Inspiring Christian ministry and a vision for world missions from the home. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:12:00 -0600 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:12:00 -0600      Happy Thanksgiving Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise, Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalms 100:4      Thanksgiving is my favorite day of celebration; unincumbered with materialism and paganism it is just plain old Song of David worship.  For me it is a time of sincere reflection on all that I am truly thankful for, and the list is huge.       The thing that I am sinecerly most thankful for is my salvation.  I was very lost and shudder to think what my life would be like had I not invited Jesus into my heart and life.  Without Him there was a disaster on the horizon.  But instead, He stood at the door of a very troubled heart and gently knocked until I invited Him in.      With Jesus everything changed for me.  He put protectors in my life, people who would love me with His kind of grace and be a witness to me of who he is.  It doesn't mean I haven't gone through some very difficult times, however, I have not gone through them alone.  He has time and time again proved Himself worthy of thanksgiving.      Every year we have a huge gathering of family and freinds.  This year we have a new neighbor and her son sharing Thanksgiving with us.  I love preparing the food and serving on that day.  The prayer before we eat is especially good as we thank God for all His goodness and ask for His preparations for the year ahead.   Sometimes I place three grains of rice on each plate and ask everyone to share three things they are thankful for; this year I hope to sing some Hymns.       There is something very healing about thankfulness. It seems to wash away needing and wanting, and replaces it with a heart for others.  I pray that God will bless you and your family on this Day of Thanksgiving, with the fullness that is found in Christ.  Happy Thanksgiving! New option for Blog Readers      For those of you who read this blog regularly we have added a subscribe button to the right on the side bar.  This is for your convenience.  When I post it will be sent directly to your inbox.  This will be approximately three times per week as my present goal is to post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I hope this will make it easier for you.  Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Scripture of the Day Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5,6,7 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/746849/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/746849/ November Is National Adoption Awareness Month      From the very start of our family adoption was my dream.  I had hoped to have a very large family with a mix of birth, foster, and adopted children.       Tyler and I became foster parents just a year after we were married.  I was 19 years old and he was 21. After our first foster child had come and gone we were blessed with a 12 year old girl, a boy (3), Amanda (2), another boy (1), and I was pregnant for my son Landon.  I thank God everyday for that time, because shorlty after my son was born our family would experience some extremely difficult, life altering events.  My dream to adopt would have to wait, brokeness would take over for a very long time, and then God would come and heal it all.  As icing on the cake, He would lead us to a little girl in Haiti, named Magnalie.  This is where our adoption story begins.      For weeks I had been feeling the Lord's proding to look at children available for adoption on the internet.  I kept pushing the idea away thinking I would just get myself in trouble, as I couldn't adopt.  Then, finally I gave in thinking that God was going to use this to help me release this desire and put closer to it.      I began to look at children all over the world who needed families. Sometimes I would feel a need to pray for one of them and would print off their photo and put it in my Bible.  Then one day, I stumbled upon Precious in His Sight, an orphanage in Haiti, and there I saw the picture of two sisters, the older Magnalie with her thin arm around her little sister.  I printed the photo off to pray for them.      Everyday I faithfully prayed for these little girls.  I soon learned that there was a brother, also.  All three photos decorated the front of my fridge as a reminder to pray.  Tyler and I briefly discussed adoption, but didn't feel like we could adopt three.  We were concerned based on our foster parenting experience that if the children had difficulties we could have a failed adoption.   So I continued to pray.      Then, I learned my Brother in Law's sister had adopted a baby from Haiti and was looking for someone who would take the trip to Haiti with her to pick up her new daughter.  I gladly volunteered.  I made plans ahead of time to go to the orphanage and visit with Magnalie and her siblings.  I even got to spend the night with them and many other adoptive parents at the hotel.  It is a night I will always remember.  There are some really special people out there and I had the priviledge to meet them.  I cannot even tell you how much fun it was doing little girls nails and hair, playing games with the boys, just lovin on the children.  Meeting Magnalie was the most wonderful gift.  She was everything I imagined from her picture.       Now I had a problem.  Knowing where she was living and how quickly she was growing I just couldn't stop praying, but my problem was that I didn't want her to have another forever family, I wanted her to be my daughter.      A while passed and the burden on my heart grew to the point of being painful.  One evening, I went to my room early to pray.  I began pacing the floor praying, crying, worshiping, dreaming, pleading and finally asked God if I could adopt Magnalie.  If I couldn't, I asked that He take this overwhelming burden off of my heart.  I then, went to bed and fell asleep.       The next morning was Father's Day.  I woke up to my husband Tyler looking at me.  But, his look said something and in my spirit I knew he was going to tell me we could adopt, but not so quickly.  First, he took me to see an Imax movie, then out to lunch, then to the parking garage at the Providence Place Mall.  There, he began, "Tell me everything you know about these girls".  Question after question followed.  Then he finished with, "Let's get home and put the girls on hold before someone else gets them".      Almost three years would pass before Magnalie would come home.  We would learn that we were not the best family for her sister and would help her to find a different family, that lives only a couple of hours away.  We sold our farm, bought another house, watched the orphanage change hands.  We watched the people protest against Aristide and his final departure, we experienced the corruption of IBESR, but none of it mattered, as I knew Magnalie was totally a God thing.  He had a plan and He knew when she was coming home and I didn't let that worry me for a moment.      We had begun Magnalie's adoption when she was 10 years old.  Two weeks before her thirteenth birthday she arrived home.  What a journey and it had only just begun.  Magnalie is now 18 years old.  I can hardly say it, as it seems to have passed by so quickly.  She is committed to serving the Lord and has a vision to return to Haiti with the skills needed to serve and benefit the people there.  She has worked very hard on her studies to make sure she is ready for whatever calling the Lord has for her life.      There have been so many joys in adopting Magnalie.  Having Bible studies together and growing close spiritually, seeing her make the commitment to go back to Haiti to serve, listening to her sing worship songs for hours every evening, seeing her step in to help as we try to do things to help Haiti, watching her grow, and knowing we played a part in her life.  I can only be thankful for this opportunity.      Adoption can be a wonderful thing.  I encourage anyone considering adoption to pray and seek the Lord's guidance along with getting as much information as possible.  Talk to people who have adopted, read up on adoption and know the concerns, practice with foster parenting if you are unsure.  I know my foster parenting experiences really helped me, and often times foster children become available for adoption.       Remember that in order for a child to be adopted they must first be abandoned.  This means that they may have experienced brokeness and heartache and will need extra tender loving care.  They may also have other difficulties if their birth mom had a drug or alcohol addiction, poor nutriton, or other health issues.  Be honest with yourself about what types of issues you feel confident to take on.  Your adoption agency will help you make these evaluations.      I would love to see our churches full of adopted children.  I cannot imagine a better place for hurting children than in the homes of loving Christian families who can direct these children to a loving healing Saviour.  I hope you will consider becoming a forever family. Recommended Reading Adopted For Life The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches By Russell D Moore  Foreword by C J Mahaney           Adopted for life is an excellent resource for Christian families who may or may not want to adopt.  Within it's pages is Moore's personal experience of adopting two sons, along with the churches role in promoting adoption, and the story of our own adoption by God.  I gathered many insights into my own salvation and adoption that I had never considered.  I consider this book to be a great resource and highly recommend it to anyone even interested in adoption as a mere topic. Scripture of the Day Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7    http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/746165/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:03:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/746165/      Homebound Missions has added two new ministries that we will begin to provide resources for.  Today, I would like to introduce you to The Apparent Project. The Apparent Project      Corrigan and Shelley Clay are the Founder/Directors of The Apparent Project which they established in 2008.  They are also the parents of 5 children, three of whom they adopted from Haiti.  It was their first adoption that took them to Haiti and eventaully caused them to move there.      The Apparent Project has a huge vision to address the needs of orphans and employment.        To address the needs of orphans they will have an orphanage, adoption program and guest house for visiting adopting parents.      To address the employment issue they are using the arts.  By teaching jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, crafts, drawing, painting, sculpture, sewing, music, dance, video making, and photography they hope to help Haitains, "rise out of extreme poverty".     This is where we (you and Homebound Missions), come in.  The Apparent Project needs the supplies to teach these skills to local Haitians.  These supplies are the opportunity to rescue the Haitian family and to grow families into a future of earning a living.  The Clays say, "We encourage people to give with the mind-set that teaching a person to fish is better than giving them a fish."      Here are the current needs at The Apparent Project: Jewelry Making Supplies                     Beads(glass, wooden, seed) Crimp Beads                                     Spacer Beads Jewelry Wire                                    Clasps Mukisa Blue                                      Earing Posts Jewelry Making Tools                         Beading Magazines Paper (all kinds)                                Glue Jewelry Displays                                Used Cards Yarn                                               Knitting Needles Crochet Hooks                                  Craft Magazines Patterns      Check out The Apparent Project's web site and see how you might be used to help create work for a Haitian man or women. Video The ApParent Project from Corrigan Clay on Vimeo. Scripture of the Day  But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. Psalm 10:14        http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/744179/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/744179/      Can you imagine waking one morning to the sound of missile and rocket fire, knowing that those destructive forces were coming for you?  Can you imagine quickly packing everything you own into a pouch you can carry on your back, then grabbing your children and fleeing into a neighboring country to save your very life?  This is the reality of the Karen Christians of Burma.  Their own government is on a mission to wipe out their very existence.  Their crime?  They are Christians.      Please read the following article and see how God might move you to respond. Karen Christians Attacked in Burma Karen Christians Attacked in Burma!   Written by James Jacobson    Thursday, 15 October 2009 12:23 SAULT STE. MARIE, MI --When the sounds of missiles and rocket fire could be heard dangerously close to their villages, fear of the impending destruction sent thousands of Karen families scrambling for their lives. The Burmese army has been launching a series of vicious attacks against Karen men, women, and children in Karen State of Burma, near the Thai border.  Entire villages have been destroyed. But the attacks weren't the only reason that so many chose to leave.  If they stayed, they knew they would run the risk of encountering dangerous landmines and forced recruitment as laborers of the Burmese army, particularly as porters and "human minesweepers." More than 5,000 Karen refugees have poured across the Thailand border.  Most are living in temporary sites in the Tha Song Yang District and remain in desperate need of adequate shelter, food, and clothing.  Many cases of malaria, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses have been reported in these areas, igniting the overwhelming need of medical care. Although many refugees wish to return home, they continue to fear arrest, abuse or forced conscription by the Burmese army.  Sadly, many are just as afraid of attack in their current locations, which are only two hours away from the border and will become more easily accessible after the rainy season. In a region that's been weighed down by the burden of genocidal terror of decades, this latest outbreak of violence became one of the worst attacks against the Karen in recent times.  Since 1996 alone, the Burmese junta has destroyed over 3,000 villages and displaced 1.5 million ethnic citizens in the process. Without medical care, far too many Karen refugees--especially children--are suffering from severe illness.  Tragically, many will die without treatment.   Part of CFI's most important work in Burma has involved the provision of lifesaving medicine and medical care for thousands of Karen Christians and their families.  For many years, CFI has been a beacon of hope for refugees who hand nowhere else to turn to for the help they so desperately needed. CFI is working urgently to rebuild and restock three medical clinics that have been destroyed in the unrelentiong violence in Burma, as well as provide more supplies for our backpack medics.  Now, more than ever out ministry relies on the generosity of our donors to keep our operations going. Please prayerfully support our ministry to the Persecuted Church in Burma and Thailand today.  Help the persecuted Christians of Burma. Donate Now   Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 October 2009 13:21 )   What You Can Do      Christian Freedom International has several ways in which we can become involved to help our persecuted brothers and sisters.  First, go to their web site and check out their many programs and see how God moves you. Also, contact CFI and ask them to send you the DVD, Operation Hope.  You will learn the history behind the current problems facing the Karen people and how the American government is involved.  You will also see first hand their plight.      Here is some help to get started, "Where is your heart?"  Does it lean towards: Medical Missions?  CFI has Backpack Medics and Jungle Hospitals that need funding.  Idea #1  Host a dinner right in your home.  Invite a select group of friends who you think may share your interest to help in this area.  Serve dinner, show the DVD, Operation Hope, and then ask them if they would prayerfully consider making a collective donation with you for this cause. Idea #2  Sell candy bars to raise money to sponsor one or both. Educational Missions?  CFI has schools in Burma that need your help. Idea #1  Have a Homeschoolers Mission Awareness Day.  Invite all your homeschooling friends, show the video, Operation Hope and take an offering or as a group organize a fundraising project that you can do together to raise money.  This could be a bake sale, walk a thon or other idea.  This is an opportunity to get press coverage by writing a press release about what you are doing. Orphan Missions?  CFI has several orphanages. Idea #1 Sponsor a child.  Write to them, encourage them, and watch them grow. Food Missions?  CFI is always in need of funds to purchase food for the thousands of displaced Christians they serve. Idea #1  Do a Food Funds Fundraiser.  Purchase or make small bags of rice, symbolic of the food you hope to have purchased with the money you raise.  Ask for a $5.00 - $10.00 donation and give a free bag of rice with every donation.  You might put a small slip of paper in the bag of rice that gives it a fun Asian themed name on one side and on the other more information about what you are doing and why.  This is another creative idea that may even get newspaper coverage through a well written press release.  Your local grocery store may let you set up there as well (especially if you purchase the rice from them). Evangelism Missions?  CFI is always looking for funds to buy Bibles.  Idea #1  Get a copy of the Bible written in the Burmese language.  Ask your Pastor if you can set up a poster at church and take donations to buy Bibles for Burma.  Make your poster eye catching and show people the actual Bibles you hope to donate through your fundraiser.  Usually you need only ask $5.00 for each Bible.      Do you see  that there are endless opportunites to help in an area that you care about most?  Be creative, think outside the box, "How can I make a difference for the Karen people from right here?"  I would love to hear your ideas and would gladly share them if you would like.  I am also offering my assistance on those press releases. Scripture of the Day "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13: 34, 35 NKJV   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/743585/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/743585/ From the Home      I realized after commiting to this, From the Home piece that I would be revealing who I am on a personal level.  You are about to discover that I have an inner pioneer, and an absolute fascination for doing things the old fashioned way.  I love making home made bread, jam, and jellies, root beer & ginger ale.  I love to make Maple syrup from my very own Sugar Maple trees (and occasionally those of a few neighbors).  I love to knit and crochet and learn old crafts that have gone out of fashion.  I also love to garden. There is just nothing better than tomatoes you canned yourself, or frozen strawberries from your own organic garden.      I am by no means an expert on anything, but rather have a love affair with everything.  So, I hope to share with you some of these things and to also make you aware of resources that I tap into. My hope is that you might enjoy these things as well.      Making your own Whole Wheat Flour      I've always wanted to make my family homemade whole wheat bread, but everytime I purchased WW flour at the grocery store the taste was just unbearable and maybe even a little rancid.  Then, one day I overheard someone mention that they made their own flour.  I was on a mission.      Making your own flour is so simple that you will wonder why you hadn't done it all along.  First, you need to buy whole wheat.  You can buy this at any health food store that sells food.  I have a Mennonite Store near me that I go to.  I buy, Montana Prairie Gold, Hard White Spring Wheat.      I am blessed to own a Vita Mixer (a gift from my mother in law) which has a grain milling cutter, but you can also use a regular blender (that is what I used when I first started).       In the Vita Mixer using the dry ingredients attachment you simply add the wheat and turn the mixer on high for 2 minutes.  With a regular mixer you do the same, but then I recommend that you pour the flour out into a bowl, let it dry and cool for a few minutes, and then put it in the blender again for about 1 minute.      You will notice that the flour is warm and a little courser than what you are used to, and you will need to add a little more water to your recipe.      Do not be limited by wheat as you can make corn meal, rye flour and more using the same techinique.  I often use the process for corn and when my children were little their favoriote was popcorn bread.  For this I would use corn that they associated with popcorn and mill it a short while so that it was not so fine.  It actuall had bits of corn in it.      I also use half WW with half white flour in recipes.  Most recipes seem to need the extra glutten in the white flour. Recommended Reading      My most recent bread making read: Artisan Breads in Five Minutes a Day , The Discovery that Revolutionizes Home Baking, by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois.  In this awesome book is a new way of making homemade bread that does not use any kneeding.  I highly recommend it.  They also have a new book, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, on how to make healthy breads with the same technique.  I am practicing the technique of the original book and then will move on to the healthy breads version when I have a good grasp of how the bread feels and how it looks done properly.      Don't hesitate to buy the book used, as I always do and find them in perfect condition. Scripture of the Day But He answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  Matthew 4:4               http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/742585/ Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/742585/      Last night Tyler and I worked on a new look for the blog.  I hope you like the changes, though they are just the beginning.       I mentioned before about some of the content changes, but I forgot to mention that one of the new features is going to be called, From the Home.  I am hoping to share things that I treasure at home, recipes, homecrafts, sewing projects, homeschool ideas, books I am reading and more.      I promise not to get too off track from missions, but I think it will warm up and personalize the blog some.  Listening to persecution stories and needs and suffering can just get to be too much after a while.  The home themes can be encouraging and fun. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/742334/ Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:31:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/742334/      Fundraising has just never been this fun.  On January 10, 2010 15 runners will participate in the Disney Worldwide Marathon to raise funds for the Heartline Haiti Birth Center.  The most urgent need is a vehicle (ambulance) for transporting laboring women.  The need is two-fold, first to assist laboring woman needing to get to the center for birth and secondly, to transport women in labor who may encounter an emergency situation and recquire hospital care.  You can get more details about this need by visiting the Heartline Runner's Blog.  The goal is to raise $60,000. which will require each runner to raise $4000.  We can do this.        The 15 runners are Beth McHoul, Lisa Hojara, Jon Miller, Nadia & David Miller, Jaeda Buxman, Lisa Buxman, Shane Buxman, Paige Grenier, Corey Waters, Kristen Howerton, Erin Lancer, and Tara Livesay.  As many of you know Tara Livesay just ran the twin Cities Marathon (Minnesota) and raised over $60,000. for the Medika Mamba program to save malnurished children.  Great job Tara.      All of the runners are paying their own travel expenses and sign up fees so 100% of your donation is going directly to the Birth Center.      Heartline Ministries has been in Haiti for 20 years.  They offer a Literacy Program, Sewing Program, Prenatal Classes, Early Childhood Development Classes, and a Birth Center.  They presently serve 90 women.      Homebound Missions wants to see these runners just blow past the $60,000. mark and for this reason we are offering the following offer.  For every $5.00 donation made to the heartline runners through Homebound Missions we will give the contributor a Free necklace made in Haiti.  This is a deal of a lifetime and full circle supports the Haitian people.  Due to the diversity in necklaces we will select them for you.        Will you please pass this along to everyone you know?  Make as many people aware as possible and join in the fun by supporting the Heartline runners for a really good cause.  Make sure to keep watching the Heartline Runner's Blog so you can learn more about the day to day happenings at the birth center and  get to know the runners more personally. We will watch together to see how God blesses, Thank You.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/740959/ Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/740959/   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/740154/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/740154/      This blog conatins adult material (persecution up close and personal) and is not intended for children.       North Korea has long been known as a place of persecution, not only for Christians, but for the North Korean people.  This summer two acts of persecution occured that I want you to know about.  I first heard these stories from Christian Freedom International.      On June 16, 2009 a young mother of three, Ri Hyon Ok was executed publically in North Korea.  Her crime?  Possesing a Bible.  Her children, husband, and parents were then sent to a political prison.  It is believed that they were sent to Prison #15, a well known re-education, forced labor camp in the North.  It is estimated that 6000 Christian are imprisoned there.  Religious prisoners face the worse treatment and survival rates are very poor.      It has also been reported that North Korean security agents arrested and tortured another Christian woman, Seo Kum Ok.  It is unclear if she survived.  Her husband was also arrested and their two children have since disappeared.      If you are horrified, good, you are human.  Now please put this horror into action and write a letter to the UN Secretery, General Ban Ki-Moon.  The following is a letter prepared by Christian Freedom International, retype it putting your name and address at the top.             Then send the letter to: Christian Freedom International  P O Box 560  Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783-9988.  CFI will get your letter to the UN Secretary, General Ban Ki-Moon. More About North Korea          The following video (click here) is actual testimony of a young North Korean who grew up in a prison camp and was tortured.  He is the only person to ever escape the prison camp he was in.  WARNING:This video is very difficult to watch,  do so with discretion.  Also note, there are commercials within the video.  At the end you will see several other North Korea videos if you would like to learn more. Pray      Pray for Ri Hyon Ok, Seo Kum Ok and their families.  Talk to your children about these families and pray together as a family for their safety, and God's tender loving care.      Pray the UN will rspond on their behalf.      Pray for all the people of North Korea, especially our Christian brothers and sisters.  Also, that the message of Christ and His Salvation would spread throughout the land.      Pray for Kim Jong-il, North Korea's Dictator.  Ask the Lord how He would have you pray for him. Scripture of the Day "Remember the prisoners as if in prison with them and those who are persecuted."  Hebrews 13:3 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/739810/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/739810/      For some time now I have been thinking about making some significant changes to my blog.  My thoughts have focused on how I can share those things that are important to me, missions, the persecuted church, orphans, poverty without making the blog about me, and I believe that I have come up with a plan.       My plan is to blog ( daily or once a week I haven't decided yet)using a template so that readers know what they are getting every day/week.  The template will also help me to put ideas together ahead of time because I will know what themes I am looking for.  It may even start as a daily blog that transitions into a weekly subscriber based blog.  That is my leaning right now.       The template for the blog would include:  Ministry Highlights, where I would like to bring awareness of the many ministries around the world and what they are doing.  Book Review, to share the things I am reading. Video Demonstrations, to teach different things such as making diapers for orphans. The Least of These, where I would discuss current events as it effects the persecuted church, missions, orphans, and the poor. What You Can Do, an idea section to inspire involvement.      In the future, I want to  incorporate the blog into another idea that I will keep under wraps for now.       I hope you will enjoy the new look and encourage you to share your ideas.  Be the light that others can come to with their ideas, visions and dreams.  Never doubt that blending your talents with those of others can change the world. unknown              http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/739794/ Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Kathyleen/739794/