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Spetember 2015
NEWS & NOTES
A monthly newsletter to keep you informed.

From Where I Sit
Hi! Karen Salas here...From my seat, at my desk and in the Body, I have the rare privilege of seeing you lovely people live your lives with HIM. I am in awe of you!     This month I invite you to welcome Lydia Deaton to our Newsletter cover....         

 
 
I am Lydia, the oldest of the four Deaton girls. I'm a senior at Biola University, majoring in Christian Ministries. This semester I am interning at Los Altos as part of my major. I am really looking forward to seeing what God has in store this semester!
            Since the very beginning of my life, faith was the major theme. Every day through my parents, my church, and my school I was taught about who Jesus is. I have just a fuzzy memory though of the first time I think I truly encountered Jesus. I don't know how old I was or where I even was, I just remember kneeling and praying, "Jesus, I need You." I know I renewed that prayer so many times in my life, but I remember that moment and I know that was the real deal.
            Jesus rocks my world. I am amazed at His power and great love. He is my rock. Life is full of different kinds of seasons and emotions, hard things, and good things, but He is constant through it all. He is constantly good and constantly faithful.
            Singing is a huge part of my relationship....
 
 
   
Pass The P's Please
 



Katrina Kirtz has a terrific new blog!


Some days are simply more playful than others, this is one of those days... I hope this puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step :)
You, Lord, give perfect peace
to those who keep their purpose firm
and put their trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3

Most kids hate peas, not me! I have always loved peas! Frozen, canned, fresh, hot, cold, snapped! They are round little bundles of deliciousness and surprise packages of nutrition. They even look inviting! Uncomplicated, individualized vitamin-packed green goodness. Rolling around on the plate, it takes a dedicated pea lover to capture these little illusive rascals!

Recently, I have been positively giddy at my scriptural scavenger hunt for P's - that is, mandates and encouragements that begin with the letter P. As ridiculous as this sounds, please practice patience as I pontificate (see, it's fun!).
Here is where I began ....

*pleasing              *potential         *process         *peaceable        *penitent
*prayerful              *patient           *passionate     *pluck (ouch!)    *persuasive
*purposeful           *plant              *perseverance  *pleasant          *perfect
*praise                 *preach           *prepare           *playful

Goodness! The list of personal attributes beginning with the letter P is positively persuasive! So, who cares? Lately, I do!  
Green Oak Ranch Recap
 
Our students and staff just enjoyed a terrific week at Green Oak Ranch. Thank you to all who prayed, provided for, and participated in this awesome ministry.

With our theme for Green Oak Ranch being Glow In The Dark, the conversations had been about darkness and light! 

 

We started with the truth that "God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all!"
                                                                                                             1 John 1:15

And we moved into the reality that "Jesus is the Light of the World; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." - John 8:12

And then You [ALL] are the light of the world:
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14a, 16

Finally we talked about how we are to take the Light into the darkness! 
"A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine!"  - Matthew 5:14-15

As followers of Jesus:
  1. we HAVE the light
  2. and we ARE light
  3. and darkness will not overcome us! We can live bold and courageous lives in our dark world!
WE GLOW IN THE DARK!

Tutapona Update
Two Stories
We duck our heads, as we enter into the "sitting area." Our seats are made of boards and mud. A confident, middle-aged woman apologizes for the discomfort of her dwelling.  She speaks English, French, Runyankole, and Swahili interchangeably with our family and our 3 staff members.

Two days prior, during a home visit with the Tutapona team, Sarah and Ginoveve said they wanted to share their stories of how God impacted their lives with us when we arrived. After exchanging pleasantries, Sarah initiated the conversation, asking that her story be translated.  She began by talking about her life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) prior to the traumatic experiences that forced her from her country.  "I was a working woman with a very good job and a nice home," she began, "I would never have imagined that I would be living in such horrible housing conditions and in a refugee settlement."
Sarah continued by sharing about how she, in the midst of her war, lost all of her children. Continued here...

 

Hannah Deaton's Summer Recipes
Our very own Hannah Deaton has a fantastic cooking blog.... 
These potatoes are pretty addicting. I highly suggest you try them. And of course, you can never go wrong with bacon : )

Ingredients:
2 cups of baby red potatoes
4 cups of vegetable/canola oil
1lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
     or breasts
bacon (1 slice of bacon per piece
     of chicken)
Dijon Mustard
Maple Syrup
salt and pepper
pesto sauce: 1/2 cup of basil, 1 lemon, 1/2 cup of nuts, oil.

HOW TO:
Chicken: Preheat oven to 325F. Mix a few tablespoons of dijon mustard and maple syrup together. Spread the sauce onto each piece of chicken. Wrap each piece of chicken with one slice of bacon. Put in oven until bacon is golden and crispy. Cut into one piece of chicken to make sure they were cooked through.

Potatoes: Wash potatoes. Fill a big stock pot with water and potatoes. Cook on high heat, until the potatoes are nice and soft. About 5-10 minutes after in started boiling.
for the pesto, take the basil, 2 garlic cloves, lemon zest and juice, and nuts (I used pecans, pistachio, and pine nuts), and however much olive oil you want. (I used about 1/4 cup) Drain the potatoes once done.

Heat oil in one big pot on medium high heat.
Smash each potato with a spoon. Carefully put in the oil, keep in the oil for about 7-10 minutes or until desired crispness. Let the potatoes sit on a paper towel once you take them out to soak up any unwanted grease. Cover with pesto sauce. For my vegetable I cooked some Brussel sprouts.

E N J OY
 

Please Pray
 
We are so blessed to have a church family that prays! Please click here for this month's prayer requests.

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