Nancy’s Kitchen

Facing My Fears

I am having to face my fears.  Oh, you know me as Nancy, the Adventurer?  You didn’t know I had fears?  Well, let me tell you, I have fears!  “What are your fears?” you ask.  My current lesson on fears is focusing on preparing lesson plans and executing them.  Ahhh, “executing” my lesson plans!  Now that is what I would really like to do!  We do have a very nice fireplace here.

But alas!  That would not be achieving the goals of this lesson on fear.  I am learning not to avoid my fears, but to face them and to overcome them by trusting in the only One who can really get me through this successfully.  My Teacher is using my studies and real life experiences to teach me to lay my fears in His hands and to trust that He will not fail.

Interesting.  I have no fear that He will provide for my financial needs.  So why do I fear that He might not provide for my teaching needs?  Could it be that my sense of inadequacy, my past experiences is plaguing me?  Yes, of course.  I am to trust Him for every need, knowing that He is faithful and will not go against His character.  He will not hesitate to send me on another “trip around Mt. Sinai” to teach me His ways.  For this, too, I am thankful.

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Living in Community

Living in community is a new experience for me.  I got my first taste of it when Richard and I traveled to South Africa to volunteer for two weeks in Mamelodi, located near Pretoria.

My second experience in community living came when I arrived at the school to learn T.E.S.O.L., Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.  We are five students, sharing a house.  Five students, never having met before, are now learning to live together and share responsibilities. We are learning to be considerate of each other but also knowing that we must individually focus on our studies.  Some have lived in community before and are very gracious and adept at this style of living.  As for me, I am learning new skills, new graces.

These graces include taking a very short shower to share the hot water, leaving others alone while they are studying instead of striking up a conversation and playing my music quietly instead of filling the house with it!  These graces become joys along with the family supper provided by one of the students, but contributed to by the others.  Other joy graces are going shopping together, and sharing internet signals!

After only two weeks, we are becoming “family”.  Oh, yes, “family”.  I must remember the joy graces I am learning and practicing so that when I return to my home and my husband I will not forget to be gracious and giving; I will not “take him for granted”.

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The Turkey Leg

We met the man at the gas station somewhere in Louisiana.  While I was in the shop for a few minutes, Richard struck up a conversation with him.  He was on a ministry trip, pulling a smoker, smoking, full of turkey legs.  Richard told him I was also on a ministry trip and what it was all about.  He finished and pulled out of the gas station.  He turned and drove back onto the property.  He stopped, addressed me (Richard was just coming out of the shop) and asked if he might bless us with a turkey leg.  Well, it would not be polite or good to refuse a blessing, so to not steal his blessing, I most gratefully received the turkey leg.  It was hot and ready to eat, and I was hungry!

Richard and I feasted on the turkey leg for lunch that day – mmmmm. ☺ God definitely received the Glory, as He once again reminded us that He is our Provider!

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