Shipment to Uganda

I’m pleased to announce that our small church has arranged a shipment of school supplies to go to Uganda.  After Willy Ouma spoke here  about Give Hope Ministries, the men in our church really took it to heart and started making plans for a possible mission trip to Uganda.  In addition, when they heard that a large container was being sent to nearby Kenya by Vision Beyond Borders, they asked if items could be sent to the children in Uganda as well.  Here are some of the supplies that are being sent:

Several things are particularly exciting about this project:

• The timing of the VBB shipment couldn’t have been better!
• Some valuable mathematics curriculum were donated by a professor when a friend requested them — items that would’ve been thrown away at a value of several thousand dollars
• The whole church got involved
• The men took the lead in this effort
• I had nothing to do with it; it was God’s provision and inspiration

That last one is such a blessing to me.  I’m the one that is usually speaking for Compassion, asking people to help children, seeking donations and gifts.  This was all arranged without any effort from me at all.  It’s great to see how God works!

Please make sure you check out Willy’s latest blog post about this ministry in Uganda.

KC Restaurants

I’ve been wanting to share these photos with you — taken at some of our favorite restaurants in Kansas City.  These are the ones we keep returning to again and again.

Arthur Bryant’s

This is a famous Bar-B-Q restaurant that has been around for years.  The photo above is of the original location, which often had lines clear down the sidewalk.  There are other locations now, but this one is still a favorite.

Here is the huge sandwich they serve, and I think the french fries were once the centerfold of a Playboy Magazine!

I loved this cartoon that came out in the KC Star when Arthur Bryant passed away.

Oklahoma Joe’s

This is another winner for Bar-B-Q, and the original location is in a gas station.

They also serve a huge sandwich with fries.

I love the fact that they also serve red beans and rice.

Stroud’s

This is the original location that eventually became surrounded by interstate bridges until it was razed.  This great restaurant offers home-style chicken with all the trimmings — potatoes, beans, gravy, cinnamon rolls — all you can eat.  We love this place, and the back of their t-shirts say, “We Choke Our Own Chickens.”

Brio Tuscan Grill

This is probably my favorite place on the Country Club Plaza.  Their menu is outstanding.

El Salavadoreno

We just recently discovered this authentic restaurant featuring food from El Salvador.  It’s outstanding.  We always get the plate that has several different samples to share.  I wish we could buy all these foods in Wyoming!

Currently Reading

I always find myself reading several books at once.  These are the ones I’m reading now.

Historical

Since I have several ancestors that were on the Mayflower, I have found this book fascinating to read.  It’s very easy reading, and seems to be researched  very accurately.  I’m loving it.

Novels

I’ve had the most fun reading this series by Alexander McCall Smith — The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.  They’re set in Bostwana and are delightfully funny, colorful and descriptive.  I will have the whole series read in no time.

Devotional

 

This was released by Compassion International for the use of employees around the world.  Each day’s devotion is written by a different person at various job positions in each of our countries.  I love reading this book!

I’ve read the Bible in several different translations and this is the first time I’ve read the Tanakh, the Jewish translation.  I’m loving it.

The is a collection of poems from the early Puritans, in keeping with my study of the Mayflower.  I’ve heard some of these prayers set to music on this CD and it’s beautiful.

I’m reading this devotional from Jill Briscoe on my phone each morning.  She has some really good thoughts.

Quilting

Finally, I’m studying several books about free-form quilts.  I definitely want to make one of these before long.  I’m trying hard to really learn the principles of design and color!  It may be a while, but I will let you know when I have one in the works!

Visit Your Child

Have you visited your sponsored child yet?  Have you thought about it?  I love this video that Compassion put together, called “What is the Value of Your Sponsorship?”

He Go Go

This hilarious video was shared on the Compassion Blog recently.  It shows children in one of our child development centers in Kenya dancing and singing.

It wouldn’t be hilarious except for the cute phrases the children are singing:

He go go butter me bread, He go go sugar me tea,

He go go clothe my Body, He go go shelter my head.

If he did it yesterday he will do it today oh,

if he does it today oh, He will do it tomorrow

He go go butter me bread, He go go sugar me tea,

He go go clothe my Body, He go go shelter my head.

If he favor yesterday he will favor today

oh, If he favor today oh, He will favor tomorrow,

He go go butter me bread, He go go sugar me tea

Isn’t it super special?

Samuel

Here is another great video about one of our formerly sponsored children — this is Samuel, from the Dominican Republic.

I love this story for several reasons:

• I’ve been to the Dominican Republic three times
• Samuel was saved from life on the streets
• He gives God the credit for saving his life
• He talks about the importance of letters from his sponsor
• Samuel is a professional musician today
• He and his wife now sponsor two kids!

Wouldn’t you love to follow his example and sponsor a child today?

The Journey Continues

I have seen many uses of my Word of the Year so far.  I’m always amazed to see how quickly my notebook fills up each year.  It just happened that I had begun to turn a new direction in my quilt making, and had purchased some new books.  Strangely enough, they nearly all had the word “Journey” in the title:

Fabric Journey — by Ruth B. McDowell

Journey to Inspired Art Quilting — by Jean Wells

Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts — A Stress-Free Journey to Original Design — by Rayna Gillman

There were quotes within the books too, of course:

“Almost three years ago, I began a new journey with my quilting…I now see line in everything and immediately think about how I might piece something…sewing small pieces of fabric together as I build an idea is very exciting to me.”  – Jean Wells

“[Jean's] passion for sewing and teaching has taken her on the journey that so many of us have viewed with awe and inspiration…I have had the incredible good fortune to accompany Jean on this new journey…”  – Betsy Rickles

“The most cherished friendship is not only one in which you enjoy time spent together — talking, sharing, and laughing — but also one in which you inspire each other, challenge each other, and find that you are taking creative journeys within yourself thanks to the influence of the other.  – Jean Wells

And so my mind has been on a journey of creativity and inspiration.  I have not started putting together an art quilt yet, but it is definitely starting to form in my mind.