Week 6 - And that's all I know about that

Welcome to our 6th and final week of  . . . . And that's all I know about that.

I sure hope you have enjoyed hearing from these ladies.  I know I have enjoyed and been blessed by what they all have to share.  I love how God can use each of us, from different backgrounds, with different talents and different visions to reach so many people.  It just reminds me of the disciples {a doctor, a tax collector, fishermen, . . . . } all different, all able to reach someone with the gospel that others could not.  God is good all the time!!

Well, this week I would like for you to meet

Becky Winters

Becky and I met at Baptist Bible College.  She was on my floor freshman year, Donaldson 1st.  She was from Boston.  I was from Texas.  I was in love with her accent.  After our freshman year, we lost touch, we both got married (almost a month apart) and started our families.  It was not until June 2010 that we saw each other again.  Mike and I came to Japan on our survey trip and the Winters opened their home to us for two weeks.  We were able to start our friendship again.  Now two years later, we are living in the same city, working along side each other, ministering in Japan.  God is good all the time!!

Mike, Becky, Ethan, Kayla, Alyssa

I have been told I am now considered a veteran missionary.  I’m not sure what that means, but I guess I am now one.  I still feel like I have so much to learn, but really I suppose we all do!  Our family has been missionaries here on the southern island of Kyushu, Japan for nine years now.  I love it and it has become my home. If you had asked me if I would ever consider Japan our home while we were on deputation I would have said no, but I suppose that when packing up to go on furlough and feeling emotional about leaving the country God has called you to….. it has become your home. 

Our two older kids were four and three when we arrived in Japan and our youngest was born here in Japan.  Ethan will be fourteen in less than a month, Kayla is twelve and Alyssa is five.  Without really realizing it or aiming to do so they have been raised bi-culturally.  They all Speak English and Japanese, know some words in ONLY English or Japanese, can all eat with chop sticks or a fork, and when we go back on furlough, take their shoes off at the entry way of Grampy and Lala’s house before going in to give them a hug.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized especially in our two oldest that they are truly bi-cultural kids.  They don’t really realize it because to them it is what “normal” is. 

Living in a foreign country requires learning a different way of life.  We can keep our home American as much as possible, but there are just some things we have to learn to do differently.  For instance, no dryer….everything gets hung outside to dry.  Living in a country that has a rainy season, this is a learning process.  I have discovered that by doing laundry at night and hanging it inside the house overnight, it will be just about dry by morning; but do it in the morning and hang it inside the house all day long and it will still be damp and smelly by supper time.  I cannot explain this….just take my word for it! 

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the years is to be flexible.  Things change, circumstances change, people change and we have to sometimes make adjustments accordingly.  Two of my favorite verses is  Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”  I haven’t always liked the changes that needed to be made, but God has always enabled me to accept them and to be content. 

My last bit of knowledge as a veteran missionary is this: empty ketchup bottles and dish soap bottles make very good bath or pool toys!

…..and that’s all I know about that!

Week 3 - And that's all I know about that . . .

This week I would like for you to meet my friend 

 Amy Litton

I have known Amy for about 20 years.  The first time we meet was at my sisters wedding.  I was 15 years old.  She was decorating the fellowship hall at the church and I was amazed at how she had turned the drab tan room into a beautiful spring bouquet of colors.  I don't think I talked to her again until 1997, when I was asking her to help decorate the fellowship hall for my wedding.  And again she did an amazing job.  Because that is what Amy does!  She is the most creative person I know.  Our friendship didn't really bloom until 8 years ago.  God placed her right in my path again.  Mike and I and the kids had just moved back to Texas.   I was hurt and really needed a friend.  Someone who understood how I felt.  Understood how hard it can hurt to be wounded by another Christian.  Although we never really got into deep, theological discussions about picking yourself up, dusting off the hurt and moving forward.  She helped me so much.  We did however, bury ourselves in late night scrapbook parties, and scraping my parents life in an album for their 35th wedding anniversary.  Our families grew closer and our kids became "cousins" because they didn't understand we are not really related even though they both share cousins.  She has been an encouragement to me in so many ways, a sounding board for me and someone to help me keep my focus. 

Without further ado . . . . here's Amy.

JOY

My subject is 3rd generation Christian.  I am supposed to tell you all I know about being a third generation Christian (really at least 4th generation, maybe more...).  Well, I thought maybe I would just give you a list of who I am and what I know/think about being a Christian:

Sam , Don , Am y, Susie , Eli

I was (obviously) raised in a Christian home.

I was schooled in a Christian school.

    I loved Christian school - for me it was a wonderful and safe place to grow up.

I was at church ALL the time and I do mean all the time.

The earliest lesson I remember from Sunday School is JOY - Jesus, Others, You.
   This really works, by the way.

My parents divorced -

research your facts and you will see that this is very common among Christians.

I love my KJV Bible -

 there is beauty in the words that I do not find in the newer 'more understandable' versions.

    PS - I believe the KJV has much to do with the fact that I had a fairly large vocabulary at a young age.

I do not know all there is to know about my Bible or Christianity or the Baptist church.

I do not believe that I am better than anyone else - Christian or not.

 Ephesians 2:8-9 

"it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

I NEVER pray for patience.

I have a terrible temper.

I fail every single day in some way.

To quote Keith Green (http://www.lastdaysministries.org/),

"I'm such a bad example, and you know I'm so full of pride."

Something Pastor Jim Schettler preached when I was in college changed the way I think about being a Christian - the 'broad' and 'narrow' roads are not separate paths, rather the narrow road runs right up the middle of the broad road, only in the opposite direction.

Something I've learned in life - Christ-like is not the same for everyone.  There is no long list in the Bible that says, "To be Christ-like you must..." and if there were my life would be a whole lot simpler.

I don't agree with everything every other Christian says or does

(see 'Christ-like' point above).

I have family and friends who need Jesus.

I fear that my children could make mistakes that might doom

future generations to a Christ-less eternity.

I don't care for most tele-evangelists.

I think I am a fanatic - I hope so, anyway.

I don't present the gospel like I should.

I fear rejection.

I get depressed.

Sometimes I question...shocking isn't it?

I know that sin is humbling, pride goeth before a fall, hell is real, God is not fair - He is just and merciful but not fair - life is short, opportunities to serve and minister happen every day, and God loves me in spite of my many shortcomings.

I know that I am going to heaven when I die - not because my grandparents or parents believe but because I accepted Christ’s sacrifice for my sins.  My relationship with God is mine and no amount of belief on the part of past generations of my family could have given me eternal life.  Their examples may have led to my own acceptance, but it had to be my choice.

I pray for future generations of this family that their choice will be Christ.

And that's all I know about that . . . .

Did you enjoy this?  She writes her own blog.  You should go check it out.
http://cropcirclesamy.blogspot.jp/2012/06/christians-are-never-depressed.html

Week 2 ~ And that's all I know about that . . . .

I would like to take a moment and introduce you to my best friend.  We  have known each other for 36 years.  For about 15 years I was convinced she would never be my friend.  We love each other unconditionally and know many secrets about each other.  For instance - she can pinch you hard enough to bruise you with her toes!  She does not ever want her feet touched - EVER.  If you do, there is a good chance she will kick you.  She hates mice.  She loves to have fun.  She knows how to fry just about anything.  Her favorite desert is Lemon Ice Box pie and she eats it straight from the pie pan.  She talks with her hands.  She loves jewelry, purses and shoes.  She is a little OCD because she will point out when someones shoes and purse don't match!  She loves a good bargain and will buy two or three of something if you tell her it's on sale!  My children think she is awesome.  She tells them they are precious and she lets them eat desert first.

I would like for you to meet my mother

Sheila Scott

This week she will be telling us about being a Pastors Wife.

Pastors Wife

Our life in the ministry:

July 1977  Bill surrender to preach

January 1979 move to Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College

July 1981 moved to Lubbock, TX

February 1982 moved to Dumas, TX

November 1983 moved to Early, TX

June 1984 to 1985 Rest

June 1985 moved to Snyder, TX

August 1987 moved to Clyde, TX

February 1994 moved to Merkel, TX

May 2011 retired

June 2012 Grape Creek, TX

We started out on this journey with the Lord as two twenty-somethings with 2 young girls and now we are a little older and a lot wiser.  We have 3 children in full time service and 8 Grandchildren.  God is so good.

Bill and Sheila Scott

We mostly pastored small churches.  Small country churches.  We didn't always have a full staff.  And by staff I mean unpaid, volunteers to teach Sunday School, to clean the church, to work on the church bus or even to lead the music.  Sometimes we even didn't have a piano player.  Its fun to try and sing without a piano player.  God is so good.

Some things I learned along the way -

1.  Every church has “Busy Bee”. 

She will tell you more than you ever wanted to know.  She is the one who always has the best "prayer request."  She knows every detail about everything and everyone in town. And she loves to give the gossip details, just ask her.

2.  Every church has a “Granny”.  

Her kids and grand kids will say, after you tell them they can’t do something, “But my Granny said I could!"  She is the one who has been a member the longest.  She was there when they first hung the picture of Jesus and the children in the church nursery, so don't you move it, because Granny said it could stay forever!!

3.   And every church has a “Shirley”.

Every pastor’s wife needs a Shirley.   She is always there for you. She never complains.  She just wants to serve the Lord.  She wants to help the pastor’s wife. She is your biggest cheerleader, yet she wants no recognition. 

And of course there will always be someone who says,

“We’ve never done it that way, we always did it this way”

Or they’ll say

“You can’t take that down, Granny made that and put it up in 1950.”

You have to learn to have thick skin. You have to learn to smile and say,

"Is that so?"

Meagan, Sheralyn, Rachal, Noah, Jonah, Maylee, Nate and Eli

During the early years of ministry we moved every 1-2 yrs. This was very hard on the kids.  It was hard to end friendships and build new ones.   When we told the kids we were moving from Snyder, TX to Clyde, TX Cristy sat in the living room floor and said “I’m not moving!!” but of course she moved with us and after the first day of school she came home and said “I just love it here”.

My biggest pet peeve was when people placed restrictions on my kids because of the position my husband held.

“Since your kids are preacher’s kids do you really think they should do that?”

We always taught our kids that

you do it because it’s right and you don’t do it because it’s wrong

it has nothing to do with being a preachers kid. 

This helped them to not feel labeled.  They are each different people with different interest and personalities.  Why should they be held back at something because their father is a preacher.  Holly was a cheerleader in high school.  Cristy played softball.  Phillip played football.  They each had friends in and out of church.  They each had the chance to see life and work though some tough things while still under our roof and our guidance.  They each had a chance to be a kid, make mistakes and watch us show them grace and love just like our Father shows us.

Cristy, Mike

Rachal, Eli, Jonah, Noah

We have always had to live by Faith.
Very early on in ministry I claimed Psalms 46:10 as my life verse.

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Sometimes it is very hard to be still.  Sometimes I just want to take the reigns away from God and drive this wagon in the direction I think is best.  But God has had to whisper in my heart many times - Be still and know that I am God.

When God called us to Bible College, Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in San Dimas, CA,  we stepped out on true Faith. Bill and I went to California to look at the college.  The Lord found us a place to live that was less than a mile from the college. We came home and started packing our stuff to move. We did not have the money for a moving van but we knew God would provide. One morning a U-Haul pulled up in front of our home in Sonora, Texas, all gassed up and paid for a trip to San Dimas, CA.

We were your usual Bible College students, we were broke and had to learn how to fully rely on God. The first Christmas in college we went to Sears and bought a $2 Christmas tree, it only had 2 limbs. The girls made homemade ornaments.  It really was a sad looking tree. It made Charlie Brown's tree look good!   If you were to ask our daughters now of their favorite Christmas memory it would be that year. They don’t remember us being broke they remember making the ornaments and making memories. God is so good.

We had also been told that everyone in Bible College has a baby. Well, we knew that wasn’t going to happen to us. And we almost made it. Our son, Philip was born March 1981 and Bill graduated May 1981.

Philip, Michelle and Maylee

We didn’t make much money especially in the small churches. We are not in the ministry for money.  The first church that Bill pastored only paid us $100 a week, but we knew on the first of the month we couldn’t get the kids in the car because our back seat was full of food.

  I remember one time complaining to my Mother that I was so tired of eating Sirloin Steak. She said “Do you hear what you just said?  It sounds like they love you if you are having to eat sirloin every day." The Lord has always blessed us. We never went without food.  We never went without shelter.  We never went without clothes. He gave us everything we needed, in His time and just what we needed.  God is so good.

Phill, Holly, Sheralyn, Meagan, Nate

My favorite thing about ministry has been the Ladies Ministry.  I always want to set an example for them as well as be a spiritual guide.  Ladies Retreats were always a fun time. We would have a Bible Study time and a time to share our burdens and our blessings. This was always kept in confidence and I have never had a problem with burdens being repeated outside of the retreat.  We always find time for some shopping and of course time to let loose and be silly.  One year we slid down the stair case in sleeping bags.  The ladies ministry has been a huge blessing for me.  A chance to really get to know the ladies of the church.  God is so Good.

Bill and I have had the chance to build some amazing friendships over all these years.  We have always been blessed with a family that was just the encouragement we needed.  Children the same ages, going through the same growing pains of life together and growing in our walk with the Lord.  As I look back at all the places that God has taken our family, I look back and think of all the friends we have made.  Friends that have driven miles to attend the weddings of our children, friends that have shown up on our front porch to take us to lunch, friends that have called just to say, "I was thinking about you today."  God is so good.

My husband has always said the best part of our ministry has been our children.

Our oldest daughter (Holly) is married to a wonderful Christian man; she helps him in his prison ministry in Springfield, MO.

Our next daughter (Cristy) is also married to a wonderful Christian man and they are missionaries to Japan.

Our son (Philip) is married to a wonderful Christian lady and they are on staff at Calvary Baptist Church, Odessa, TX

With the three kids we have we also have 8 wonderful Grandchildren that are all active in their parent’s ministries.

God is so good!

And that's all I know about that . . .