Summer 2012
GirlfriendG AZETTE Travel Photo Challenge Interviews With Sisters from Romania, India, and Thailand
Seeing Jesus Teresa Miller
A Summer Smoothie Mas e h t f O s ootstep
In The F Monica
Miller
ter
Page 20
Recipes from The Flying Crochet Hook
interviews
Page 31
Page 6, 28, 34
Footsteps Master In the
of the
Page 22
Join me this issue as we take a trip around the world visiting places such as, Romania, India, and Israel (and more!). God has so much for us to learn about Him through different cultures and people of the world. .
Monica Miller Girlfriend Gazette 2950 E. Main St. Canon City, CO 81212 girlfriendgazette@gmail.com girlfriendgazette.blogspot.com
Most days, it’s very easy to gain the mindset that the world is only as big as our backyard. (Or in other words, our own community, culture, or circle of friends.) What we all need is a little world view… something to pull us outside of ourselves and our little comfort-zone and show us that there really is a purpose bigger than ourselves…the purpose that hearts may be turned towards the Father for His Glory. And perhaps God doesn’t have it as part of His plans to take you to China, Africa or India. But I believe with all my heart that no
matter where you
are the same God calls you to come outside of “self-world-view” and see His greater purpose and mission.
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
An Interview With
RaVonne Rhodes From Thailand
z
My name is RaVonne Sabrina Rhodes and I am 17 years old/young. (which ever you prefer) Please refrain from asking too much about my name because I really don’t know what it means, which is truly tragic, and I don’t know anyone else that answers to this rare name. But don’t take me wrong, I truly adore my name that my parents have wonderfully gifted to me! I am the oldest of 7 children and the only girl. (which means I have 6 younger brothers) Life is never boring, and I am continually amazed at how God has blessed me with lots of young men (for now) in my life and even though I would love to have a little sister, brothers are just as important. Before I go into more details of my current life, let me give you a little history on the life of the Rhodes family. (my generation, btw) I was born in Minnesota (USA) and lived there until I was six years of age. Then we, my father, mother, 2 younger brothers, and I, moved to Grenada, which is a beautiful, small island in the Caribbean just above South America. We lived there for 4 years before we moved back to the US of A. 1 year and several months followed of life in Minnesota and then we made the BIG move to Asia, and that is where we are now! I currently am located (live) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which is in Southeast Asia. I have lived here for 5 years and 9 months. My father is a teacher at a mission training school and the rest of my family resides here since this is where the Father has lead.
As I mentioned before, I have a lot of brothers! :) So let me introduce you to them from oldest to youngest. (at least as much as I can without you seeing them in person) Riley Webster (14) is very much of a leader. He loves telling others what to do and how to do it! :) Sports are definitely a favorite and he continually challenges me to spend more time in the Word. We often have very random conversations and enjoy teasing each other about random things. :) <moving on> RaMont David (12) was born on January 1, 2000, which makes him a very special person. Jokes are a part of his everyday language and he always makes people laugh! <would make a great comedian> Once again, sports are a favorite <beware, they are a favorite of every Rhodes boy>, living life on the edge is not very new, and he loves to read. Reid Jamison (9) is the blonde <on the outside, mind you> among the mix of kids. Very smart and thinks things through… reading is a pastime and so are <dare I say it> sports! :) He loves crafts and being creative…we are much alike! :) Rodney Tyler (7)… the little bro. that laughs and teases and makes me smile…Sports rock his world and I think he likes to live life on the edge…the other day he fell out of a tree and skinned up his chin…later, at a friend’s house he does the EXACT same thing…<learning things the hard way?> :) He loves to interact with friends and talk about whatever he finds interesting…he also loves to play rook <this he learned at a very young age> :)
Reggie Andre (4) smart, mischievous, and naughty at times… playing with legos, singing, and keeping up with his older brothers are what occupy his young life…I often find him playing by himself and singing some made up tune with made up words….love him! He also will crack off with some genius line that makes us wonder where he heard it…kind of scary…yet it makes us realize that he understands more than we often think he does. Rylan Elliot (1) is the baby of the family and in some ways is spoiled..ok, he IS! :) He recently accomplished climbing the stairs, but has yet to walk all by himself. He tries to sing along with us when we sing...wonder what type of music genius he will be?! :) My father, Rick, is my lifesaver with homework, a preacher, and a teacher <guitar, and so many other spiritual things> ….He is a living example to me of what ‘living a life fully dedicated to whatever the Lord has for me’ looks like. He is…years old. Probably shouldn’t say….He likes to say he is still in his lower twenties! :) My mother, Renita, is my teacher <not school work, but many other things> and shows me how to live with soooo <ok, its not that many> many brothers….She has taught me to be a woman that is dedicated to what my Heavenly Father has called me to do. Love her! Hope that gives you a little look at what my family is like!
GG: What is your favorite food? My favorite food is…….. Well, actually, let me tell you first! I’m not really a person with a lot of favorites, so I often struggle when people ask me what my favorite food, color, and hobbies are. :) So I will give you some favorites of mine. :) Probably one of my favorites is a frozen pumpkin dessert that my grandma makes. I really (like REALLY) like fruit! <but I’m not really a health freak> Drinks <not beer :)> are pretty special and Mexican food is right up there!
GG: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I love spending time with friends <quality time>, so I take any chance I get to hang out and chat…maybe discuss is a better word! :) Swimming <and tanning :)>, listening to music, taking pictures, playing basketball and volleyball <any kind of sport really>, reading a good book, rearranging furniture <mostly my room and it ISN’T a daily occurrence :)>, and some writing/ drawing…nothing professional!
GG: What is something that you are passionate about? Well, I think everyone should be passionate about serving the Lord no matter what, but as far as being passionate about something else? I would have to say that I am pretty passionate about music.
GG: What are a few of your favorite things? A good conversation with some friends! <one of my love languages is quality time> A cold Minnesota winter and all that goes with Christmas! <all holidays really> Dressing up for a special occasion… well, sometimes my family thinks I make some occasions a little too dressy! :P I also like a good rough game of some kind with my brothers….and that usually does NOT include dressing up!
GG: Can you tell us a little about Thailand? .Tropical. .Mostly Hot. .Spicy Food. .Mostly Buddhist. .Spiritually Dark. It’s a country that definitely needs Jesus…so much darkness…Lots of Buddhists and lots of temples. A country that has a lot of foreigners…you can get a lot of ‘American things’…we really can’t complain!
GG: What are some of the things that you love about living in Thailand? I love the challenge of learning another language. I also love that I can drive a motorbike (yes, I know that they’re “want-to-be” motorcycles, but they are still a kind of bike!) :) Swimming can be done year ‘round! <happy dance>
GG: What are some of the toughest parts of living in Thailand? Thailand has its own language, Thai, + I am not Thai = I need to learn a different language. (Now you are probably wondering why in the world this is under things that I love AND things that are tough???) Well, there are the times of discouragement and feeling like a ….. <not sure what word fits> (idiot isn’t quite right!) J For the most part I like Thai food, but I have my moments of wishing I lived in a country where I just LOVED the food! So it’s probably a tough thing!
GG: What are some of the toughest parts of being in “missions”? Not having people to totally understand where you are coming from….I am a TCK (third culture kid) which means that I am American (first culture), I lived in Grenada and Thailand for most of my life, combined, but I’m not Grenadian or Thai (second culture), and that makes a combination of those cultures a third culture…well, actually four, but it’s called a TCK. It’s hard to find someone that has lived life similarly to the way I have, so to really have a close friend is very hard… For me, nothing has really stayed the same, except my family and my Heavenly Father! That makes it hard to just live life the same way that a lot of my friends in the US have lived.
GG: What are some things you love most about being in “missions”? I am so blessed with so many different experiences that many others don’t even have the chance to experience…getting to know different cultures <which isn’t always easy>, different languages, being able to travel <I have done this almost my whole life> and see different parts of the world…Those are probably the things that I enjoy the most…
GG: What are some of the things you miss most from the states? I really can’t say that I don’t miss much, because I really do….Probably friends and family in the States are the most important things… Then there are the amazing Minnesota winters and some strawberry twizzlers that aren’t found here! :) Along with some other foods! :) But we really have it nice here!
GG: What does having a family “involved in ministry” mean for you personally? Wow! It makes my life different, mostly because our purpose is to be here (at IGo) for other people, not just ourselves…and my parents can’t be with us all the time either because they are here for other staff and students! I have a lot of opportunities to show God’s love to those that may have never heard of Him before…teaching English to children who need
someone to care for them, and helping elderly women carry their groceries to their house…those are a few of the opportunities that we have here! My responsibilities are pretty normal. <what’s normal?> Helping out at home….laundry, baking, cleaning…things that each of you probably have to do! <It’s not that bad!> I study Thai during the summer and some during the school year. Each day I have my daily duties such as jobs around the house, but my schedule can’t be super picky because the rest of the world does NOT operate around the same time schedule as I do, as an American. I have to keep in mind that things will come up that you don’t necessarily plan to happen. GG: What is something God has been teaching you recently? Surrender! That my ideas and my plans are not always exactly what He has in store for me. Being able to say, “I will do whatever You have for me.” Disciplined! My relationship with Him is so much more important than ANY thing else! Knowing how to spend my time wisely, and that goes for Spiritual and Physical things! He also has been teaching me how I can know Him better. Being able to have a relationship that continues to grow.
I hope this gives you a ‘little’ <never mind that I just wrote over 1,500 words, no joke!> peek into my life. If you want to know more, you can visit me at .my house in Chiang Mai, Thailand…just take a plane there. :) Actually, you can read my blog at www.thespeciallifeilive.blogspot.com …I enjoy having visitors! May God bless each one of you in the special life that He has given you! Signing off! -RaVonne
POLL If I could choose I would like most to go to... Italy 41% Africa 29% Hawaii 23% Australia 2% TOTAL VOTES: 34
Worthy Reads:
The Hiding Place – Corrie Ten Boom Our trip this Spring also took us to the Corrie Ten Boom house in Haarlem, Holland. It was incredible to be there, and hear the story being told right there where it happened. It was definitely the most impacting experience we had in Europe. I had never read Corrie Ten Boom’s book The Hiding Place, but of course it had always been familiar to me. I had never even thought I’d really want to read it… but after being at her house, I wanted to. So, I brought a copy of The Hiding Place, right there in Corrie’s dining room. I started it right away… I was completely captivated as I read about Corrie and her sister Betsey’s life during world war II. Running the underground system. Hiding Jews. Concentration camp. Their faith and complete trust in God during the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust was incredible...how they allowed God to use them, even in concentration camp where it would seem next to impossible. Amazing—how God can bring hope in the hopelessness, beauty when everything is wretchedly ugly, purpose when there is no meaning, strength in complete weakness, and glory to His name in a world that is falling apart. If you’ve never actually read The Hiding Place for yourself I can’t tell you enough times that you need to.
You should know this part of God’s story.
My sisters and I in the secret hidden room, at the Corrie Ten Boom house in Holland.
Seeing Jesus Radiant Beauty, Teresa
Photo Credits to Dolores Miller
Miller
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The Invitation: Our band of women spilled out of the red songthau (a public transportation vehicle) as dusk was setting on the city of Chiang Mai. Colored lights in the bars flashed as if alluring the wandering passerby to come see what was concealed in darkness. Beautiful, Asian women awaited customers as they gathered around pool tables or sat outside on bar stools. I was exhausted. My heart was heavy. Another day. Another battle. Another fight. I was fighting too much for my own journey to Truth, how could I fight for them? I wanted to be anywhere but on that wicked, sickening street. God, why did you call me to this when I lack the gifts, personality, and abilities that are needed here? What is the point? Is this just a waste of time? I’m the wrong person.” We were women on a mission to find another ally to prayer walk and mindlessly trotted past Paradise Bar (interesting name, I know). For no apparent reason we turned to look back at two ladies sitting outside. “Hello!” they chimed together. “Sawadee-kha!” we smiled as we pressed our palms together in the Thai greeting. They eagerly invited us come and sit with them. For the next thirty minutes I sat next to the beautiful Nan. The rain pattered on the roof above. We played Connect 4 and drank hot tea. Nan tried to desperately to explain something but the only words I caught in her Thinglish (Thai-English) was doctor, sick, 2 months, came back. Her eyes cried out to be understood, belong, and for true love. We got up to leave. She gave us hugs and told us to come again. I walked out knowing that the enemy would soon be harassing me with “if only you were different you could have done more, what do you have to offer?” I asked God to help me hear His voice of truth. Truth always prevails. Jesus showed me that we were not only sitting with Nan, we were sitting with Him. He invited us. This was never about what we could do or accomplish. When you sit with Jesus – you don’t have to do things for Him. You don’t have to say the right words, give Him intelligent answers, or have a degree…you just have to sit and be with Him.
We stood outside the bar before we went back to join our group and cried out to the Creator of Nan for victory…but He won a victory for me. In the battle of doing, proving, and striving…obedience to come where He invites us to come and go where He tells us to go is all He truly wants. His Spirit is in us…He is with us. He is in YOU…He invites you into His very presence to worship Him among the hurting. To be with Him where His heart is beating.
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As According To Webster
TRAV'EL, v.i. 1. To walk; to go or march on foot; as, to travel from London to Dover, or from New York to Philadelphia. So we say, a man ordinarily travels three miles an hour. [This is the proper sense of the word, which implies toil.] 2. To journey; to ride to a distant place in the same country; as, a man travels for his health; he is traveling to Virginia. A man traveled from London to Edinburgh in five days. 3. To go to a distant country, or to visit foreign states or kingdoms, either by sea or land. It is customary for men of rank and property to travel for improvement. Englishmen travel to France and Italy. Some men travel for pleasure or curiosity; others travel to extend their knowledge of natural history.
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Photo Credit Teresa Miller
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BETHSAIDA: April 22nd, 2012 We finally pull up to Bethsaida; I’m exhausted, dirty, sweaty, thirsty, and not-in-the-mood-to-move. We just finished hiking Mt. Arbel, an incredible, life-changing, and completely exhausting experience. I look towards the ruins in heaps before us. I may never have a chance to see this again. So, deciding to try to forget that I’m exhausted, dirty, sweaty, thirsty, and-not-in-the-mood-to-move, I climb out of Beloved— our white rented jumpy van. Our weary group of hikers staggers into the city on the very road that Jesus probably walked on. Heaps of rubble stacked on either side. Desolate. Destroyed. Ruined. We only go a few steps before the piles of rubble begin to be formed enough to be recognized as walls…rooms. Courtyards. Houses. Real people lived here once. We find it exciting and terribly intriguing to try to figure out what the stacks of rocks mean. “Oh, look! Come! It must have been a wine cellar!” Or, “here’s the courtyard,” and, “this must be a kitchen!”
There is also a group of mockers, laughing in Jesus’ face…rolling their eyes and calling Him, “demon-possessed,” or, “a mad man!” I can hear the whispers of the critics: Those who must rationalize everything, and feel the need to be the one to come up with a reasonable explanation. And I feel the agony of those who want to step out in faith, who want to believe Him, but are too afraid. My heart breaks as I look at the rubble around me. I think of a few of the other cities from the Jesus’ time that still exist today: Nazareth, Bethlehem, Tiberius, and Jerusalem are a few. But those three cities that Jesus cursed? Corazim, Capernaum, and Bethsaida? They are all in ruins. I whisper escapes me, “oh Bethsaida, why didn’t you just believe Him? Oh Bethsaida.” My heart feels heavy for these people—these people from two thousand years ago who were just like me. They were in desperate need of their Messiah.
We meander around, climbing amongst the ruins. Everyone is very quiet, most likely from a mix of exhaustion, reflection and meditation. I make my way climbing along the ruined house walls. Those rocks beneath my feet are walls…walls thousands of years old. Bethsaida. Something unexplainable goes on inside me as I ponder what happened here. Here. Here where I walk. In the very homes I rest my feet on and the very streets I walk on. It is here where two of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew and Peter are from. It is here where Jesus feeds the five thousand. It is here where Jesus heals the blind man. It is here where Jesus heals the paralytic. It is here where Jesus did many other miracles… most of them in fact, along with Corazin and Capernaum. It is this place that Jesus’ curses for their unbelief, “…Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.” ¹ Walking among the rubble, it all comes alive to me. I can almost see the little lame girl come running through that doorway into her mother’s arms giggling and chattering, “oh Ima! The healer is here!” A little ways away from them, in the distance, the shouts of the mute can be heard, or the joy of the man who used to be blind, but can now look into his healer’s eyes.
I happen upon what would appear to be some sort of large gate, I make my way through it, more intrigued than ever. I step through and look around me. Then my eyes set upon the saddest thing so far… A Baal idol. Bethsaida! You had Jesus amongst you… performing miracles, offering you the bread of life, yet you chose to serve an idol that could never do a thing for you, or anybody else?! Oh Bethsaida! We leave, very sober. I continue to meditate on the way back to our hotel. Oh Lord Jesus! Give me the grace to say firm in you. Give me the faith to step out! I don’t want to be the critic, the rationalizer, or the fearful. My desire is to be so firmly grounded in you and in your word that nothing else shakes me. I want to be ready to believe you, to believe that you do the impossible, that you love, that you have my best in mind, that you are trustworthy, that you are faithful. Give me faith. I want to be a lasting testimony for you… I don’t want to be another Bethsaida in heaps of ruins.
"You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand." -1 Samuel 17:45-47
The young man trembled a moment, yet boldly stepped forward and said, “You come to me with a sword but I come to you in the I look to my left to see the hill where name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom the Israelite army is encamped, the you’ve been taunting. Today, I’m gonna feed you to the birds so evevalley stretches before me, and to the ryone will know how mighty and powerful God is!” right the hill of the Philistine army. I gasped. Suddenly, there is a commotion on Suddenly, the Young Man and the Champion were running toIsraelite side… I look to the right and wards each other… and before I knew what was going on the Young immediately see the reason for their Man had slung a stone at the Champion so that he went falling face trembling. forward on the ground. I giant, tall and strong making his Then the young man took the Champions sword and cut off his way down the mountain into the valhead. (Only, I must admit I closed my eyes during this last part…it ley. He yells… his voice so deep, loud was pretty gory.) and taunting you can hear it ringing
ELAH VALLEY: April 27, 2012
Photo Credit Teresa Miller
through the valley. He laughs…mocking Then there was chaos, and battle cries as the Israelites pursued the Israelites, and their God. He dethe Philistines. mands that someone come and fight The God of Israel had won. him, and mocks them for not com-
ing forth. Someone beside me whispers, “This is the Philistine’s champion, Goliath…he has been doing this nearly forty days.” Who was to fight him? Who could kill such a champion? My attention is once again adverted to the left.
I must come off of the mountain, and into the valley to fight the battle…In the name of the God of Israel.
I am disappointed, it is only a young man; his attire liking to a shepherd. I continue to watch him, forgetting the Philistine (who is still hurling insults) for but a moment. The young man goes over to the brook bending down beside it.
He pulls something out of his satchel. A sling shot? Is he going to…to… no…he can’t be… there’s no way. But he is approaching the giant! How could the king even let this be carried out? The giant is obviously not impressed, “am I some sort of dog that you come to fight me with sticks?” He continued to curse the young man by his gods, and then he threatened him saying, “If you come over here… I’ll feed ya to the birds!”
How could it seem so real when it was so long ago? I am almost sure I can still hear the battle cry in the distance…
I walk over the brook and pick out five smooth stones. It’s here where David---the young man--- picked out his five smooth stones for the battle.
Could this be the Israelites champion?
He is picking up stones.
I am really standing in the middle of the valley of Elah… this incredible story of David and Goliath having just been read, right here where it happened.
I realize that the battle cry is still real.
Someone is coming down the hill from the Israelite army.
What is he doing? Picking up stones?
I am brought into present time…
I must come off of the mountain, and into the valley to fight the battle…In the name of the God of Israel. Are you ready to come down into the valley and fight the enemy?
Photo Credit Teresa Miller
The Garden Tomb– April 28th Our group files through the entrance… all seventeen of us. We are greeted by a kind elderly man with a British accent. Right away, we feel something different about this place; the shining eyes on the faces of the people, the kindness shown, the joy, the sincerity, the sweet, sweet Spirit!
We have to move out quickly, there is a whole line of people waiting. We stand outside the tomb singing songs like, “He Lives,” and, “Low in the Grave He Lay,” and many more. Such an unspeakable joy in our hearts… He has risen indeed.
We look around, taking everything in. It’s a garden…full of beauty and peace. We drink it in. We are greeted by our guide, an older man whose name is Paul…who also has a British accent. (You see, this garden is owned by followers of Jesus from Great Brittan... and something immediately connects in our Spirit’s with them, and the atmosphere of this place… we feel immediately refreshed by His Spirit that is evident here!) Our ‘M-bark’ group is joined by another group from South Africa. And Paul leads us to the other side of the garden, to a little pavilion that views a large cliff. Paul begins, “The garden tomb was purchased by a group of English men a hundred and twenty years ago. Because they thought this rock with this gory face was Golgotha. In the bible it says they took Jesus to the rock of the skull to be crucified. This rock over here has what looks like the face of a skull.” He points out the cruel-looking eyes, and the mouth and nose. He continues on, “There are two places where it is supposed Jesus was buried and rose: one, the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the other is here. One or the other must be right, or maybe both are wrong. I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure, because I don’t think God will tell us where it is because he doesn’t want us to worship a place of burial because he is a very jealous God. He wants us to worship him.” After talking a while longer we tour the rest of the garden, and then finally come to the tomb. We sing as we go in. There is no grave marker, only a sign that reads, “He is not here for He has risen!” We see the burial spot…it is vacant…glory hallelujah! He concurred death!
Photo Credit Teresa Miller
(continued…) Nearly two weeks later a few of us return, just to sit quietly in His presence. I walk through the garden, and find a little bench in the corner to claim for mine. This is my last day here in Israel…we leave on a plane tomorrow. My heart is heavy. I am confused, I don’t know how to go home and live in what He has given me here. My prayers seem to be a bunch of cries like this, “Oh God! Do not leave me! Remain with me!” But suddenly, sitting there in the garden…I am filled with peace. There is a group singing near the tomb, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” Yes Lord Jesus, Yes. He gently begins to show me how near He is to me, and always will be. How much I can truly trust Him… how much I can rest in Him. After an hour of prayer and renewal, I rise up ready. I walk in the garden with Him; He tells me I am His own. Life ahead is big, but my Savior conquered death, and is way, way bigger.
*Disclaimer: I could never begin to choose “highlights” from this life changing trip… so I randomly picked 3 places to share with you… but these 3 are in no way the only places that made an impact!!! I just wanted you to have a little glimpse into what was going on in my heart during these 3 weeks. But words can never do justice… every single one of you just needs to go to Israel for yourself!
India
Sonya Gunti h t i W w e i v r e t n An I
Sonya Gunti
From India
Girlfriend Gazette: Let’s start out with a few basics… your name, age, where you live, and your favorite food. Sonya Gunti: My name of course is Sonya Renee Gunti, I am 15 yrs. old and i live in Hyderabad India, I have lived here for 14 yrs. I moved here when I was 18 months. Chicken curry is one of my favorite foods.
GG: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? SG: What I like to do in my spare time is - listen to music, go on Facebook, spend some quiet time in my room :)
GG: What is something you are passionate about? SG: Singing/ songs and playing with the kids at the slum school
GG: What are a “few of your favorite things?” SG: well I like my new ipod that I just got after finishing 9th grade and I like movies too...oh, and also playing tricks on people :).
GG: How many people are in your family? (tell us a little about them!) SG: There are 5 of us in the family. My Daddy... he is really great at working with kids - puppet shows and object lessons ventriloquist also clowning- and my mom is a great Mom. She is a great encourager in my spiritual life and she is a great cook :), Jason, one of my brothers, is great at doing crafty things/ recently he has been working on animation. Judson who is the youngest is just cute and a smart kid. we all love him!!
SG: Some of the ministry opportunities that I have are: 1. Singing and making cd's to encourage children 2. translating for guests who do not know Telugu when they come and want to talk with the children 3. helping to get crafts ready for VBS 4.Playing with the Boarding school kids...they are somewhat like my sisters and brothers
GG: What is something God has been teaching you recently?
SG: God has been teaching me to be strong and GG: Can you tell us a little about India? SG: India has 1.22 billion and is a very colorful place to be. A lot of teenage girls in the villages get married around 15 or younger. There are a lot of kids who don’t have parents and would love to go to a school but don’t have the opportunity.
GG: What are some of the things you love about living in India?
SG:I love the way that things are not on time.
GG: What are some of the toughest parts of living in
to trust on Him for every thing- Last year we were in the states and traveling around when we were supposed to be doing school. I did not get near the work done that I should have and so when we got back to India...I wanted to hit the books hard, but we had construction going on at our place and things were so dusty and dirty and then we had guests come over and so we did not do school during some of that time...so by the end of the year...I was feeling overwhelmed...but even in that time, I felt Jesus telling me that He is with me and will help me and He did! Praise the Lord!
GG: Closing remarks?
India?
SG: Even though I live on the mission field; the fun,
SG: well for me one of the toughest part of living here
hard times and challenges...I want to take this as a privilege ... to learn what I can and be thankful for what I have!
in India is that I don’t have teenage girls my age to hang around with.
GG: Something random/quirky/interesting about the Indian culture?
SG: in the village they clean their floors with cow dung; and big point is they mix it with their hands
GG: What does having a family “involved in ministry” mean for you personally?
If at all possible come and visit me!!!
Strawberry & Cranberry smoothie 1 Cup Strawberries 2 Cups Ice. Sugar to taste.
Combined all ingredients in blender, Bend until smooth. Enjoy!
Self-filled cupcakes (Recipe submitted by Dawn Barkman) Ingredients: 1 pkg. chocolate cake mix 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1/3 c. sugar 1 egg Âź tsp. salt 1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
Directions: Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Fill cupcake papers 2/3 full with cake batter. Beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and salt until fluffy. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop 1 rounded teaspoonful cream cheese mixture into each cupcake.
Bake as directed on box. Ice with chocolate icing (I think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re good without the icing also) Note: something I like to do is add a few drops of food coloring to the cream cheese mixture for some colorful fun :)
The Flying Crochet Hook
1 Cup Cranberry juice.
The Girl With The
Blue Feather Pen
C HRISTY B ARKMAN
Sometimes in life, it's hard to get a perspective. It's hard not to just go through the motions of being a follower of Jesus; reading your Bible maybe once a day and having your mind wander while you stare at the same verse for 5 minutes, or slipping in a quick prayer at the end of your day, asking God for 'protection and . . . I really should paint my ceiling . . . and that He would bless us . . . I sure like the color blue . . . and that He would, *yawn*, give us good dreams. ' The Christian life is SO MUCH MORE. And yet, I find myself doing that way too often. WAY too often. Admit it. Reading the same stories over and over can get a little tiring and boring. But guys, this stuff isn't just stories; it's LIFE. This stuff actually is as real as you are, if not more so!
And London WAS fun and intriguing, but it's barely even comparable to Israel. Really, I'm not kidding. Israel is the place JESUS WALKED. Read that again. That's right. You know, the Jesus you've loved and prayed to your whole life? Yeah, that's the One. Incredible.
Jesus sweated, He tripped, He didn't always feel good or have model hair, He had temptations, He had pain; REAL pain.
Jesus sweated, He tripped, He didn't always feel good or have model hair, He had temptations, He had pain; REAL pain. This stuff can't just be real in our heads; it HAS to be real in our hearts!
Our family was God-blessed with the opportunity to travel to "distant lands and far away places" with the Loren Miller family. Namely, a teeny-weeny time in London, and about 2 and a half weeks of hot, harsh, beautiful Israel. Now, I'm a girl, and every girl dreams of going to London, correct? The romance, the language, Buckingham Palace, British accents, cool old buildings; it has it all.
You know, when I read the Bible at home, I would read through the stories and was like: Sure, cool. But going to Israel OPENED MY EYES to the realness of it all. It's HOT, and it looks like a desert in some places, and there is no air conditioning (or there wasn't back when Jesus lived), and it's SMALL.
Far from perfect. But that's where my Jesus chose to live; among His chosen people.
One of the places that impacted me the most out of the whole trip was taking a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The same sea that Jesus walked on water, and Peter fished and found a shekel in the mouth of his fish, and the swine fell from the cliff into.
Crazy stuff, right there, guys. But seriously, how many times do I act like the disciples in this instance? One minute proclaiming His power as Lord and Savior and saying where He goes I'll go, and the next minute forgetting His incredible power when a 'storm' sweeps in and knocks me off my comfortable little tions and secrets, and never lose your first seat. love for Christ.
Our two families got our own boat to our very own selves, which was such a Godthing, and we sat there and REALIZED this We can say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;well, they had Jesus on the is the very body of water He walked on. boat with them, so being afraid was just silly.â&#x20AC;? We sang "Master, the Tempest is Raging!" and I could finally see how ridiculous I But we have that same Jesus living inside us right now, and the exact same power is in His hands now as it was back then.
God has such an incredible plan for every single one of you, and I know that's cliche, but it's true. Search the Scripture and let it convict you and challenge you and change you.
Oh Lord, forgive our unbelief! Don't be afraid of being different. Find your security in Christ, there's nothing that is more secure than Him.
If you guys would save up your vacation money, even for This is me, Christy Barkman, signing off ten years and never drink pop for this edition of or eat ice cream and save all The Girlfriend Gazette. that money up, was to mock the disciples for their fear of the storm when they had Jesus on the boat with them, but being out there in the Sea, I could very much understand how terrifying it would be if all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a huge storm came in, and the waves were as high as your boat.
Israel will be worth it.
For more about our trip to Israel, visit www.m -bark17.blogspot.com.
But you don't need to go to Israel to feel His realness, His nearness, His power.
For more about me, visit www.sinkhappysoughts.blogspot.com
HE'S RIGHT HERE BESIDE YOU.
For comments, tips, concerns, and etc. email
Just take a ten minutes, right now, and bless your Creator with praises. SEARCH your Bible, uncover new revela-
me at browneyed996@gmail.com
India Sonya Gunti
From Romania
h it W w ie v r e t n An I
Esther Miller
Girlfriend Gazette: Let’s start out with a few basics… your name, age, where you live, and your favorite food.
Esther Miller: I'm 14. I live in Suceava, Romania and I have lived here for 13 'n 1/2 years. I love salad, saremale (Romanian cabbage rolls), papanasi (another Romanian thing....a dessert. It is totally scrumptious!), fruit shakes, and more!! =)
GG: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? EM: writing emails =), singing,....
Papanasi GG: What are a “few of your favorite things?”
EM: hummm... Partying with cousins and friends, being with family, playing vball.
GG: How many people are in your family? EM: (tell us a little about them!) 11 all together. 6 brothers. 2 sisters. 4 married brothers and 1 married sister. 1 sister dating. 10 nephews and 4 nieces. Another one on the way! A LOT more boys then girls in our family! =) we 4 youngest (at home yet) enjoy singing together.
GG: Can you tell us a little about Romania? EM: -Lots of very beautiful scenery! -Many gypsies of which some are very interesting to work with. =) -learn to not just trust anybody or many people.... (well, maybe that's not a good thing....but it is kinda how it is.) -have beggars come to our door and want anything from things to make a cake to money......=} ...keeps life interesting sometimes!
GG: What are some of the things you love about living in Romania?
EM:-Have an opportunity to know/ learn another language. -I LOVE some of the scrumptious Romanian food!! not all of it is very scrumptious though! =} -seeing our church grow...slowly but surely... -get to meet/know some people that you would probably have never known otherwise
GG: What are some of the toughest parts of living in Romania? EM: -don't get to friends in the states very often...miss some special events -hard knowing how to relate to some people sometimes
GG: What are some of the toughest parts of being in “missions”? EM: -having FAREWELLS! -if you can't communicate with those around you
GG: What are some of the things you miss most from the states? EM: FRIENDS & FAMILY, some yummy/special foods....Oreos, Velveeta, marshmallows, and more.... =}
GG: What does having a family “involved in ministry” mean for you personally? EM: hummm.... it's just normal life for me. =} Sometimes dad or one of the others have to leave when we want to have some family time together..... We are very busy sometimes with Bible schools, seed distribution, and other things of that sort that we go out and among people. A normal day can be anywhere from doing wash to butchering a cow and going here and there and everywhere-well, not quite EVERY where! =) this is what we did today...... ~woke up a little before 6...had my own quiet time.
~about 7:00- breakfast, then family devotions, and sit and talk for a little ~forenoon-cut up part of a cow for hamburger. Dorcas and I picked the tea to make concentrate for the freezer....Jon helped wash it etc. Then I helped Nathan clean up the meat grinder. ~had lunch ~afternoon-washed dishes, was a little lazy for a little. =) Ironed shirts and got the laundry washed but not put away yet. Helped make supper. ~had supper then Jon, Dorcas, and I washed the whole BUNCH of dishes very quickly so we wouldn't be late for SOT packing! =} ~evening-Seed Of Truth packing in Patrauti...my wrist got rather sore from shutting boxes all evening! =/ THAT WAS OUR DAY TODAY....
GG: What is something God has been teaching you recently? to love people even though they may seem "unlovable" or do 'different' things sometimes.
GG: Closing remarks? You are welcome to come visit us sometime/anytime! =) PRAISING GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS AND MERCY TOWARD ME!
Girlfriend Gazette
will be back Spring
2013
Girlfriend Gazette, Summer 2012, Monica Miller (15)
Front Cover: Teresa... Mt. Olives in Jerusalem, Israel.
Back Cover: Kelci, Teresa, Monica, Nichole and Jericaâ&#x20AC;Ś Lyme Park, England.