Headed Home

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 01/17/11

The story behind the picture of the laundry lady... she was coming back from the river and was WAY up on the plains, far from the source of water. So she had to have tugged that load a long way, and she had extra water for home too! We were coming home from a long exhausting trip, full of meetings, appointments, and harrowing shopping forays, all the extras that go with being away from home. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself sitting in my comfortable Landrover when we saw her. Talk about getting a knot jerked in your tail!

photographer: Vera Steury, Kenya. "My husband and I have been in Kenya now for 24 years. We work with the Maasai tribe in a remote area of Kenya. We do community-based health care (immunizations, HIV/AIDS counseling, clean water projects). I teach Sunday School, homeschool my own kids, and run a small guest house. My husband was born in Kenya as a missionary kid. All three of our children were also."My update? Well, I finally started a blog (www.Steuryngs.blogspot.com). It's stories of experiences we've had all these years. I just wanted a forum to tell those stories. We put out a prayer letter, and that tells how our ministry is going, and our mission has a page for each of its missionaries, so I didn't want it to be that repeated. I am also starting a Bible study for a gaggle of 'house maids"-- girls about 12-13 years old who kind of get lost in the shuffle of life out here. So that's pretty interesting shuttling back and forth between three languages! I am just starting a book called Abba's Child by Brennan Manning. I'm only on chapter 2, but want to re-read it already!

My Happy Place

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 1/10/11

I took this picture so that I could revisit this relaxing spot again and again. I had lovely quiet times down by the beach in ChaAm, Thailand. And when I look at this it refreshes me as I remember that time. There is something about it that also makes me stop and apologize to God for complaining about where I am and what I am doing today... not many would be won to His kingdom if I sat in a quiet spot at the beach all day.

photographer: Charlotte Blanford, Thailand

What's NEW this Week @ WOTH:

*WOTH onlineMagazine: Jan/Feb '11 issue is out! New book, CD, and movie reviews. Books you are reading. Humor from the field. Recipes. Great Articles on being kind, living with your team, making friends in foreign lands...much, much, more.

READ. TAG. ENCOURAGE.

• This week we want to encourage you to go out to one of the blogs listed in the sidebar to the right and tag a recent post with a "Happy New Year!"
  

• Which blog? Try this: Pick one that starts with the letter of your first name.
  

• Something new: we're posting each blogger's current post to peak your curiosity. Community is just a click away. If you would like your blog on Coffeegirl's Community blogroll, please submit it to: editor@womenoftheharvest.com
  

Receive: Start getting the inspirational Picture Praise sent to your Inbox each Monday morning. It's free.

Submit: If you have a great global photo that would encourage others--1800 subscribers--please submit your photo with a verse (separately) that goes with it to: editor@womenoftheharvest.com

[Editor's Note: This week the photographer of this picture, Lynn, is unable to post her story behind the photo.]

Foretaste of Heaven!

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/27/10

It was a Sunday afternoon in November 2003. My husband, Jim, and I were driving back home to Nairobi from Tigoni in a tea-growing area just above the city. Even before we rounded the corner, we could hear people singing. Then we saw this colorful cluster of people spread out before us. We stopped the car to watch and just enjoy the public displays of faith in Jesus Christ among a local church congregation. They gathered at a wide place in a river, maybe not too different from where Jesus’ disciples baptized people in the Jordan. We didn’t want to disturb their sacred moment. What a delightful glimpse of the joy, the spiritual life and growth of the Body of Christ in Africa-- a foretaste of Heaven!

photographer: Sue De Vries, Kenya. "We worked with Africa Ministry Resources (now One Challenge) in Kenya until 2006, over 20 years, with a goal of building up the Body of Christ through encouraging and training rural pastors. Like the rich red soil in this photo, Africa has been such fertile soil for the Gospel. We love Africa, and raised our 3 daughters there. All three are now married and missionaries themselves."

All is Bright

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/20/10

The story behind the picture is - I live and work with orphans in Taraz, Kazakhstan and had actually just moved there May of 2009 when this picture was taken. My director, Beth, was driving to Shymkent about 3 hours away and asked if I would like to see some of the countryside. I had been to Kazakhstan on 7 short- term trips working in the orphans but had never traveled around much.

The day was beautiful with the blue sky and perfect temperature. Beth was so kind as to stop around every bend so I could jump out of the car and capture the magnificant beauty all around. This is one I captured on that trip. A normal 3 hour drive took almost 6 hours. I got many amazing shots that day but this has been my absolute favorite. I hope all enjoy HIS artwork.

photographer: Victoria Charbonneau, Kazakhstan, serves with Interlink Resources, Inc. Visit Victoria @ http://kazakhvictoria.viviti.com.

A Time to Plant

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/13/10

I am Magdline Walter (Maggi) from Pakistan and am working with Caritas Pakistan Multan. I am involved in animation trainings for poor Massesand, humanitarian aid, and work with the local Catholic Church. I have been here almost 10 years. This photo was taken when I was leading the farmers (male and female) group toward Bio Agricultural Practice (Bio Fermenter system). Iit was an exposure visit to learn how the small farmers manage their lives in limited source. I am the Master Trainer regarding IntegratedPest/Crop Managment as well as environmental issues.

What's NEW this Week @ WOTH:

*What's in your "Fruit of the Spirit" Basket?: Ever struggled with any aspect of Galatians 5:22-23 while serving on the field?

We have a great article in the first issue of 2011, Alight with Kindness, that will launch our encouraging feature to show how God can work in our hearts, first, and then move on to change the world in a very fruity kind of way. Could it really be as simple as showing kindness to a weary world???...find out on January 6 when the next issue comes out!

Sign up today to receive the encouraging, free, bi-monthly onlineMagazine that gets your cross-cultural life.

If some of your fruit is a bit rotten or even completely out-of-season, I'm putting out a CALL FOR ARTICLES to talk about that very issue in the 2011 WOTH onlineMagazine. Submit your articles to: editor@womenoftheharvest.com

Every Knee Shall Bow

STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: Picture Praise, 12/6/10

This picture was taken at a school feeding program in a village in Niger, Africa. Our desire is to see not just physical nourishment, but a spiritual nourishment as well. We are starting the second year of this feeding program and have seen registration double as more kids come, and we have seen a huge increase in girls as well who were never allowed to come to school before. We pray one day all these children will kneel before the one true God!

photographer: Chantelle McIver, Niger. Check out Chantelle's blog: www.chroniclesofourjourney.blogspot.com

What's NEW this week @ WOTH:

*Editor's Choice: Read my all-time favorite cross-cultural Christmas story,
A Doggone Christmas, from our WOTH Archive Library. Here are other seasonal stories I've dusted off from past WOTH onlineMagazines that may bring joy to your holiday season:

Christmas at the Bottom of the Well, by Judy Schulz, Burkina Faso Christmas in the bush started with my son falling into a deep well...

Christmas Without the Trimmings, by Pat Estes, USA
What do I do when it doesn't feel like Christmas?

The Christmas Agenda, by Susan Lansing, France
Why am I so blue, in a red and green season?

Poverty at Christmas, by Tina G., West Africa
Baby Jesus came in poverty...he lived a poor man's life.