Missions

Some Things Just Hit You…

Joy

My 15 y.o. daughter, Lindsey, wrote this note shortly after our campaign work in June. I thought it would be an interesting piece to read:

This year when the campaign was going on in Arusha there was also one going on in Mto wa Mbu (Mosquito River). I helped with that campaign for a few days.

One afternoon after lunch I was standing around outside, when these two Maasai girls come up and start talking to me in Swahili. As I’m talking to them one of them starts stroking and feeling my hair. I turn around, smile and tell her that I have very long hair, and then show them where it would come to on my waist. They giggle and tell me that “It couldn’t be possible!” I laughed and asked if they’d like to see it. When they eagerly nod yes, I take the clip out of my hair and let it fall down around my waist. Their eyes got as big as saucers and they gasp. That attracted a whole group of Maasai children, and they all started to feel my hair. I didn’t want it getting out of hand, so I stuffed my hair back into my clip. “I only have a little hair” said one of the girls. “You have long light hair!!” I laughed and nodded, then the kids and I started to have a big conversation. We told each other our names, etc., talked about my Swahili, where we lived, etc. etc. etc….Mary, the girl that was just a little younger than myself, even invited me to her house! “Come walk with me to visit my house…I live just over there!” It would have been very interesting, but I wasn’t able to at the moment.

One of the girls then pulled out her Bible, turned to Daniel, and asked me to read some from it. So I read. Then it hit me. I’m standing in the hot sun and dust in the middle of Africa, surrounded by a bunch of Maasai children (in their full traditional outfits) speaking in a completely different language, and completely understanding what they’re saying. I don’t even know how to explain the feeling that I got. I am definitely blessed.

In the Kitchen

English Muffins

Joy

Living in Africa presents a few challenges in the food department. Some food items are available in larger towns, such as Arusha, but so far, have not been found here in Moshi. I make a lot of our own bread, since the bread choices are pretty limited here. Yesterday, I tried my hand at making Enlgish Muffins. They turned out great, according to my in-house taste-testers. Here is the recipe:

English Muffins
cornmeal
1 1/4 cups very warm water
2 1/4 tsp. dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
4 cups sifted flour
1/4 cup butter, softened
Directions: Grease large cookie sheet, and sprinkle with cornmeal. Mix sugar in water, dissolve yeast in sugar-water mixture. When yeast begins to bubble, add salt and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Add butter and 1 cup of flour, continue beating until smooth. Gradually add remaining cup of flour, and beat until smooth. Turn onto well-floured board, coat dough with flour, and let rest for 5 minutes. Knead dough for 5 minutes (less if using electric mixer with dough hook). Roll out 1/4 inch thick. Cut into muffins with biscuit cutter or large can. Place onto cookie sheet. Let rise in a warm place, covered with a towel, until doubled in size. Bake muffins on ungreased griddle or skillet, on low heat, about 7 minutes on each side.
Homeschooling, In the Kitchen

Welcome to Journey with Joy

Joy

Welcome to my new blog – Journey with Joy. It is my hope that this site will be an encouragement to women who are striving to become more Christlike. By necessity, this will be a slow-going process of building resources. Our family lives in Moshi, Tanzania, where we work as missionaries, and therefore, I do not have unlimited time to devote to this project. Regardless of where you or I live, we all have basic needs and responsibilities to fulfill our role as women. I plan to develop resources for a number of topics: Child Training, Courtship, Homeschooling, In the Kitchen, Marriage Enrichment, Sewing, and probably a few other topics, as well. Again, welcome to Journey with Joy. Let’s journey together and encourage one another in our walk with Christ. Don’t forget to bookmark this site, and check back frequently for updates.