Well, 'twas not the year for Peanut Butter Fudge. Mine apparently did not impress the judges, but my sister-in-law beat me hands down. She made butterscotch fudge and not only got 1st place in that category, but Grand Champion for the candy category. But I can't think of a better person to 'beat' me!! I told her she could win THIS year, but if she wins next year....watch out!!!
One of Billy's photos got 2nd place (it's the one of downtown Chicago) but none of the rest placed. I guess you never know what the judges are looking for from year to year. It was fun to try though.
I do have another 'chance' to get a ribbon; I am going on Tuesday to participate in the "Grandparents Cookie Contest". (yeah, I can do that now!!!) I am making no-bake cookies so we'll see how they do.
We are taking some International students Tuesday evening; we hope to get at least 15 to go. I think they will have a good time and get to see some things they wouldn't normally see in their own countries. I will be posting pictures.
Then we put our focus on school starting once again; Christopher will start marching band camp on Monday, and that will continue until the week school starts. He is the only senior in the trombone section this year, so he will get to be 'section leader'. I think he is excited about that. Seems like only yesterday he was a 'lowly' freshman!!
Please keep our music minister in your prayers; he found out this last week that he is diabetic and has high blood pressure. Ministry can be stressful enough without having medical conditions to worry about!!!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
It's Fair Time in the Ozarks!!
It's almost time for the annual Ozark Empire Fair. For those who are reading this who don't live here, it's one of the largest county fairs in Missouri. Billy & I actually had one of our first dates at the fair. A few years ago one of Billy's sisters convinced me to enter exhibits in the fair. She is a GREAT cook, and had been entering breads, cakes, cookies for a while. A few years ago I made up my own peanut butter fudge modifying a recipe found on a marshmellow creme jar. Everybody raved about it, so my sister-in-law suggested I enter my fudge into the fair. Make fudge in the SUMMER?? I only made it at Christmas!
So I thought...okay...I'll go for it. The first year I tried was in 2000; I got 3rd place!! I was hooked!
I missed 2001, but entered in 2002, 2003, and 2005. The last 3 times I actually placed 1st in that particular fudge category, and got Champion in the Candy category all 3 times as well! I missed entering last year, so I let someone else win. =)
This year me and that same sister-in-law will be competing against each other in the Candy category; which wasn't planned, but it'll be fun!! We both have 3 chances to win, so who knows!! And I entered a new category for me this year; Grandparents Cookie Contest. Sydney is old enough to eat my cookies, so I thought why not?? The judges are kids, so we'll see. They judge those during the fair, which means you get to enter and get judged the same day.
Billy also entered photos this year in the Photography category; they are below. It's a little bit more expensive to enter photos because you have to have them printed to 8X10 size, and matted. He entered 9 photos this year in various categories. The photo category is very popular, with over 2,000 photos entered! I wouldn't want to be a Judge for that!! Billy has entered and placed in the past, but hasn't been able to enter for the last few years. So we'll see how it goes this year! Our daughter entered some photos as well.
This is just a little bit of 'fun' we get to have before school starts again and things get really crazy. It's also a great opportunity to take some of the International Students to see something they wouldn't normally see in their own countries. Good Ole' County Fairs!!! Corn Dogs, root beer, cotton candy and wild carnival rides!!
So I thought...okay...I'll go for it. The first year I tried was in 2000; I got 3rd place!! I was hooked!
I missed 2001, but entered in 2002, 2003, and 2005. The last 3 times I actually placed 1st in that particular fudge category, and got Champion in the Candy category all 3 times as well! I missed entering last year, so I let someone else win. =)
This year me and that same sister-in-law will be competing against each other in the Candy category; which wasn't planned, but it'll be fun!! We both have 3 chances to win, so who knows!! And I entered a new category for me this year; Grandparents Cookie Contest. Sydney is old enough to eat my cookies, so I thought why not?? The judges are kids, so we'll see. They judge those during the fair, which means you get to enter and get judged the same day.
Billy also entered photos this year in the Photography category; they are below. It's a little bit more expensive to enter photos because you have to have them printed to 8X10 size, and matted. He entered 9 photos this year in various categories. The photo category is very popular, with over 2,000 photos entered! I wouldn't want to be a Judge for that!! Billy has entered and placed in the past, but hasn't been able to enter for the last few years. So we'll see how it goes this year! Our daughter entered some photos as well.
This is just a little bit of 'fun' we get to have before school starts again and things get really crazy. It's also a great opportunity to take some of the International Students to see something they wouldn't normally see in their own countries. Good Ole' County Fairs!!! Corn Dogs, root beer, cotton candy and wild carnival rides!!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Lots Of Changes
The trips are over for now, everybody is almost totally well, but there are changes in store at the Baptist Student Union.
Billy had been dividing his time between MSU and OTC, with most of his efforts focused with the OTC campus. The MO Baptist Convention has now decided that Billy will be mainly in charge of the MSU campus, and Philip Sousa will be in charge of the OTC campus and Billy will still have his office at the BSU. We both believe these will be positive changes, but with any change, people must learn to accept them whether they want to or not.
There was a meeting last evening; Matt Kearns, Missouri Baptist Convention Student Ministry Director, spoke on these changes and allowed students to ask any questions. It was a good meeting and I think these changes will be what is needed to better reach the college campuses around the city for Christ. Please keep Billy & Phil in your prayers as they take on these added responsibilities.
Billy had been dividing his time between MSU and OTC, with most of his efforts focused with the OTC campus. The MO Baptist Convention has now decided that Billy will be mainly in charge of the MSU campus, and Philip Sousa will be in charge of the OTC campus and Billy will still have his office at the BSU. We both believe these will be positive changes, but with any change, people must learn to accept them whether they want to or not.
There was a meeting last evening; Matt Kearns, Missouri Baptist Convention Student Ministry Director, spoke on these changes and allowed students to ask any questions. It was a good meeting and I think these changes will be what is needed to better reach the college campuses around the city for Christ. Please keep Billy & Phil in your prayers as they take on these added responsibilities.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Sorry it's been a while since we've updated. Unfortunately one of the team members in South Asia contracted Typhoid Fever and had to come back home early. She was in the hospital over there for a few days before she was well enough to travel back. She did make it home on Saturday though. Please continue to pray for her recovery.
Here is the latest update: (this is from July 5th)
We left the city around 9:30 in the morning for the long drive to the next city. The drive was pretty nice with lots of interesting things to see. One of the most interesting things to see was the MANY close encounters with oncoming vehicles. There were times when we were literally inches from a vehicle heading straight for us. But in this country, that is very normal, and our driver was very much in control of the vehicle.
We arrived in the city around 7:00 pm. We checked into our hotel which has a great view of the lake. We are all so excited to see what this city is like and to meet the people that God wants us to meet here.
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They will continue to work in various locations until they return on Thursday. In the mean time, I am in Florida with some of my family enjoying some R & R on the beach. I will return on Friday. This is the first time in a while that Billy & I have both been gone at the same time, but different locations. So pray that we both make it back home safely!! Our son is not quite on his own this time; he has been spending the night with his sister and helping out with a church project during the day. Thanks again for all your prayers for Billy and the team still in South Asia.
Here is the latest update: (this is from July 5th)
We left the city around 9:30 in the morning for the long drive to the next city. The drive was pretty nice with lots of interesting things to see. One of the most interesting things to see was the MANY close encounters with oncoming vehicles. There were times when we were literally inches from a vehicle heading straight for us. But in this country, that is very normal, and our driver was very much in control of the vehicle.
We arrived in the city around 7:00 pm. We checked into our hotel which has a great view of the lake. We are all so excited to see what this city is like and to meet the people that God wants us to meet here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They will continue to work in various locations until they return on Thursday. In the mean time, I am in Florida with some of my family enjoying some R & R on the beach. I will return on Friday. This is the first time in a while that Billy & I have both been gone at the same time, but different locations. So pray that we both make it back home safely!! Our son is not quite on his own this time; he has been spending the night with his sister and helping out with a church project during the day. Thanks again for all your prayers for Billy and the team still in South Asia.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Team News!!
(Here is a run-down of the Team's experiences since Saturday the 30th--keep in mind they arrived on Thursday the 26th. These were wrote by Rick and Billy.)
Saturday - June 30
There was still no luggage for the second team as of 7:00 a.m. They were starting to smell bad and complain a little bit. Some of them were able to borrow clothes from others, but two of them simply smelled bad. The luggage for the three girls arrived at 7:30, and the looks on their faces were priceless. Some of them actually embraced their luggage. It is funny how tied we are to material things. I think a great lesson was learned from this separation from our things. Poor Jeff still doesn't have his luggage. He has to go pick it up from the airport because it had to go through customs for some reason.
Today we also visited a local market and learned how to bargain. The team that has already been here taught those of us who haven't how to talk the sellers down on their prices. It was a great deal of fun. Many of us were able to buy some beautiful things for ourselves and for some of you reading this right now. We can't wait to show you.
At the markets we were able to talk to many people and just develop some friendships. This is such a new place and the interaction is just so much fun! We are having a wonderful time!
We went and visited a really popular temple today as well. This was the first time that many of us have ever been in a temple. It was heart wrenching. The architecture of this building was incredible, but once you stepped inside it was a cold, dark place. Psalms calls God’s dwelling place lovely, and this was far from it. It was just ugly and empty and not warm or inviting at all. When we stepped outside the temple, we could see in a distance a very poverty stricken slum of this city. It was not even a mile from this temple. So much money and time and energy has been put into building this temple and maintaining the beautifully landscaped lawns that could have been spent on ministering to these poor, orphans and widows that live so near. The uselessness of this faith began sinking in at that time. What is the point to this? Do they live a different life because of what they believe? Do they feel compelled to minister to other people and help them? Do we?
We also went to a major monument of this country today too. It is just like any other stone structure or monument in America, so don’t be too jealous of this. The structure itself wasn’t that great, but the people there impacted all of us a lot. There were so many beggars everywhere. Children no older than 3 would come up to us and ask us for money. Little girls carrying babies would come and ask for money so she could feed this baby. When we offered them food or water, they said no and asked for money again. Small naked children played in a fountain to escape the heat of the day. Women walked around begging us to let them give us henna or buy sunglasses or pin a flag of India on us to support a “school”. It was heartbreaking to see all these people making their living by begging. Not only that, they were teaching their children to do the same. We want so badly to rescue these people.
Sunday, July 1
We were extremely blessed to be a part of a local fellowship here that Rick knew about and connected us with. We showed up and were greeted by the precious sound of familiar praise songs being sung to Jesus. It was a congregation of about 100 that was predominantly native people. It was incredible to see these wonderful people worshipping our Lord in the same way that we do using the same songs. We were very blessed to get to talk to many people from the congregation afterwards and hear about what great things God is doing here and how we can be a part of that.
After a lovely lunch of tasty native food, we got connected with our friend who studied in America again. She took us to another market where the girls got suits made and shopped a little bit. She is such a blessing to our whole team. Be praying for her and especially her father. He has stomach cancer and is having tests done. It is very hard on our friend and the rest of her family. Missy also got to spend time with a new friend that she met at McDonalds when the first team came to this city. It was really cool how God placed Missy in this girl’s life. She got to share a lot with her, and we were all very encouraged by it.
Monday, July 2
Today is a travel day. We left this city for a 12 -hour (hopefully!) bus ride to our first city that we are researching. It was a very fun day! We managed to get to the city with only two flat tires and a few rough roads. One of the towns was basically like driving through a swampy area full of potholes the size of small houses that were filled with water. Then we hit some very rough roads that made us jump off our seats for about 15 minutes. It was good times. We finally made it to our city and it didn’t even take the 12 hours! Praise Jesus for bringing us here and giving us a place to stay tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This will probably be one of their last posts for a few days as they travel around to different villages. It is good to hear that they are enjoying themselves but also busy with the Lord's work. And I'm sure their stories will all be different depending on who's telling them at the time!!
Saturday - June 30
There was still no luggage for the second team as of 7:00 a.m. They were starting to smell bad and complain a little bit. Some of them were able to borrow clothes from others, but two of them simply smelled bad. The luggage for the three girls arrived at 7:30, and the looks on their faces were priceless. Some of them actually embraced their luggage. It is funny how tied we are to material things. I think a great lesson was learned from this separation from our things. Poor Jeff still doesn't have his luggage. He has to go pick it up from the airport because it had to go through customs for some reason.
Today we also visited a local market and learned how to bargain. The team that has already been here taught those of us who haven't how to talk the sellers down on their prices. It was a great deal of fun. Many of us were able to buy some beautiful things for ourselves and for some of you reading this right now. We can't wait to show you.
At the markets we were able to talk to many people and just develop some friendships. This is such a new place and the interaction is just so much fun! We are having a wonderful time!
We went and visited a really popular temple today as well. This was the first time that many of us have ever been in a temple. It was heart wrenching. The architecture of this building was incredible, but once you stepped inside it was a cold, dark place. Psalms calls God’s dwelling place lovely, and this was far from it. It was just ugly and empty and not warm or inviting at all. When we stepped outside the temple, we could see in a distance a very poverty stricken slum of this city. It was not even a mile from this temple. So much money and time and energy has been put into building this temple and maintaining the beautifully landscaped lawns that could have been spent on ministering to these poor, orphans and widows that live so near. The uselessness of this faith began sinking in at that time. What is the point to this? Do they live a different life because of what they believe? Do they feel compelled to minister to other people and help them? Do we?
We also went to a major monument of this country today too. It is just like any other stone structure or monument in America, so don’t be too jealous of this. The structure itself wasn’t that great, but the people there impacted all of us a lot. There were so many beggars everywhere. Children no older than 3 would come up to us and ask us for money. Little girls carrying babies would come and ask for money so she could feed this baby. When we offered them food or water, they said no and asked for money again. Small naked children played in a fountain to escape the heat of the day. Women walked around begging us to let them give us henna or buy sunglasses or pin a flag of India on us to support a “school”. It was heartbreaking to see all these people making their living by begging. Not only that, they were teaching their children to do the same. We want so badly to rescue these people.
Sunday, July 1
We were extremely blessed to be a part of a local fellowship here that Rick knew about and connected us with. We showed up and were greeted by the precious sound of familiar praise songs being sung to Jesus. It was a congregation of about 100 that was predominantly native people. It was incredible to see these wonderful people worshipping our Lord in the same way that we do using the same songs. We were very blessed to get to talk to many people from the congregation afterwards and hear about what great things God is doing here and how we can be a part of that.
After a lovely lunch of tasty native food, we got connected with our friend who studied in America again. She took us to another market where the girls got suits made and shopped a little bit. She is such a blessing to our whole team. Be praying for her and especially her father. He has stomach cancer and is having tests done. It is very hard on our friend and the rest of her family. Missy also got to spend time with a new friend that she met at McDonalds when the first team came to this city. It was really cool how God placed Missy in this girl’s life. She got to share a lot with her, and we were all very encouraged by it.
Monday, July 2
Today is a travel day. We left this city for a 12 -hour (hopefully!) bus ride to our first city that we are researching. It was a very fun day! We managed to get to the city with only two flat tires and a few rough roads. One of the towns was basically like driving through a swampy area full of potholes the size of small houses that were filled with water. Then we hit some very rough roads that made us jump off our seats for about 15 minutes. It was good times. We finally made it to our city and it didn’t even take the 12 hours! Praise Jesus for bringing us here and giving us a place to stay tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This will probably be one of their last posts for a few days as they travel around to different villages. It is good to hear that they are enjoying themselves but also busy with the Lord's work. And I'm sure their stories will all be different depending on who's telling them at the time!!
My cell phone rang at 2AM this morning....it was Billy. (So it was already 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday there) He said that everybody is doing well; they had traveled to another city by bus and was hoping to find an internet cafe today. (they don't have the luxury of 'wireless' in their hotel rooms!!) So maybe I will have more to tell you by the end of today. He also said they would be traveling quite a bit in the next few days, therefore their internet access will be little if none. So just continue to keep them in your prayers that they will fulfill what God wants them to do and that He will keep them healthy in the process. He sounded well on the phone so I'm glad I got to talk to him. (although I hope I remembered everything he told me considering the time!!)
Sunday, July 1, 2007
I'm still awaiting updates from the team....Billy sent me a text message last evening that he was going to try and get an internet connection soon. So pray that the lines of communication will be opened and he will be able to send an update. I'm sure it's hard for some of us to imagine not being able to just log on your computer and send emails!!
Thanks for all your patience while we wait.
Thanks for all your patience while we wait.
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