Some Things to Look Forward To

"Men put the roof on a new house. Mt. Giluwe, Papua New Guinea's second-highest peak, rises in the distance"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"Young men fish along the reef"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"This clear, cold river flows through Tekedan village and is a favorite spot to bathe and play"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"Group of Children"
Photo by June Hathersmith; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"A man walks along the beach near a Taupota village"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"A Wára woman decorated herself and came to get her photo taken"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"A house on the hillside in Usarufa country"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

"A Yale woman rests in the doorway of her home"
Photo by David Ringer; used by permission of Wycliffe Bible Translators

The Waiting Place

“Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go, or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow … Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for the wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.” ~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go

“Waiting, waiting, waiting. All my life, I've been waiting for my life to begin, as if somehow my life was ahead of me, and that someday I would arrive at it.” ~Camryn Manheim

The Waiting Place.

Dr. Seuss calls it “most useless.”

I’m not sure I agree.

Several years ago I found myself in the uncomfortable position of being the reason that my family would have to “wait” to fulfill what we felt like God was calling us to do. I cried, pouted, blamed myself for our delay, but only because I could not see that God had a purpose for it.

I sometimes describe the last few years as my wilderness, but it was far from the image of a barren desert that the word conjures up.

Back up sixteen years to a time when God placed me in another desert. My eyes must have been the size of plates as I drove into town in Southern Arizona. I called my parents and inundated them with whines of self-pity, climaxing with the most piteous of all …

“They have gravel in their yards!”

Just typing the words recalls the slap of realization that preceded that grievous cry.

But during my years there, I realized that if you look past the sand, you’ll find life in the desert. Abundant life.

Gila Monsters and Diamondback rattlers sleep the days away under rocks. Red-tailed hawks and screech owls raise their young amid the spines of the saguaro. Bobcats, wolves, and coyotes stalk jackrabbits and kangaroo rats in the shade of the mountains at early evening.

My spiritual and emotional wilderness experience was much the same.

At first all I could see was endless miles of sand and desolation. A long walk with very little water. My soul felt immediately parched.

But, God is good and God is wise. And we are grateful, for the desert he brought us through was abundantly alive!

Hope and healing lurked underneath the rocks. Grace and peace raised their offspring amid the spines of pain. New plans, adjusted dreams, and restored relationship hunted down and overshadowed hopelessness and failure in the cool shadow of the Almighty.

As we enter what we hope are our last six months this side of the Pacific, I find myself staring blindly like a deer in the headlights. There is so much to do, I struggle to get started on any of it. And there is much to wait for as well.

We are waiting for God to provide the prayer and financial partners we need to be able to proceed. We are so very grateful for the dozens of people and the churches who have joined with us and made this ministry their own! But we have far to go, and so we wait. But, not without hope, for God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and compared to that, we only need one lean cut.

But, what if He chooses not to provide all that we need in time for us to leave this summer? And why do I let that thought send my gut into knots? Why in the world should I fear waiting? God has shown me the value of waiting on Him.

We know, if we are unable to leave this summer, that we can confidently say it was not God’s timing.

And we will wait longer if He wills it.

We just hope we don’t have to.

And so, knowing that God is in complete control of everything that could affect this venture, we ask you to pray with us, that God will allow us a mid-summer departure to Papua New Guinea.

Frankly, it’s too big a task for us. We’re going to have to wait for Him to make it happen.

But fortunately, if it comes to that, we know the Waiting Place is not useless after all.

Carrot-tastic!

"The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon how our children grow up today." ~Margaret Mead

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." ~Proverbs 22:6

"Don't try to make children grow up to be like you, or they may do it." ~Russell Baker



Denial.

I've heard it's not just a river in Egypt.


This morning I was making muffins, minding my own business, when I overheard a televised conversation that made me smile and feel sad (and slightly nauseous) at the same time. One character (I didn't look to see who) said something about it being another character's birthday and how they should throw him a party. In response, an overly-enthusiastic (yes, I'm using myself as a benchmark), lanky, animated rabbit exclaimed:

"CARROT-TASTIC!"

I swung around on my heel, whisk in hand, and stared the T.V.

(That's how I know all about the rabbit.)

"Did he just say, 'Carrot-TASTIC?'"

"Yep!"

My children were not thrown off by the silliness one bit. I, however, considered throwing up.

But, then it struck me how carrot-tastic it would be if my children loved this stuff forever.


When we figured out that God was calling us to Papua New Guinea, and that (for the most part) Ukarumpa is a "Mayberry" kind of place to grow up, I was thrilled! It won't bother me at all to take my children away from the most of the grow-up-too-fast influences of American culture. Besides, it's obvious that they were made to romp through the tropical hills with half a dozen friends, barefoot and fancy-free. (If you know my kids and their shoe-avoidance techniques, you know what I mean.)

But, now, in preparation for leaving, and because we have nothing else to do, I am tasked with looking for smallish items to take for up to four years of birthday and Christmas gifts for said kids. No, we don't have to, but they do recommend it, as it can be difficult to get things there. I have looked some and even collected a few things, but I find myself waffling between things I know they would like now and having to project into the future to when they are preteen and teenage. (This is where the denial comes in.)

When my daughter was about six weeks old, I naively told my mother, "I wish she could stay this little forever!" Sage that she is, my mother responded, "Then you would never get to enjoy her changing and growing through all of the different stages! No, you don't really want her to stay this way forever." (She didn't even mention it, but eventually I figured out that when babies grow up, there comes a time when you no longer have to change diapers! Now that's carrot-tastic!)

So, yes, I do want them to grow up, but like most parents, I don't want them to grow up too fast. That said, though, what will my fourteen year old daughter want to get for Christmas? And how in the world should I know that when she's nine?

I need some suggestions, friends. My daughter (who currently likes books, crafts, science) will turn 11, 12, 13, and 14 while we are there and my son (who currently likes Legos, and yes, that is all he wants) will turn 8, 9, 10, and 11. Any recommendations you can offer would be great! (But, please don't be offended if, eventually, I delete your comments on this one. My kids sometimes read my blog.)

Thank you in advance for dispensing your knowledge my direction. You're "carrot-tastic!"

Oh, nuts. This recipe is addicting!

Many, many years ago I cut a recipe off of a box. Well, I cut lots of recipes off of lots of boxes, but the one I am looking at right now most likely came from a Pillsbury Yellow Cake Mix box, because that is the only name brand ingredient on the list.

It sounded really good, and I have thought several times about making it, but I never have. Probably because I don't normally stock yellow cake mix in my pantry "just for such an occasion." But, I was needing a recipe for tomorrow, and flipping through my notebook, I decided this one had served its time and finally deserved a chance.

Turns out, it's a winner. Not only of the 1980 Pillsbury Bake-Off, but of my taste buds.

And my heart ... (but I really shouldn't mention that because it probably sounds weird to you (but only because you haven't tried them, yet.) Oh, and because my husband might get jealous.)


The best thing about this recipe is it has no calories and no fat!! Isn't that great!? Oh, wait ... nevermind. That was water.

Anyway, I am going to let you in on my little secret because I need some accountability, people. And so you can make your own and leave mine alone. And because if I don't do something, I'm gonna sit there and eat the entire pan.

So, in this season of "needing good recipes to make and take to holiday parties" and such, I offer you:


Salted Peanut Chews

BASE: 1 yellow cake mix, 1/3 cup margarine or butter (softened), 1 egg, and 3 cups miniature marshmallows

TOPPING: 2/3 cup corn syrup, 1/4 cup margarine or butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 (10 oz. package) peanut butter chips, 2 cups rice cereal, 2 cups salted peanuts

1. Heat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1/3 cup butter, and egg; beat at low speed until crumbly. Press in bottom of ungreased 13x9 inch pan.

2. Bake at 350 for 12 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to oven and bake 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows just begin to puff. Remove and cool while preparing topping.

3. In large saucepan, combine all topping ingredients except rice cereal and peanuts. Heat, stirring constantly, just until peanut butter chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in cereal and nuts. Immediately spoon topping mixture over marshmallows; spread gently to cover. Refrigerate 1 hour until firm. Cut into bars. Store in covered containers.


The only change I would make to this is "Have your husband store in a covered container somewhere where you won't be able to find it."

Oh, wait ... Honey, don't you dare ...... I mean, just because you're jealous it doesn't mean you have to do something hasty, right? Honey ... ?