Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Kitchen Corner
This is an article I wrote for our Newsletter that we just sent out!
It's a new school with new students and new challenges! It's hard to believe that I am now coming up on three years of working in the kitchen here. Two students are assigned to help me with dinner prep each week day. Typically, the girls who help me begin their time in the kitchen with little to no idea how to cook. I am able to come alongside them and teach them basic cooking skills. This is a lot of fun because I have had a long history of cooking. Ten years back, when I was eleven of age, my first memory of cooking involving my brother Danny and I. Together we created the ultimate birthday cake for our grandpa's birthday. This involved us mixing in everything that we could thing of that we would want in a cake.
As the years went on I learned how to make a real cake and how to regularly cook for more than fifty people. From cooking at home for our guest house to helping cook for 200 pastors from all over Europe to taking culinary classes in school to cooking for 400 people at a Christmas party last year, I've had a great education in the kitchen and love that I now get to teach others and serve people.
Teaching others how to cook can be very challenging, especially during moments when an assisting student accidentally burns me with a hot pan or pot. Other times I've had flour explosions in the kitchen, and other times have involved glass measuring cups shattering on the floor. Still, moments of pain, messes, and chaos are made worth it because I know that my time in the kitchen is more that just "work." It's part of my ministry with YWAM. I'm able to minister to the spiritual and emotional needs of the girls who assist me and together we're able to minister to the physical needs of each person who enjoys a meal on our campus.
So if you're ever in the area, swing on by for nutritious and delicious meal, topped off with the godly fellowship of the residents of our campus!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Ox foot, Pig intestines and Cow stomach…
Just some of the delicacies that I have tried on this trip.
Why would I eat ox foot, pig intestines or cow stomach? Because the Asian culture is very hospitable and the hosts watch everything we eat—or not eat. Of course we were asked many times to eat up everything that was served, which was not easy with 15-course meals served. Our hosts took us to very nice restaurants and
we also got to enjoy some home cook meals when we were invited to homes.
We left for China on the 8th of June and arrived in S-city 3 days later. On our last
trip there we started to connect with a church, but were very limited to the number of people allowed to come to church meetings and teach. So I only got to go to one prayer meeting.
This time it was very different. We had traveled 3 days, just got settled in our hotel, went out for lunch and started to rest when Barb heard a knock on her door. When she opened the door it was the leader from the local church that we had met last time. Barb and Vincent were asked to teach at a Bible study.
They both still had dripping wet hair from the shower and no time to prepare. After that they were asked to teach at various church meetings every single night, sometimes twice a day. We never knew where we were going until we got to our destination.
Before we got to S-city we had a real short orientation at YWAM Hong Kong. Joe, a YWAM staff member, had said that many teams go out to China on Outreaches from Hong Kong. The first thing they ask a new believer is if he/she wants to hear God speak to them. So we took that example and followed it, with success.
One personal experience was at an English Corner for Kids from 1st grade through
college level. After we had gone through our program, the little kids left. (In China you are not allowed to witness to children under 18) That’s when Barb put aside the microphone and started sharing the gospel. Two boys and a girl came up to me while Barb was sharing and asked me if I was a believer too. So I got to share my testimony. I told them that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that we communicate. I asked them if they wanted to hear Him too and they agreed to pray with me. I asked Vincent and Melissa to help me pray for them. After I while I asked if they heard the Lord speak anything to them, and they girl said:” I’m not sure if it’s me or not but I heard "I’m here. I’m here." All three gave their lives to the Lord that night.
God had planned this trip from the beginning. He had planned out every detail.
All of us had to come up with the finances and yet God made sure we had more than enough. We hardly had to pay for any food. (So we gave our food budget money, plus some extra, toward helping the poor and needy there.) Each of us had enough prayer coverage to hold back the works of the enemy. Jesus Christ had set up multiple divine appointments ahead of us, and it was as if we just walked right into them. The doors were that wide open. Praise God!
Why would I eat ox foot, pig intestines or cow stomach? Because the Asian culture is very hospitable and the hosts watch everything we eat—or not eat. Of course we were asked many times to eat up everything that was served, which was not easy with 15-course meals served. Our hosts took us to very nice restaurants and
we also got to enjoy some home cook meals when we were invited to homes.
We left for China on the 8th of June and arrived in S-city 3 days later. On our last
trip there we started to connect with a church, but were very limited to the number of people allowed to come to church meetings and teach. So I only got to go to one prayer meeting.
This time it was very different. We had traveled 3 days, just got settled in our hotel, went out for lunch and started to rest when Barb heard a knock on her door. When she opened the door it was the leader from the local church that we had met last time. Barb and Vincent were asked to teach at a Bible study.
They both still had dripping wet hair from the shower and no time to prepare. After that they were asked to teach at various church meetings every single night, sometimes twice a day. We never knew where we were going until we got to our destination.
Before we got to S-city we had a real short orientation at YWAM Hong Kong. Joe, a YWAM staff member, had said that many teams go out to China on Outreaches from Hong Kong. The first thing they ask a new believer is if he/she wants to hear God speak to them. So we took that example and followed it, with success.
One personal experience was at an English Corner for Kids from 1st grade through
college level. After we had gone through our program, the little kids left. (In China you are not allowed to witness to children under 18) That’s when Barb put aside the microphone and started sharing the gospel. Two boys and a girl came up to me while Barb was sharing and asked me if I was a believer too. So I got to share my testimony. I told them that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that we communicate. I asked them if they wanted to hear Him too and they agreed to pray with me. I asked Vincent and Melissa to help me pray for them. After I while I asked if they heard the Lord speak anything to them, and they girl said:” I’m not sure if it’s me or not but I heard "I’m here. I’m here." All three gave their lives to the Lord that night.
God had planned this trip from the beginning. He had planned out every detail.
All of us had to come up with the finances and yet God made sure we had more than enough. We hardly had to pay for any food. (So we gave our food budget money, plus some extra, toward helping the poor and needy there.) Each of us had enough prayer coverage to hold back the works of the enemy. Jesus Christ had set up multiple divine appointments ahead of us, and it was as if we just walked right into them. The doors were that wide open. Praise God!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Christ's amazing GRACE
How many times have I seen Christ's amazing Grace in my life? When I look back and think of how many times God has walked me through situations where I would have given up so easily. I can say that Jesus is definitely my provider. Being a missionary is absolutely a challenge for me. I always try to be in control of everything and having everything planed out. But now I am challenged to trust the Lord to be in control. Let Him take of the maneuver and ask Him for things. Sure enough God will give them to you because He says so himself in Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Last month I was challenged that way! Your teams did some fundraising for Outreach and they also asked all the staff to pray about giving money so I did. As I was listing to God for an answer I felt like He was saying: " Give $100 and don't worry I will give it back to you." So I did and obeyed. It was super hard for me to do because that all the money I had and I still had to pay part of my staff fees for that month. But I just had to trust Him. Sure enough He was faithful. Not even a week later there was check of $100 from a person that I did not expected from.
It just blows my mind how God cares for a selfish person as myself.
Not to long ago we had the most amazing spring weather among lots of snow storms. How crazy is that? So we as the last big of the staff decided to go rock climbing. Sadly I didn't conquer anything that day. I attempt to climb a 9.5 plus and after that I was to tired to to continue and finish the 7.5. It was way to hard for me and I only climbed once in my life before. But only to show how much fun I had that day I'm going to add this pics. Left: Me on 7.5 Top right: Me on 9.5 plus, Bottom right: Me pretending to kick eric of the rock
Right now I try out different recipes and experiment around. Like giant meatballs filled with eggs, baked spring rolls, my own creation of a black forrest cake (moistened cake with 2 layers of chocolate filling, 1 layer of whipped cream and berries, covered with chocolate cherry glaze) I am also working on my cookbook. I'm putting all my favorite recipes together and cleaning the kitchen. I absolutely love my Job...
Last month I was challenged that way! Your teams did some fundraising for Outreach and they also asked all the staff to pray about giving money so I did. As I was listing to God for an answer I felt like He was saying: " Give $100 and don't worry I will give it back to you." So I did and obeyed. It was super hard for me to do because that all the money I had and I still had to pay part of my staff fees for that month. But I just had to trust Him. Sure enough He was faithful. Not even a week later there was check of $100 from a person that I did not expected from.
It just blows my mind how God cares for a selfish person as myself.
Not to long ago we had the most amazing spring weather among lots of snow storms. How crazy is that? So we as the last big of the staff decided to go rock climbing. Sadly I didn't conquer anything that day. I attempt to climb a 9.5 plus and after that I was to tired to to continue and finish the 7.5. It was way to hard for me and I only climbed once in my life before. But only to show how much fun I had that day I'm going to add this pics. Left: Me on 7.5 Top right: Me on 9.5 plus, Bottom right: Me pretending to kick eric of the rock
Right now I try out different recipes and experiment around. Like giant meatballs filled with eggs, baked spring rolls, my own creation of a black forrest cake (moistened cake with 2 layers of chocolate filling, 1 layer of whipped cream and berries, covered with chocolate cherry glaze) I am also working on my cookbook. I'm putting all my favorite recipes together and cleaning the kitchen. I absolutely love my Job...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Crazy and different Christmas experience
Wow it's been so long AGAIN.
So much to do and not enough time to sit down on a computer to get on my blog.
Things here on campus are going to be a bit slower since our teams just left for outreach to Thailand and Peru.
I apologize to everyone I haven't talked to in a while. My computer broke about 3 months ago my cellphone bill is to high yet God knows my needs and gave me a computer and a cellphone to use for the next 2 months. He is the BEST!!!!!
Over Christmas I spent 2 weeks in Dallas. I decided I was going to join our DTS group to go on a stateside outreach. Crazy enough to make that kinda decision I found out that night we arrived (thursday) that I was supposed to be cooking a Christmas dinner for 450 people. 10 frozen turkeys, about 10 lbs of dried pinto beans and 3 days to prepare. I had never cooked a turkey before because there was always either my dad or Jen to make it. OR have ever cooked so many dried pinto beans at the same time.
My turkeys turned out fine plus the last 2 were for display so I tied the legs together with a red ribbon. (looked super cute)
My beans not so much! I had them soak for a day and a half and then cooking for a day. The last hour of cooking I burned the bottom of this huge pot. It was late and I forgot to add more water.
Oh well they just had a little smoky taste to them.
These 2 weeks I got to learn a lot about putting others before me and serving them with a the love Jesus Christ gives me.
Easier said then done! So many times I could have put other before my own needs but I didn't.
Selfishness is I think is something everyone has to deal with every single day. "Selfishness" and "Patience", a big thing that God is teaching and helping me walk through on daily bases.
Worship was another thing that I was kinda in charge of during this trip. Let me just tell you I have never been so much challenged in this category. I was told that we were in charge of a Wednesday evening church service at the Dallas International Street Church and I was to lead worship.
Jenni just told me that they liked peppy and lively worship. Okay first of all I am not a peppy worship leader and not trained enough to do so nor did I have be right songs with me!
Let let me tell you how God has used this situation and made a lesson out of it.
We had 2 weeks to prep and after the first 2 attempts of practicing the songs I picked out I just gave up and told Jenni I couldn't do it. Of course I didn't give up. After spending most of the time searching for songs we finally had songs picked out that might've worked and went through them once before we had to leave for Church.
It was only by God's grace and by my wonderful friends that this worship service didn't turn into a whole disaster.
When we got there we set everything up and where ready to start. As we were singing the songs our mics went in and out the whole time so that no one really could here us to much. Plus after the last song was done people expected more songs and that's where the Holy Spirit took over and our guitar player jumped in and started singing another song and saved the worship time.
There is so much more I could write but that's for next time....
So much to do and not enough time to sit down on a computer to get on my blog.
Things here on campus are going to be a bit slower since our teams just left for outreach to Thailand and Peru.
I apologize to everyone I haven't talked to in a while. My computer broke about 3 months ago my cellphone bill is to high yet God knows my needs and gave me a computer and a cellphone to use for the next 2 months. He is the BEST!!!!!
Over Christmas I spent 2 weeks in Dallas. I decided I was going to join our DTS group to go on a stateside outreach. Crazy enough to make that kinda decision I found out that night we arrived (thursday) that I was supposed to be cooking a Christmas dinner for 450 people. 10 frozen turkeys, about 10 lbs of dried pinto beans and 3 days to prepare. I had never cooked a turkey before because there was always either my dad or Jen to make it. OR have ever cooked so many dried pinto beans at the same time.
My turkeys turned out fine plus the last 2 were for display so I tied the legs together with a red ribbon. (looked super cute)
My beans not so much! I had them soak for a day and a half and then cooking for a day. The last hour of cooking I burned the bottom of this huge pot. It was late and I forgot to add more water.
Oh well they just had a little smoky taste to them.
These 2 weeks I got to learn a lot about putting others before me and serving them with a the love Jesus Christ gives me.
Easier said then done! So many times I could have put other before my own needs but I didn't.
Selfishness is I think is something everyone has to deal with every single day. "Selfishness" and "Patience", a big thing that God is teaching and helping me walk through on daily bases.
Worship was another thing that I was kinda in charge of during this trip. Let me just tell you I have never been so much challenged in this category. I was told that we were in charge of a Wednesday evening church service at the Dallas International Street Church and I was to lead worship.
Jenni just told me that they liked peppy and lively worship. Okay first of all I am not a peppy worship leader and not trained enough to do so nor did I have be right songs with me!
Let let me tell you how God has used this situation and made a lesson out of it.
We had 2 weeks to prep and after the first 2 attempts of practicing the songs I picked out I just gave up and told Jenni I couldn't do it. Of course I didn't give up. After spending most of the time searching for songs we finally had songs picked out that might've worked and went through them once before we had to leave for Church.
It was only by God's grace and by my wonderful friends that this worship service didn't turn into a whole disaster.
When we got there we set everything up and where ready to start. As we were singing the songs our mics went in and out the whole time so that no one really could here us to much. Plus after the last song was done people expected more songs and that's where the Holy Spirit took over and our guitar player jumped in and started singing another song and saved the worship time.
There is so much more I could write but that's for next time....
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