Seven days to go!

Today's walk will be Day 93.  I am so close to this goal and can hardly believe it! I do plan to keep walking after the 100 days are up...I cannot imagine a day without it now.  The stress relief and the pain relief I get from this simple daily walk is vital to my overall sense of well being.  Perhaps I'll add something new to my routine.  I have heard about a Zumba class here and am thinking about giving that a try!

Figuring out Facetime!

 

Last month I  figured out how to connect with Nathan on Facetime.  We use it to video chat with him as well as send messages.  We had not seen him since our family time back in June.  So seeing him on the video was truly a blessing.  For some reason Facetime works here in Belize but Skype doesn't.  

The thing I have not mastered yet is how to.take a screenshot using Tom's iPad.  I had to use my camera to get this shot of the screen!  Thankfully Nathan is coming to visit for Christmas so he can teach us more about what the iPad can do.

So what new things have you learned to do?!

thought for today...His Direction!

 

Being a follower is not always easy.  It means that someone else is in control.  Someone else is setting the pace. Someone else is charting the course.  Our Bible study group is working through a series based on the book Not a Fan.  The premise is about being a true, devoted, follower of Christ and not just a fan of his.  One of the first things we were challenged to do was to define our relationship with God.  We had to ask ourselves if we are a fan or a follower.  

The point for me was driven home on Sunday.  Pastor Han asked me if I would sing a hymn with him after his sermon.  The title of the song?  Where He Leads Me I Will Follow.  It was not a coincidence...I'm sure of that.  

I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my Savior calling,

"Take my cross and follow, follow Me."

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

Where He leads me I will follow,

I'll go with Him, with Him all the way.

As I have meditated on being a follower these past few days this song has been on my lips and in my heart.  Over the past 30 years Tom and I have been led from Kansas to California, from California to Russia, and from Russia to Belize.  And when I sang the words "I'll go with Him, with Him all the way" it brought tears to my eyes.  Because I am still willing to follow...wherever He leads...no matter where the path takes us.  

Now, I am not saying that everyone has to be willing to go to Russia and back because we are not all called to the exact same places.  Your path might lead to your neighbor's house, or to back to work, or to care for someone who is ill.  The point is being willing to follow His lead.  

                                May our desire be to follow His path every step of the way.

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Tasty Tuesday...Skillet Taco Pie

Saw this on Pinterest...I think it's time to give it a try!!

Click Here for the recipe.

Are you trying anything new this week?

the gift Genograms...

 

For the past six Saturdays 12 students have met weekly for the fourth semester of the Christian Counseling Class that Tom is teaching at Belize Bible Center.  This past Saturday we took our final exam.  After the exam was over there were three students who chose to do an extra credit project called a Genogram.

I chose not to take photos of the presentations because it felt too intrusive to do so.  These students were sharing difficult and private things about their families and it was evident that this was more than just another assignment...it was major step in their growth process.

The presenters came from three different people groups here in Belize and yet as we listened to each speaker common threads emerged.  They were each putting together family puzzles, uncovering patterns, evaluating what it all means, and determining that they will be the change-maker in their families...it was inspiring, amazing, and humbling to hear their stories.  I am grateful that I was in the room to share in those historic moments with each one of them.

As I continue to count the gifts that God has placed in our lives I will surely ponder that precious class time and treasure it in my heart.

1041.  students who give up their Saturday mornings
1042.  Tom being able to use his gifts of experience and knowledge to train others
1043.  being one of the 12 students
1044.  our time of fellowship when the exams and presentations were over!

Morality Matters

1045.  Amy returning to Belize to teach Morality Matters again for CDF
1046.  and the participants who came...it was great to see so many men in attendance

Pastor Han

1047.  Pastor Han's message from Mark 11.  Exhorting us to be like the colt...bearing burdens in service to the Lord where and when we are needed.

1048.  learning two new worship songs before the service began today.

1049.  eating, laughing, and hanging out as a church family after the worship service.  

If you would like to read posts from others in the gratitude community just click on the box below.

Sell Tacos, Not Children! Youth Fest

Help us spread the word!  

Buy, Sell, Trade in Belize...

I just learned that there is a Craigslist here in Belize! 

CraigslistBelize

After two years we are still discovering services we didn't know existed here.  How awesome is that?!

Thought for Today...Respecting our leaders and praying for them!

Congratulations to President Barack Obama!

Yahoo.com

Let everyone be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.  Romans 13:1-2 NIV

I pray that all who claim the name of Christ will choose not to denigrate our president any longer but will instead commit to praying for him.  God has appointed him for a second time as the President of the United States.  All throughout this election process the things I have read and heard Christians say about the president have truly hurt my heart.  I grew up in a military home.  The Commander in Chief was always respected by my father and mother no matter which party he was from.  I cannot even remember my father talking down President Nixon when everyone else around him was doing so.  His signature is on my dad's honorary discharge papers proudly on display in my parents home to this day.

President Obama needs our prayers not our insults or condemnation.  I know that as I write this there are those who are celebrating and those who are grieving. It is important to remember that God was in control these past four years and He will continue to be in control for the next four years and beyond.  There are devoted, Bible believing, Christians in both parties.  Christ is not fully represented by either party.

sojo.net

One party focuses on protecting the unborn and preserving the Biblical view of marriage.  The other party focuses on caring for the least of these...educating, feeding and providing medical care for the poor and disenfranchised.  All of which are godly values.  There is a great article I read entitled 7 Things Christians Need to Remember About Politics.  You can read it by clicking here.  As I read through it this quote stood out for me:

The political process is dirty and broken and far from Jesus. Paranoia and vitriol are hardly attractive accessories for the bride of Christ.  Rather than engage in the political process, Christians have a duty to elevate it. Like any other sin, we are called to stand above the partisan dissension and demonstrate a better way. Should we have an opinion? Yes. Should we care about our country? Yes. Should we vote? Yes. But it’s time we talk politics in a way that models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks them.

So whether you celebrate or grieve today...let's all pray together for the hearts of our government leaders on the national, state, and city levels.  And as believers let's remember to be loving, kind, and compassionate toward others no matter how we or they voted.

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mmm tasty...the juice chronicles!

Since our arrival to Belize two years ago we have tried a variety of fresh juices...

Papaya juice

Orange juice

Lime juice

Pitaya, the darker color, and watermelon

Pitaya, or dragonfruit as it is more commonly known, is considered a superfruit and supposedly has many health benefits.  It does not have much of a taste though.  For me it was like drinking purple koolaid that didn't have enough sugar mixed in.

Mangerine juice, a cross between tangerine and grapefruit

The mangerine juice was interesting...our waiter described the taste as a 'manly tangerine'.  And it was! 

When you come to Belize be sure to ask what fresh juices they have available and take a chance on something new.

the gift of Facebook statuses...

How many of your Facebook friends are using their statuses to express what they are grateful for? 

A number of my friends are doing it.  And their thanksgivings are such a joy to read.  Of course we all know that giving thanks does not have to be limited to month of November.  It can become a way of life.  Taking time to value the love gifts that God brings into our lives on a daily basis can transform the way we think.  It can breathe life into the spiritually stagnant areas of the heart. 

What are the treasures of daily life?  It can be something as simple as the laughter of a child, or the first taste of morning coffee (tea for me), or even your favorite song coming on the radio as you start the car.  It doesn't have to be a major event.  Sometimes the simpler the better. 

In the treasure box of this week I found:

1023.  the joy of having the DTS team from YWAM Banana Bank in our home.
1024.  cooking borscht for them and watching two large pots of soup, two and a half loaves of bread, two containers of sour cream, and three dozen cookies disappear.
1025.  sounds of hysterical laughter as we played games before dinner.
1026.  listening to them as they tried to learn a few Russian phrases.
1027.  the delight on Spencer's face as he shared our Russian experiences with his friends.
1028.  being able to order some gluten free cookies from a friend who was raising funds to help with a little girl's cancer treatments.
1029.  a counseling client expressing a desire to work specifically with me on a few issues.
1030.  being trusted with deep and painful memories in our counseling office.
1031.  new found confidence that comes from conquering all the excuses that I held dear as to why I couldn't possibly exercise everyday.
1032.  our supportive and loving church family.
1033.  seeing the progress being made on the church building project.
1034.  singing again
1035.  each moment we get to spend with having Meesha and Spencer here with us.
1036.  prayer time with the CDF team.
1037. 12 faithful students in Tom's counseling class at Belize Bible Center.
1038.  watching the teams on the Amazing Race find their way around sites in Istanbul.
1039.  looking back fondly on our time of being stranded in Istanbul as we waited for news on our Russian visas and realizing that it was a once in a lifetime gift.
1040.  knowing for certain that God closing the doors for us in Russia opened doors for us here in Belize.

If you would like to read posts from others in the gratitude community just click on the box below.

Morality Matters!

Morality Matters is coming back to Belize! 

If you would like to attend just call the office at 633-7010 to let us know you will be there.  

22 more days to go!

78 days ago I embarked on this challenge.  It is so weird to even say that number.  I have reached the point where the total number of days I have gone out to walk far outnumber the days I have left to go!  And I am shocked that I made it this far.  And to be honest none of the people that I began the challenge with were able to keep going.

I could have dropped out too.  But, I kept thinking that I would hang in there for as many days as I could until something got in the way.  I thought the weather would do it...but so far I have only walked in the rain three times...and this is the rainy season.  I thought maybe having guests or conferences would interfere but I was still able to get out there.

Perhaps it's because of the heaviness of our work load.  The things we hear in the counseling office are oftentimes overwhelming.  When I go out to walk I can leave all the stress out there.  As I lace up my shoes and then walk out the door I feel a lightness come over me.  If I am in a bad mood I know that walking will lift it.  If it's been a great day then the walk feels like the icing on the cake.  If I don't feel well physically walking relieves the pain.

I cannot imagine giving up this habit.  It has changed the way I feel, think, and look.  It has given me an inner confidence, shown me that I can accomplish a goal if I set my mind to it, and filled me with peace.   And for all of that I am so grateful.  22 more days to go!

Thought for today...Dance!

Because I know who He is and what He has done in my life...my heart dances with joy.  

Today I take delight in answered prayers.  The YWAM team's safe return from their outreach trip to Guatemala and all of our friends on are the east coast in the US made it safely through Hurricane Sandy.  

 

May we each dance with delight in Him and not be able to keep quiet about it!

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Blogger App

I just discovered that there is a Blogger app for my Galaxy Tablet!  I enjoy the convenience that using the Tablet provides.  I carry the Tablet around in my purse when I go out, so even on those occasions when I don't have my camera with me I can still snap a photo...

like this one I took in the car:

or this one when we went out to eat the other day:

I use several different apps already... my favorites are the YouVersion Bible and the Kindle apps.  I use both of them daily.  The Bible app is a perfect fit because I can easily switch from one book to the next or check out different versions of the same passage.  The Kindle app is great for reading when I am home or while standing in line somewhere like I did yesterday at the bank for a half hour.  I also use apps for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Gmail.

I am not sure how frequently I'll use this Blogger app because even though I was able to write this post using the app I could not schedule it to publish at a specific time or add more than one photo like I am used to doing from my laptop. So I had to do all the editing from the computer and not on the Tablet.  However, it sure is great to have the option if I am away from my computer and want to start a post or publish right away.

What apps do you use?

the gift of praise...

Yesterday I was blessed by the opportunity to sing with the worship team at our church here in Belize.  What a joy it was to glorify His name and lift up praises to Him in song!  It has been over two years since my time on the worship team in Russia.  And I missed those days more than I have dared to admit.  

One of the songs from the set list was Above All.  Singing it transported me to the Church of the Open Door back in Krasnodar where I learned to sing it.  For five years I thought it was a Russian worship song.  I didn't know the original text was in English. The first time I saw the words on a PowerPoint slide in English here I didn't even recognize the song.  It was not until the musicians began to play that I realized I knew the tune. 

It is so difficult to put into words the gratitude I felt yesterday as I sang. 

1018. I was grateful to have the chance to serve at church again.  

1019. I was grateful that my time in Russia taught me to sing harmony.  

1020. I was grateful that my first Sunday had me on a team with Pastor Han, Pastor Dan, Andy, and Johnny.

1021. I was grateful for the reminder of growing up with four brothers.

1022. And I was grateful that I felt 'at home' with them.   

Pastor Han's sermon yesterday was about serving.  Mark 10:45 reminds us that Christ didn't come to be served but TO serve.  Tom and I have had almost a full year of being served at Bethel.  It has been a wonderful place for us to get fed and refreshed for the work we do at the Child Development Foundation. However, it was definitely time for me to get back to serving at church...and I count it as a precious gift from God that the area of need I could fill was on the worship team.

If you would like to read posts from others in the gratitude community just click on the box below.

What's in the news in Belize?

Here are some of the news stories published by the various media outlets here in Belize:

(to read the stories just click on the titles below the photos)

Three Indian Nationals Disappear

Prison Officer Fined 10K for Weed Smuggling at Prison

Prominent Businessman Killed in Broad Daylight

Belize Needs to Prepare for a Larger Population of Older Persons

A Bible You Can Relate To

So other than politics...what's in the news where you live?

Road Closed...

No matter where we have lived in the world one thing has been consistent.  Road construction.  In Kansas, California, Russia, or here in Belize, a closed road is an inconvenience but a part of life nonetheless.  

I didn't have my camera with me so I had to use my Galaxy Tablet to capture the action on the street...

As we passed by this truck Tom noticed the sign on the side.  It says:

Owned by God
Managed by A & N Construction

We were grateful that our errands led us to walk this muddy road just so we could see this testimony!

thought for today...possibilities!

  

May we take our eyes off of the doubts we carry in our daily lives and shift our gaze onto Him.

linking up with:

Tasty Tuesday...Iced Chai Tea Latte

Gotta give this a try!!

I made the sweet cream last night.  Now I just have to find the Chai tea bags.

Click here for the recipe

counting beyond 1000 gifts...

What a week!!!  It was nice to have Monday off last week due to Pan America Day.  But, from that day on our schedule was packed.  No complaints here...just a report about that which we are so grateful for...

1001.  On Tuesday Tom was a guest on a local talk show called Divas Next Door.  The topic was self-esteem.

1002.  Many women sent in texts with questions or comments and Tom was able to address several issues that can affect how women see themselves...one big topic was forgiveness.  He was asked to come back again next month!

1003.  On Wednesday I led our women's Bible study in a lesson on God's love.  The ladies really dig into the word and everyone contributed with questions and comments making it a lively morning.  

1004.  I enjoy having different churches represented in our women's group and seeing the Belizean and American ladies all coming together in unity.

1005.  Tom's new glasses arrived!

1006.  fresh juice!  The darker one is pitaya and the lighter is watermelon.

1007.  we found a new restaurant...the food was tasty and the service was great!  

1008.  As we gathered for prayer at CDF on Thursday we also had time to discuss the feedback from the Women's Conference.  We heard stories of healing, breakthroughs, and new realizations about self and God.    

1009.  Even with all of the rain there were still 12 students in class on Saturday morning.

1010.  though the rain came down hard on Sunday it was still a blessing to spend time in worship and hear Pastor Han's message.

1011.  as the torrent of rain fell Tom reminded me that we lived through snow coming down that hard in Russia...we are grateful that it does not get cold enough here in Belize for that to happen!

1012.  marveling at the power of God seen in nature yesterday...all of this water accumulated during the two hours we were in church!

1013.  Gathering with a group of friends to eat lunch together after church.

1014.  Talking on the phone with Spencer and Meesha and being able to hear about how the DTS Outreach in Guatemala is going.  It was so wonderful to hear their voices.

1015.  chatting with Nathan about Rowdy...his new kitten.

1016.  A break in the rain that allowed me to get my walk in yesterday.

And the best news of all...

1017.  Hearing that a boy who been reported missing by the Jasmine Alert was found!

I hope that you take time to ponder the gifts and treasures you experienced last week.  

There is always something to be grateful for!

If you would like to read posts from others in the gratitude community just click on the box below.