Category: Missions

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Malawi Journal-Day 3-Malawi at Last!

Malawi Journal – Day 3

Addis Ababa

Arriving at Addis Ababa they opened the doors of our aircraft and placed stairs for us to walk down with our carry-on bags and backpacks. This is a bit much for me because I packed my bag with teaching materials and it was heavy. Esther exited first and was herded into the building and quickly disappeared. They took Lawrence on a special ramp and in a wheelchair. It is hard for him to walk long distances so this helps a lot! We were quickly reunited to go through the X-rays and scanners once more before we could enter the building. They questioned the bag with the Bibles once more. Once this was complete, they had a special area for Lawrence to wait and a separate area for Esther and me. We prefer to stay together.

To Lilongwe

In a couple of hours, we are ready to board our plane for Lilongwe, Malawi. This is our final leg of our journey. We get to sit together!

As we were in the air they served us a snack. We eat so much on these flights! As soon as they had finished serving snacks they came through with lunch. The food is good!

Health Screening

Our flight seems so short after the last one and soon we are on the ground. Disembarking we are directed toward two big white tents. We are told to wash our hands with a chlorine hand wash and then we enter the tent. Some are having temperatures taken and some are directed to give their Covid testing lab results. After our medical screening, we get in line to get our visas. The process is very quick, and I am surprised the price is about half what it is when we purchase our visas from the embassy in D.C. Next, we go through customs and immigration where they check and stamp our passports. The next step they waved us through without screening our bags or asking any questions! I am tired and thankful to finally be in Malawi!

Our Friends Greet Us

Mbwenu and Bless are here to meet us! Lawrence and Esther go with them to load our baggage while I get funds transferred into kwacha. Mission accomplished we get in the car and proceed to Mzimba, a 4-hour drive.

Police Roadblock

Along the way, we are stopped at a police roadblock. We acquire a ticket for having 3 people in the middle. It has three seat belts and normally this is not a problem because this is a 7 passenger vehicle (baggage in rear seats). Because of Covid, they have reduced the number of allowed passengers. Our ticket is 15,000 Kwacha which is about $20 US. Back on the road again. The scenery is beautiful. Everything is very green and maize is growing along the road. We are making good time and soon drop Bless off at home in Mzimba. We travel on as it gets dark and arrive at Mbwenu’s home.

This is a very gracious family and we are thankful to spend time getting to know them and the culture we are living in.

We eat dinner, sing some songs (yes we brought some songbooks!) We are all tired. It has been a long wonderful day for us and our host family who tended his farm milked the cow, etc., and then drove 4 hours to meet us today. Then they turned around and drove the return trip!

And what a trip it is!

We head down the path before we get ready for sleeping and that is the conclusion of Day 3.

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Malawi Journal – The Journey Day 1

Malawi journal

I hope to journal as often as I can as we live out our two-month stay in Malawi. I will upload my journal when I have wifi. This means our journal entries will be delayed a few days.

A different kind of trip.

This trip will be a different kind of trip for us. Lawrence, Esther, and I have all been to Malawi before but not to this area. This time we are going to a new area and living the village life.

Up early dressing and checking last-minute details. Josiah and the grands arrive and Gabriel next. They help us load the bags and with last hugs, we are off to the Nashville airport.

The boys help us get our bags inside the airport and Jonas stays with us in case we need anything. Thank you, Jonas! Soon we are through check-in and headed through security and to the gate.

Masks

Being masked certainly changes the dynamics of this trip. For one thing, I have only worn a mask for two hours at a time. I don’t like it but I try not to complain under the circumstances. Our longest flight is almost 14 hours and will require a mask. I miss those smiling faces. So communication is different as well as the discomfort and anxiety caused by wearing a mask for hours!

We board for our first leg of our journey, the short flight to Washington Dulles International Airport. Our flight goes well and soon we are landing, Upon arrival, we find out that we have to collect all our luggage for the night! We ponder this news for a while and decide we will stay at the motel across the street.

All five 50 lb. bags are loaded onto the shuttle and our carry-on bags as well. A few minutes later they are stored for the night and we are checked in. Because of Covid, they are only doing take-out meals so we order and soon eat dinner and read the Bible, and head to bed.

Day 1 of our 38-hour journey is complete.

 

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Unexpected Happenings in the Covid Life

The excitement was building as I packed, weighed, and readjusted my bags. Hoping to carry the most needful things to my friends in Africa. Just a few more days and we would be on our long flight. I was excited about spending two months in one community but I was also dreading the 14-hour flight with a mask. And then the unexpected happenings in the Covid life.

Discovering Anxiety

Last year I discovered that I must suffer anxiety at least in some situations. After falling last February and tearing a muscle in my arm, I am a lot more careful for sure. Visiting the doctor to assess the damage, I went home and assumed it would be back to normal soon. After months of trying various things, I gave up.

I have no insurance so I do not go to the doctor very often. I went back to the doctor and he ordered an MRI. Thinking nothing of it I showed up for my test got strapped in and prepared for my test. The earplugs were the last straw. I knew there was no way I could go in that tube. Asking for a moment to get me together the tech took one look at my face and must have seen something resembling terror. He said, “she can’t do this. The other machine is available so let’s try that.” I managed with much prayer, closed eyes, and a conversation with the tech to be able to manage this one. I rehearsed each Bible memory verses I had memorized in my 60 years and felt a new wave of gratitude for my healthy life.

Covid

Covid Testing Requirement

Back to my trip. I was already planning my coping skills. Lots of diet coke, bathroom breaks, eating, sleeping, books to read, lessons to review, etc. Our bags are all packed except my personal item and Lawrence’s carry-on. We had taken the required Covid PCR test and awaited the results ($750 poorer). The nurse called and said your test is negative, Esther’s test is negative but Lawrence’s test is positive. My heart stops. We fly tomorrow, at least we were supposed to fly.

Lawrence and I sit and discuss possibilities. This is an unexpected situation. We feel pretty good. No one has a fever. Lawrence has a little cough. Could it be a false positive? The nurse said not likely and to quarantine for 10 days and go from there. I contact the airlines, our friends in Malawi. They ask questions I have no answers for. Will we all get it? Do we reschedule our flight? Do we assume the best outcome or wait? Wait.

The Wait

We are on day 11 of the wait. What do I do when I was not supposed to be here? Better prepare my lessons, order groceries, update everyone of the change of plans. Check on others we may have been around as we wait for us all to get sick. We take vitamin C, D, Zinc, lots of fluids, juices, and chicken soup, check our temperature and oxygen levels, and rest and pray.

I am so very thankful to know God and to know his timing is best. Thankfulness for the prayer and concern of loving friends and family. Thankful that we apparently suffered a mild case.

So yesterday was the suggested day to retest and now we wait again for the results to see if we proceed with our plans.

 

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Trust in the Lord with all Your Heart

Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Trust in the Lord with all Your Heart
Trust in the Lord with all Your Heart

First Memory Verses

This is the first Bible verse that I teach my children around two years old. Yes, I teach them John 11:35 but the first verse is to Trust in the Lord! Don’t lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge God he will smooth the way for you. He will make your path straight if you will let him.

POW Toilet Paper Bible

Memorizing scriptures is very important to me. I first got a glimpse into the importance when I was middle school age and heard a POW speak at an assembly at Mortimer Jordan High School in Morris, Alabama. It so impressed me! I wish I knew who the man was. He probably has no idea what an impact he made on my life. Nonetheless, I still remember his description of how the prisoners pieced together a Bible. They wrote on toilet paper the verses that they could recall from memory. This was a joint project. They valued these words. These scriptures carried them through a dark time of imprisonment.

Freed-Hardeman

As a college student, I was impressed with a professor who memorized chunks of the Bible and sometimes books of the Bible! I wanted to do this!

Would there ever be a time when I would not have access to a Bible? Doesn’t everyone have a Bible? What if the only part of the Bible you could have right now was what you have committed to memory? How big would your Bible be?

Malawi

As I travel to Malawi I see a hunger for the word of God like none I have ever witnessed. They want to own a Bible. They want to hold and read a Bible because they know it contains the words of life.

What a blessing to be able to own a Bible. What a blessing to recall scripture from memory!

Count your blessings today!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

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Update after Malawi

My heart is so full! How could I begin to put on paper what my heart has experienced this last couple of months?

When I returned after being in Malawi for a month, I hit the road. My overflowing heart shared news and greetings from our Christian family in Malawi. I hope to express my deep appreciation for all who shared in our work. My heart is still so full of the beautiful people, Bible studies, new Christians and great needs that I witnessed. I thought I would be able to put into words my second trip to Malawi but I know they will not convey what I have experienced. I must try. Be patient with me.

This year we spent a month in Malawi.

Below lists some of the things we did. I am sure it cannot possibly be all that we did while there. There is just too much nor can it convey the joy that I experienced among people who have so little of this world’s possessions.

Prison Ministry

We visited prisons at Ntcheu, Domasi, Mzimba, Maula, and Kachere. It was wonderful to get a report from the chaplains that our people are doing a great work. They are always there. The inmates who studied WBS were not repeat offenders. Not the case with others. When we give them hygiene gifts, the inmates know they are not forgotten.

It was nice to be remembered by those we met before and those who had become Christians last year. It was great to see them active in their faith. They were excited to receive more teaching. Many obeyed the Gospel. We met some new students and signed up new ones. We did teaching and preaching in the prisons as well as delivering soap and toothbrushes.

Ntcheu

We were able to teach men and women at Ntcheu again this year. There was only one female inmate. Last year two female inmates and two female guards obeyed the gospel, as well as seven men. This one remaining female was very excited to see us again and receive a Bible. She and the guards were doing well. She is learning to sew with instruction from the guards. We gave her a piece of fabric to help her along.

There were 21 baptisms at Ntcheu. Because of the lack of water, the inmates have to go outside the gate to haul some in.

Mzimba

Our new sister Cecilia and the Chaplain Peter wanted to provide a meal for us so we spent one evening visiting them at Cecilia’s home. The Chaplain escorted us to the  officers quarters and on our return. We also found out Cecilia has adopted her niece. Many have adopted orphans in Malawi. Her son is away at University.

We made two trips to Mzimba

Soap and toothbrushes distributed.

Bible teaching to the men and women two days.

Baptisms 18. Mzimba has over 100 members of the church in this prison. I was happy to see the spirit among the members with their new brothers. It was also a bit easier to do baptisms in that there are two wells on the prison grounds.

We did a sewing lesson with Mzimba prison ladies and gave them small sewing kits to repair their own clothing. These $1 kits were greatly prized.

Visiting  Muya Tembo

We went to Muya Tembo’s (one of our prison ministers) new place and spent some time waiting in his neighborhood while our tire was repaired. His living conditions are very simple. There is no indoor plumbing, and cooking is done outside over an open fire. There is a well in the area. We only heard great things about Muya’s work. We also witnessed first hand how he went and talked with the neighbors as they gathered around to see the drone as we waited for the tire to be repaired. He also gave them some Bible materials and over heard questions being asked. We were able to give Muya’s daughters and friends hygiene bags as well.

Cecilia attended church with us at Makari where my husband, Lawrence preached and after church my daughter Esther and I both taught the ladies. There was one baptism. It was nice to see that they also have teaching for children at this congregation. This was our first visit to Makari but somehow a bookmark made by the ladies day group at church last year found it’s way all the way out to this far out village and was hung from the ceiling as a decoration.

Domasi

The OC Officer in Charge, Eunice wanted to meet with us. She was pleased to receive a Bible and surprised to find out she was mentioned in the Bible. We were able to share the story of Eunice in the Bible, and she encouraged us to continue the great work with this prison. 

We gave hygiene bags to Domasi prison which had all new female inmates but one. They had heard that there was a lady there last year who brought these and they were really hoping I would come again. Unfortunately, the first visit I did not have any with me. I was not scheduled for a second visit so I told them they must pray. And it became necessary to make a return trip to that area for a totally separate reason. They were very happy that God allowed the second visit. We were also able to give our one remaining student from last year a Bible. We taught them and also started them on WBS courses. Two visits to Domasi.

We gave soap and toothbrushes.

Lawrence preached to over 300 male inmates,  Penjoni a local WBS worker and preacher also gave a message and then while we were waiting for them to fetch water for the baptisms one of the christian brothers who is an inmate gave a lesson. There is a baptistry on the grounds but it’s water had been used by someone doing laundry. So 14 guys took 5 gallon buckets down the road for water to fill the baptistry. There were 24 baptisms at Domasi our first day visiting there. Peter Masters one of the Orrs Sellers preaching school students went with us and did the baptisms.

Ntaja Village

We made a long trek to Ntaja Village. We followed up with some who had requested to be baptized before their release from Domasi prison and had not been allowed. 5 obeyed the gospel. They are in a village surrounded by Muslims. They have been followed up with, given Bibles, and introduced to the local church which is 6 km away. We had a series of car problems and this was one of those trips we broke down. I thought we might have to stay in the village that night. But alas we were on our way and broke down again. We eventually reached our lodging very late. Our hosts said they had been praying for us.

Kachere

Kachere is the juvenile prison in Lilongwe, with 18-22 year old males. We met with the officer in charge Mary. We had met her last year and she had wanted a pink Bible like mine so I was able to give her one. Our friend and minister Watson has been taking care of this prison and their WBS lessons. There is much work to do here.

Bibles

Everywhere we go people long for Bibles. This really touched my heart; I was embarrassed to own 26+ Bibles. We spent $738 on Bibles to give to our students. We were able to give some English Bibles we brought with us as well. After some searching we were able to purchase a Shona Bible and delivered it to a sister (I taught last year). She will be released to go home to Kenya soon. She was beyond happy to receive a Bible and a visit. It was wonderful to see her looking healthy. Last year she was very ill when I was here. I met her at Mzimba prison but this year I visited her at the Maula prison.

TWO Sewing Co-ops Established

We were able to purchase three sewing machines and set up two sewing co-ops. One in Biriwiri and one in Ntcheu. We set them up with enough supplies to get them started and encouraged them to reinvest in their business. They are working together several days a week to further their sewing skills. Some seem to be doing well from the reports we get and some are taking longer to catch on to the skill of sewing. The Ntcheu Co-op  has two sisters teaching them. The Biriwiri Co-op has a local tailor teaching them. These ladies are all very excited about the new skills they are learning. We hope to set up more in the future and also to hold a business workshop in their area. This is very important work. They have so little opportunities to make a living.

Churches

We taught at a few Gospel meetings and church services (Lawrence and Eddie)and Esther and Reda taught at some ladies’ days while we were there. We were reunited with those we met last year and some who had become Christians.

Baleni village (7baptisms), Chinyamula village (1), Mdeka church of Christ (2), Makari church of Christ (1)

WBS School students

We went to some villages even though most of our work revolves around the prison ministry. We visited students we had come in contact with through the schools. And met one in the market place as well.

Children’s Tutorial Centers

We visited two tutorials even though school was not in session yet. It was to begin the next week. They came and recited for us and greeted us. We were able to give the teachers from three tutorials supplies and teaching materials. 37% of the children in Malawi are malnourished. Our plan is to re-establish a nutrition program in these schools. Betty Melcher (my mom) provided 40 sets of clothing (uniforms) to one of the tutorials. My mother made these sweet little skirts and shorts.

Preachers and Teachers Meetings

Met with all of the present and perhaps past preachers and also the tutorial center’s teachers to fellowship and share news and experiences.

Ntcheu Hospital

Visited with sisters in Christ. Gave 20+ hats to babies, baby blankets, and hygiene bags to new mothers in the name of Christ. Unbelievable hospital conditions. They have 20 births a day.

Hygiene Bags

We were able to give out 50 hygiene bags. On one occasion we hosted 20+ school girls at our guest house. We shared a time of fellowship, no bake cookies, crafts, and hygiene bags. Receiving these gifts thrilled the girls.

Water Wells

We visited several areas last year and this year that were in need of a closer water supply. Even though there are many needs we decided to focus this year’s walk for water on Milala community because it would have the largest impact. 280 families will have a changed life because of this. Children will be able to be in school more, Better hygiene, less illness, etc. We were part of a Walk 4 Water this last Saturday which raised enough money to drill a well in this community!!! Now we are trying to raise funds to host an Agricultural workshop in this same community.

Milala village

Oh the stories of dirty water, giant spiders, living without running water, cooking over an open fire, killing and dressing chicken for dinner, etc. There is so much more but I just couldn’t wait any longer to share some of my journey.  If you have questions please ask.

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My Journey to Malawi

Malawi Young women receiving hygiene bags with great joy.
Young women receiving hygiene bags with great joy.
Billiwiri Church of Christ - Malawi
Billiwiri Church of Christ

My journey to Malawi was an amazing experience! My husband and I spent two weeks traveling and teaching in Malawi. It was the most wonderful ministry experience of my life!

What did we pack for Malawi?

It took a lot of planning and decision making to get ready for our trip. Every day I watched the airlines for tickets so that when the price dropped I was quickly able to purchase our tickets.

We packed and repacked to keep our bag within the weight limit. How could we make the best use of our bag space? What would we take with us? We had some direction from our friends in Malawi about what we should bring. Missionary friends who had gone to Africa also shared ideas with us. Lawrence and I were each allowed a carryon bag, a personal item and one 50 lb. checked bag. What did we carry in our bags? Our personal item was our laptop and lessons. In our carry on bags we packed our clothing. We packed gifts, teaching materials, soccer balls, hygiene bags, protein bars, sheets, and mosquito netting in our checked luggage.

What did we teach?

For weeks Lawrence and I prepared for our lessons. You see Lawrence had been teaching World Bible School lessons for about a year and having a great response from his students. Our contact in Malawi asked us to come and see the work first hand. We were very excited to make this trip.

As we prepared our lessons, I discovered a lot of my teaching was very Americanized. I did not realize how much of my culture was infused in my Bible teaching. Even though I tried to be aware of this I still found surprises.

Having never been to Africa I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect or who my audience would be. Each day I had several opportunities for teaching so I had to be ready to teach at any moment. I did not know when I would be teaching or whom I would be teaching.

Colossians 3 was the text I chose that would apply to everyone. I talked about things we as Christians need to rid from our lives and things we need to incorporate. Starting with these paper dolls pictured below I made a book with the pictures of African women clothed in native attire.

We studied about clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Each page featured one of these topics and had a pull out section with scriptures which we discussed. Many years ago I used a flip chart of the Gospel Presentation that I took with me to Africa and used many times. I was so thankful for the preparation I had done. Our brethren have very little in the way of possessions.  Few Bibles, teaching materials, binders, office or craft supplies, etc. So I left almost everything I took with me with our Christian brothers and sisters.

Where did we teach?

We taught in prisons, churches, beside the road under trees, in small little rooms full of children and out back behind church buildings.

In the prison my work was a bit different. Being the only woman in our party, I was taken alone with a female guard back through the prison to the women’s section to teach. The number of women inmates was much less than the number of men.  My largest number of inmates was 10 as compared to 500+ men inmates that my husband and other preachers were teaching. Sometimes I would teach outside in a courtyard or in a room. My students were inmates and guards. These students were eager for teaching and were very happy to sit for long periods of time to hear the Bible.

There were very few Bibles therefore I carried an extra Bible in my pack in Chichewa so that they could read the verses in their language. Most of my students knew some English. If asked what their greatest need is they would probably say Bibles. Sometimes they would sing for me and it was indeed a huge blessing to hear their lovely voices.

In one location 500 inmates were sharing two Bibles. The ladies section at that same prison had 1 Bible and a part of a Bible which was well used and they shared with one another. It was obvious they loved the word and wanted to learn more.

Results of our teaching in Malawi.

I saw many people obey the gospel. They were baptized in streams, in church and prison baptistries, and in portable baptistries as a result of our teaching and the teaching of our brothers in Malawi. One day we had to travel about 20 miles to find enough water to baptize. On another day I saw 32 obey the gospel. After my return several of the women I taught continued to study World Bible School and obeyed the gospel. One of my sweet guards wrote and thanked us for showing her the way. I am able to communicate occasionally with her through Whatsapp and continue to share studies from the Bible with her.

What did we eat?

We were in Malawi during a time when there seemed to be plenty of food. As we traveled along the roads or through the markets we would see produce stacked in pyramid shapes for sale. However, the natives did not eat three times a day as Americans are accustomed to doing. Nor did they eat the amount of food we eat.

For breakfast we had eggs (fried, boiled, etc), potatoes, toast, omelets, hot tea, coffee. At our second meal we ate chicken, goat, eggs, tomatoes, onions potatoes, rice, nsima, and pasta. There was a bit of fruit available in the markets and English biscuits that we purchased to keep with us. Every day we had to purchase water. I purchased “sweets” to share with the village children and many times the adults too.

Sometimes we would go all day without stopping for a meal so the snacks we had packed helped hold us over until dinner. We shared the snacks we brought from home with our traveling companions. These snacks were new to our friends and they enjoyed them very much! They especially liked the tuna pouches.

We are going again!

After coming back to the states it was very hard to go back to normal. We left so much of our hearts in Malawi. The students studying through World Bible School continue to increase and many obey the gospel every month. We are working for and with Malawi on a daily basis. We are excited to begin planning our return trip this September to Malawi.

Let Me Share My Story with You.

There is so much more that I could share. I would love to share my story about the work in Malawi. If you have questions about our trip or the work we do in Malawi please just ask. I would love to talk about it!!

If you would like to help with the work I can tell you how to do that too! If you know someone you think would like to hear about our work please share our contact information. My husband would be happy to come and talk with your church or eldership.

Invite me to speak to your ladies group or organization.  redaredding@gmail.com

Smyrna Church of Christ

Malawi Missions

P.O. Box 314

Smyrna, Tn 37167

 

 

 

Samson's village - Malawi
Samson’s village – Malawi
Watson and Family - Malawi
Watson and Family – Malawi
Teaching beside the road in Kasunga - Malawi
Teaching beside the road in Kasunga – Malawi
Kasunga
Babies go to prison with their mothers
Meeting some WBS students
Twins
Another village
Cecilia one of the guards who later became a Christian
Muya Tembo’s village
Tutorial-we brought snacks and soccer balls
Gift of soccer balls
Baptism in the stream
Charles’ village

 

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Day 2 of our Keene, NH Trip

 

We slept well in Erie, Pa. We awoke early and got packed up and ready for the trip. We then all went down for breakfast. We were so happy to find out that the rest of our team had arrived! The Logue family! We sorted out who was riding where and hit the road. We were hoping to arrive by 5 pm to have dinner with the elders. As we were driving we passed a sign that said, Niagara Falls. Until that moment I did not realize we would be traveling so close to the Falls. I was so busy getting ready for the trip that I really did not pay attention to any sights along the route. But no time to stop, we had to save that for another day.

We had a few issues with GPS along the way and a jaunt over the mountains passed by Hogback Mountain and through the woods. We finally all arrived at the church building in Keene, New Hampshire. We met with our wonderful brethren and made a plan for the work we would do during our time in Keene.

We found out the timetable for Sunday Morning Bible Class and Worship. We didn’t want the church to show up with us still in our jammies! We set up our air mattresses in the church building and got ready for a rest. We would be showering at the Y but could not get our passes until Monday morning.

Hogback Mt. 

 

Sleeping in the Church building

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Day 1 of our Keene, New Hampshire Trip

This year I had the opportunity to go to Keene, NH to work with the Church of Christ.  I had been in touch with the church for a couple of years about the possibility of coming to do a short work with them. What started out to be a teen mission trip turned into a family mission trip. Doesn’t the Lord have a way of doing things like that? Our team was a group of 12 ranging in age from 5 years to 80! Our trip was 1100 miles each way. We drove in 3 cars. Our first day we drove from Smyrna, Tn to Erie, Pa and stopped for the night. We had a few adventures while there. We got checked into our rooms and then I asked the kids if they would like to go for a drive. You can imagine the looks I received after driving all day. I didn’t take no for an answer and after a wrong turn or two, we arrived on the shores of Lake Erie. What a beautiful lake! We stood in awe at its size and beauty. It was nearing sunset but we enjoyed some time on the beach. I loved watching the kids running and playing on the beach. No money could buy that joy. We found some beautiful very smooth rocks to remember our time there. After returning to our motel the older girls jumped into the pool while I went to the room with the younger kids. The younger kids ran a few feet ahead of me and rounded the corner and got on the elevator without me! About that time I heard a huge explosive sound! I was so distressed as I tried to get to the littles and then run to the older girls. I got the littles settled with Lawrence while I ran to check on the older girls. Fire trucks and police cars had arrived by this time. After I was assured everyone was ok and told the girls to come to the room I went to find out what was going on. I soon found out that there were fireworks on the property next door and one must have gotten out of hand! What a scare. We ate sandwiches and chips in the room, had devotional and got showered and ready for bed. And the story continues…..

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Sun Tea and One Time Meetings

Making Sun Tea is just fun!

My first experience with sun tea was in college while I was on Campaigns Northwest, 1979. We stopped in Ontario, Oregon just over the eastern Oregon border for the night and church the next morning. As was our custom we stayed all night with host families from the church of Christ. I stayed with a family in Vale, Oregon on their ranch. The house had many windows facing out over the land and on the deck railing sat a gallon jar of sun tea. They were a sweet family. I enjoyed seeing their land and seeing them work the cattle, and just getting to know them a bit. This was just a one night stop yet they hosted a stranger for the night and treated her like family.  So never underestimate the impact of one time meetings. Memories of those meetings may well follow you through your life and to eternity.

I am in the sunny south and I must tell you it is iced tea drinking time! Mid 90’s today.  It is very simple to make and may seem funny for me to give instructions. Regardless,  I will share how I make sun tea.

To make a gallon of sun tea you will need:

1-gallon glass jar with lid

1-gallon cold water

2-3 quart size or 6-8 regular tea bags

Fill your gallon glass jar with cold pure water. Add 2-3 quart size tea bags (depending on how strong you like your tea) We like 3  the best. Place the lid on the jar and set it in the sun to brew. Depending on your season, temperature, and the direction of the sun it may take 1-5 hours. Mine was ready in an hour or so. However, I live in the sunny south and it is summer! After your tea is ready you may sweeten it with honey,  sugar or any sweetener of your choice.

 

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Campaigns Northwest – Part 1

In 1979 I had my first adventure to the Northwestern part of the United States. I traveled by car with a group of college students from Freed-Hardeman College and Harding University and the Obert Henderson family who had started Campaigns Northwest. The idea was to bring Christian college students to work with small churches in the Northwest for their summer break. Students who might want to settle there eventually and strengthen these Christians and churches. Many students brought their own cars. So we loaded up and No we didn’t head to Beverly but we headed to the Northwest. Obert arranged for us to be hosted by churches along the way who would house us for one night and feed us dinner that night, and breakfast the next morning and pack a sack lunch for us.  (Years later I would realize what a HUGE undertaking this was). There were about 50 students if my memory serves me correctly. The plan was to go to three congregations for about 3 weeks each. We also had a training session on the trip out while staying at a camp in the Colorado Rockies. Mid-Point we met up at  Camp Yamhill in Yamhill, Oregon.  (Is there a more glorious place?) Many experiences from this trip are seared into my mind. This trip and group of people as well as those we met probably impacted my faith and life more than any single event I experienced in my young life. I would be forever changed. I did not know this at the time.