My Heart is in Africa

  

    Yeah, yeah....I know I should be working on my "professional documents" for my portfolio in FCS 100. Among writing personal beliefs for a Philosophy Statement my mind keeps drifting across the Atlantic Ocean to Zambia. The place I will be for 3 weeks this summer in July; the place God is sending me to in answer to my prayers.
    Let me start from the beginning. Since ninth grade I have been wanting to go to Africa to do mission work. I didn't care if it was for two weeks or two months. In December 2007 one of the missionaries my congregation in Utah sponsored came to visit us from Uganda. Then and there a spark was started in my heart, sitting in the auditorium watching his presentation about the things God is doing in Uganda. That spark has only grown to a flame over the past four years.
    The flame has grown more and more as I've heard stories from people who have been to Africa, and as I've learned about opportunities that lie ahead. My heart has been burning this past month with the overwhelming desire to go to Africa and serve the people there. The only problem was other than next summer doing a possible missionary internship, I didn't see any opportunities to go this year. So I have been going before the throne of God, asking Him to send me. My prayers echoed Isaiah's in 6:8, "Here am I! Send me."
    I was soaking in a hot bath on Saturday night, a perfect time for prayer. My prayer for an opportunity to go to Africa was among the many things I was visiting with the Lord about. I knew God would be a better guardian of that desire than I would be so I put it in His hands. God is faithful. At church Sunday morning I was visiting with one of the ladies who is in charge of organizing some of the mission trips our congregation is involved in. I knew they had gone to Zambia for a medical mission last year, but I wasn't sure if they were going this year. Turns out they are! She said I could still sign up to go. God is faithful!
    I just returned from mailing the application form. I've typed up the fundraising letters. I've compiled a list of people to send them to. THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!!!  I still have so much to do though. Actually mailing the letters for instance-$4,500 stands between me and Zambia.
    Dear readers, can I humbly ask for your prayers as I am preparing to go on this adventure? First off, I need prayers to continually give this endeavor to God. Our team needs prayers that God will prepare our hearts to serve and equip us for the task ahead. Please pray for the Zambian people we will be helping. Here's the link to the organization we are going with, if anyone is interested in learning more about it: http://www.zambiamission.org/index.html
   As exciting as this all is, I must to remember to put my hope in God alone. He is in control of what happens. And He is good all the time. While my heart is in Africa, my faith is in God.

A warm recipe for a cold day: microwave creamy peanut soup

Hi friends! Emmy here. It's a cold and very windy day here in Colorado Springs and I found a yummy soup recipe, I'd thought I'd share with you all that will warm you up! I haven't tried it yet my self, but I'm sure its good!

Microwave Creamy Peanut Soup


What you'll need:
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
4 1/2 teaspoons flour
4 cups canned chicken broth
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup half and half
1/4 chopped peanuts


Directions:

1) Combine onion, celery and butter in 2-quart glass casserole (dish)
2) Microwave on High for 3 minutes
3) Add flour; mix well. Pour chicken broth into casserole very slowly, stirring constantly
4) Cover casserole with wax paper
5) Microwave on High for 6 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes.
6) Add peanut butter and half and half; mix until well blended
7) Microwave on Medium for 6-8 minutes. Do not let soup boil.
8) Ladle into soup bowls.
9) sprinkle peanuts on top

Servings: 6

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God." -1 John 4:7

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!
Do you have a secret admirer and/or a Valentine?  ; )

Hope your day is filled with love and blessings! And remember, anytime we love, or feel love, its from God, because God is love, and He first loved us!

Coffee: My Good Friend in the Morning

Hey there. Emmy here!
Are you a coffee lover?  Don't you just love the smell of coffee being brewed? 
I don't know about you, but to me, there's just something about that first cup in the morning, that's so delicious. I like half and half in my coffee, so in the morning I put a little bit in, and then pour my coffee, and it's nice and hot, and tastes great.
What's your favorite kind of coffee? What do you like in yours?

Have a warm day! 

Let it Snow!

Today here in Colorado Springs it's windy, cold, and snowy! It's currently 27 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside!  My ballet class that would have been tonight, has been cancelled due to the icy and snowy roads. So today will consist of staying warm and cozy, coffee and/or hot chocolate, sitting by the fire, and wearing sweatshirts. : )
Hope your day is warmer than mine!

50 Book Challenge: Can We Do It??

Hello friends! Emmy here. Hope everyone had a fun, safe, relaxing, and blessed Christmas break! :) We sure did. We moved into our new house, I performed in my ballet company's production of Nutcracker, I was baptized, and I turned 16! And now we're getting back into everyday schedules/routines.

Ahhh. New year. New goals. I think we all try to make resolutions every year, but never achieve them, or stick with them.
Well, this year will be different! I have a challenge for you all. Let's read 50 books (or more, if you love reading!) by the end of 2012!
You don't have to be reading a book every single day, unless you just read that fast, but rather in your spare time, pick up a good book! For example, while you're watching t.v., during commercial breaks, mute the television, and read!

I think if we all put a little bit of time into it everyday, we can do it!

Let the books begin!!

Let Your Hearts Be Light

A broken laptop. Still living in rent house. Missing school friends. Coffee spilled in new bag, staining beloved Little Women and writing book. Crochet hook lost. 

What do these have in common? They are all things that Satan could be using to try to steal my joy. They could be things God is using to teach me about not taking stock in material possessions. But one thing I know, in the long run they are all trivial. Looking back to think of my "poor me" list, I couldn't even remember half the things that had gone wrong last week. 

This couldn't have come at a better time and I praise God for it. Those "trials" helped me remember the main focus of this season and put me in my place. Here's my reasoning I've come up with for it: 

First, everything I have comes from God and is ultimately His. If He saw me becoming too materialistic, He has the authority to teach me a lesson. Second,  let's think about something for a moment. The Lord, King of kings willingly gave up the glories and riches of Heaven. Gave up His throne to do what? Be born in a primitive stable. Not even a small comfortable home. A stable. Born in a stable, surrounded by animals, to grow up in our dark world only then to sacrifice His life. I had to tell myself, "Elizabeth, He held nothing, NOTHING back from you. Surely you can offer to Him whatever He asks of you." 


Now that's not to say God asked me to sacrifice those things. Maybe He did, I don't know. But it did teach me a lesson. That if He did, I know I can- and should- joyfully and willingly. I also learned that Satan is still prowling around to attack. He wanted those little bumps in the road to ruin my week. He wanted me to throw a pity party and forget about joy. I wasn't going to give him points on his scoreboard though. With the power of the Holy Spirit I was able to grasp tightly to joy in Christ. 


Turns out, the broken laptop has led to me spending more time with my family, crafting, and reading. Still being in the rent house means a simpler, handmade Christmas. Missing school friends only means I'll appreciate them all the more when I return. The bag got clean, the book is still readable. On that note, when the coffee incident happened my Bible was in that same bag but saw no damage. For that I'm thanking the Lord. 


Friday afternoon sent thoughts of Philippians 3:7-8 swirling through my head, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" 

No, I did not suffer the way Paul did. I didn't even suffer at all. But I was encouraged to count all things as garbage compared to knowing the love of my Savior. 

In light of this, I hope this Christmas season finds you all well, dear friends. Let's look up to Heaven and rejoice in the best gift of all. Have yourselves a merry little Christmas and let your hearts be light, for Christ Himself said, " Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)