the gifts of Tuning In...

CDF had such a great turn out on Saturday.  30 pastors and youth workers showed up for the seminar.  Many of them had never attended a CDF event before and it was exciting to see new faces and make new connections here in Belize.  

The three speakers for the day, Diana, Tom, and Jadine, covered several topics; what sexual abuse is, reporting requirements and laws, the effects of abuse and how to help, and how to talk to young people about sexual issues.  We were impressed with the types of questions that were asked throughout the day and the strategies that the small groups came up with for dealing with children, parents, the police, and the church.  

God truly blessed this event and we pray that lives will be touched through the educational efforts of CDF and through the participants as they use what they learned!

As I reflect on our weekend I have these gifts to cherish:

651.  The well used Bible of a youth leader...


652.  lively small group discussions...

653.  listening to the various groups make their strategy presentations...

 

654.  Tom teaching on the effects of abuse...
655.  and how to help


656.  a child who was able to occupy herself while her mother attended the seminar...

 

Gifts from the week:


657.  a friend of Tom's stopping by to play in the office

658.  stepping out to learn Spanish.

659.  enjoying time with my classmates.

660.  understanding that mastering Spanish would allow us to work with Spanish speaking clients without needing an interpreter.

661.  working on articles for the CDF blog.

662.  a change in my diet that gives me more energy and less pain.

663.  the gift of surrendering to the discipline of eating to feel better.

664.  Listening to my brother's reports on KFDI as he was out chasing tornadoes in Kansas on Saturday.

665.  talking with my parents in Wichita and knowing they are safe.  They had a small amount of water leak into the basement and nothing else.  

666.  the technology that allowed me to stream a Kansas radio station online here in Belize.

667.  an inspiring and challenging message from Pastor Dan on Sunday about the purpose of suffering along with Philip's presentation on the persecuted church.

668.  a quote from Sunday's message:  Being religious is easy...being a Christian is hard."

and some gifts found during my time in the Word:

669.  He will not leave us as orphans  John 14:18

670.  His example of humility  Philippians 2:5-8

671.  His word equips us to work for Him  2 Timothy 3: 16-17

672.  He prayed for us John 17:20

673.  He nailed that which stood against us to the cross Colossians 2:13-15

 joining in with the gratitude community:

Tune In!

If you are looking for us on Saturday this is where we will be! 

Tom is one of the speakers for this one day event sponsored by CDF to train Youth Pastors and Youth Workers.   Please pray for those who will attend and for all of the people who are working to make this event a success.  And for all who take part in the seminar to come away feeling more equipped to handle emergency situations with their youth.

If you are here in Belize and work with youth come on out and join us!

30 Inspirational quotes from Dr. Suess...

Who doesn't love Dr Suess?!  

His books have been read by millions and his words can inspire us to try new things, or think in new ways, or even go new places.  Honestly, I don't think I really 'got' Dr. Suess when I was a kid.   But, I get him now.  One of my favorite quotes is #17 "a person's a person, no matter how small".  I'll be thinking about this today as we are in the counseling office working with those who have been mistreated and abused. 

 #14 was part of our homeschooling philosophy...we wholeheartedly believed in the importance of knowing how to learn.  And  hopefully we instilled that in our sons.  And I can remember quoting #18 to my kids a lot when they were small...actually I think my mother may have even said it long before I knew Dr. Suess did! 

So which one is your favorite?  

Are you getting tired of doing good?

 

Galatians 6:9 encourages us to keep on pressing on when we feel weary.  The harvest comes at the proper time.  Not in our time but in His.  This doesn't mean that I have to work myself ragged without any rest.  I am allowed to take much needed breaks.  Tom and I were grateful for the days off that we had over the Easter holiday.  But, taking those days off did not indicate that we were giving up.  It was simply a time to recharge and unwind a bit.  

Even when our hearts are in the right place and we are living out our purpose we can still grow weary at times.  Doing good can get tedious, feel overwhelming, and we may even think that we are not making any headway for all of our efforts...and yet...His word says we will reap a harvest "if" we do not give up. 

May you find the strength, encouragement and determination to hang in there.  The harvest is on the way!  

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Cream Cheese Pancakes...

Are you looking for gluten free or low carb pancakes?  If so, you should give these a try!

One of the articles I read on Fibromyalgia and diet suggested that some of us with fibromyalgia could benefit from a gluten free diet.  Before making a complete switch I decided to do some research to see what I could and couldn't eat.  

I started a collection of gluten free recipes on Pinterest and this one sounded like a winner.  The recipe was very easy to follow and the pancakes very simple to make.  Well, I take that back... I did find them a little difficult to flip at first and it took a few pancakes for me get the hang of it.

You can find the original recipe here.  Being outside of the US it is not always easy to find specialty ingredients, like Stevia, as the recipe calls for.  So I used cane sugar instead and added vanilla.  So my recipe is this:

Cream Cheese Pancakes

2 ounces of cream cheese

2 eggs

1 tsp of cane sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Put all ingredients in the blender or (use a stick blender) and blend until smooth.  Let rest until the bubbles settle.  Pour desired amount of mix into a hot pan, lightly greased, or sprayed with cooking spray.  Cook a few minutes until golden on the first side and then flip and cook for another minute or so.  Makes 4 medium sized pancakes.

***

I read through some of the comments on the original recipe post and saw that others had made modifications to the recipe as it suited them. One person used mascarpone cheese and protein powder which she said made them a little fluffier.  Another person used honey instead of the stevia.   Some people omitted the sugar altogether.  I may play around with the recipe a bit more myself.  I liked them but wanted the texture to be more like a traditional pancake.  These were more like a crepe to me.  I may try adding a bit of rice flour in my next batch and see how that turns out.  

If you give them a try or have other suggestions let me know!

The gifts of Holy Week...

How was your Holy Week? 

 The CDF office closed last Monday and does not reopen until tomorrow so we are still enjoying a much needed break.  Our time off for the Easter holiday began with a one day trip to Chetumal, Mexico and it will end today with a quiet day at home.  As I think about all this week held for us I am truly grateful.

629.  after several attempts to photograph a truck filled with sugarcane as they barreled down the highway we finally saw one parked on the side of the road!  So grateful that it was there to pose for me.

630.  being able to negotiate the traffic in Chetumal, Mexico (just across the border from Belize)

631.  meeting up with Celina and Paulino, who live in Chetumal, to see The Hunger Games after our time of shopping for much needed supplies.

632. the joy of laughing together at the teen age girls who sighed and awed all through the movie.  

633.  Paulino, Tom and Spencer tolerating the movie even though Bruce Willis was not in it!

634.  seeing a black jaguar walk right in front of the car after crossing back over into Belize.

635.  the unforgettable chill that went down my spine as I was eye to eye with that magnificent animal.

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636.  a quiet Tuesday with no demands.

637.  spending time in the hair salon on Wednesday and enjoying the air conditioning for a few hours.

638.  Bible study and time discussing the word in our small group. 

639.  finding out that Meesha will be coming from India to stay with us for a while.

640. Good Friday sunset over Patty and Max's property after a time of prayer and blessings over their land.

641.  relaxing and laughing at a cookout on Saturday so much that I forgot to take photos!  

642.  Easter Sunday blessing...the children singing Amazing Grace!

                                                                                                                         

                                   
643.  Samantha's heartwarming voice lifting us all up in Him.
644.  being able to sing a solo at church for the first time since leaving Russia almost two years ago.
645.  Pastor Dan calming my nerves about singing by reminding me that we are all family.
646.  a potluck meal after church in the home of gracious couple who took in more than 30 of us.
647.  chatting with Toni and hearing about how she and Dan came to Belize.
648.  the gift of redemption and the sacrifice of Christ.
649.  the gift of being reconciled to God by Christ's work on the cross.
650.  the gift of an empty tomb...and a Risen Lord!

 joining in with the gratitude community:

Thought for Today...Crucified with Christ

This photo features a 'found' cross... what I mean is that the photo is actually of the crossbars in a window and not a 'real' cross.  Have you ever seen a cross like that?  You know, one that is formed by the intersection of two objects or by looking at an item in a certain way.   Our lives are like that sometimes.  We mean for it to be one way but how it looks to someone else might be different.  This verse reminds me that my life as a believer is not my own.  I no longer live for my own purposes and goals but for His.  It is not about me but all about Him.

I wish I could do this perfectly.  

But, I can't.  I mean...I know I am capable of it...we all are through Him.  But on my own... self gets in the way.  There are still days when my desires conflict with His desires.  There are days when I would rather not hear about the heartache someone is facing.  Days when I want to bury my head in the pillow and pretend that bad things don't happen to children or to women.  Days when I don't want to be Christ with skin on for someone else.  But, the reality is that bad things happen.  There is darkness that needs to be overcome with light.  And people need the Lord.  So that means that people like me and you need to represent Him as best we can.

As a believer I need to allow His life, His light, and His love to flow through me.  We all do.  If all of us together made sure that Christ was living through us and in us, through our words, our actions and our desires...this world would be a better place for us all.

This week as we prepare for Good Friday and for Resurrection Day may we be aware of what it truly means to be crucified with Him.

Let us meditate together on these words:

I have been crucified with Christ

 and I no longer live, 

but Christ lives in me.  

The life I live in the body,

 I live by faith in the Son of God,

 who loved me and gave Himself for me.  

Galatians 2:20

and may we choose to live in such a way that when people look at us...they see Him.

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Trying Something New...Mini German Pancakes

These mini German pancakes look so yummy...I am thinking we will have to give these a try today!!

You can find the recipe here.

What new recipe are you trying this week??

Counting Palm Sunday Blessings...

Yesterday was such a great day for us...how about you?

It is after midnight and I am trying to write this and still get to bed early enough to get some sleep before we leave for Mexico in the morning.  Last year we learned that Belize shuts down for Holy Week.  Businesses close down, school is out for the next two weeks, and this is the time when people travel to see family or just to take a break.  Our office is closed this week so we have time to take a day trip across the border to pick up a few things that we need at Walmart and even see a movie.  

As I continue to count the gifts that God graces our lives with...I have these to add:

Palm Sunday Blessings

601.  A full house at church...all the seats were taken and some had to sit on tables at the back.
602.  Pastor Dan preached a great message on prayer from Colossians 1:9-14

603.   lack of electricity cannot stop His message from going forward.  It is fairly common for the electricity to go out for a while here.  So Pastor Dan just kept on speaking and when the worship team came back up the keyboard player just switched to the piano.  Such is life in the jungle!

604.  After the service we attended a baptism...and that was truly the highlight of the day.
605.  the rain stopped and the sun came out just in time...

606.  scripture read aloud...poolside.

607.  hearing Mary's confession of faith in Spanish...

608.  Phillip and Maritza, husband and wife, performing the baptism together.

609.  the joy on her face when it is over!

610.  meeting Johnny and Jill's family pet, Brownie, a coatimundi.

   

and gifts from our daily life:

611.  texting with Spencer and Nathan
612.  the prayers of caring friends when I am laid low with the pain of fibromyalgia
613.  rain that brings cool breezes
614.  working with Tom in the counseling office
615.  seeing the bravery of those who run from domestic violence
616.  sitting with those who need to see Christ with skin on
617.  Tom's artwork filling our home
618.  Harley keeping our house safe
619.  finding popcorn in the stores again
620.  fresh cut watermelon
621.  the smell of ripe pineapples

 and gifts found in the word:

622.  His spirit lives within us 1Corinthians 3:16

623.  He meets all of our needs  Philippians 4:19

625.  His sacrifice and provision for us  Romans 8:32

626.  His help in temptation Hebrews 2:18

627.  He provides rest for the weary and burdened  Matthew 11:28-30

628.  He makes the impossible possible Luke 18:27

 joining in with the gratitude community:

What's in the news in Belize?

Man Caught Allegedly Trying to Traffic a Teenaged Girl 

53 year-old Jose Alfaro, a Guatemalan businessman of Ladyville, was arraigned for attempting to commit human trafficking when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith.

It is alleged that sometime between February 22 and March 16 of this year, and on March 17, he tried to recruit a 16 year-old female minor to become a prostitute in his bar in Ladyville.

Alfaro pleaded not guilty to two counts of the same charge, but he couldn't be granted bail because the prosecutor objected on several grounds.


The prosecutor told the court that Alfaro is a flight-risk because he is a Guatemalan national. Secondly, the prosecutor asked the court to consider the serious nature of the crime, its penalties, and the age of the victim. He also objected to bail on the grounds that he may be able to interfere with the victim and the witnesses.


After considering the prosecutor's objections, Chief Magistrate Smith remanded Alfaro to prison and adjourned the matter until April 26.

Legalize it!  Regional Security Meeting Discusses Drugs 

A regional security meeting was held over the weekend in Guatemala. It was billed as a summit but only two heads of government attended. 


Panama’s president Ricardo Martinelli and Costa Rica’s President Laura Chinchilla were in Antigua for the meeting. Belize was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington and Minister of National Security John Saldivar. Representatives from Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua also attended the meeting which was chaired by Guatemala’s President Otto Perez Molina. 


The meeting was proposed by Perez Molina to legalize drugs in the region as part of a regional security plan. The Guatemalan president proposed several options for dealing with drug-related violence in Central America, including creating a regional court to try drug trafficking cases, getting economic compensation from the United States for seized drugs and decriminalizing the transport and consumption of drugs. 


Panama’s president said that the proposal deserved more consideration and analysis. The leaders did not come to an agreement during Saturday’s meeting but Perez Molina described the summit as a success. Elrington and Saldivar have returned to the country, but we have not confirmation as to what position Belize took at the meeting.




Taxicab Operator Propositions Female Passenger

Lincoln Miguel, 38, a taxicab driver of Belize City, was today brought before Magistrate Hettie-Mae Stuart to answer charges of unlawful imprisonment and common assault.
  
It is alleged that on March 20, 2012, a 23- year-old female left her home and caught Miguel’s taxi, a grey Honda Civic bearing license plates #D6733, and asked to be taken to her work.
  
Whilst en route to her work, Miguel told her that he wouldn’t take her to work; that was when he asked her how much money she made and propositioned that he would pay her that amount of money if she stayed with him.
  
The female, who became fearful for her life, managed to jump out of the moving vehicle and run into her work place as the car was passing by.
  
No plea was taken from Miguel, but he was offered bail of $6,000 and a “suitable surety”; the bail was offered under the condition that he does not interfere with the complainant, her family or any of the prosecution witnesses.
  
Miguel could not make bail and was remanded to prison until his trial. The case was adjourned to May 2, 2012.

How many Belizeans are on Facebook?

Source

Have you ever thought about how many people use Facebook in the country where you live?  Belize ranks #157 out of 213 countries on Facebook.  To find out if there are Facebook statistics for your country you can check here:  Facebook Statistics.

This chart breaks it down by the age of Facebookers here in Belize:

Tom and I are part of the 5 % of Facebook users in Belize between the ages of 45-54.  It is not surprising that the majority of users are in the 18-24 bracket.  We started using Facebook when our sons were teenagers.  And now it is a way for us to connect not just with them, but with family and friends back home in the states and around the world.  

After reading these graphics I remembered that the Belize Census information that I posted back in November showed that 26% of Belizeans have computers and only 23% of Belize's population have internet access.  However, there are also internet cafes throughout the country and in Belmopan you can use the internet while you dine at the Bull Frog Inn or between classes at the University of Belize.  And some people have internet access on their cellphones.  Over at the iBelmopan blog they figured out that 90% of Belize's internet users are on Facebook.  That number is not at all surprising...it seems that everyone we know who uses the internet here in Belize has a Facebook account.  

So how about you...are you on Facebook?

thought for today...let's go to Mercy's place

This photo was taken last year in Orange Walk.  We went there for both of us to speak at a Youth Rally put on by CDF.  On our way home we stopped at this street side stand to pick up some tacos.

The name Mercy's Place struck a chord with me.  I want to be in that place.  The place of God's mercy.  His mercy is a precious gift which is not based on what we do or don't do.  It is completely up to His discretion whom He chooses to grace with His mercy.

We are seeing some clients in severely difficult situations right now...and we find ourselves calling out to God for mercy on their behalf.  Some are finding relief.  But, a few are feeling the heat turned up even higher as they are caught in the wake of someone's sinful choices.  And yet we know that God is faithful.  And in His time He will set them free.

Meanwhile...we keep praying...we keep crying out to Him.  And we keep trusting Him for mercy.

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Sugarcane and peanuts...an afternoon snack!

Frequently when we are in the office at CDF there is a man who comes by selling sugarcane and peanuts.  We have always smiled at him and said  "no, thank you".  On this particular day we decided to say "yes".

Tom and I are not new to seeing peanuts in the shell so we didn't need a tutorial on how to eat them.  But, neither one of us had ever tried sugarcane before so we had to ask what to do.  One of the girls in the office, Shelly,  taught us to just chew on the sugarcane but not actually eat it.  She even claimed it was good for cleaning your teeth.  Her statement made me curious about the benefits to eating sugarcane...so I turned to Google to investigate.

According to LIVESTRONG.com

Raw sugarcane has fewer calories than refined sugar and contains no saturated fat, cholesterol or sodium. Per teaspoon, raw sugarcane provides 2 percent of the daily value for carbohydrates needed for muscles and brain cells. Sugarcane's juice is a source of iron for the production of hemoglobin; B vitamins, especially niacin and B-6; and calcium, magnesium and phosphorus for strong bones and potassium, essential for the proper functioning of the body's cells, tissues and organs.

And the article goes on to say "that antioxidants in some sugarcane concentrates exceed that of many existing commercial antioxidant supplements and many natural foods including prunes and raisins".

I really love it that we enjoyed something fun to eat, lightly sweet, and that it is actually good for you.

Mementos make a house a home...

We have been in this house for over a year.   

Usually it takes me much longer than 12 months to make a 'nest'.  Growing up in a military family I got used to moving around.  And Tom and I have also made our share of moves over the 30 year life of our marriage.  

This weekend we realized that we needed to get some personal items on the walls and truly make this house a home.  We don't own much...the boxes we packed  up in Russia and will never receive contained many of the gifts and treasures from our travels. 

But, I still have a few crosses.  Enough to call a collection. 
And we have the gift of memories that no one can ever steal from us.

As I continue counting to One Thousand Gifts I choose to add these blessings to my list:

582. the gift of precious moments and the memories we share as a family.

583.  a treasure from island of Cyprus made by the ladies of Lefkara

584.  remembering time spent in Rome babysitting for a dear friend

585.  collecting bamboo on the shore during our 30th Anniversary trip to Maya Beach

 

586.  the incredible depth of His Amazing Grace

587.  a precious treasure given to Tom by Alexei before we left Russia

588.  Tom helping me with repairing the cross I made

and a few gifts from daily life:

589.  Going out for ice cream with Gene and Liz after Bible study Wednesday evening.

590.  Lunch with Patty and Max after church on Sunday.

591.  Enjoying an episode of Amazing Race with Tom and Spencer that was filmed in Azerbaijan.

592.  sunsets that take my breath away.

and gifts found in the Word:

593.  He will strengthen us when needed Isaiah 41:10

594.  His goodness 1 Chronicles 16:34

595.  His righteousness  Psalm 7:17

596.  that He increases the power of those who are weak Isaiah 40:28-29

597.  His perfect faithfulness  Isaiah 25:1

598.  that He watches over us  Psalm 121

 599.  He knows us intimately Psalm 139:1-5, 13

600.  that His promises never fail  Joshua 23:14

 joining in with the gratitude community:

My cross broke

Now, I realize that there may be a great spiritual application to the title of this post... but today... it really is about a craft item and not about my walk with the Lord. 

It is a simple styrofoam form covered with twine and embellished with a charm from an old necklace.  But, I made it...so it was special to me.  I had it on my dresser because I was still deciding where the best place would be to display my creation.  One morning I knocked it over.  And it broke.  

At first I couldn't decide how to make the needed repairs..   I mean, I didn't have a lot of experience with styrofoam.  My first thought was to heat up my glue gun and see what I could do.

 

Tom suggested using toothpicks to reinforce the area before I glued it back together.


and it worked out perfectly!
 

I am so glad to have him on my team!

How much sugar are you consuming?

Source

Have you seen this chart on Pinterest? 

I am fascinated by the comparisons.  But, each time I look at it I end up wanting to eat something sweet.  Sugar has always been my weakness...and my goodness that Cinnabon Cinnamon roll looks good. But, it is more likely that I will eat watermelon or some pineapple because there are no Cinnabon stores in Belize!

Is there anything on this chart that surprised you?

thought for today...

This photo was taken near a waterfall on the grounds of Cisco Citrus.  We had to cross over this bridge to walk up to where the fall is located.  Keeping our feet on the path was important but also difficult.  The bridge was slippery.   It was an unexpected stop for us so we were not dressed for a hike.  But, God protected us.  No one slipped.

I know that there are times when God's hands are on us, guiding us, directing us, and we may not even realize it.  But on this occasion God's literal protection and care was evident to us all.  We stuck to the path that was laid out for us and we all made it safely to the waterfall and back.

Praise God for the faithfulness of His word!

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