Today is Wednesday 26th October 2011. i havent blogged for a couple of days, i have practice fasted for the last 2 days and it went good. Although i think my body would adjust better once i am doing it full time as day on day off doesnt really give my body the continuity it needs, start stop start stop!!
Monday was a public holiday here in New Zealand and i had set myself the tasks of getting my Perspectives readings and homework done as well as getting the Plunket AGM minutes and invite out to the life members.
i am secretary for the Edendale Wyndham Plunket Sub branch at least for 1 more week anyway. We will have our AGM next monday night and a new committee will be voted in. I have enjoyed my time as secretary, mostly. it is a little out of my comfort zone but with Matthew's help and my friend Jane helping too to compose the letters for me to send, we get there. So i spend Monday morning printing invites and previous minutes to send to the life members. After lunch, Matthew, Ryder and i went and delivered the ones to the members who live in Edendale and posted the rest.
I was very hungry after the 45 min walk. i am finding that i get extrememly hungry about 3.30 -4pm. so distractions are good. had to have a rest in the later afternoon, not something i usually do, but the holidays were very busy for me, so it was good to recharge my batteries.
Later that Monday night, i got stuck into my Perspectives readings, i thought they were going to be easy but i must admit i really struggled to grasp the readings and i had 15 questions to answer from the readings. I am so pleased to be doing Perspectives and i especially love God's timing.
i know that these next four years that we are in New Zealand are to be used for training and teaching and learning as much as we can, so my prayer had been "Whatever You want me to do Lord, i am willing, available and able to do". And yes He still answers prayer, because one day not too long ago i was surfing the web and i came across by accident???? the Perspectives for World Missions Program. i had done this course when i was a new Christian over 20 years ago, but i couldnt really remember a lot about it. I felt a quickening in my Spirit as i read further on the website and i discovered there was a headquarters in NZ. I sent off an email to see if i was able to do it in Southland and i got a reply pretty promptly! i was able to do the course by correspondence! it would mean doing it on my own but i believe that God was preparing me for that by my doing the discipleship book on my own too.
So i sent away my money, and whilst i was waiting for the course to arrive, i received the email from Todd that started all of this.
So i believe i am meant to do the course and i finally managed to complete the answers last night (Tuesday) so i can send them off today.
Yesterday (Tuesday) i decided to do a second practice day of fasting and i must admit i felt hungry most of the day, it was the first day of term 4 for teachers and students so Matthew was back at school and i have the 15 month old little girl i look after, her mum is a teacher too. i also look after 2 boys after school (Mon -Fri) and 2 girls on Tues and Thurs. So that keeps me busy which is good.
It thats great skill and fortitiude to not eat when food is around you all the time, for example when preparing healthy snacks for the children and testing to see if babies food is cool enough for her to eat.
I have not had to do any baking yet and i will be tested there because i am like most people who like to lick the spoon clean after baking. :-)
So today is Wednesday and i am eating normally today, less than 1 week now until i begin. i have sent a few days trying to come up with and appropriate title for what i am doing, it is not an adventure, not a journey etc so i will keep thinking what to call it.
i will practice fast again on thursday and friday, however i am having a tooth extracted on friday so i will take that day as it comes.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Saturday, 22 October 2011
God Incident
23 October 2011
Today is Sunday and has been rather busy with church and family. I didn't blog yesterday. Shouldve, couldve, but didnt. Yesterday i was practice fasting and again it was about 3.30 -4.00pm that i felt really hungry but managed to get thru.
One thing that happened yesterday was i had already been out to feed our chooks in the morning, so i dont usually go out again but i decided to clean out the fridge and give the old potatoes to the chooks, so out the back i went again, and i counted our sheep, there were only 9 instead of 11. So i walked around the property and still no extra sheep and no obvious places that they could have gotten out. i came inside and told Matthew who was cooking lunch for himself. Whilst eating his lunch i asked him to txt John the actual owner of the sheep (just in case he had taken 2 sheep away, without telling us). John rung us straight back saying someone had just told him 2 sheep were out on the road and were they his? To which he replied they were not his. (not realising they were the ones from our paddock). So Matthew and John went down the road to fetch these sheep, just as the sheep were coming towards John! They managed to get them into his spare paddock without any incident. Praise God. If i hadn't have gone out to feed the chooks when i did, and notice 2 sheep missing... and if John hadnt have responded so quickly to our text message..., and if someone had not have approached John and told him 2 sheep were running down the very busy road... then it could have been a very different outcome. We believe someone must have opened the gate and let them out, anyway they are back home now. God's Timing. I was able to share with John that God was looking after us, he acknowledged that it must have been God.
Today is Sunday and we had church, i was on singing and Matthew runs the sound desk so we were at church early. I had been asked to do the Bible reading which was from Acts 2: 37-41. Pastor Colin spoke on Salvation and Baptism by full immersion. He challenged all those who had not been baptised to seriously consider it. i am hoping that Matthew will take the offer of baptism by full immersion. Pastor Colin also spoke to the church fellowship about what i am doing and encouraged the church family to pray for me and to encourage me because i will need it. i didnt realise he was going to speak about me and Haiti. Every 5th sunday, we have a missions lunch and collect an offering for missions. We have also decided that we will put a money jar beside the kitchen servery so that people can put $$$ in for missions as we have our cup of tea and cake after church. More money for Haiti. Cool.
After the service i had a few people come and talk to me about what i am doing, a few had questions as to whether i will be able to cope with not eating but i assured them i was doing ok on the practice fasting days and i know that God will help me. I reminded them that it is only a very small sacrifice what i am doing because at the end of the year, i can choose to go back to full eating but the children of Haiti do not have the same choices. it is only one year out of my life.
i was thinking today that this time next year i will almost be finished, i wonder how i will feel, how much i will have changed, in thought, in deeds, in body, in prayer, in worship, in gratitude, in study, in discipleship.
i have had someone from church, tell Pastor Colin that she doesnt think i am doing this for the right reasons, that God will not have told me to do something like this. He replied to her that i am doing what i need to do, that God will reward my obedience, that i am doing something unselfish for someone else. What were they doing for God's Kingdom???
i am not doing this for attention, or for the glory, i would definately prefer to stay in the background, but i really want to challenge people around me that everything we have, has been given to us by God. We are to be stewards and wise, I have been given so much, i am really blessed so who am i to not share what i have with someone? I can and i will.
Just been reminded about the parable of the talents and how one hid it away and one invested it wisely. i am happy to invest my time, energy, money, body, skills and talents for God's Kingdom. I am putting my riches into God's bank and His interest rate is out of this world!!!!!
Today has been a normal eating day, i cant wait to begin for real, i think i am ready, i have been preparing for the last 3-4 weeks.
i found that even eating the normal food was too much for me. A real surprise, i can tell you.
Tomorrow is another practice fast day. Until tomorrow. blessings
Today is Sunday and has been rather busy with church and family. I didn't blog yesterday. Shouldve, couldve, but didnt. Yesterday i was practice fasting and again it was about 3.30 -4.00pm that i felt really hungry but managed to get thru.
One thing that happened yesterday was i had already been out to feed our chooks in the morning, so i dont usually go out again but i decided to clean out the fridge and give the old potatoes to the chooks, so out the back i went again, and i counted our sheep, there were only 9 instead of 11. So i walked around the property and still no extra sheep and no obvious places that they could have gotten out. i came inside and told Matthew who was cooking lunch for himself. Whilst eating his lunch i asked him to txt John the actual owner of the sheep (just in case he had taken 2 sheep away, without telling us). John rung us straight back saying someone had just told him 2 sheep were out on the road and were they his? To which he replied they were not his. (not realising they were the ones from our paddock). So Matthew and John went down the road to fetch these sheep, just as the sheep were coming towards John! They managed to get them into his spare paddock without any incident. Praise God. If i hadn't have gone out to feed the chooks when i did, and notice 2 sheep missing... and if John hadnt have responded so quickly to our text message..., and if someone had not have approached John and told him 2 sheep were running down the very busy road... then it could have been a very different outcome. We believe someone must have opened the gate and let them out, anyway they are back home now. God's Timing. I was able to share with John that God was looking after us, he acknowledged that it must have been God.
Today is Sunday and we had church, i was on singing and Matthew runs the sound desk so we were at church early. I had been asked to do the Bible reading which was from Acts 2: 37-41. Pastor Colin spoke on Salvation and Baptism by full immersion. He challenged all those who had not been baptised to seriously consider it. i am hoping that Matthew will take the offer of baptism by full immersion. Pastor Colin also spoke to the church fellowship about what i am doing and encouraged the church family to pray for me and to encourage me because i will need it. i didnt realise he was going to speak about me and Haiti. Every 5th sunday, we have a missions lunch and collect an offering for missions. We have also decided that we will put a money jar beside the kitchen servery so that people can put $$$ in for missions as we have our cup of tea and cake after church. More money for Haiti. Cool.
After the service i had a few people come and talk to me about what i am doing, a few had questions as to whether i will be able to cope with not eating but i assured them i was doing ok on the practice fasting days and i know that God will help me. I reminded them that it is only a very small sacrifice what i am doing because at the end of the year, i can choose to go back to full eating but the children of Haiti do not have the same choices. it is only one year out of my life.
i was thinking today that this time next year i will almost be finished, i wonder how i will feel, how much i will have changed, in thought, in deeds, in body, in prayer, in worship, in gratitude, in study, in discipleship.
i have had someone from church, tell Pastor Colin that she doesnt think i am doing this for the right reasons, that God will not have told me to do something like this. He replied to her that i am doing what i need to do, that God will reward my obedience, that i am doing something unselfish for someone else. What were they doing for God's Kingdom???
i am not doing this for attention, or for the glory, i would definately prefer to stay in the background, but i really want to challenge people around me that everything we have, has been given to us by God. We are to be stewards and wise, I have been given so much, i am really blessed so who am i to not share what i have with someone? I can and i will.
Just been reminded about the parable of the talents and how one hid it away and one invested it wisely. i am happy to invest my time, energy, money, body, skills and talents for God's Kingdom. I am putting my riches into God's bank and His interest rate is out of this world!!!!!
Today has been a normal eating day, i cant wait to begin for real, i think i am ready, i have been preparing for the last 3-4 weeks.
i found that even eating the normal food was too much for me. A real surprise, i can tell you.
Tomorrow is another practice fast day. Until tomorrow. blessings
Thursday, 20 October 2011
21st October 2011
hi everyone, i am finally up and running, the blog has begun, i am eating normally today and finding that a real struggle, fancy finding eating a struggle! i am getting headaches and i think it is because of food, i didnt have one when i wasnt eating. maybe my body is adjusting. 10 days to go until i begin for real.
Todd sent me an email and he told me about Carrie who is working as a missionary in Haiti. I read her blog and started crying, she has a real way with words, and they went deep into my Spirit. She is living with the very people i am wanting to help. She is experiencing first hand what the Haitian people have to go thru, none to very little food, the very high temperatures, i dont know how i would cope.
Todd is on his way back to Haiti now to see how things are going so i will look forward to hearing from him when he gets back to the States.
I had study group last night and i was asked to pray for a couple of ladies who wanted to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. i felt very privileged and honoured that they would ask me. So we prayed and i am believing that they would receive tongues.
if you want to check out what Todd and the WellNetwork does then go to: www.wellnetwork.tv
and if you want to support what he is doing and help financially their website will show you what to do.
One thing i have been told to do whilst i am on this year long journey is to cover myself in the Blood of Jesus everyday and put on God's Armour as described in Eph 6. I am finding that this will be a very improtant part of my daily routine.
i am amazed at how God's hand has been on this from the very start and how He has shaped and changed my thinking in just a short few weeks. When i first decided to do this, i was just going to do it by myself and not tell anyone, just in case i failed :-) then no one would be upset, just me. then i got the thought to get individual sponsors from my church so they could hold me accountable as well as praying and encouraging me, they would be helping Haiti too. Never did i believe in a million years would i go public and share what i am doing with the whole wide world!!! I had been thinking it would be a good idea to keep a diary of my journey so that i had something to look back on later. And now look - i am writing a blog!!!!! who would have thought? Certainly not me. Our God is an awesome God and i know that as long as i continue to surrender to Him, He will use me to further His Kingdom.
Whatever counts for eternity Lord - let it be.
i know that it is not going to be easy at times but it will still be easier than what the Haitian people go thru on a daily basis.
so if you find yourself reading this, pray and ask God what you can do to help His people who need help. There are lots and lots of lonely, scared, hungry, lost people out there who need to know there is a God who knows them and loves them and longs to have a relationship with them.
i know this because i was lost and lonely and hurting and God met me and loved me and saved me from myself and i am eternally grateful. i have accepted His free gift of salvation - have you?
Todd sent me an email and he told me about Carrie who is working as a missionary in Haiti. I read her blog and started crying, she has a real way with words, and they went deep into my Spirit. She is living with the very people i am wanting to help. She is experiencing first hand what the Haitian people have to go thru, none to very little food, the very high temperatures, i dont know how i would cope.
Todd is on his way back to Haiti now to see how things are going so i will look forward to hearing from him when he gets back to the States.
I had study group last night and i was asked to pray for a couple of ladies who wanted to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. i felt very privileged and honoured that they would ask me. So we prayed and i am believing that they would receive tongues.
if you want to check out what Todd and the WellNetwork does then go to: www.wellnetwork.tv
and if you want to support what he is doing and help financially their website will show you what to do.
One thing i have been told to do whilst i am on this year long journey is to cover myself in the Blood of Jesus everyday and put on God's Armour as described in Eph 6. I am finding that this will be a very improtant part of my daily routine.
i am amazed at how God's hand has been on this from the very start and how He has shaped and changed my thinking in just a short few weeks. When i first decided to do this, i was just going to do it by myself and not tell anyone, just in case i failed :-) then no one would be upset, just me. then i got the thought to get individual sponsors from my church so they could hold me accountable as well as praying and encouraging me, they would be helping Haiti too. Never did i believe in a million years would i go public and share what i am doing with the whole wide world!!! I had been thinking it would be a good idea to keep a diary of my journey so that i had something to look back on later. And now look - i am writing a blog!!!!! who would have thought? Certainly not me. Our God is an awesome God and i know that as long as i continue to surrender to Him, He will use me to further His Kingdom.
Whatever counts for eternity Lord - let it be.
i know that it is not going to be easy at times but it will still be easier than what the Haitian people go thru on a daily basis.
so if you find yourself reading this, pray and ask God what you can do to help His people who need help. There are lots and lots of lonely, scared, hungry, lost people out there who need to know there is a God who knows them and loves them and longs to have a relationship with them.
i know this because i was lost and lonely and hurting and God met me and loved me and saved me from myself and i am eternally grateful. i have accepted His free gift of salvation - have you?
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Focus on Mission: Haiti
hi there everyone, my name is Karen and i am about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, at least for me anyway. i am 39 years old, married to a fantastic guy called Matthew and we have one gorgeous almost 3 year old son called Ryder.
Where to begin? well i have a friend who is a Missionary in Haiti. He is the International Director of WellNetwork Ministries. He regularaly goes to Haiti to look after 300 plus people a day who have been adversly affected by the devastating earthquake in January 2010. 316,000 approx died as a result and over 5 million people have been directly affected. The population of Haiti is 9 million people. Pretty sobering stuff. My friend Todd feeds, clothes, has just recently opened a school in Haiti. They have just shipped a container full of food and clothes and shoes to help people as they try to rebuild their lives. Todd sent an email out and one particular sentence grabbed my attention, so much that i had to read and reread the same sentence over again, it was "a container of food to feed 300 plus one meal a day for 5 days a week for 1 year".
well my friends that is what i am going to do: i am going to have 1 meal a day for 5 days a week for 1 year and the money i save in my groceries then i will donate it to Todd for Haiti. i spoke to my Pastor and i have approached my church for sponsorship. i have 12 sponsors who will match what i put in so we are raising double the money for Haiti.
20th October 2011
I am starting to realise what I have signed up for. I have decided to do the program every second day to prepare myself and my body as I only have 11 days to go until i start on the 1st November 2011. So I have not eaten all day, only occasionally hungry. Have reflux and because I am taking chlorella for detoxing, i am frequently going to the toilet. I am looking forward to eating tea; Matthew has decided sausages, salad, and potatoes. YUM. Food never looks and tastes as good as when you aren’t allowed it. J
Where to begin? well i have a friend who is a Missionary in Haiti. He is the International Director of WellNetwork Ministries. He regularaly goes to Haiti to look after 300 plus people a day who have been adversly affected by the devastating earthquake in January 2010. 316,000 approx died as a result and over 5 million people have been directly affected. The population of Haiti is 9 million people. Pretty sobering stuff. My friend Todd feeds, clothes, has just recently opened a school in Haiti. They have just shipped a container full of food and clothes and shoes to help people as they try to rebuild their lives. Todd sent an email out and one particular sentence grabbed my attention, so much that i had to read and reread the same sentence over again, it was "a container of food to feed 300 plus one meal a day for 5 days a week for 1 year".
well my friends that is what i am going to do: i am going to have 1 meal a day for 5 days a week for 1 year and the money i save in my groceries then i will donate it to Todd for Haiti. i spoke to my Pastor and i have approached my church for sponsorship. i have 12 sponsors who will match what i put in so we are raising double the money for Haiti.
20th October 2011
I am starting to realise what I have signed up for. I have decided to do the program every second day to prepare myself and my body as I only have 11 days to go until i start on the 1st November 2011. So I have not eaten all day, only occasionally hungry. Have reflux and because I am taking chlorella for detoxing, i am frequently going to the toilet. I am looking forward to eating tea; Matthew has decided sausages, salad, and potatoes. YUM. Food never looks and tastes as good as when you aren’t allowed it. J
Drinking heaps of water. Looking forward to the changes my body is going to go thru. I have found myself recently eating extra food and making lots of allowances for foods I shouldn’t be eating. I feel like I’m making up for lost time, except that I haven’t even started yet. J
I have 10 confirmed sponsors now including one who is a non-Christian, so hopefully will make lots of money for the Haitians and raise awareness about the great work that Todd is doing.
I am going to keep a blog as a record of how I am doing and what lessons God teaches me thru this experience.
It is 3.55pm and I have 1 hour to go, bring it on although I am pleased with myself for getting this far thru the day. I have two children to look after today, one more day of the school holidays and then Matt and the kids go back to school and I begin.
it is now 6.20pm and i was finally able to eat tea, i found that although i could eat after 5pm, i actually waited until 5.30pm and tea was beautiful, really nice. i ate slowly and found myself wondering about the Haitians and do they wonder where their next meal is coming from? do they savour their food or do they hurry to eat? lots of questions that i might ask Todd about.
Enough for today, i am pleased i was able to wait until teatime, tomorrow i get to eat normally and Saturday will be another day like today. Blessings. Karen
it is now 6.20pm and i was finally able to eat tea, i found that although i could eat after 5pm, i actually waited until 5.30pm and tea was beautiful, really nice. i ate slowly and found myself wondering about the Haitians and do they wonder where their next meal is coming from? do they savour their food or do they hurry to eat? lots of questions that i might ask Todd about.
Enough for today, i am pleased i was able to wait until teatime, tomorrow i get to eat normally and Saturday will be another day like today. Blessings. Karen
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