Tag: praying for others

Blog, Mission Ideas

Prayer Meal Idea: Oh, Canada…

Kimmy

As it gets colder, I often think of our Northern neighbors, Canada, and I often wonder how in the world they handle the cold?!?  I’m a summer gal through and through! I love a good snow, but I love the southern kind of snow that shuts everything down for a few days and then we head back to school and work and it’s 60 degrees a few days later. I was even complaining this morning because it was a cold 32 degrees. In Canada, their weatherman is already calling for SNOW! I just can’t…

This month we will be enjoying a popular Canadian dish, Poutine. This is an interesting combination of a few of my favorite things. Who doesn’t love fries covered in cheese? But covered in brown gravy and cheese curds? I can’t wait to give it a TRY and spend the evening setting our hearts and minds on people a little further up north and thanking the Lord that we are a little warmer…

For some great recipes for Poutine, be sure to check out our Pinterest board. I had a hard time just picking ONE – there seems to be LOTS of thoughts and ideas on how to best make this yummy messy super unhealthy dish!

poutine 1

And while we are enjoying all the yumminess, we will be thinking of one of our favorite families, the Ostrems , who live in Canada with their family working among internationals through various outreaches. As they get ready to gear up for the winter months, it’s a great time to pray for them and for all that God is doing through them.

Prayer Points:

1. Pray for their Christmas outreach event with around 150 Syrians. They will be hosting a meal and sharing the Gospel. I wonder if they will serve Poutine?! Ha

2. Pray for their sports ministry. They have some great opportunities ahead but are limited on money and staff. But we know God is NOT! So we are joining them in prayer for God to provide!

3. Pray for their family. With winter coming and families not getting out much, depression can begin to set in. Pray for great family time and opportunities during the cold hard months.

They are also a pretty talented family too – Brandy has an incredible doll making business called Blessum&Arrows that you should totally check out! Oh it makes my heart skip a beat to see these sweet little creations she has made with her hands and heart!

Let us know when you try the Poutine around your dinner table! Share a pic over on our Instagram Post!

Blog, Mission Ideas

September Prayer Meal Idea: Myanmar

Kimmy

Myanmar is such a beautiful country. As I was scrolling through the socials looking and researching for this prayer meal, I was blown away by the beauty of her people and her land. When you look deeper and past the beauty of this country though, you will see a country that has faced much strife and conflict and a country with differing peoples and religions, which is what led us to choose this beautiful land to pray for over the next couple months. Also, dear friends of ours have the privilege of calling this their home and they have been striving to make it an even more beautiful land and we journey with them through our prayers!

This month the prayer meal idea might be a little different and hard, especially if you have picky eaters. Maybe you could prepare this meal and see what they do?! Kids will surprise us! Or better yet, get them in the kitchen to help you and talk about how it’s gonna be different but different doesn’t always mean bad!? Again, please do what works best and just know that the reason behind prayer meals is to PRAY for the country and fellow believers and to expose our little ones to different cultures along the way! So regardless if they eat one bite or ask for seconds, they have experienced a new place and new food and can pray either way, right?!

Now- on to the yumminess! Our friends shared this recipe with us and how most national families will eat something like this, even for breakfast!  Many dishes include fish too but this seemed simple enough, yet still authentic too.

Burmese Chicken Coconut Noodle Soup

Photo from Tara’s Multicultural Table Blog 

Prayer Requests:

Pray for our friends, T&J and their four kiddos as they live and serve in this beautiful hard place! Pray for the kiddos as they learn and grow! Pray for great friendships for each of them. Pray for opportunities to share truth with their friends and those that they intersect with daily.

Pray for the many people who have had to flee this country in search of a new home due to violence and harm against them.

Pray that this country would be beautiful inside and out…for heart and life change!

 

Let us know what your kiddos thought of this meal idea? Did they like it? Was it too different and strange? Did it lead you to have great conversations at the table or just a puddle of tears and frustrations!? Even though the meal is different, how can your family be praying for the work in Myanmar? This fun family will be local with us during October and we will be hosting a time to get together and learn more about how to cook a fun different meal and lead our little ones to love Jesus and love others. If you would like more info, email us at onmissionmoms@gmail.com !

Blog, Mission Ideas

Service Idea: Sponsoring a Child

Kimmy

Sponsoring a Child type programs are a great and easy way to begin serving alongside of our little ones. It can begin to open their eyes and their hearts to others around the world. I asked my friend, Brittany, to share with us about their experience and how an opportunity like this is impacting their family.

Guadalupe is the name of the very first sponsored child that I can remember. My family sponsored her through Compassion as I grew up. I loved writing letters to her and getting her updated picture. She was like a long distance friend that we loved and prayed for.

As soon as I started earning my own money I chose my own sponsored child. I picked a cute little guy from Haiti, a country that was dear to my heart. A few years down the road, when I was pregnant with my first little one, I received word that this child no longer needed a sponsor so I would get to choose another.

Brad and I decided to choose a child that had the same birthday as Ben, a “birthday buddy”. We would easily remember this child and his birthday and as Ben grew we could teach him to love, pray for, encourage and share with his birthday buddy! Our hope is that as Ben grows and is spoiled on his birthday and Christmas he would feel led to give gifts to his “birthday buddy” and learn how to love others and be generous to others.

Compassion makes it super easy to find that perfect child to sponsor and gives so many opportunities for letters, pictures, extra gifts and even visits to your sponsored child!

Fun Ideas for Sponsoring A Child:

1. Choose a child with the same names or similar names. You’ll remember them often that way!

2. Place their picture and letter in a prominent place and view them as part of your family. Make sure to encourage your little one to pray for him or her. Talk about what you think that they might be doing, what their life might be like, their school, their family.

3. Write to them, send them packages, and stay connected as much as your organization will allow! Some will even let you visit them. This would be a great first mission trip opportunity.

4. Invite your little one into the process. If you haven’t chosen a child, let them help you. Encourage them to write or draw them pictures. The more they interact, the more they will develop a love and compassion for them and for others in the process.

5. Let your little one help with funding for the sponsorship. If they are old enough, let them host a bake sale or lemonade stand. When they are giving their money, it becomes more real to them.

6. Prepare a meal like your child would eat one evening and talk about their life and the similarities and the differences.

7. Read A Day in the Life, a sweet little book by Dr. Lorie Lee with your Little Ones.

If you are local to Spartanburg, the Compassion Experience is coming our way, September 7-10 and is a great way to help our little ones see what life is like. For more info, be sure to check our the Compassion Experience Event Page.

There are several organizations or even churches that you can sponsor a child through. We are not endorsing just Compassion International, although we do believe that they do a great job of serving families around the world! What other organization or ministry have you partnered with? What are some other creative ways to serve through Sponsoring a Child?

Comment below!

Mission Ideas

Idea: July Prayer Meal

Kimmy

 

Throughout July, we often think of a pretty important holiday for America and we celebrate with yummy burgers and hotdogs, corn on the cob, and apple pie. During this month, we decided to stick a bit closer to home and focus on a city and work in the USA so we will be praying for Rob & Annabeth Wilton as they are planting Vintage Church in Pittsburgh. They have already started the work there and will be officially moving there with their fun kiddos toward the end of the summer.

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We’ve actually never been to Pittsburgh, (yet…) but as they have been preparing and our church has been praying for them, we’ve been learning lots of fun things about this city. Did you know that the Klondike Bar is made there? Yep – that yummy goodness which always reminds me of my grandmother because she always had a box in her freezer. Pittsburgh also has more bridges than Venice – over 450 of them to be exact!  Also, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was right outside of Pittsburgh and he called the area home. Public TV was started there… Heinz Ketchup began there… so many fun facts!  And now it’s going to be the home of a great new church!

This month, as we pray for the Wilton Family and the other families that will be joining them, we will be praying and asking God for many more to be transformed by the gospel in that great city!

We will also be enjoying our rendition of a Pittsburgh sandwich. They are famous for putting cole slaw and french fries on their sandwiches…. weird yet yummy!

Primanti-Style-Sliders
Photo from https://www.macheesmo.com/primanti-style-sliders/

I also can’t NOT do a yummy Klondike Dessert! Yes, Please!!

main-klondie-bar-ice-cream-cake-RECIPE

 

As you enjoy this yummy meal,  pray for the Wiltons as they make this move and adjust to a new city and make it home! Pray for their four kiddos as they begin school, make new friends and share Jesus too! Pray for several other families that will be making this move with them. Pray for the right connections and favor with their neighbors. Pray for other pastors and churches to get on board and support the work that is being done through Vintage. Pray that the gospel will be proclaimed through word and deed. Pray that many in Pittsburgh will come to know Christ through Vintage Church.  You can learn more about Vintage Church Pittsburgh here!

Be sure to capture a pic of your family prayer meal and let the Wilton’s know you are praying for them!

Blog

Bedtime Prayers

Kimmy

One of my most favorite times of the day with my girls has always been bedtime. Not always because they are going to bed, but because it’s actually a point in our day when we slow down, read scripture together, pray and sometimes have a spontaneous stretch or dance party…. and sometimes it is because they are going to bed and the latest episode of whatever we are watching on Netflix is calling my name…

I must admit though that often times when it comes to our nightly prayer times with the girls, our prayers lately have sounded a lot like this :

“Thank you for this day, bless our family, give us a good night sleep and a good day tomorrow…”

We sometimes rush through our prayers, wanting to just be “done” for the evening instead of bowing in reverence before a Holy Father and also modeling for our girls how to love and pray for others.

This could be such a pivotal time for our children as they see and witness the power of prayer, listen and participate in prayer for others, and see how when we pray for others, usually our heart for others grows big too instead of just focusing on ourself.

There are so many things and people we could be praying for including our lost friends who need salvation, brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for their faith, the sick and suffering, ministries and missionaries serving around the world, specific people groups from around the world, and even their own salvation. We also have much to rejoice over too!

What does your bedtime routine look like? Does it include prayer time with and for your kiddos? What are you praying for with your children? Are you pausing to pray for others? Are you bowing in reverence with them? Are you rejoicing with them when God answers a prayer? Or are you rushing through just to be done….

Oh Father, fill us with deep reverence for you every time we come into your presence. Guide us as we guide your children. Help us to slow down, to set our minds on you and the things you love, and help us to model that to our little ones. May our nightly times together with you be filled with joyfulness and your Spirit and may they see You in their little beds, as we tuck them in each evening.