Day 8: Thanksgiving 2012

Today I am thankful for my son-in-law and daughter-in-law and the godly parents who reared them. Even when my children were very young, I began to pray for God's lifemates for them. We are truly blessed with two young people who love God and who love our daughter and son. They are both delightful additions to our family. We appreciate their families and feel that we gained more than just two children - we gained families and friends as well. Still praying for one more!

Day 7: Thanksgiving 2012

Day 7: I am thankful for my three children, who give my life meaning and purpose. They have each changed me in ways that I could never have imagined. Because of them I realize a capacity for love that I might not know otherwise. They each deserve their own day - that is for sure - but today I am thankful for them as additions to our marriage and home, thus making us a family.

Day 6: Thanksgiving 2012

Day 6: I am thankful for shoes. That might sound strange, but I have extremely tender feet. I can barely walk on grass bare-footed, so shoes are a must for me. I have lived in countries where shoes are carried rather than worn because they are a nuisance. That always amazes me.  I am thankful for dress shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes, sandals, boots, houseshoes - you get the idea!

Day 5: Thanksgiving 2012

I am so thankful for my life partner and best friend, my husband, Gaylord Brown. For almost 32 years we have shared the best and worst that life has thrown at us, and we have remained committed to God and to each other. With Gaylord I can totally be myself. He listens when I need to talk out things that bother me, even when that is repeatedly. I can frustrate and humor him at the same time. I know that he is on my side and supports and encourages me to be a better me. He is my huckleberry. He is a true man of God and a pretty good preacher. We have lots of private jokes, shared moments and memories, and we make pretty babies!

 

 

Day 4: Thanksgiving 2012

I am thankful for intellect and education. Every time I travel through airports or unfamiliar places, I am so glad that I can read. Education is the gateway to advancement.

Day 3: Thanksgiving 2012

Although I believe democracy is the second-best form of governance (theocracy being the first), I am thankful for the right to vote in democratic elections. Living overseas makes me appreciate this right and responsibility even more. Exercise your right this election and VOTE!

Day 2: Thanksgiving 2012

I am thankful for a godly mother. Margie Powell was my first "best" friend and remained so until her death in 2007. I have never met anyone who surpassed her genuine love and passion for God and her family. Because of her I came to know and have a relationship with my second "best" friend, Jesus Christ. When my children now say, "You are so much like Grandmother," I take it as a very high compliment.

Day 1: Thanksgiving 2012

As I mow the yard, clean the house and do daily chores, I am thankful for Watson and Shorty, who faithfully assisted me with these tasks in Malawi. What a blessing they were to us and our ministry!

30 Days to Thanksgiving 2012

It is 30 days until Thanksgiving. I am going to endeavor to post a photo each day with something that I am thankful for. Instead of only focusing one day on gratitude, I am going to do so for an entire month.  It would be great to see you do the same!

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: September 2012

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: June 2012

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: March 2012

Malawi Matters Newsletter: December 2011

In Remembrance

We received word this week that Rev. Jacques Vernaud, long-time missionary to Africa, passed away while visiting in South Africa. He leaves a legacy of ministry that has impacted men, women, boys and girls for eternity. Gaylord and I had the privilege of ministering with him at his church, La Borne A/G, in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January of this year. 

Each week approximately 8000 people attend one of three services, and many others join by radio or television broadcasts. As you watch the video clip below that was taken during one of the morning services, you will hear the choir sing in French "You Deserve the Glory" as the congregants worship the Lord.  May we rejoice at the home-going of a servant of God and pray for his family and friends.

A Load of Bicycles

At our recent General Assembly, 200 pastors received a bicycle, and each division received a motorcycle – thanks to the generosity of First Assembly of God, Griffin, Georgia. Pastor Randy Valimont was the keynote speaker for the meetings, and the church was encouraged and challenged by his ministry.

In a country were the majority of people walk, bicycles are a real blessing. To the many pastors who walk 30 kilometers on Sundays to preach at one or more churches, bicycles are a real blessing. This national church and this missionary team say thank you to Pastor Valimont and church family. YOU are a real blessing!

Marines to the Rescue

      

       You never know what slogans or business or  

       organization names you are going to see on

       t-shirts in Africa.  We were recently conducting

       a medical clinic at a church where we had just

       constructed a tabernacle.  I looked down and

       saw this little guy and couldn’t resist taking his

       photo. 

       Malawi has had some political and economic

       challenges lately.  It is good to know that there

       is a junior g.i. marine standing ready to serve

       and protect.  I feel safer already.  Semper fi!

And That’s How to Tie a Chitenje

In Malawi a 2-meter piece of cloth is known as a chitenje.  A chitenje has more uses than you can imagine, but one of them is to tie a baby on your back.  Now the little lady pictured below improvised on that function and, during the middle of Sunday song service, struggled to tie a shoe on her back.  Over and over she tried and failed, until finally mission accomplished.  What a cutie!  Thanks for the lesson.

Malawi Matters Newsletter: September 2011

Malawi Matters Newsletter: June 2011

Malawi Matters Newsletter: March 2011

Christmas Reflections

If you know me well, you know that I am basically a deeply emotional and passionate person who displays emotion and passion in a very controlled manner.  For the most part I take life as it comes, making the most of situations while trying to make them better as I can.  I try not to let things get me down for long, though I do allow myself the privilege of feeling deep emotion, processing it, and then trying to store it in its proper place in order to allow life to function as it should.

There are major life events, such as separation or death, that present challenges to this approach to life, but all in all, it seems to work for me the majority of the time.  This allows me to focus on the present and the future and to accomplish what I feel I am called to accomplish.

Another interruption to my emotional schedule presents itself at Christmas, specifically the period immediately following Christmas when all of the decorations are being dismantled and stored for another year.  For this brief stint of time, all of my efforts to focus on what I do have, yield to the strong sense of what I don’t have.  All of the recognition of the blessings I have, exchange their position in my thoughts and feelings for the overwhelming reality of the blessings I am missing.  For a brief span, I am reminded of my three children who continue to live life day in and day out without me having the the luxury of getting to be involved up-close and in-person.  I am reminded of my deceased mother, whose friendship is irreplaceable.   I think of days gone by from childhood to the present with all stops and points and people and places along the way. The home that harbored me last week, will haunt me next week. 

Though I may experience some sadness during this time, I do not couple that with regret.  I have told my husband and children on various occasions that when I pass from this life, they can know that I feel God has given me the best at every stage of my life: childhood, high school, college, profession, marriage, children, family, friends, calling.  I am abundantly blessed.

A young friend and I had a discussion the other day in which I stated, “Love makes me cry.”

“Me too!” was her reply.

If I shed a tear or two during this period, it is because of love – love of a savior who gave Himself for me and then added to that so many incredible people and opportunities to experience life to the fullest.  If you know me well, then you know that I love you.  And now you know that today I am thinking about you, missing you, and thanking God for you.

With that expressed, I think that I will store these emotions in a sacred place and embrace the new year with passion and purpose – adding even more people, places, and events to my Christmas thoughts in years to come.

What’s in a Name Anyway?

Americans tend to link their identities so much to their names.  We are taught the importance of knowing other people’s names and acknowledging them by their names.  This is not so in Africa.  It is not uncommon for people to name and re-name themselves, nor is it uncommon for them to know each other for years and not know each other’s full name.  If you misunderstand an introduction and call a person by the wrong name, that is not a problem.

I was reminded of this again this week in talking with a young man that I met when we first came to Malawi.  I thought that he was introduced to me as Vincent.  I see this man on a somewhat-regular basis and always acknowledge him by his name.

This week Vincent was at our house, and after I greeted him, Gaylord asked me why I call him Vincent.  Of course, my answer was that that is his name.  “No, it’s not,” Gaylord said.  “His name is Garnet.”

Garnet?  What?  So I asked Vincent aka Garnet what his name was.  “Garnet,” he said.  I went on to relate how I have always called him Vincent, and he has always answered me.  I wondered why I thought his name was Vincent.  “I don’t know, madam,” was his reply.

In an effort to ease my troubled mind, I pursued the matter a bit further.  I am usually so good about remembering a person’s name because, after all, that is so important to us Americans. “Garnet, I am still trying to figure out why I call you Vincent.  Does anyone ever call you Vincent?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Finally, I knew there was a reason I would make such a blunder. “Who?” I asked.

“You, madam.”

To this, I refer to my blog post title: What’s in a Name Anyway?  End of that discussion with Garnet.

Where Could I Go?

If you listen closely, you will recognize this old hymn: "Where Could I Go But to the Lord?" sung in Chichewa. The response at the end is "God is good - all the time, and all the time - God is good, especially to me, oh my, oh my, oh my, because He is faithful".

Malawi Matters Newsletter: December 2010

Malawi Matters Newsletter: September 2010