Take Family Mission Trip to Tanzania

through Compassion International’s Child Sponsorship Program!  For several years my dear Beloved Builder earnestly prayed to God, to make us missionaries right where we are.  Since then a fire has been lit in each of us to minister to children and families through the Compassion Sponsorship opportunity.

It is common for us to check out books from the library, search Google Earth, and prepare foods to learn about and connect with our sponsored children’s countries.  We write letters, draw pictures and pray.  Our world keeps getting smaller as we get to know the children and their countries.

Today, we have 4 precious children that need sponsors, and we would like you the opportunity to become missionaries to TANZANIA!

Gladnes, born June 13, 2001
Gladness lives with her father and mother in the mountainous community of Makongoro, Tanzania.  She is responsible for carrying water, caring for younger children and washing clothes.
Ping pong, singing and playing house are some of Gladnes’s favorite activities.
Maxson Emauel, born August 8, 2001
Maxson lives in the hills of Mburiashi, Tanzania with his mother.  He helps by carrying water, gathering firewood and caring for younger children.
Maxson’s favorite activities are soccer, playing with cars and art.
Mgesi Marwa, born March 20, 2003

Mgesi lives on the plains of Nyasho with her father and mother.  She helps her family by carrying water, buying or selling in the market and caring for younger children.
Some of Mgesi’s favorite activities are singing, telling stories and playing house.  Mgesi attendes the same student center as Neema, a child our family sponsors!
Silvanus Jonas, born December 19, 2003
Silvanus lives with her father and mother on the plains of Nyasho.  He too attends the same student center as Mgesi (pictured above) and our sponsored child Neema.
Silvanus enjoys soccer, playing ball games and reading.  He helps in the kitchen, by washing clothes and running errands.
By sponsoring one of these children you help the child receive the assistance he or she needs to develop to the full God given potential. 
Please contact me at
byquietwaters at gmail dot com
for more information on any of these children, or to recieve info on how to complete sponsorship.


This Moment ~ The Formal Farewell

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A few years ago Beloved Builder started praying “make us missionaries right here in our home”.  The answer to that prayer has come in many different ways.  A wonderous fine thing our God is doing in our home as a result.

Linking with Amanda and Amy

Summer Reading, July

This month I read a whopping…not even one complete book.  I’m working my way slowly through a couple, but life has been really full, rich and extremely hard this month.  So reading took a backseat.

The one book I’ve made it most of the way though is Passages by Brian Harden.  This is a great book, that I recommend to anyone else interested in going deeper into God’s Word.

Here’s to hoping that August, with school starting up again and ROUTINE hopefully regaining a steady presence in my life, will be a month full of good book time!

Linking up with Jessica.

Joy Comes in the Morning

Very much to my alarm, I recently noticed that my joy had hidden among worry, fatigue, struggles and the missing of my Beloved Builder.

Then repenting of my worry, seeking better habits to exchange fatigue for the energy for the tasks at hand and prayer over the phone that sweet JOY came out of hiding.

So much has happened this summer, and while the bad things didn’t all end well, there is much to give thanks for.

Safe arrival of our newest Chinese daughter

Laughter over dinner
Opportunities to see my daughter’s serving
A butterfly on a hard day
Finding that my joy has returned
Funny quacking ducks
Last night of 12
Giant smile as the blessing flowed
First sunflower in time for the celebrating table
There is one King, he is Jesus
Words of truth
Cool morning air
Butterflies high on the mountain
Fluffy white against the bright blue
 Rain
Cool wind
Big boulders, quaking aspens
Tour guide humor
Napping family on the way down
Agreement to pray
Knowing wisdom will be given

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A couple of photos capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

A tradition for this birthday girl.  A Hot July Birthday means a big splash of fresh cold water, so a couple of sisters think.  Good times. A fine thing!
linking with Amanda and Amy

Something Fun to Send to your Sponsored Kids

Jill over at Compassion Family just shared  this information…

Printable Treats has printable paper dolls, clothes and tips for making them sturdy!

Won’t these be a special treat for those precious girls to recieve?  I think we’ll try to make 2 for each of our girls, one for her, and one for her to share with a friend!

Passages by Brian Hardin, A Review

“Many Christians feel guilty when they think of reading the Bible. Though they want to love reading Scripture, they rarely have time for more than a few verses on the run. But the Bible is not meant to be a burden. It is the story of God’s passionate love for His children. It is also not a book of mystical incantations. It is a best friend offering counsel and companionship. And it is not a distant relic, but something very near. Near enough, in fact, to be every reader’s story. So how do Christians delight in this story rather than see it as a source of failure? The founder of the immensely popular Daily Audio Bible, Brian Hardin shows readers how reading through the Bible in a year will change their life and the lives of others. Passages shows readers how to read the Bible and offers practical ideas for immersing themselves in God’s life-giving words. Here readers will discover that reading the Bible can be a breathtaking adventure.”  amazon.com

Passages by Brian Harden was sent to me for review a couple of months ago.  This book has spoke to me like a kind friend, encouraging me forward in the place where I currently am.  For the entire summer I have enjoyed long, quiet, early mornings, loving my time in God’s word, and seeking to put it first, learning to read it more completely, rather than in the verse here, verse that can be the norm when life gets too busy.

“”I was busy…but few of the activities had any eternal value, nor were they anything I was truly passionate about.”

This quote really stuck out to me.  Read the Bible to find my passion?  Read the Bible to be prepared for what life deals today, this week, this year?

Author Brian Harden presents a strong appeal to the reader to set aside the time and to take in the Living Word in large generous servings.  To spend time and read it like, like it is God’s Word written just for me, you, us.  What a gift, truly.

Passages is a good book to be on the shelves of  a Christian family, a book to spur them on when the seasons of disconnect from God’s Word happen.

This book was given to me by Litfuse Publicity Group, in exchange for my honest opinion.  I fear that I haven’t done a good job.  This book has been a long drawn out read yet to be completed.  During the busiest summer we’ve ever had, I did choose to spend those precious reading moments at my quiet table with the Best Book.

Feeling Small, Seeing God Big

Life is so full, and my thanksgiving is a steady flow, but the words, for the most part my breath is taken by the sight of the sliver of glory in these days, so few words are forming.

Here’s little glimpse into the gift list that continues to grow;

Kids excited about vbs
New Capri pants
Family prayer time
Daughters who help me with my hair
Daughters watering the sunflower house and pumpkin patch
Anticipation
Peace in the backyard between ducks and dogs
Daughters embraced by the youth in our new church
Water balloon fights
Young men protecting the dignity of the girls
Ultimate football
New friend, another mom of all girls
Hope
Biblical admonishment
Laughing girls
Hardworking daughter
Gas smell in the house ~ but no problem
Safety
We’re loaded with zucchini ~ hoping to try this recipe soon ~ http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/08/grilled-stuffed-zucchini/

oh gives thanks to the Lord, for He is so good.