Kids On Mission

Check this out:  http://kidsonmission.org/stories/default.asp  

Then scroll down and click on the pic. of Hannah.  Thanks Kids On Mission for doing this video and the story attached to it.

Hannah's First Snow!

Since we live in Zambia,  Hannah has never had the opportunity to see snow.  This past Sat. Justin was visiting my parents about one hour away and he called and said it was snowing there.  Shortly after that, Zach called and said it was snowing at Liberty too.  Hannah was so disappointed because it was not snowing here.  Then about 15 min. later we went to look out the window and it was snowing.  She was so excited!!  She ran outside without a coat and at first just stood there looking at it with a big smile on her face.  These are some of the pictures I took of her as she enjoyed this "First."  Of course, she is hoping for about 3 feet of snow at some point while we are here.  So for those of you who live near us, sorry, because she is praying for it to happen!

tasting it on her tongue

World AIDS Day Dec. 1st

Today is World Aids Day, Dec. 1st.  This pandemic may not have affected your life directly but I'm asking you to please consider the suffering of those who are impacted by this disease every day.

You can make a difference!!  

1-Pray for a cure for HIV/AIDS that would be readily available worldwide.

2-Pray for ministries who are on the front lines, caring for the sick and the orphans left behind as families are devastated by AIDS.

3-Pack an In Home Care Kit-this is a hospice care kit packed in a 5 gallon bucket that gives hope and dignity to someone who is terminally ill......and most importantly gives them the opportunity to see and hear God's love for them.

Please look in my sidebar and watch the short video done by BGR about AIDS in South Africa and a certain ministry that is trying to do all they can to help these people.  
For further information please visit:  http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/new/

These are real children, not unlike your own – who laugh and smile and have hopes and dreams.  Thanks for giving us the opportunity to bring their world a little closer to yours.

50 Years On Mission With God in Zambia

The Baptist Mission of Zambia

is celebrating

50 years on Mission with God

In Zambia

Monday, 29 November 2010

10.00 – 12.00 hours

We are so excited that tomorrow our mission will be celebrating the last 50 years of mission work in Zambia.  There will be a program and a reception afterwards.  We sure wish we could be there to celebrate with our mission family and Zambian brothers and sisters in Christ but of course we are here in America right now.  Please pray with us for this day of Thanksgiving tomorrow.  We thank God for His blessings and leadership these last 50 years and are excited about how He is going to continue to work in the future.

Birthdays and Fall Fun!

 Yesterday was Kevin's birthday.  After he took his comprehensive exam for 6 hours it was time for some fun!  He opened presents and then we went to Kabuki Japanese Steak Restaurant.  The food and the show were so good!

Kevin opening presents.

Kevin's parents got him a leaf blower.

Here we are at the restaurant.

This was the man that fixed all of our yummy food.

Zach

Just check out the plate of rice!!  Thankfully, we got two meals for the price of one because we brought home enough leftovers for another whole meal!

These sweet women came and sang happy birthday to Kevin in Japanese.  They also brought him a little bowl of ice cream.

This past weekend we celebrated my father and Kevin's birthday in Elon.  Kevin was able to go to a Elon football game with my dad.  Then the girls went to see my niece compete in a gymnastics meet.  Here are some pics. below.

Sarah and Justin

Zach and Sarah playing a hand game.

Zach and Sarah riding the four wheeler.

Hannah and Justin playing in the leaves.

Zach took Hannah for a ride and she loved it!

Kevin and my dad.

Justin and Zach

Micaela, Hannah, and Macey enjoying a cupcake after her gymnastics meet.

After dinner my dad and Kevin opened presents.

my parents got him a drill

American Culture and Discontentment

The story is told of a wealthy American investment banker.  He was at a pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.  Inside the boat were several large yellow fin tuna.  The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."  The American then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish.  The Mexican told him he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.  The American wasn't satisfied.  He asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"  The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife Maria, and I stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos.  I have a full and busy life."
The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you.  You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds you should buy a bigger boat.  With the proceeds of the bigger boat you could buy several boats.  Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.  Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery.  You would control the product, processing, and distribution.  You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City then go to Los Angeles and eventually to New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But what then?"  The American laughed and said, "That's the best part.  When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich.  You would make millions!"  "Okay," the fisherman said, "I'll make millions.  And then what?"
The American said, "This is the really good part.  You would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, and take a siesta with your wife.  In the evenings you could stroll into the village to sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."


Discontentment is what ails us in America.  We are rarely satisfied or fulfilled.  We believe that if we had just a little bit more, we would feel complete.  America is a culture of accumulation.  It seems like we are always trying to make our lifestyles better: upgrading our stuff like our computers, our homes, our cars, etc.  We have closets full of clothing, but nothing to wear.  Commercials make us believe that there is just one more thing we need to be made whole.  Discontentment drives our economy.  Discontentment causes us to look for all the right things in all the wrong places.  It feeds most every sin.  For example, when we are discontented with food it can lead to obesity.  Discontentment with money can lead to greed, workaholism, gambling, theft, and cheating.  Discontentment with things can lead to materialism, debt, bankruptcy, selfishness, and jealousy.  Discontentment with circumstances can lead to worry, stress, anxiety, and fear.  Discontentment with your spouse can lead to divorce and lust.   It causes us to try to squeeze more out of something than what that something was intended by God to provide.   
The opposite of discontentment is contentment, which means being satisified and fulfilled no matter what the circumstances.  The bible teaches us the secret to being content.  Paul says in Phil. 4:10-13,  "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  
I wonder how many of us believe that we have learned the secret of being content?  More often than I would like to admit I wonder if I have learned this secret.  Whenever I get an advertisement from a clothing store, visit in beautiful homes, or watch commercials on tv I can be tempted to be discontent.  Contentment is found in something that is not contingent on circumstances.  In these verses Paul is saying that he has learned the secret of being content.  It isn't based on how much stuff I have or how much money I have in the bank. 
The source of Pauls contentment is found in Phil. 4:13 which says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  Then in Phil. 4:19 he says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  Paul was content through his relationship with Jesus Christ.  He found in Jesus every resource he needed to find satisfaction.  Which do you think is harder?  Finding contentment in Christ when you have everything or finding it when you have very little?  I think one reason the poor are more receptive to the gospel is because they can discern sometimes more clearly their need for Jesus.  They have already been looking outside of themselves for the things they need.

I think the lesson we should take from this is that if you do not have Jesus, you will not find permanent contentment.   Like Paul, we can do all things through Jesus Christ.  As you read this, ask yourself, "Have I discovered the secret of contentment?"  Jesus is the person in whom to begin your search for the secret of contentment.  If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus and would like to know how to find that contentment just write me in the comment section and I'll write you back.

Answered Prayer

Thank you to all who prayed for Kevin as he took his German test last week.  He passed it!  Now, he is studying to take his Comprehensive Exam on the 23rd of Nov. which just happens to be his birthday.  This exam is 6 hours long!  Then on the 8th of Dec.(Hannah's birthday) he will take his Oral exam which will hopefully only be a couple of hours.  Please continue to pray for him as he studies and prepares for these 2 big exams. 

What is Stateside Assignment?

Stateside Assignment is what used to be called "furlough."  So what do we do while we are in the states?  For the most part, we try to educate the local SBC church on our people groups and our work.  We visit churches and tell them about all that we do and challenge them to get involved by praying, giving, and going themselves.  Especially, during this time of the year we are traveling a lot and speaking in many churches to help promote the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  You can check in my sidebar and click on Who was Lottie Moon if you do not know who she was and why we as Southern Baptists take up this offering.  Above is a recent picture of Kevin and I at a missions fair that we attended.  We set up a table with some things from Zambia and information about our work and then talked with people who were interested in hearing about what God is doing in our part of the world.
Another part of "stateside assignment" is that we have to get medical clearance to go back to Zambia.  So, we have lots of physicals to complete and make sure we are healthy.
Kevin also is still doing his job that he does in Zambia from here.  He is now in  more of an administrative position so he spends a lot of time on skype and by email with our missionaries.  He is also working on his PHD while we are here in the states so that is taking a lot of his time as well. 
Lastly, we get to enjoy spending time with family and friends whom we haven't seen in 4 1/2 years.  Perhaps the hardest thing about being a missionary is being separated from our families for so long.  What a blessing it is for us that we can have time with them for a while.  Of course, we also enjoy the comforts of living in America-eating out, shopping, fast internet, and having plenty of entertainment at our fingertips.
Do we miss Zambia??  You bet we do!!  But for now we will enjoy our time in the states until March when we go back.
Please pray for us that our time in the states would be fruitful, restful, and anything else that God wants it to be!
Also, you can check out in my sidebar under "Favorite Links" for other information about Lottie Moon and what the offering goes to support.