies and plans dinner parties; makes time for one-on-one interaction with friends; and invites others to speak into her life. Her love for people and the warmth with which she relates spreads aura of welcome to those who enter her presence.

What does your presence radiate? The way we relate will put others at ease or it will drive them away. Use the flexibilities of singlehood to creatively develop the gift of hospitality: Take a friend out for coffee. Host a book study, prayer group, or ladies’ Bible study.

Extend an anchor of rest through notes of encouragement. Listen without judging. Be a safe person to confide in.

Hospitality is a cultivated gift and singlehood brings a flexibility that married women and mothers do not have. Use this freedom to develop the

art of gracious welcome. Make your presence a place where others love to be.

A Lifestyle of Serving It is tempting to believe that we could serve Jesus better if we could do it with a husband. But don’t put life on hold while you wait to be a bride. The time you serve God best is right now.

This is not always easy. It can be hard to not have a man to follow into ministry.

Many decisions are left up to us and it may feel that our impact is lessoned because we do it alone. Yet I am convinced singlehood does not restrict us to mediocre service. When we serve with all our hearts, God is glorified and others are impacted. How beautiful!

There are many ways to actively serve

All of our desires funnel down to one ultimate desire: Jesus. I don’t need more compliments

or a better job or a husband. I need Him.

God as a single woman. Faithfully doing this now will prepare you for a lifetime of surrender to God’s call—regardless of where you are.

Serve with the single-hearted desire to please Jesus. The dividends are abundant.

What We Really Want Take a moment to think about what you really want. What does your heart most deeply desire? Is it a wedding ceremony and the chance to say “I do”? Bearing your own child? Making a home for a husband? Maybe, but I believe our real desires are deeper than this. We don’t just want events. We long for things that fill up our souls.

Over the years, I have begun to learn that the deepest longings of my heart are not for marriage or for being a mother. I know that even the most wonderful man in the world cannot make me feel whole. Being praised and adored will not erase all doubts about my worth or beauty. And as I have chiseled away the externals, I have realized that all of my desires funnel down to one ultimate desire: Jesus. I don’t need more compliments or a better job or a husband. I need Him. Only Jesus is capable of delivering all of the things for which my soul yearns.

Recognizing this has changed the way I view my singlehood, and will change your view as well. Instead of chasing dreams of a man, pursue the heart of God. Rather than waiting on marriage, ask God how He wants you to use today. As you pursue a love-relationship with Jesus, the single life will transform from barren to abundantly fruitful.

Finally, remember that singlehood has challenges and struggles just like every other stage of life. As tempting as it is to blame the heartaches on “singlehood”, we simply cannot. Instead, seek grace and walk joyfully, knowing that you are His bride, intimately loved and passionately pursued. Expand the walls of your heart and make room for the children you will care for as your own.

Practice hospitality, extending a welcoming presence to those in need of a home.

May your lives be full of joy and laced with grace as you embrace what God has called you to do today. |

The servant-hearted never serve alone. Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone. God extravagantly pays back

everything we give away, and exactly in the currency that is not of this world, but the one we yearn for:

joy in Him.” -Ann Voskamp

by emily sitzler

F

rom weddings to holidays and all the birthdays in between, we celebrate. They are each special days that mark special occasions, but what about the people who make those days special? Do we take time to celebrate the friends that our gracious God places in our lives? Before you read any further, reflect on the friends God has given you. Your eyes are twinkling and your lips are now smiling, because they are precious people indeed, and I imagine they are indeed worth celebrating.

Will you join me in discovering ten ways to celebrate the sweet friends in your life?

Be present. Missionary Jim Elliot once stated, “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every moment you believe to be the will of God.” Being completely present is essential for any celebration. In a matter of seconds, we can be connected to people and information from around the world. Although this can be extremely helpful, it can be detrimental to the

relationships in our lives. Sweet friends, be present.

Take a hike (or a walk). Truly, the heavens declare His handiwork. Grab your friend and experience His creation. My sweet friend, Heather, and I make hiking a regular part of our friendship. We both enjoy the great outdoors and distractions are few. With the busyness of life, it creates space to have genuine and open conversation. You may even find a four-leaf clover along the way.

Make a craft. You may be thinking, “I am not creative and will never win any Ms. Pinterest pageant.” However, the freedom in making a craft is that you are free to be as creative as you desire. One of the most Spirit-filled moments in my life took place while crafting with my friend, Bradleigh.

This Christmas, we decided to make crafts for several of our friends and family.

However, while we were being creative, we turned off our phones, turned on the worship music, and began to pray. Yes, making crafts was

incredibly fun that day, but the words the Lord spoke to us that day will forever change our lives. While celebrating friendship, we celebrated our truest Friend.

Write a Note. Do you remember racing to

the mailbox as a child hoping that you would receive mail? If you are like me, you may continue that pattern daily! I think we can agree that there is something most soulfilling to receive a letter from a friend. From facebook to email to twitter, we can quickly write a note, but there is something extra delightful about receiving a handwritten note from a friend. Be the friend that expresses 1 Thessalonians 3:9, “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.” Send a note of gratitude to the friends that encourage you and remind you of the great joy it is to enter His presence.

Listen. Proverbs 17:27 states, “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.”

Sometimes we simply need to listen, use few words, and give a sweet hug. We enjoy seeing problems solved and are quick to make the messiness of our lives clean. However, the best of friends are those who will be present and listen without reserve. Be the friend that listens well.

Surprise your friend with a treat. A

cupcake, flowers, maybe even a cup of coffee will bring an extra smile to the face of your friend. Think of something they would really enjoy. (When in doubt, you rarely go wrong with chocolate). Take it to their place of

work. You will surely bring an extra smile to their face.

Make a phone call. The sweetest phone calls are those when a friend simply wants to say, “Hello”. A few minutes ago, my lovely friend, Spenser surprised me with a phone call which began with, “Hi friend. Just calling to check in and see how you are doing. How is your heart doing?” A true friend skips the surface level and desires to know how God is working in your heart and life. These are friendships that are most precious and are rare gems. Be that friend to someone today. It will encourage their sweet heart, just as it encouraged mine.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt. You are correct; this seems incredibly silly. Oh, but it is great fun! Many options are available on the internet. My friend, Lydia, and I found a picture scavenger hunt online, printed if off, and began to have what would be our most favorite friend moment! Wherever the scavenger hunt led us, we had to take a picture to document the completion. I am not sure if we had more fun exploring or reviewing the “lovely” pictures! This is a

friendship celebration that you are certain to remember!

Do something child-like. Many of the best celebrations in our lives take place as children, because we are completely innocent and full of delight over the smallest of events. Think of something you greatly enjoyed doing as a child. For my friend, Jenn, and I, we make it a habit to go the park and swing! Minus the time when a little boy threw sand at our faces, we have multitudes of laughter and sweet conversations while simply flying on the swings. Sometimes the best things in life are the most simple.

Share a meal together. I believe in saving the best for last. You may be thinking this is the most common and most simple way to celebrate friendship, and you may be correct. The beautiful Rachel and I often celebrate our friendship over a cup of coffee or a meal (or both, let’s be honest). Though it may seem common, the most delightful and enriching times are those when we share a meal and share our hearts. Throughout the Bible we are given various examples of celebrations, and the most common form is with a feast. Revelation 3:20 states, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.�

One day, when we stand in glorious victory before the King of Kings, He will invite us to His banqueting table. There we will celebrate the greatest Love, the one who laid down His life for us, His friends. Celebrate His soon return. He has a seat around His table for you and for me. In the meantime, call a friend and break bread together. Invite Jesus to your celebrations, and know He will delightfully join you! |

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God.� 2 Cor. 1:20

I discovered this verse before it really became a comfort to me. This verse leaped out at me one day in such a way that I wondered if I had ever read it before. I thought it was so profound and so solid.

At that point, I was very happy and excited about my situation in life. I had just found out that my husband and I were going to have a baby! We were ecstatic. We couldn't wait to tell our families and we would dream about the future with our little one.

I had no idea that from the beginning of my pregnancy, things were not working the way they should have been. I just clung to the hope that everything was fine and the baby would be alright. The doctor talked about the possibility of a miscarriage, but Gerry and I stayed optimistic that everything would be fine. A few days

later, I knew something was wrong. I knew I should not have been experiencing cramps all day long the way I did. The next day, the doctor confirmed. I had miscarried our baby.

To go from having life within me to suddenly not was a blow. I was deeply saddened. I was not angry or bitter towards God. I didn't blame my miscarriage on Him. In fact, I was filled with hope despite the sadness I felt. The words of this verse gave me that hope. I knew God would give us a baby when He willed. This knowledge filled me with such hope and I did not waver from it.

Two months after my miscarriage, Gerry and I were delighted to announce that, yet again, God had placed life within me. This time, I knew within me that this baby is here to stay.

God has made many promises to us and we can be confident that all of them will come true no matter what our situation or circumstance. 2 Corinthians 4:20 confirms this: "And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God.

By Carmie Sanchez

I

I want my life to impact the world around me. I want others to say she walked with God. Too often I find myself going about my life and forgetting the most important things in life. I get caught up in the little

day to day annoyances and duties. How do I live a life that leaves an impact on my world? How do I share Christ to people in my world?

Lifelessness seems to be a very part of life for them. Emotions are stirred deep within my soul as I watch the people continue to live out their existence groping for meaning in life. I want to impact their lives and make a difference.

Among foreign people in a foreign land, feelings of despair begin to stab at my heart.

Life doesn’t seem fair.

I am overwhelmed by the needs around me.

There is pain everywhere. I see it in the brown eyes that stare back at me as I venture down the street. These empty eyes threaten to unravel me at my very core. These people need Jesus. My heart is burdened to offer them love and yet I don’t know how to bridge the wide cultural gap. Another day comes and goes and in it I see only more brown eyes filled with emptiness. How do I offer them the gospel?

By Deanne Weaver With these questions burning on my heart, I embark on a journey of soul searching. This journey lands me in foreign lands among the people of Asia. Each time I walk down the streets I see brown eyes filled with pain and emptiness. I pass the temple and watch people bow and worship idols.

I’m in over my head now. The questions surface daily as I wrestle to find meaning to the life I have been called to live here.

This culture is so different from what I have known all my life. My blue eyes and white skin clearly are the mark of a foreigner.

The lifestyle is strange and I feel uncomfortable in the normal day to day routine of life.

Communication has become a source of frustration and is no longer enjoyable. Two questions keep coming to the surface through all the adjustments.

How did Jesus reach into different cultures? If I am here to share Jesus, then how will I effectively impact these people?

Slowly I see a theme of answers come to the questions I have been asking. These

moments are often missed in my daily rush of activities. As I stop and ponder, I find answers to the questions I have long been asking.

The Father’s answers become clearer to me as I continue to live with purpose to leave an impact on my world.

Sacrifice “Sacrifice my child. You say you want to reach these people with my love. Be willing to sacrifice. This calling isn’t about your comfort and enjoyment. It is about my love for them and how I can reach them at their level.

Seek the most important things in life first. I long to reach those around you with my love. I need you to sacrifice and live at their level in their lifestyle.”

“Sacrifice?

Lord, I know you require sacrifice. Surely you didn’t mean I have to give up the comforts of modern conveniences did you? I don’t particularly enjoy washing my clothes by hand. It takes a long time and it is hard work. I save time and energy by using modern conveniences. Why would you ask me to sacrifice and live at their poverty level?

There must be another way to effectively show them love.”

“My child, my child, you said you want to reach these people.

The other day at camp I watched as you wandered through the activities of the day and stopped a moment to watch the little girl scrubbing the laundry. You didn’t go over and offer to help her with her work.

Instead you watched from a distance and then slowly turned and walked away. You missed the opportunity to sit with her and

share my love by assisting in the burden she was carrying. Sacrifice my child. It is sacrifice that speaks of my love.

Live at the level of the people that are around you. Sit with them. Spend time with them. Eat with them. I know at times the changes are not easy. I know how you stretch and groan after sleeping on the floor. The pain you experience after sitting cross legged for hours on the hard wood floor is not missed by me. I see all that and more. This sacrifice of being with them at their level is showing them my love.

Learn from them. Allow the people you meet every day to teach you about life.

“You say you want to reach these people with my love. Be willing to sacrifice. This calling isn’t about your comfort and enjoyment. It is about my love for them and how I can reach them at their level.”

Take it to heart and apply the things they have taught you.

Grant them the opportunity to show you how to live in their lifestyle. I know that your culture and conveniences may seem to be a better approach. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn new ways of doing the daily chores even though it requires more time. It’s

about sacrifice and showing them who I am.”

Surrender “Surrender my child. Choose the will of the Father not your own. Allow the Father to speak through you when you come up far too short in your own eyes. Be open to the will of my Father. He is the One who brought you here and He will see you through.”

“Surrender? I thought the life I am living is a life of surrender. I wouldn’t choose to do all this on my own will.

This language study and lifestyle is slowly killing me.

The torturous process of trying to communicate has done me in.

I can’t do this anymore Lord.”

“The way of surrender isn’t always as it appears. Life is about a daily surrender. Surrender the small things to me.

Allow me to work out the plan for your life.

Give me your agenda and goals. My agenda is far different from your agenda.

Turn to me and keep your eyes focused on my will for your life. You will miss the opportunity to speak of me if you refuse to learn the language of my children. Allow me to work it out. You don’t have to get each sentence right every time.

Remember, I am a Redeemer of mistakes.

It is the very thing I love to do.

Choose to put my will for you before everything else. Don’t give up before I call you to quit. Surrender yourself to the call I placed on your life. Choose the way of the cross.

Endure the mind boggling language study.

I understand it is frustrating but choose my will above your own. Surrender to a plan that is far greater than the frustration you feel in the moment.

I am working out a plan much bigger than you can see.”

Sensitivity “Always live with sensitivity. I see you doing that my child.

You see the tears that lie behind the bright smiles that are offered to you when you stopped to purchase that iced coffee at the market. The despair that was written across the young girl’s face as she turned to you pleading for money didn’t go unnoticed by you. I watched you wrestle deeply as you left behind the girls who you had spent a week with during Bible camp.

Their tears touched a deep place in your soul.

Be sensitive. You will learn to follow the Spirit as He directs you to people to talk with. You will experience the ache of not having the words. Be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit as He leads you every day. Allow my Spirit to wash over you and

flow through you as a Comforter to those who need the love that comes from me.

Live with sensitivity in prayer. I needed to slip away and pray often. Come away with me and talk with the Father. Allow us to continue to enhance the Spirit within You. Come boldly and pour out your burdens to the Father. He cares. His compassion never fails. Bring the burdens of pain you see every day to Him. The sensitivity you experience as you walk among the lost day by day will overwhelm you if you don’t bring it to the altar of prayer.

Never forget to set aside solitude time so you can be sensitive to your own needs. I didn’t create you to live without input into your own life. I created you to experience my embrace as your Father. Come away with me and relax while I wash over you with my love and presence. Refresh your own soul as we delight in spending time together. Be sensitive to your own heart’s cry.”

“Thank you Father. You answered my prayers. I miss the opportunities to leave an impact on the people around me when I don’t take your words to heart. You have more deeply impacted my life through the people I met then I ever dared to imagine.

I come away changed for eternity.”

The model Christ has given me is still with me even though my journey has led me away from the people of Asia. I have been called to reach out and impact no matter where I go. Every culture needs people to model the lifestyle of Christ to |

The example of Christ is effective in every generation and every culture. them. Every person is crying out for the life of Christ to touch them deeply.

I have been given a model to reach the nations for Christ. Christ didn’t leave us without an example to follow. The answers that came to the questions I asked are a tool for life. As I endeavor to reach the lost for Christ, I know that I have a guide to look to.

The life of Christ models a way of reaching every culture.

The example of Christ is effective in every generation and every culture. No matter where I am at in life, I still have the key to leaving an impact on the people in my world.

I want my life to make an impact on the world around me. I have been given the key to impacting my world. This lifestyle of impacting is beyond my wildest imaginations.

Sacrifice.

Surrender.

Sensitivity.

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. [Is. 54:13, 14]

Pearl of

Promise

S

Summer picnics don’t have to be the typical hamburgers, baked beans, and potato salad. They don’t have to be around a bonfire or on a blanket stretched over the ground. Spice things up a bit and go beyond paper cups and plates.

Decorate with bright flowers and pretty table linens. Make your next summer feast

something special for your family and friends.

In order to spend the most time with your guests, choose dishes that can be prepared ahead of time. Basic Chicken Salad is a wonderful make ahead dish and it is just what the name implies- basic.

Once you fix the base of the salad, it’s simple to throw in extras like pecans or almonds, chopped apples, or dried cranberries. For my version, I tossed in green onions, chopped sweet pickles, and pecans. It is yummy!

Dessert doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair. Check your local supermarket for fresh, seasonal fruit. I decided to go with plums, peaches, and apples. They’re the perfect finishing touch to this light summer meal.

For a side dish, Black Bean and Corn Salad hits the spot. This was a nice alternative to potato or pasta salad. I took it to a church potluck one Sunday and the bowl went home empty! I love the bright colors and tangy bite of this salad.

To me, lemonade is the perfect summer drink with its thirst-quenching flavor.

Featured here are some variations of this popular drink. Substitute rosemary instead

of mint in the simple syrup recipe to get the rosemary version of lemonade.

Experimenting was a lot of fun and there are many other ideas that you could use to jazz up ordinary lemonade. In order to get that authentic lemonade flavor, I encourage you to use real lemons versus the powder mixes.

For something a little different, I also experimented with lavender club soda. At first I wasn’t too sure about this concoction, but it really was refreshing! Follow the simple syrup recipe below and substitute lavender for the mint. I used a small handful of lavender buds that hadn’t opened yet. Once the simple syrup has finished steeping, pour about three-fourths of a tablespoon into the bottom of a drinking glass and top off with chilled club soda. Add a squeeze of lemon for some extra flavor punch.

Basic Chicken Salad ½ cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken ½ cup blanched slivered almonds 1 stalk celery, chopped Directions: Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.

In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss with chicken, almonds, and celery.

Black Bean and Corn Salad 1/3 cup fresh lime juice ½ cup olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained 1 ½ cups frozen corn kernels

Mint Lemonade

1 avocado- peeled, pitted, and diced

1 cup sugar

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 cup water

2 tomatoes, chopped

5 sprigs fresh mint

6 green onions, thinly sliced

3-5 lemons (more if you want some for garnish)

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional) Directions: Place lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and cayenne pepper in a small jar.

Cover with lid, and shake until ingredients are well mixed.

In a salad bowl, combine beans, corn, avocado, bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Shake lime dressing, and pour it over the salad. Stir salad to coat vegetables and beans with dressing and serve. Serves: 6

Directions: Bring one cup of water to a boil and stir in one cup of sugar until dissolved. Add mint sprigs (or rosemary) and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes.

While that steeps, remove the ends of four lemons and cut each one into small chunks (about four pieces). Place them into a blender with a small amount of water (around a ¼ cup). Blend until the lemons are pulpy.

Place a handled sieve over the pitcher you will be using and pour the lemon pulp into the sieve. Allow the lemon juice to drip into the pitcher. Once most of the juice has drained, discard the lemon pulp. Add half of the simple syrup to the lemon juice in the pitcher, then mix in enough water to equal about a gallon. Stir together. Add more simple syrup if the lemonade isn’t sweet enough. If it needs more lemon, take the remaining lemon and repeat the blender process and add the juice to the mixture in the pitcher until you get the flavor right.

Packing and Storing Food • Food needing to be kept chilled should be packed in a cooler with ice and kept at forty degrees or lower.

• Pack beverages in a cooler separate from perishables. This helps keep the perishable food from constant exposure to warmer air.

• Once food is out of the cooler and on the table, don’t let it sit for longer than hours.

If the outdoor temperature is ninety degrees or more, the food should not be left out for more than an hour.

• Hot food needs to stay warm at one hundred forty degrees or more.

• When packing hot food, wrap the container and store it in an insulated cooler.

Creative Picnic Decorations • Mason jars filled with wildflowers such as queen anne’s lace and black eyed susans are simple and inexpensive floral arrangements. Daisies purchased from the supermarket are long-lasting and hold up well in hot weather.

• Place silverware in tin cans spray painted bright cheerful colors.

• Intersperse tea lights and pillar candles throughout the food buffet.

• If your meal is taking place under the trees and you have access to an electric outlet, wrap the tree trunks in white Christmas lights to create ambience when the sun goes down.

{GREEN}

By Brittany Shult

contributes more Vitamin C then an orange. Loaded with antioxidants, green tea has been related to lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Herbs such as basil give us an excellent source of Vitamin K.

When Spring makes her entrance after a long, cold winter, most people look forward to the fresh shades of green that burst forth. From leafy trees to soft carpets of grass, green blankets the earth. It's not surprising then that this color symbolizes growth, renewal, and rebirth.

Green brings a positive atmosphere to our surroundings. It inspires hope and generosity, traits not found as easily in other colors. When exhausted, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, green can rejuvenate our spirits.

While the positive effects of green are many, there are also some adverse points to consider. Dark greens and grey-greens are often associated with death or illness. Cartoon characters often turn green when ill.

Green is beneficial when incorporated into our everyday diets. Avocados, while containing about twenty-three grams of fat in a medium size fruit, contain monounsaturated fat that helps to lower cholesterol. We also get Vitamin E and lutein, an antioxidant that aids in eye health, from these fruits. Eating kiwi provides a wonderful source of fiber and

When considering interior design, green makes for a wonderful color choice. Bright green and white accented with bold colors brings energy to a kitchen area.

Looking for something more zany?

Consider green and pink stripes or polka dots for a bedroom. Sage and red creates a relaxing atmosphere for a living room.

Plants bring life and vitality to a living area. A boston fern tucked in a corner or perhaps a varigated dieffenbachia for a more tropical look.

Potted arrowhead vines are perfect for that low light spot away from a window.

We could all use some rest and relaxation. Utilizing more green in our every day lives is a great way to do that. Now go outside and enjoy the feel of soft grass on your bare feet!

By Carol Schrock

The average

American family spends

$117 a week on

FOOD.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “frugal”?

Maybe you think of penny-pinching, scraping by, or of a cupboard as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s.

I was raised to be frugal, and there were times as a teenager that I became impatient with that way of life. When my mom went to two or three grocery stores so she could find the best bargains in each, I used to think I’d never do that when I had my own home! But my parents taught me well by their example, and over the years I learned to appreciate the way they lived. I also learned that frugality doesn’t need to be a miserly way of life at all. Rather, it can be a very rich and satisfying way of living,

one of creativity and generosity.

Patience is probably the most important thing I’ve learned when it comes to shopping.

With six children, it seemed that someone in the family needed new shoes or a coat every time I turned around.

Or an appliance was no longer dependable, or something else needed to be replaced. The easiest thing to do in that case is to go immediately and buy whatever is needed.

I’ve found, however, that many times when I take the time to shop wisely, I am rewarded by finding just the item needed for a fraction of the amount I would have spent if I had been determined to fill

Approximately $1700 per individual per year is spent on apparel. that need right away.

I’ve learned to ask God to supply what I need as well.

Sometimes we’ve been blessed by receiving the needed item as a gift from someone.

Using cash to pay for purchases is a great deterrent to overspending.

When I have only a certain amount of cash with me and determine not to swipe the credit card or write a check, I have to choose my purchases more

carefully to stay within that amount.

However, flexibility is needed too. Suppose I’ve been looking for a good pair of shoes for my son and unexpectedly see a great deal on just the right pair. It’s not on my list for today and I don’t have the extra cash with me….do I pass it up or make an exception and write a check?

I would choose to make an exception, because it’s not a decision made on impulse; rather, it is a specific

need, and time and thought has already gone into the decision.

It’s also very heIpful to learn to think in percentages. If an item costs $3.00 and is marked down 50%, it doesn’t seem like I’m saving much if I see it as saving $1.50; but it becomes more significant when I realize I spent only half of the original amount!

It may not be possible to cut the whole bill in half, but by shopping with awareness, I may be able to cut the cost of many items by

a percentage. When grocery shopping, be willing to give the store brand a try. I’ve found that with many things I don’t have to sacrifice good taste in order to shop for less. Checking the unit price is also a good way to know that you’re spending the least amount per ounce or other unit of measure.

We live in a “throw-away” culture.

If something needs a slight repair, it’s easier to pitch it than to fix it! People quickly tire of their clothes, furniture and even appliances. Thrift and consignment stores are usually the place where these things end up. They are

actually great places to shop if you love to redeem things and save money in the process.

Yard sales are worth checking out as well. It takes patience and effort (and a little humility, too!) to sort through others’

Household

costs claim around $16,000 of the average person’s annual income. baskets can be made with a muffin or bread mix, along with a jar of honey and other special items tucked in. Handmade gifts carry with them a personal touch from the one who made them, and convey warmth and love that lasts beyond the usefulness of the tangible gift.

$48 of the average American’s weekly paycheck goes to

entertainment

Americans spend about

$1800 per month on

travel.

unwanted items, but is often rewarded by a good find.

Creativity in the gifts we give is a fun part of frugal living. If you can sew, there are so many possibilities.

Lovely pillows, useful placemats and coasters, a simple appliqué to brighten a towel; baby gifts of bibs, blankets, or burp cloths; book bags, purses, or wallets. Gift

Living frugally is not an end in itself, but is the result of a character of contentment, one which finds joy in the creativity called for in living within the income God has given. |

Pondering The column of candid reflections, refreshing humor, and wise advice.

As a mental health professional I am in a trusted position. By the time people come to see me they are often feeling a mixture of desperation, anger, sadness and hurt. Let's face it, no one seeks out help when life is working for them.

My job is to reassure people when they are unsure.

Feeling unsure is very uncomfortable. All of us, young and old, like to feel competent and confident.

Confusion feels like the antithesis to security.

However I have found that confusion can be the catalyst for great growth.

Each one of us can think back to a time when we think we have life figured out and then an event happens that does not fit into our framework of how life is supposed to work. Perhaps it was an event that caught us by surprise, an action that throws us off balance. One of those events for me was the birth of my second child. My firstborn, Ashley, was the epitome of a

with Tina

happy, quiet, easy- going child. If I told her no about touching something she would smile, gently step away from the object of her desire and go about her business. I naively thought her demeanor and pleasant attitude was a result of our exceptional parenting skills, after all, I had put much energy into parenting "the right way". Fast forward four years and my son, Austin, is born. It didn't take long to notice this sweet child was not as easily moldable, nor as easy going as his sister.

Austin had a bad habit of escaping. Like a little Alcatraz prisoner the kid would take of running and not look back. We put locks on the fence, he learned to climb over. We put a leash on him and he would play Harry Houdini and break free. Being the competent parent I was I pulled out my bag of tricks. Consistent discipline with love was what this kid needed—or so I thought. I pulled out my arsenal of tools - I spanked, gave him time outs, scolded, chided and lectured. I took away privileges and handed out punishments. Nothing seemed to work.

There is nothing more humbling then having a three year old out maneuver you.

So out of desperation, I took a parenting class. I learned a few more techniques of discipline but mostly I learned to relax. I learned that I was acting on fear and false beliefs. I feared my son was going to become a juvenile delinquent because I could not control him. I believed I was

completely incompetent as a parent because he refused to do as I asked him to do. I felt afraid (and rightfully so) that he would get hurt if he kept running in the street. I felt shame because I had run out of answers and I felt confused. How could I have gone from being such a good parent to being such an incompetent parent?

The parenting class was a sweet mixture of good and bad news. The good news was that I was not alone. There were others, maturecompetent-functionswell-in-society adults that were brought to their knees by their own little ones. Just knowing I was not alone in my struggle was wonderfully refreshing news to me.

The bad news was they were as lost as I was.

Fortunately we had a good teacher who offered us great hope. She reassured us that lots of out of control children become welladjusted adults, testing boundaries is a normal part of childhood. Ten years later I am happy to report that my son no longer runs out the door and into the street. He is able to delay gratification and responds well to authority. I am pleased and proud

of the person he is and the man he is becoming.

I am thankful for the parenting class I attended. Thankful there was a safe place for me to share my struggles. I am reminded of the healing power that comes when we are able to share freely, the encouragement that can come when we have the courage to speak the truth.

Calmness

in

confusion takes practice.

I have learned and am still learning how to relax in the unknowing.

God continues to give me many opportunities to learn the art of acceptance.

Ironically part of acceptance is realizing that it is unrealistic to think we can have perfect peace this side of heaven. We have glimpses, fleeting moments when all in our world is right but then the moment passes and it is clearly evident that we are far from our true home. Someday we will have eternal peace but not today.

I will close with these encouraging words from one of my favorite songs that paints the picture of what I hope my future will look like some day.

“In open fields of wild flowers, she breathes the air and flies away She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses in no simple language Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all.

He's more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens As close a heartbeat or a song on her lips Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him Someday He'll call her and she will come running and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray, I want to fall in love with you."

Tina Newson is a licensed mental health counselor, having obtained her BS in social work from Florida International University; an MA in Psychology from Trinity International University, and a Doctorate from the school of hard knocks. She is a Certified Addiction professional and licensed mental health therapist. Tina has over 25 years of experience working with addicts, mental health patients, the developmentally disabled, Geriatric patients, children, and grad and undergrad students. She believes life is meant to be an adventure, lived with passion and flexibility and she strives to live it as such. Tina loves book studies, sunsets [especially over FL beaches], the smell of coffee, connecting with friends, and stepping out of her comfort zone for the sake of the adventure. Cystic Fibrosis has been a channel through which God has given her glimpses of His sovereignty and taught her what it means to embrace each moment as a gift. She is loved by many, mother of 2, wife of 1 and lives in Southeast TN.

Light

Life through Carmony’s Lens

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

-Prov. 4:18

come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. -Is. 2:5

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. -Eph. 5:8 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. -Is. 60:2-3

rescuing women in prostitutio, in Chiang Mai, Thailand

ministries

I first met Jen* the day that she and her friend came to study English with us, only a few weeks after they came to Chiang Mai to find work. Something that stood out to me about these two girls was the absence of fear. They were friendly, caring, and so fun to teach. Our relationship deepened as the weeks went by. The night that we went to the mall and did some “girly” shopping together (shoes and purses J), she became more than an English student; she became a dear friend. Then the night came that we said goodbye to Jen before she left to go home to her family in another part of Thailand. Naomi and I took the certificate, which she had earned by completing 15 hours of English study, to the bar where she worked. My heart was heavy as we said goodbye. I can still see her standing there outside the bar until we were out of sight. We didn’t know if we’d ever see her again.

A few months later as we walked down the street in that same area, I saw her… she was sitting at a table entertaining a foreign man. She saw us from across the street, jumped up, starting waving, and motioning for us to come over. Oh, my friend… it is so good to see her again…. But my heart

hurts to see her back in this environment again. Why? Why is she here? She needs the money… it’s the usual answer. It’s so hard to see the change in her… she’s still kind and friendly, but her eyes are different… they’re not as bright as they used to be. Why? Why does a girl put herself through all this pain for something as temporal as money? I have asked this question many times in the past three years that I’ve been here in Thailand.

I am serving with Ransom Ministries located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Ransom is one of several ministries under Institute for Global Opportunities (IGo). The mission statement of the ministry is: bringing pleasure to God by rescuing women in prostitution.

Prostitution is a huge problem all over the world. Here in Thailand, the estimated number of women in prostitution is approximately 300,000 to 2.8 million (1/3 of which are minors). Culture, Buddhist mindsets, and money are huge driving factors in all of this. In Thai culture, the women live under a lot of pressure to make money, as it’s the daughter’s responsibility to provide for her parents as they get older and also to help support her younger siblings in getting a good education. Most women in prostitution are originally from

rural and impoverished areas of Thailand and move to the cities in hopes of providing for their families back home.

Many are also single moms who are trying to provide for their children.

An alarming number of the women have experienced abuse in their past, making them vulnerable to further exploitation as they carry the shame of the past. The community’s perception is that if a girl has lost her sexual purity, she is worthless and may as well live a life of prostitution.

Some of these women are sold/trafficked into the city and forced to work in the bars

or in brothels behind locked doors, but most of the women we meet come ‘voluntarily’. An income from prostitution is generally 25 times greater than an income

from any other work in a rural area. They hear that they can get a good job in the city and they see their neighbors build a new house with the money that their daughter sent home. So they head off to the city to “be a waitress” or to “dance”… totally unprepared for what awaits them. Most of these women only have a 6th grade education or less, so there are very few job opportunities for them, but there are always openings for ‘servers’ and ‘dancers’ in the bars.

Many women will choose to work in the tourist sections of the city in hope of meeting a foreign man with lots of money who will ‘solve all their problems’. In Thailand, it is commonly estimated that 60% of male tourists participate in the sex industry. However, the foreign men make

THE STATISTICS in Thailand, the estimated number of women in prostitution is approximately 300,000 to 2.8 million (1/3 of which are minors). up less than 20% of the total who participate in the sex industry. Estimates are that 80% of Thai men frequent women in the bars and it has become an ‘acceptable’ thing for a man to do in the Thai culture. However, it’s the women working in the bars who are looked down on by society and blamed for the problem of prostitution. The mindset is that if they wouldn’t be there, then the men wouldn’t be tempted… thus, causing the women working in the bars to carry a lot of shame.

Not every girl who works in a bar is involved in prostitution, but it is very difficult to work in this type of environment without giving into the pressures of the men and their bribes. Even if a girl doesn’t sell her body, she will often face sexual abuse in other forms as she serves the men and entertains them as they drink in the bar. Nan* was convinced that she could be a server in a bar and put up with the environment for just a few months in order to make some money for her mom. Only six days went by and she came to Ransom Home crying and told us that she’s quitting and going

home because she couldn’t stand the things she faced each night at work.

Unlike many women, Nan was able to leave the job at the bar because she had someone who supported her in that decision and to help her get a bus ticket to go back home.

Women working in prostitution often feel trapped, like there’s no way out. They suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other related illnesses including acute anxiety, depression, insomnia, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Coping mechanisms may include alcohol, drugs, mental breakdown, suicide, self-mutilation, and abortion.

Our vision here at Ransom Ministries is to have a program that will be able to holistically help women who want to leave their lives of prostitution. We envision doing this by having a drop in center to build relationships. We would like to then offer them short term housing with job skills training and spiritual input and discipleship. Our dream is for these women to be some of the ones that will in time join our staff in reaching out to other women on the streets of Chiang Mai. We are still very much in the beginning stages of a ministry that was started about five years ago. In 2007, Becky (Stoltzfus) Peters attended the Institute for Global Opportunities here in Chiang Mai. While here, she developed a vision for working with women at risk and ladies who work in the bars.

In the spring of 2008, Becky returned to Thailand to begin learning language and to do research on how and where to begin this type of ministry. As God began leading Becky back to the States in 2010, He brought together a team of three of us ladies (Naomi Swarey, Heidi Gingerich, and I) and a young couple to give leadership

to the team (Deaniel & Katrina Yoder). In the past year, God has led Naomi and Heidi back to the States. Melanie Beachy joined the team in December of 2012 and Carolyn Roth plans to join the team in the near future. In July of 2012, God brought a Thai staff lady, Thip, to join our team. She has been a huge asset to the team as she is able to reach the Thai girls in ways that we as foreigners are unable to.

write. Not only do we teach language, but we also continue to study language several days as a week as we see that learning the Thai language well is very important in reaching the hearts of these women. We also occasionally have parties at Ransom Home or take the women on an outing to a lake, park, etc. These are good opportunities to build relationships outside of the classroom.

Currently, we are renting a three-story building (Ransom Home) where we offer English classes three afternoons a week. Thip, our Thai staff, also teaches Thai classes there for women who have never had the opportunity to learn to read and

We ladies go out on bar outreach on Tuesday and Friday evenings. On these evenings, we meet at Ransom Home around 6:30pm for a time of prayer before heading out into the bar areas. There are many different bar areas here in the city

An alarming number of the women have experienced abuse in their past, making them vulnerable to further exploitation as they carry the shame of the past. The community’s perception is that if a girl has lost her sexual purity, she is worthless and may as well live a life of prostitution.

and Deaniel, our team leader, will usually let us know which area we should go to that evening.

These bar outreach evenings are never the same. Some evenings, are spent only in prayer as we walk the streets. Other times, we may have opportunities to talk to ladies and invite them to English class. Occasionally, we will also enter a bar to order food or a drink (non-alcoholic J) as a way to talk to the ladies who are inside. After our time out on the streets, we meet back at Ransom Home between 8:00 and 8:30pm for a time of prayer and worship before heading home. Worship has a way of cleansing the heaviness that we often feel while out in these spiritually dark areas.

We are often asked, “Is it safe to go into those areas?” or “Are you ever afraid?” We have felt God’s protection in very real ways and have never felt danger as we were out in these areas. We go out before the bars get very busy and also try to avoid entering places where there are lots of customers. The greater struggle has been spiritually... feeling so heavy that we couldn’t pray or battling lies that the enemy places in our minds. It is often a battle just to get out there. We often face fatigue (and sometimes sickness) and a dread in going out into those areas. But we’ve found that if we are faithful in putting one foot in front of the other and going out, God is faithful in giving us the strength that we need. Some nights we come back home with more energy than we had before we left (a total “God-thing”). We ladies have been blessed to have Deaniel, our team leader, to pray with/for us before and after we go out and also to know that he’s praying for us while we are out there. Over the years, we’ve sensed an extra protection in having a man pray for us as we’re out in those dark areas.

In the very near future, we hope to start offering job skills training to women who are interested in leaving their jobs at the bars. We are planning to start out small by making cards to sell, while dreaming of starting a larger business in the future (possibly a sewing business). We also hope to offer a two-three month discipleship training course later on this year for the women who choose to work at Ransom Home. It is very exciting to be so close to doing what we have dreamed of for so long. But we have also been facing a lot of opposition in beginning this new phase of the ministry. However, we know that if something is worth targeting, it has great potential to make a difference for God’s kingdom.

Another aspect of Ransom Ministries is Ransom Mobile. In the past three years, we’ve had the opportunity to teach six different women’s classes alongside of leadership conferences organized by Macedonian Teaching Ministries (another ministry under IGo) in both India and Nepal. In many Asian cultures, women are looked down on and mistreated.

What a blessing it is to be able to go into these countries and tell them the truth of what God says about them. The theme of these classes is that as women, made in the image of God and redeemed by Christ Jesus, we have worth and value; God has a special role for us to play in our families, churches, and communities. These trips happen about twice a year and are always a highlight.

Serving with Ransom has been a journey of learning to trust my Father in deeper ways… trusting Him to supply my every need; trusting that He is in control when everything feels out of control; trusting that He is using me even when I feel very much

“God is real, and He’s good. It’s as simple as that. And because He is, and because He lives within me, I can have so much joy and peace even when the battle is so intense.” like a foreigner in a strange culture; trusting that He is working even when I keep giving and giving and see few results. There’ve been many days and months in the past three years when we saw no results and were tempted to give into discouragement. But we keep being reminded that this type of ministry takes a long time to develop because of the many walls of mistrust that the women have as a result of being wounded time and time again. But it’s when I look at Kay*, the girl who used to hardly talk, and see new confidence and light in her eyes since she learned to read and write Thai, that it gives me courage to keep going. And times like the other day, when Nan* came to our house and in the course of the several-hour conversation and deep emotions coming to the surface, made a new commitment

to live for the God she used to trust in. It’s in those times that I’m humbled to see that God is using us here.

As I think about how our friends come and go so quickly as they tend to move from one bar to another in a short amount of time, I’m reminded of the ‘work’ of a bee in spreading pollen… “just touching flowers here and there in a very tentative way, yet all unconsciously leaving life behind at every touch, as the miracle-working pollen grains are transferred to the place where they could set the unseen spring working” (quote by Lilias Trotter). I trust that this is what is happening in the hearts of the girls that God brings into our lives. It’s His work, and we are only called to be faithful in the opportunities He brings each day. | *names changed

Deaniel Yoder, RM Team Leader: “While I would have never dreamt as a young person of being involved in this type of ministry the Lord has really given me a heart of compassion for the bar ladies of Chiang Mai. Because of the type of ministry I’m not directly involved in their lives, but hearing stories through the ladies on the team has torn my heart many times. Stories filled with so much pain, rejection, confusion, and hurt. I’ve often wondered how the Lord Jesus would relate to these ladies, in our day, here in Chiang Mai. The opposition we feel is definitely a challenge we face. It sometimes gets wearing as it is a constant battle and we’re reminded of often. But one of the joys I’ve experienced is the privilege being able to work with such a good team of ladies here at Ransom Ministries. Their desire to be all God wants them to be in representing Christ to the bar ladies, the many hours spent in prayer, going out on bar outreach, teaching lessons, etc. It’s no easy task! I am blessed to work with them and challenged by them.”

Melanie Beachy, RM Staff: “Thip, (our Thai staff member here at Ransom) and I were sharing together the other day about life here at Ransom and within this ministry, and some of the very real challenges that we face. “I can go somewhere else with another ministry and do hard, physical labor and come home tired.

Here I don’t do anything physically hard, but I still come away so tired,” she said. I agreed with her and we talked about the realness of the battle we face. We often feel physically and emotionally exhausted, even though we don’t feel like we’ve been doing much. The spiritual battle is real, and it’s not always easy to fight, much less fight well.

Loneliness is another stark reality we face in this ministry. Men and women everywhere, searching for love, for significance, for something to fill the void. Because it’s so stark, we feel it too.

It’s easy to feel alone and forgotten, overwhelmed and afraid at times. One of the most incredible things to me is how God comes through for us time and time again, whether on ministry nights, days at Ransom Home teaching English, or just in doing normal-life stuff. God is real, and He’s good. . It’s as simple as that. And because He is, and because He lives within me, I can have so much joy and peace even when the battle is so intense.

It’s the littlest things that bring me joy in this ministry; confirmations that God does have us here for a purpose.

Sharing a laugh with the girls during English class, visible, tangible answers to prayer, being in the right place at the right time for someone who needed help, walking the streets in prayer and knowing that God has already won the battle, the light in their eyes when we love them…It’s all worth it, no matter how small, if it’s where God has placed us for such a time as this. “

Join us in the battle by praying: -against the strongholds of idolatry and immorality in the Thai culture.

-against the spirit of lust in the hearts of the men.

-for hope and healing for the women trapped in prostitution.

-for unity and boldness for us as a team.

-for Divine protection and guidance as we begin offering jobs to the women who are interested in leaving their jobs in the bars.

Ransom Ministries is a division functioning under Institute for Global Opportunities, also located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

To learn more, visit the website: www.igo-asia.com /ransom-ministries To sign up for our newsletter: email ransomministries@gmail.com and specify whether you would like to receive the newsletter by mail or email.

To request a speaker: contact Ben Peters at benjdotgov@gmail.com or call 717-406-5233.

To donate, donations to:

send

financial

Institute for Global Opportunities P.O. Box 116 | Ephrata PA 17522 (Please mark: “Ransom Ministries�)

Prostitution and human trafficking in the United

commercial sexual exploitation. They may engage or be coerced into prostitution in order to meet daily needs for food, shelter, or drugs.

States:

79% of interviewed women in prostitution

year, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country each year is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry.

Each

The largest number of people trafficked into the United States come from East Asia and the Pacific (5,000 to 7,000 victims).

The next highest numbers come from Latin America followed by Europe and Eurasia, with between 3,500 and 5,500 victims from each.

Estimates are that 30% of shelter youth and 70% of street youth are victims of

gave indication that they were in it due to some degree of force, such as kidnapping or violence by a pimp.

Pimps are men who seek out vulnerable victims, particularly runaways or children experiencing trouble at home. They find victims at a variety of venues such as in social net-working websites, shopping malls, and schools; on local streets; or at bus stations. They frequently pose as someone who is genuinely interested in the lives of the victims until they are viewed as caretaker and/or boyfriend, and then do they reveal their true intent making the victim feel entirely powerless.

For more information, visit: www.nhtrc.polarisproject.org.

Marlene shares her recent reads

Homer’s Illiad, translated by

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Robert Fagles

I just found this charming children’s book, which tells a Ukrainian folk tale and features delightful illustrations. Perhaps you’ll feel it a little odd reading it at the moment, since it is a winter tale. It will definitely make a cozy read-aloud during cooler weather.

Actually, I’m still slogging through the mini-book introduction. Our local book club chose this tome for our next meeting in August. Why did we do this to ourselves?

Ah, well. My exposure to really old, classic literature is in need of help. And, well, this should help.

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is a delightful companion book to The Mitten.

This book is considered to be a classic of American literature. Written in 1925, it is based in a set of characters on Long Island. The story is sobering, overwhelmed with dishonesty, moral decadence, tragedy and disillusionment. It’s not a pretty picture of society in the Jazz Age and it isn’t meant to be. Fitzgerald delves into the hollowness of the American Dream, but offers no hope since he has no framework for redemption.

A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two by William Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears,

Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller by Steve

and James Sears

This was also an audio book, following the pioneer work that Tarbell did in investigative journalism.

Her exposé of Rockefeller’s control of oil industry culminated in the Supreme Court’s antitrust decision in 1911. I’ve been surprised to learn a lot of local history through this book; I had no idea that northwest Pennsylvania figured into national history to such an extent. |

This is big book, full of information on a huge range of topics and questions. I like that the Sears are in the medical field but grounded through the experience of raising their own eight children. It’s also refreshing to read a book that recognizes that there is a great deal of flexibility in finding what works best for each parent and their children in their particular circumstances.

I listened to the audio book edition. This is not a Christian story and the characters do not uphold Christian principles.

Nevertheless, it’s the fascinating true story of the genius John Nash, who became schizophrenic at the age of thirty.

Astonishingly, he slowly emerged from decades of madness and went on to receive a Nobel Prize.

Weinberg

Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees, takes off his shoes—the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Beauty is God’s handwriting. Welcome it in every fair face, every fair day, every fair flower.

Charles Kingsley

embracingbeauty It was when I was happiest that I longed most. The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing to find the place where all the beauty came from.

C.S. Lewis

I am a hunter of beauty and I move slow and I keep the eyes wide, every fiber of every muscle sensing all wonder and this is the thrill of the hunt and I could be an expert on the ife full, the beauty meat that lurks in every moment. I hunger to taste life. God. Ann Voskamp

the team recommends

favorite Peaches and Cream Dessert

Strawberry Pie

3/4 c. flour 1 small box vanilla pudding mix 1 t. baking powder 1 egg, beaten 1/2 c. milk 3 T. butter, melted 2 c. chopped peaches (or a 16 oz. can, if you like) Blueberries, optional

2 cups sugar 4 cups water 3/4 cup clear jel or thermflo in water (mix till smooth) 1 small box strawberry jello 1 small box raspberry jellow 2 teaspoon lemon juice touch of salt touch of black pepper 3 baked pie shells

Topping: 1 egg, beaten 1 c. sour cream or plain yogurt Combine dry ingredients. Beat egg, milk, and butter together and mix well with dry ingredients. Throw in some blueberries, if you like and then spread into a greased 8" square pan. Sprinkle with the peaches. Combine topping ingredients and spread over peaches. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Enjoy with your favorite ice cream! ~Marlene

Bring sugar and water to a boil.

Add clear jel mixture, stirring while pouring into sugar and water.

Cook till thick (this will thicken quickly). Add both jellos, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add desired amount of strawberries.

Makes 3 pies. ~Carmie

Million Dollar Pound Cake

Cappucino Muffins

2 cups butter (no substitutes), softened 3 cups sugar 6 eggs 4 cups all-purpose flour ¾ cup milk 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 c. flour ¾ c. sugar 2 ½ t. baking powder 1 t. cinnamon ½ t. salt 1 c. milk 2 T. instant coffee granules ¾ c. mini chocolate chips ½ c. melted butter 1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Gradually add the sugar and beat well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Mix in the flour, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with flour, mixing just until each addition has been blended in. Stir in extracts. Pour batter into a greased and floured tube pan. Bake for approximately one hour and forty minutes or until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool in pan for fifteen minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. ~Brittany

Combine dry ingredients. In separate bowl, dissolve coffee in milk. Add melted butter and egg. Stir in dry ingredients and fold in chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 17-20 min. Yield: 2 dozen

Cream Cheese Topping: blend together 4 oz. cream cheese, 1 T. sugar, ½ t. instant coffee, and ¼ c. semi-sweet mini chocolate chips. Spread over muffins and enjoy! ~Rae

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close w x [klohz]

vb. - to bring the parts or edges together.