Sisters for Christ

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22 I have always been an optimist and a very cheerful person. But last Sabbath, I woke up with a heavy heart. My daughter ALexa cannot go to church with me and that is always depressing for me. I always want her to come along and be spiritually refreshed or rejuvenated. So I decided to spend a weekend in Richmond and be with my church family. I have always wanted to join the afternoon sessions plus the Kairos prayer and get-together, so I decided this will be the weekend to enjoy all these, instead of rushing home as always. I packed some clothes. Although I have not made arrangements for lodging, I know there will always be someone who will volunteer her room for me. As I drove the almost 90 miles drive to church, I started thinking of what I could possibly do to use my time wisely. Reality dawned, I never had to. God had a plan for me. Potluck was scheduled to my delight.

As I mingled and interacted with these women at our church, I realized, we have so much in common. We all work during the week, took care of our families, and although sleep-deprived and exhausted, we come to church - still willing to serve. We cook and bring food, we help serve and make sure every activity at church runs at the right speed and sequence. We do not complain or grumble - we just accept the stark reality that this is part of our existence. Then I decided to stay with the Pagunsans after finding out that the Kairos group will meet at their place for their weekly sundown worship and fellowship due to a predicted evening rain. I knew then, it will be a fun evening. And it sure was!

Worship started and as the rain poured, more families came bringing food to devour. Another scrumptious dinner was served and as the kids found their chosen activity, the men group themselves around the kitchen table while the women went upstairs for a special activity: watching old movies. This was our evening to relax, to forget about the stresses and challenges of the past week and to rejuvenate ourselves before another week ensues.

Even without the popcorn and snacks, we had a great time laughing, crying and making odd if not silly comments about the movie. It was such a simple activity - but it brought us joy and camaraderie. We knew that evening was a time for relaxation knowing that there will be more challenges in the week ahead. As sisters in Christ, we do have a common goal: to take care of our family, support our church and all their social and religious programs, be an example to our children and to be healthy physically and emotionally so we can serve others better. I love this article about how to be a healthier and stronger woman. Here are 9 principles of purposeful living that we can put into practice. [1] You should NOT WORRY, for WORRY is the most unproductive of all human activities. Worry is a negative state of mind which deals with the same problem over and over again, yet nothing is solved. [2] You should NOT BE FEARFUL, for most of the things we fear never come to pass. Fear is the opposite of confidence. It is also another negative emotion where it deals with uncertainty and loses heart easily. How can one win when one feels defeated even before the game has started? [3] You SHOULD NOT CROSS BRIDGES before you get to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this. Deal with each problem as it comes, you can handle only one at a time anyway. Let God's will be done, not ours. What will happen will happen for a good cause. One cannot deal with unseen problems though one can learn to troubleshoot. [4] You should NOT TAKE PROBLEMS TO BED with you for they make very poor bedfellows. Problems are not solved when one go to sleep, be rested proper to have our energies and spirits renewed to stand tall to face all challenges the next day.. [5] You should NOT BORROW other people's problems. They can take better care of them than you can. There are numerous other people's problems beyond one's expectations and understandings. Learn to tackle our own problems before giving a hand to others. Solve our own problems before minding other people's problems. [6] You SHOULD NOT TRY TO RELIVE YESTERDAY for good or bad... it has already gone! Concentrate on what is happening in your life today. There is no use crying over spilt milk. Be geared towards moving a step at a time. 'Yesterday was a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, Today is ready cash, Use it to the fullest!' That was what people used to say. [7] You should BE A GOOD LISTENER, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is very hard to learn something new when you are talking. We have a pair of ears but only one mouth. Be patient to speak before understanding. Our mouths serve us best when in accord with inner conscience where Truth dwells.. [8] You should NOT BECOME BOGGED DOWN by frustration, for 90 percent of it is rooted in self-pity, and it will only interfere with positive action. Self-pity is the web that spins miseries and traps oneself with their 'self-dug-pits' or dungeons. Slithering snakes and crawling insects will be your friends while in the darkness of frustrations. [9] You should COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one! For every blessings known to you, there are hundreds more that you don't know. Have heart in all you do. Always be grateful in all we have. Gratitude is a virtue for all. Gratitude is a key to peace of mind and heart. When one seeks to assuage the suffering of others, it is really one's own suffering that one mitigates the relief. When one direct one's attention to the inner-self, which is Truth, one will perceive the same Divinity to be present in all. Thus it makes up these 9 principles to live by......... Lucy Wong is a health and nutrition consultant. She is keen in sharing the 4 dimensions of health, aiming at attaining total health and happiness for all. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Wong_Moi HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD!!!!!! Your sister in Christ, Raylene

Sisters for Christ

I was just looking through quotations written by women and this one really caught my fancy. It was written by Christina Rosssetti and it goes this way: “For there is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather, to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands.”

I too, firmly believed that “A sister is a gift from God, sent from above to make life worthwhile here below.” And to this quote, I do not necessarily mean a birth sister. Few months back, The FWESDA Women's Ministry circle met at Shari's house for an international Tea Party and we decided to find a partner or a special sister where we can spend time to get to know each other better. A sisterhood for Christ could be a beginning of a real deep friendship. I was so excited that I picked Hilda's name. I have often observed her to be very genuine, always smiling and ready to greet me with a warm embrace and a Happy Sabbath greeting. I knew she came from Brazil and have met her family and have even visited her home. But aside from the information she voluntarily wrote on the sheet about her favorite colors and food and memory verses, i really do not know her that well - yet! And I am really guilty. Didn't I start this idea of having a special sister, anyway? Why haven't I done something special to make this quest come to full reality? I wonder if all the other women did their part?

Looking back, I realized that I truly have been so busy with other tasks at home, church and at work and I need to prioritize all of these things. We, women are always multi-tasking and do not even realize that we have been overwhelmed with the tasks we volunteered or given to us. I have been guilty. I have been busy with the Social Committee and the coming Mission Trip to the Philippines, plus my job and my home, that I have neglected the Women's blog. I have so many great plans to feature all the women in our church here so we can get to know each other. I tried but there were only a few who willingly gave their stories or return the forms so they can be featured. So for this issue, I really want to let you, my sisters for Christ know that I need you to help me make this blog possible. I need to get your stories about your life as women for Christ, as a mother, as a wife, as a sister or simply as a woman. Your experiences in your journey to the kingdom could touch one soul and make a difference. I hope you will share your stories, your sentiments and experiences by talking to me or emailing them to me so they can be featured here. If we cannot have a weekly blog, at least, we can do it every other week.

Because I am organizing our yearly Renewal of Vows scheduled on February 12, I have decided that we, women will meet on the second Saturday Night or second Sunday afternoon for a Spring Fling. I will keep you posted in the next few weeks. Please let me know what schedule you prefer: Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. It will be a "Day for Beauty and Relaxation".

Relationships are as important to us women as the very air we breathe. Without relationships we feel bereft, cut off from vital sources of comfort and support. We love our family, our husbands, our children and grandchildren and we give and give and give to them all our time and attention and sometimes, we forget to give also a treat to ourselves by nurturing friendships of other women. And because of our busy schedules, sometimes we cannot make it a priority to keep our relationship to other women current.Let his be our thought today " Today, I nurture and sustain my relationship through following my urges to give. I am a trustworthy friend to myself and others.

I will be a worthy sister for Christ.

Submitted by Raylene Ann Baumgart

A woman's thought about aging

A few week's ago, I left for my birth country, the Philippines to visit my mother who has been ailing lately. She is 81 years of age and due to rheumatoid arthritis, her activities are limited and this has been very frustrating to her, a woman, who once upon a time, was the busiest socialite in town. She was always the leader, organizer of church and charity events in town and a true public figure. Two years ago, I relocated my parents from the hometown I grew up to a seaside village which is also close to the city and hospitals in case they need them and where my two brothers live close by. My Papa in desperation told me that sometimes, my mother refused to get out of bed. So, I concluded, she must be suffering from depression. Lately, she had been sick and my family thought, perhaps, my presence will make her laugh and feel rejuvenated again.

(My Mama and me on my wedding day)

On my flight home, visions of my Mama invaded my psyche and I remembered vividly how I used to tell my friends that if I could half half of her genes, her beauty and her intelligence, I would not ask for anything else. I kept preparing myself on how to handle her presence, to be extra-sensitive and to plan for activities that will make it easier for transport and less strenuous outings.Perhaps, just a quiet beach vacation will do, where we can just hang around and observe the fisherman with their sailboats and watch the sunrise or sunset.

I was never so wrong in my life. When I arrived at their condo, dinner was ready and she had made my favorite hearty food: fried tuna, vegetable stew with malunggay and ginisang kangkong (sir fry green vegetables). I saw an immaculately clean kitchen with bleached-white kitchen towels neatly ironed then folded on open shelves above the kitchen counter. Bathroom was well-scrubbed with a tankful of water ready for my bath with crisply-ironed bath towels ready for my use. And instead of a whining, complaining sickly woman, here was my mother, chattering the afternoon away, telling me about her new friends in the neighborhood and how much she appreciated me for putting them up on this apartment by the sea. My father amused, confided that she had been busy preparing for my homecoming and have not complained about her aching knees and arthritic hands. She got rid of the cleaning lady who comes every other week and have been doing all the laundry while he did the house cleaning. After opening my suitcase and giving her all my "pasalubongs" (presents), she chuckled and laughed at all the church dresses and even tried them on one by one, walking up and down the stairs for a fashion show. She kept saying, "I am going to be the best-dressed old lady in our church." There was simply no sign of fatigue and I was the one, exhausted from the 25 hours flight and jet lag.

The following morning, I was awakened at 4:00Am. Before the roosters could crow, my mother was already singing her favorite hymns. Unable to sleep and without complaint, my Papa went downstairs to the kitchen to make his coffee. Still groggy,I went to their room and joined her in singing and then she started reciting her favorite sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Then she recalled how she taught me all those declamation pieces so I could be the best literary orator in the province. We switched on to reciting her favorite poems by John Masefield and Robert Frost. I had no choice but join in. These, after all are poems she taught me to memorize as a child and as a teenager. Only, this time, she memorized the lines, much better than I could. When asked how she could still memorize these lines, she just chuckled and said, "This is how I fight Alzheimer's disease. That is one disease I would never wish to have. I am exercising my brain daily."

By 5:30 that morning, we joined Papa downstairs for our morning worship and an hour later, we were walking towards the beach for their daily morning beach walk and swim. I was just amazed at all the people they knew in their new location and all the morning greetings and respect from everyone we met at this new place. On our way home, bought hot "suman" (sweetened rice wrapped in banana leaves made with coconut milk, a dozen ripe mangoes and 2 pounds of fresh fish sold by vendors they personally know in their new neighborhood.

breakfast after the swim

freshly caught fish

After a hearty breakfast, she hastened to get dressed for the town market, a place where my Papa said she refused to go due to distance. With me, we brought home lots of food for the week.

Mama and her choice of transportation: the prettiest pedicab she can find.

In the three weeks, I spent with my parents, we were able to have a family reunion for my mother's side of the family at another island where she was reunited with three other sibblings she has not seen for years. She said, she was looking forward to my homecoming so she could ride on an airplane again plus go island hopping. And we did. We flew to one island and visited three more islands by boat and stayed at relaxing and quiet tourist-free beachside resorts. We visited 6 provinces by land. While I ached and ordered massages at least three times a week, she never complained about aches and pains in all our outings. She had a real blast.

As I look back, i can only say that I was glad I went home and spent those weeks with my mother while she can still enjoy all those excursions. My father himself could not believe she had that energy and enthusiasm and he could only thank me for it. He concluded that my visit was just the prescription she needed.

As women, we face the reality that someday, our parents are going to get old and dramatically change their lifestyles. Are we ready to accept those changes? How will we cope with them?

Here is a list of things we can do to help as suggested by David Moberg from Decision Magazine:
1. Communicate often. Keep in touch by phone, visits, and letters. Remember special occasions.
2.Respect independence. As long as possible, your parents need to make their own decisions about where and how to live.
3.Support "letting go". Help them find constructive ways to dispose of possessions. Listen to them and weep with them when they must give up their homes, their driver's licenses or their leadership skills.
4.Empathize with them. If you were in their place, how would you act and feel?
5.Encourage age reminiscing. Draw forth memories of the past and help them fit together the pieces of their experiences.
6.Listen to them. Hear the accounts of their past disappointments, accomplishments and satisfactions - even if told repeatedly - as well as the accounts of their current worries and fears, joys and hopes and delights.
. Help them find large print Bibles, enriching TV and radio programs and arrange transportation for church going.
8.Support usefulness. Seek their counsel, praise their hobbies and encourage their giving services to others.
9.Stimulate their social life. Encourage them to maintain old social relationships and to make new ones.
10.Pray for them and with them. Their physical, mental, social and material well-being is interconnected with their spiritual growth.

If you have experiences as a wife, as a daughter, as a mother, as a sister or niece or simply as a woman, please share them with us, women in our church. Let's support one another in our journey. As Christian sisters for Christ, we get to encourage one another as we share our experiences. Email them to me at raylene.baumgart@gmail.com or simply sit down with me and let me write your story.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Autumn at it's glory

William Cullen Bryant,an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.(November 3,1794-June 12, 1878) once said, "Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

And he is right. Autumn comes with crispness in the air and a rainbow of colors paint the earth and sky. Brilliant golds and reds adorn the trees, and there are more sunshine than clouds. It was one cold windy Sunday when few Moms and Dads and Aunties drove to Carter Mountain Orchards for an apple-picking adventure and picnic. The cold gusty wind did not deter us from our quest of getting the yummiest apples of the season.

After the apples were picked, the picnic followed.

As women, we make sure we let our children experience all the fun and traditions that we want them to remember forever. And we have fun too, in the process.

What happened to the apples when they reached our homes - are beyond me. But this is what happened to ours, my very first apple pie!

Recipe for this pie:
Servings: 2 (9-inch) pie crusts
Prep Time: 50 min

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold
12 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup ice water

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and sugar. Add the shortening and break it up with your hands as you start to coat it all up with the flour. Add the cold butter cubes and work it into the flour with your hands or a pastry cutter. Work it quickly, so the butter doesn’t get too soft, until the mixture is crumbly, like very coarse cornmeal. Add the ice water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together forming a dough. Bring the dough together into a ball.
When it comes together stop working it otherwise the dough will get over-worked and tough. Divide the dough in half and flatten it slightly to form a disk shape. Wrap each disk in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. On a floured surface roll each disk out into a 10 to 11-inch circle to make a 9-inch pie.

***To make the topping with hearts, I had to double this recipe and had a lot of extras to make the decoration an elaborate one.Use heart-shape cookie cutters to make the hearts.The brush with an egg wash (egg yolk with a tablespoon of milk)..

Getting to Know Sali Gaye Condez Deapera

SALI GAYE CONDEZ DEAPERA

Tell us a bit about your family (spouse, children, parents?): I am married to a wonderful husband named Arthur and we have a son named Arthur Louie, the apple of my eye. These are the two most precious men in my life.

Country of Birth: I was born in our Adventist Hospital in Cebu , The Miller Sanitarium & Hospital in the Philippines. I practically grew up in Cebu.

Favorite color:Pink although I find myself wearing a lot of black clothes which goes with anything

Favorite food:Rice - cannot live wihtout rice because fish, chicken and vegetables will not taste good without rice.

Favorite Bible Verse:Proverbs 8:17
"I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently will find me." This text gives me strength every day to help me realize that it is His strength that carried me through all those years and He will still carry me through.

Favorite Woman in the Bible and why:
My favorite woman in the Bible is Sarah. She must have been a very beautiful woman because even kings found her very attractive, that even her husband had to tell a lie about her (half lie- she was his half sister) and yet she never questioned him. Then she was barren for a while and because she wanted so much for Abraham to have a child, she consented that Abraham get their maid servant pregnant. This of course caused conflict but God had other plans for her life and even as an older woman, she was chosen to be the mother of nation. God blessed her.

As a woman of God what do you need from your fellow women from the church? I would like to get to know the other women in the church better.


Is there anything you want to do with other women or for other women? Get together more often


Tell us a short story of your life’s journey as a woman of God.
I was born into a faithful Seventh-day Adventist family and was educated in our Adventist School system since the elementary years. There was a time when I had to study at a private exclusive-for-girls college called St Theresa's College where I learned to sing, dance and be fashionable and be independent. But I missed the Adventist atmosphere, so I transferred to Adventist University in the Philippines to finish my Bachelor's Degree in English. And that's where I met my wonderful husband Arthur.

He worked full time while I worked part-time as an English teacher in college. I taught Speech Communication and Reading Comprehension to sophomore college nursing students for 2 years before I got a teaching job here in America. I am currently teaching language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies to students from K-2 with special needs. I am hoping to finish my Master's Degree in Special Education through distance learning program in March 2012. I turn to God in my greatest hour of need, stress, anxiety and hopelessness. I am blessed with a faithful Seventh-day Adventist husband and we have dedicated our son to God so he will also know Him deeply and make Him first, last and everything in his life.

Getting to Know Hilda Serpa

Complete Name: Hilda Serpa

My Family: I was born in Sao Paolo, Brazil. I married my wonderful husband in January 29, 1976.

We came to America 14 years ago together with our son, Ramon. Now we are living here in Richmond.I have a Cleaning Services Company which keeps me busy. I enjoy spending time with my husband and son and my very own church family.

Birth Country: Sao Paolo, Brazil

Favorite thing to do: Gardening and taking care of our lawn, watch movies at home

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Food: All kinds of sandwiches

Favorite Bible Verse: I love Psalms 100
"Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with joy; and come before Him with singing.
Know that the Lord is God, He made us, and we belong to Him.
We are His people, the sheep he tends.
Come unto His city with songs of thanksgiving
and into His courtyards with songs of praise.
Thanks Him and praise His name.
The Lord is good. His love is forever,
and His loyalty goes on and on."

Favorite Woman in the Bible: Mary, the mother of Jesus
Mary was a very young and innocent girl. But when she was told that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, she willingly took the risk of ruining her reputation. She knew she would be ridiculed, shamed and frowned upon, mocked and possibly put to death. Even Joseph was about to leave her at first. But she accepted this task given to her at her very young age. She was one of the bravest young woman in the Bible times.

As a woman of God, what would you like to do with the other women in church?
I would really like to get to know the women on the church better. We see each other at church, greet each other, but it would be better if we meet more often,a s women, sharing each other's stories, concerns and burdens so we can encourage each other. It does not have to be very special and elaborate: perhaps just meeting somewhere for pizza or in a garden or just having a cup of tea. I would really like that!

Short Story of your journey as a Christian.
I was born into a Catholic family. As a young girl, I took piano lessons with a teacher who is a Seventh-day Adventist. Once a week, she holds bible studies or a branch Sabbath school at her home. My sister and I would attending those meetings and we enjoyed it a lot. Later she invited us to attend Sabbath School at her church and after a few years, I accepted Jesus. There, I met Gerson, in the youth class. He was a born Adventist.

A favorite Recipe: COCADA -traditional Brazilian dessert

Traditional Cocada

1 lb grated coconut
1 lb sugar
1 cup water

Dissolve sugar in water and boil the mixture until it spins a thread (I use a candy thermometer; 232 to 234° F). Remove syrup from heat and add the grated coconut. Stir well until it becomes sugary. Pour onto a buttered platter (a marble pizza stone is great for that purpose) and let cool, then cut into squares (about two inches).

Cocadas with Condensed Milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 equal measures of sugar (use the empty can to measure the sugar)
1 lb freshly grated coconut (or frozen grated coconut, which you can find in Latino markets; it tastes very much like fresh coconut)
1 can evaporated milk

Mix all ingredients together. Cook in low heat stirring constantly until you can see the bottom of the pan. Cook for another 2 minutes or so. Pour onto a greased marble pizza stone. Let cool and cut into two-inch squares (yields about 20 cocadas)

Getting to know Jinnyfer Laporre

FAMILY: I have a very quiet husband who is very understanding and respectful. We have two precious gifts from God - our two wonderful boys: Brent and Devon. I am not the only pianist in our home. My husband Rey Booz also plays the piano and spends his time training our older son Brent to be a good pianist so he could be a great help in God's ministry through music.

COUNTRY OF BIRTH: I originally came from the Philippines. I arrived here in May 9, 2005. My husband was the one who got a job offer to relocate here from our country. The boys and me came with him and after passing the NCLEX, I am now also working at MCV Medical Center in Acute Hemodialysis Unit.

FAVORITE THINGS TO DO: Piano-playing, Reading, Playing tennis and badminton

FAVORITE COLOR: Purple

FAVORITE FOOD: Filipino food (Pansit, lumpia, etcetera)

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (New International Version)

FAVORITE WOMAN IN THE BIBLE: Dorcas - very resourceful and kind.
Her name was Tabitha, in Hebrew, or Dorcas, in Greek. Both words mean "gazelle". She lived in Joppa, A seaport 35 miles NW of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean Sea:the only natural harbor in Israel between Egypt and Ptolemais. She was a true disciple of Jesus, always doing good for others. She helped the poor, the widows and sews clothes for them; always on the alert on who needs help and attention. She was very resourceful and kindhearted. And like a gazelle, she was always quick to answer the call for help.

She got ill one day and everyone thought she was going to die. Peter prays at Dorcas’ bedside and calls to her to get up. She is revived and becomes living testimony of presence of God. She is the only woman in the Bible who was named a disciple of Christ. There are a lot of woman known as Jesus' followers, but she was considered a disciple because she was a disciple in every meaning of the word.

AS A WOMAN OF GOD, what do you need from your fellow women from the church?
We should just really be supportive of each other and try to understand each other's weaknesses. We have different personalities and talents but we have only one goal in life - to go to heaven and live there with God.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO WITH OTHER WOMEN OR FOR OTHER WOMEN?
I am always busy with my two kids and family while working full time and study. I am presently taking a Masters Degree in Nursing. But I am always willing to help as long as I can.

SHORT STORY & JOURNEY OF MY CHRISTIAN LIFE: I have the greatest privilege of being born to an Adventist family. Although my father was never ordained as a minister, he is a very good preacher. My parents have always encouraged me to be a living witness for the Lord and to play an active part in God's work. They tried to send me to music school to be a pianist just so I can be useful in all church activities. So, now, here I am - willing to be used by God in His ministry whether in the music department or in any aspect of our church life.