International Lady Chefs' Summer Tea Party

It started as a very warm and humid morning.The weather bureau predicted thunderstorms that afternoon, so I had a sick feeling that perhaps nobody will show up except Shari and me. I have ardently prayed that more women from the church would come to enjoy this special bond of friendship, a sort of a women's club for sisters of Christ. And I was not ready to be disappointed.
Few minutes before 4pm, the women arrived and the fun began.

Marie arrived with an intricately-carved watermelon teapot which served as a great centerpiece. Then Sarah showed her exquisite mini cupcakes and we all exclaimed our "Ahhs" and "Ohhhs". More yummy goodies came. The white tablecloth was a perfect back drop for all the colorful aprons that were draped around it plus the display of homemade, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, appetizers and desserts.

Shari's collection of 4 kinds of freshly-brewed tea was just wonderful! And to think that she said, she does not like tea! I still could not decide whether it was the raspberry or the peach tea that caught my fancy! The orange-pineapple was just as yummylicious and the chai tea was just as energizing. Linda's tofu spread was the favorite of the afternoon and a copy of her recipe was in order. Anna's varied selection of Russian pastries was simply tempting and scrumptious. And there were a lot more: stuffed tomatoes,lemon bars, black bean quesadillas plus Hilda's "coconutty" dessert flavored with pineapple. All I can say, is that: to those, who did not make it, you missed a lot of the fun and camaraderie.

Then the game began. Each lady was asked to pick a household gadget that reminded them of an experience about their lives as girls, wives, and women. We were richly blessed with the shared stories and we knew that this friendship will thrive for as long as we make it.

Ruth Bell Graham once said that "The center of power is not to be found in summit meetings or in peace conferences. It is not in Peking or Washington or in the United Nations, but rather where a child of God prays in the power of the Spirit for God's will to be done in her life, in her home, and in the world about her." The stories shared were testimonies of God's love for us, women.

We then had to pick up a piece of a puzzle to search for our matching piece our "prayer sisters" and it was quite a revelation! We wanted to have a very special friend for the year, someone who does not have to be a secret, someone we can pray with, pray for, share our joys, our passion and our concerns. And what a fun revelation it was for all.

This has been a wonderful experience for the ladies, and we certainly hope, that you will join us in our next scheduled activities. We want you to be part of our ministry. We want you to join our fun, the laughter and the friendship. A Canadian writer once said, "A good laugh is as good as prayer sometimes."
Proverbs 31: 25 NIV says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

Thanks to Shari for hosting this beautiful memorable occasion.
And thanks to Luke for reminding us, why we enjoy being mothers and women for Christ!

A Mother's Thank You Letter to a Blankie

It’s only 4:45 in the early morning. I just got back from the Newport News Williamsburg International airport after sending off Katie for California. This was her college graduation present of choice: a trip to Southern California to reunite with her High School friends. She has been home for over two weeks now, and she had been busy. She introduced us to her love for organic food and tempted me to let go of my love for fried foods and indoctrinated me to her freshly-made gourmet smoothies for breakfast. She completely unpacked all her stuff from her student apartment and re-arranged her room. Now, it looks like she intends to stay for a while again, although she was certain of being accepted on a job interview last week.

Now, I really missed her and went to her room to look around. There I saw important things that are still very dear to her heart.

Here is Pablo, from the famous Build-a-Bear Company. He sometimes becomes Pablita when Katie decided to dress her up with frills and laces. Now he is standing forlorn among her favorite books and movies.

Here is the dream catcher I bought her at a county fair in Texas, when she was still obsessed with everything America Indian.

This morning, I felt a need to feel her presence, so I decided to lie down on her bed to catch more winks of sleep before daylight. But sleep was far from reach. Then, suddenly, I felt a bulky lump from underneath her pillow. I turned on the light for closer inspection and then I saw it – Boobie (her blankie), her lifetime companion since she was a baby. Did she forget it? I knew she cannot sleep without it. Or is today, the day she says goodbye to her Boobie, a sign of total independence?

As I looked at its tattered hems, I cannot help but shed tears. I saw a few safety pins on some corner, a testament that she tried to fix some corners to prevent them from being totally frayed and worn out. It is no longer pristine white and the pictures of tiny bears wearing sky blue dresses are beyond recognition. It is now almost khaki-colored plain fabric with lots of stains and tear: signs that it had been well-used for comfort when she was sick, hurting or frustrated. Then memories of the past came flooding to my touched psyche and heart.

During her first trip to the Philippines when she was two years old, Boobie was her constant companion in the plane during the almost 30 hours flight. Boobie was in the stroller, in the car, to the beach and even in the hammock. Katie hugged and talked to Boobie when she saw my brothers butcher a goat to celebrate our homecoming. She simply could not sleep without it. A year later after needing a Myringotomy (ear tube insertion) at barely three years of age, Boobie took full center stage as she proudly displayed it to the nurses and doctors at the Surgery center.

Then, I remembered the day I dropped her off for her first day in Pre-School. She was full of excitement but extremely worried that nobody will take care of her Boobie while at school. I promised I would, and every time I come to pick her up, her Boobie would be waiting for her in the car and she would immediately grab it, rub her cheeks with it and then she would suck one corner and with her eyes close, she'd take a nap. All is well with the world with Boobie. This blankie has always been under her pillow through the years. She took it with her when we sent her off to Germany for full immersion of German Language and Culture when she was 13. She took it again to Zweibrucken as an exchange student for the Yorktown-Zweibrucken Exchange Program during her Junior year in high School. Boobie explored Switzerland, Austria, Paris and other European tourist spots. Boobie has cruised all around the Caribbean and Mexico.

When we unloaded all of Katie's belongings at her appointed Gladding Residence Center in VCU as a freshman, Boobie was the first to be unloaded. And it had been transported to two other off-campus apartments she has resided. I am pretty certain, Boobie had been her constant companion and confidante during exciting, frustrating as well as her triumphant moments as a student. I am sure it had been her refuge when her heart was broken. Boobie was there during all these times when I couldn’t or those nights when she preferred solitude. If I could, I would preserve this old, stained and “stinky” memorabilia and place it on a shadow box together with her diploma – because it certainly deserved its place there.

So to you, my dearest Boobie:
Thank you so much…
~for comforting my little girl all throughout these years when she was scared of the dark in her tiny room;

~for being her constant loyal companion, when she most needed a friend;

~for not being judgmental when she was not her own true self and when her attitude was not acceptable to my standards;

~for drying her tears when she was broken-hearted;

~and for simply being there for her in all the good and the bad times.

For the next two weeks while she is away, I will celebrate your existence. I promised not get so attached, knowing you will be needed again when she is back. I promised not to wash you, (tempted as I am) because your smell will be the first thing she will notice when she gets back. Today let us both celebrate her choice for independence away from both of us. And if perchance, she decides not to keep you, any longer, DO NOT WORRY! I will keep you for myself – forever.

by Raylene Ann Rodrigo-Baumgart

Post Script:
To all of you ladies, moms, sisters, aunts and grandmas - this blog has a special place where you can post all your longings, your thoughts and experiences. Please share with us your innermost feelings and experiences as moms, sisters, aunts and friends. If you do not want to write it, talk to us and we will help you. As sisters for Christ, it is great to share each other's burdens and happy thoughts.

Meet Junette Bofetiado

Junette Bofetiado

I am a Registered Nurse, currently working in MCVH as a Transplant Nurse. I married Alexander in July 1999. Together, we are blessed and thoroughly enjoying the privileges of having two healthy boys, Alec and Josh.

Country of Birth: Philippines

Favorite Hobbies: Cooking. I love to experiment on new recipes.

Favorite Color: Pinks and shades of Green

Favorite Food: All sorts of salads

Favorite Bible Verse: Roman 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose". (KJV)

Favorite Woman in the Bible: Queen Esther and her bravery

I have always loved the story of Esther ever since I was a young girl. Her story is filled with intrigue, romance, bravery, and honor. It is the story of an orphan girl who became the chosen queen. And yet she did not forget her people and who through a curious mix of fate and need, saved her people just when she was most needed. It is truly a story of remarkable love and devotion to her own people and where she came from and the love of her King who admired her bravery.

As a woman of God, what do you need from your fellow women from the church? Prayer for strength, wisdom and guidance as a mother and as a woman.

Is there anything you want to do with other women or for other women? It would be nice if we can do some cooking together and do some outing as a group of church women, getting to know each other.

A short Story of your journey as a woman of God:

My parents have always been faithful Seventh-day Adventists. I grew up in an Adventist community and most of my contacts and friends are from the same Adventist Church and Church School.I spent most of my school days in Seventh-day Adventist schools. I graduated as a nurse at our own Adventist institution, Mountain View College in 1995. After graduation, i worked in Davao, Adventist Hospital, Davao, Philippines. There I worked for 7 years before coming to the United States. It is not any wonder that I married a Seventh-day Adventist man.

I firmly believed that God has a plan for each one of us. We just need to put our trust in Him completely.

"In A Little While" - by Renee Cerovski

I remember standing at the gate in Richmond International Airport, full to the brim with anticipation. Back in 1996, we could do that—wait inside the terminal for someone to exit the plane. I carefully scrutinized every face that came out of that gate. I wondered if I’d recognize her, or if I’d just know she was my grandma. Finally, a small Chinese woman appeared. Our family of four, Mom, Dad, Nathan and I jumped to greet her. During the whole car ride home, I was so excited: I was actually sitting next to Lau Lau. My grandma.

When Lau Lau came to visit us in Richmond 1996, I gave Lau Lau my room and I slept in Nathan’s room. She was completely different from my other grandma. I would sneak up to my bedroom and push my face against the frame to watch her through the slim crack in the door. I’d watch her do mysterious, graceful exercises every morning. At first, I thought it was a strange Buddhist ritual, but later learned it was only tai chi. She mostly kept to herself. During the day, I’d see her sitting on my bed playing Solitaire over and over. She looked so lonely. I finally got up my courage and timidly came in and sat next to her on the bed. She taught me how to play Solitaire and I was so happy that I’d found a way to connect to her.

I only saw her a few other times after that. But before I came to Korea, she got so excited. She wanted to give me a fur coat and all kinds of advice: don’t get involved with any North Korean men and to stay out of any political demonstrations. She wanted me to learn Chinese over there so we could talk. She wanted to tell me all about her life and about being Chinese. It tugged at my heart. Why hadn’t I tried harder? It was one of my life-goals, but the time never seemed right to learn.

About two months before I came to Korea, Lau Lau got sick. She broke her wrist and Mom wanted to go to her so badly, but she couldn’t because the timing didn’t work out. I went to Korea, knowing that I’d go to Hong Kong at some point.

In March, I learned that she was doing much worse. She hadn’t healed well from her injury back in October and had lost a lot of weight. She had advanced-stage lung cancer and it had spread to her bones. Mom got on the earliest flight to Hong Kong and got there at the beginning of April. Once in Hong Kong, Mom said Lau Lau was slowly doing better, so I decided to go at the end of April during my term break.

After I arrived in Hong Kong, I took the bus to Sheng Shui, the small town where Lau Lau lived. It’s the New Territories, almost in China. Mom met me at the bus stop. She told me that Lau Lau was doing better, but she had lost a lot of weight and was still very weak. Even though I knew this, nothing could prepare me for the shock of actually seeing her. I couldn’t recognize her at all. The tiny, stick-thin woman who greeted me with a tired voice looked nothing like the Lau Lau I had known, or rather, always wished I’d known better. However, her mind and will were still as strong as ever. Mom said that the doctors said she should have at least 6-8 more months.
That night, as I sat on the couch next to Lau Lau, she started talking to me.
“Soon….Lau Lau go bye-bye…” she said in mixed Chinese and English. She pointed at herself and made sleeping gestures with her hands. I understood her, but pretended I didn’t. I took her hand.
“I’m praying for you,” I forced myself to say. For some reason, speaking had become almost impossible.
Mom walked over, and Lau Lau started talking to her.
“Lau Lau wants to say goodbye. She wants you to take good care of yourself, you have a good future,” Mom translated.

I couldn’t keep the tears from spilling out.
“Lau Lau says you’re a good girl. She says not to cry.” Mom said and I managed to hold it back.
Those next few days felt like I’d hit the “pause” button on my life. Every day, I’d wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed and go walk around Sheng Shui with Mom. We’d look at clothes, or pick out food for lunch. After a couple hours, we go back home and cook lunch. Depending on how she felt, Lau Lau might join us. I’d take a nap while Mom talked to Lau Lau. Then, we go out again and repeat the process until dinner. Sometimes my aunt came home early enough for us to make dinner with her. Then, we’d all sit in front of the TV and watch Chinese game shows and dramas. Those few days in Hong Kong are so precious to me. When I came to Hong Kong before, I was always a tourist. Now I wasn’t a tourist, just Lau Lau’s granddaughter who had come to visit.

That Sabbath, my 24th birthday, Lau Lau decided to become a Christian. People from the local SDA church came over in the afternoon and anointed her. They prayed for her and sang with her. When they sang “God Will Take Care of You” in Chinese, Lau Lau looked so happy. I know that this was one of Mom’s greatest wishes come true.

In June, I got an e-mail from Mom saying that Lau Lau had passed away in the night. She had been in the hospital for a few days and was in a lot of pain. They gave her a lot of morphine and oxygen and it made her drift in and out of consciousness.
I learned one Chinese phrase this last time I was in Hong Kong. “Yet tsung geen” means approximately, “see you later.” It’s “good-bye,” but not for long. We’d tell that to Lau Lau whenever we went out shopping. After she passed away, I remembered that phrase. As a Christian, it expresses the greatest hope I have. This isn’t good-bye forever. I’ll see her again, in a world where there is no more sickness or pain. Yet tsung geen, Lau Lau.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV