I feel blessed to have the privilege of living overseas with children. Having children opens so many doors to meet neighbors and other members of the community. I believe locals find me as a foreigner more approachable because of our common position as wives and mothers. Currently, my children (ages 10 & 8) are participating in a local sports club. They love the opportunity to exert some energy and make friends, and I am enjoying the fellowship of local women.
Over the course of a month, I noticed an elderly woman from time to time waiting with the other parents. She sat withdrawn from the other waiting moms, and she never joined in the chatter and fellowship. Truth be told, she has a very sad and somewhat mysterious presence about her.
One Saturday, as the Lord would have it, she entered the club and decided to sit on the bench right next to me. I began small talk with her and even shared a plate of cookies passed-out by the staff. After about an hour, she asked me to point out my children. I thought it was pretty obvious, but continued pleasantries by indicating which two belonged to me. She
then very gravely informed me that several weeks ago she felt compelled to put a hex on my children. Her reasoning was: “so that their foreign souls would not harm her grandson, and so that they would not succeed and do better than her grandson in karate.” It is very common for women of all cultures to deal with jealousy; however it seems to be much heightened in this society. It is also just as common for women in Central Asian culture to dabble in folk religious practices. However, I must say that my initial response was shock. Thankfully, the Lord gave me His words to share. I basically shared with her that my family loves her and her grandson. We intend her no harm. I also explained to her that my husband and I pray in the name of Jesus over and for our children daily. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord over all. Nothing happens without His permission. At that point, her face changed from the grave sadness to a strange grin, and she replied, "We know of Him and He is greatest over all."
I cannot quite wrap my mind and hands around what might be going on in this woman’s life, but I do know that the Father desires her heart and fully desires that she proclaim Him Lord of all. I am praying that the Lord gives me more opportunities to share truth with her as well as the other moms. One meeting at a time...AT
One of the things that I love about teaching my kids at home is that I am learning so much alongside them. I was never really that interested in history & science when I was in school. I can list a whole host of reasons why, but then I would just be shifting blame and complaining. I think it is better to say that as years come and go, I believe that my tastes in many things have evolved. I have had to read many different types of books for work and for the kids. I believe it has stretched me in so many good ways. In the past, I took what people said about things that happened in history as fact. I had not researched it for myself and was not interested in doing so. If it sounded believable, I let it pass as truth. I know that was a big mistake on many levels! One of those subjects that I let this occur in was the history of the Christmas tree. I had been told that the decorating of Christmas trees was really a pagan practice meant to worship tree spirits. Christians tried to justify participating in this practice by changing some of the ornaments to represent Christ. Over the years, I have allowed this wrong information to rob me of some of the joy of the season. I am so thankful that this year in the study of the early Church I have learned the truth. I am going to briefly outline what I learned: Winfrid, better known as St. Boniface, was an Anglo-Saxon Englishman in the early 700s. His first assignment as an ordained priest was to the pagans of Freisland, Germany. Sadly, his first experience on the mission field was unsuccessful and discouraging. However, the Father sent him again to Germany...this time to Hesse. It was very common for the people of Hesse to worship trees and other things in nature. As it is recorded, one day, Boniface was traveling through the woods and came upon a group of people ready to sacrifice a young prince to the "gods" of a massive (6 foot across) oak tree. Boniface "intervened" it says to rescue the prince. He cut down the tree. He is quoted as saying, "How stands your mighty god? My God is stronger than he." Now that he finally had the attention of the people of Hesse, he began using the example of a fir tree (evergreen), common in the area, to share of the one true God and His everlasting love for them. Slowly the symbol of the evergreen tree and God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ began to move through Europe and eventually to the Americas. Now, I challenge you not to take my word for it! Research it for yourself and enjoy your celebration of the Gift of Christ!! For the first time this year, I am looking at our tree in a whole new light. I am also looking for opportunities to share the everlasting love of Christ. AT Pictures: This is how we are remembering the Christmas tree and participating in "Advent" this year. The kids made chocolate Christmas Trees. They get to eat one chocolate per day. 
Not Pictured: We are still lighting our Advent candles each Sunday and reflecting on the coming of Christ as well as reading a "Christmas Book" each night. (click here to read more about these traditions)
Upon moving into a new neighborhood, I met “Arnold,” a pastry baker. I was looking for a cooking supply needed by Amy. I was surprised to find him extremely open to a friendship even after only a couple of conversations. Over the next few months, I found myself having tea with Arnold once or twice a week. Sometimes I would stop by and talk to him while he worked in his pastry shop, but as hard as I worked to move the conversation toward faith-based conversations, he worked just as hard to move it away. After spending more than a year visiting, Arnold said that he wanted to teach me how to make the pastries that are his passion. I agreed and thought that I was in for a fun morning. After a day of mixing, kneading, rolling, making and baking, I had learned a small portion of what Arnold wanted to teach me. He asked if I could come back the next day so that we could really get to the “important” stuff. My mind was reeling as I mentally reviewed everything on my to-do list that would have to be shuffled if I spent another day at the 
Our theme this year was "The Kingdom of God". God is the King of Kings, and we are His children. That makes us princes and princesses. We spent the day dressed up in "royal" clothes and speaking very royally! We carved our pumpkin. I am so thankful that the Father cleans us out and places His light in us!! We made crowns. We will be given crowns in heaven that we will have the privilege of lying at the feet of Jesus. We baked brownies and made pumpkin soup. We read about people that have gone around the world and given their lives to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world. It is not an easy job, but it is one that all believers are called to. We pray you made the holiday a special one with your family. William Travis 
