Here’s my original recipe adjusted to be gluten-free. 5 thumbs up out of 5 from my family!
1/2 Cup shortening
1 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
3/4 to 1 Cup Mashed, ripe banana
1 1/4 cups Featherlight Flour Mix (see gluten-free gourmet)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp xanthum gum
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Sift dry ingredients and STIR IN. Don’t Beat! Pour into 13×9x2 inch baking dish. Cover with crumb topping (see below) Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Crumb Topping: 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar , 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbsps. butter (or margarine)
Mix crumb topping ingredients together, crumbling butter with fingers and sprinkle on top of coffee cake.
What We did Today:
This morning Caleb had preschool as April is back from her trip. I went out to Ketao (a 25 minute drive east) picking up Christianne along the way in Lassa. We met Mazalo at her brother’s house and studied Luke 10 together. It was a good study but difficult for me as we were working through questions and how to apply this scripture together, all in Kabiye that I was rusty in this morning for some reason. David participated in a strategy meeting with the other men on the team after he took Brett to the Chinese Hospital in town to get his ankle x-rayed. Thankfully Brett only had a severe sprain and no fracture. This afternoon Aidan and Abby came over and David taught Aidan, Elijah, and Gabriel some about gardening while Abby, Hannah, Caleb, and I moved the rabbits around. Some of the baby bunnies got out and we still haven’t found them in the yard. This evening was our weekly adult devotional. We get the kids in bed by 7:30/7:45 and meet together as a team at 8pm to worship and pray. It was a blessing tonight.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: scrambled eggs, apple juice
lunch: sack lunches/leftovers
dinner: Cream of Butternut Soup, sautéed broccoli, fresh fruit smoothies with soy milk, tampicos, bananas, and pineapple
Scripture on my Mind today: many but Galatians 5:13-25 sticks out Summary: Freedom in Christ, living by the spirit, not by the flesh and the deeds of the flesh vs. the fruits of the Spirit.
It’s our night set aside to pray so I am writing a short post. I will post pictures of our fall festival sometime this week, but that takes more time than I have tonight 
For now, here’s what happened around our house today:
David played early morning basketball. Our Rwandan friend, Revokataa, who lives with her husband and 4 children a 45 minute drive west of Kara, came to town today to continue to get her 3rd child’s teeth fixed. I took her to the Chinese hospital again and the dentist finally did a temporary filling on one of his teeth. This is her third trip into town to try and get this taken care of. He is supposed to return once a week for the next two weeks so the dentist can fill the other tooth temporarily, put a permanent filling in the other and then the next week, permanently fill the second tooth. He was too busy to do more than one tooth today and he only works in the mornings. I felt exasperated at the medical system here, again, today. I ran errands around town with Caleb this morning: grocery store, tailor, Catholic Bakery, schoolhouse etc. At 3 Andrea and I picked up the kids at school and took Maddie, Abby, Hannah, Elijah, and Aidan to the market. We had a good time looking through clothes and other various objects David spent the morning in prayer and meditation as his mentoring appt. was cancelled and bought some cles to build a compost box this afternoon for the agricultural work he’s doing with some of the Christians from Tchefengdaa.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: gluten-free banana coffee cake (another of my altered recipes. It was yummy!!)
lunch: sack lunches
dinner: Sausage Jambalaya, peaches
Scripture on my mind today: Titus 2: 3-8 (Older women in the faith teaching younger women and Older Men in the faith teaching younger men how to follow Jesus)
Here’s What I’ve Been Reading Lately:
And Here’s What We’ve Been Watching:
I realize that I prinicipally read to gain knowledge and search for truth and I watch for entertainment and to laugh. Hmm. I’m going to have to think on this one a bit…
What are you reading and watching?
What Happened Today:
This morning was our fall festival for our children on our team and the Baptist Team here in town. We hosted the event at our house and a great (and hot! phew!) time was had by all This afternoon we went swimming at the pool in town and some clouds rolled in and by this evening it’s cooled off down to the mid-70s. David found out that a dear friend and mentor during his very formative growing up years, Gary Hutcheson, passed away this morning after a bike accident. We have been grieving much of the afternoon.
Today’s Menu:
Breakfast: porridge
Lunch: tuna patties, peanuts, fresh pineapple
Dinner: Lemon Pork Chops, Green Peas, Fruit Smoothies
Snacks: popcorn, fried bean cakes, caramel apples, popcorn balls, cupcakes (last 3 at the festival this morning)
Scripture on My Mind Today:
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15
Living on a mission team is a reality that seems pretty altered from what I would have formerly considered “normal” life. However, this communal life has become normal to me and my family. “Normal” consists of such things such as: having all things in common (at least many sicknesses, possessions, co-op situations like our school, similar ideas on child rearing etc.) It consists of praying and worshipping together every week, working towards the same goal with the help and support of others, and being sharpened by one another as iron sharpens iron. I suppose I expected all of these parts of team when we began this journey with our original teammates 13 years ago back in Memphis, TN. Though I can not even describe the depths of testing and difficulty this has been it has brought greater joy and worth beyond what we can measure. Out of our original team, one family has remained alongside us through all of the years. Our friends, the Millers, are in a very special way family, as are many of our other former and present teammates. Some of our teammates have returned to the states or joined/rejoined our team in recent years and they will always be our dearest friends. We’ve shared trials and grown together closer to the Father in ways that can only evolve in a cross-cultural, long-term life of battle together against the schemes of the enemy and to further the cause of Christ.
One area of team life, however, that I never would have anticipated changing me as it has is the ministry God has called me to again and again to live out my faith where the rubber meets the road in these often very difficult and interconnected teammate relationships. Here is another quote from Amy Carmichael that produced a burning feeling in my heart when I read it today.
IF when an answer I did not expect comes to a prayer which I believed I truly meant, I shrink back from it; if the burden my Lord asks me to bear be not the burden of my heart’s choice, and I fret inwardly and do not welcome His will, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
This can, of course, apply to any area of life including, but not limited to, close relationships. How very true this IF has been in my walk with the Lord. I confess that sometimes I have shrinked back but most of the time I have swallowed hard through tears and said, “OK then, Lord. Show me how…” May He continue to give me the will to follow His answers to whatever prayers I pray. I trust Him. I would rather follow Him on a crazy trail than walk without him down the easiest flower-bordered path.
Happenings Today:
Cleaning, laundry, studying for Bible class, celebration of God’s attributes in Gabriel at team worship this afternoon, team worship, Bible class
Menu:
Breakfast: Corn porridge
Lunch: Hamburger patties, cheese, carrot sticks
Dinner: crepes
Scripture on my mind today: (shared during worship this afternoon) “…Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1: 5-6
Gabriel is 6 years old!! He has made me smile and laugh for 6 years now and I thank God for the blessing of His life and unique, vibrant personality. We celebrated tonight with an “all boy” campfire party with Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, roasting marshmallows and Birthday Cake and Ice cream. Today was long but well worth it! He had a wonderful day and went to sleep happy! The package from my mom also arrived today, just in time! (Thanks Mom!)
Here are some photos. Enjoy!
What Happened Today:
This morning I got stuck in a ditch just outside the schoolhouse. David and Matt came to my rescue and got me out. Turns out I only thought I was in low 4 but didn’t know how to lift the 4wd gear shift just right. I then taught Caleb and Caden in a shortened day of preschool so I could get ingredients and cook cook cook the rest of the day for Gabriel’s birthday party this evening. He had a wonderful time and it was worth it but I’m tired (seems like there’s a theme here! ) Hannah is at a slumber party for Michal Kennell’s birthday along with a friend from Lome’, Fiona Stoll, who is here in Kara visiting with her family.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: scrambled eggs made by Elijah (thanks, buddy!)
lunch: sack lunches/tuna fish
dinner: hamburgers, hot dogs, apple slices
dessert: birthday cake (Gluten-free) and coconut milk ice cream (dairy free)
scripture on my mind today: “…observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more do so for you, O men of little faith… But seek first kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt. 6:28-30, 33
…this phrase has been a theme in my mind today. I feel very humbled by how much God has allowed me to see that at my torn down weakest spot, so much of me is still left and he needs to work with that stubborn area of clay. I’m feeling continued stress on a number of different levels and this has worn me to a certain level. But taking Dave out of town when I was already tired from lack of sleep and no preparation with a few other events of stress thrown in stripped me free of most other props. He could have taken more away, but he obviously knew this was enough for now. He is so kind to me! Here are some of the harmful offshoots he revealed in my heart: anger, impatience, apathy, hatred, selfishness, demanding-ness, and self-righteousness. Pretty ugly. I’m asking the Master Gardener to do His work and trim off these parts so that I can be even more fruitful (John 15:1,2) I’m so thankful to be attached to Christ and to be a part of Him. I still need constant trimming and care from the Father. But little by little He is forming His image even more into me. What an indescribable grace!
What Happened today: David (and Matt) made it home to Kara safely after an 11 hour drive from Accra through Lome’. I am so thankful and happy to see him, as were the children! The Emersons also arrived safely in Kara from their family vacation to Benin. Finally, team life is back in swing. Two of our teachers were out sick today and Gabriel had school cancelled as Asher was also sick. I am preparing to teach preschool tomorrow since Caden Emerson is back from his trip and getting ready for Gabriel’s birthday campfire tomorrow night. Today was not as difficult as yesterday afternoon. I stayed home and even had all the kids come in the house at one point and forbid anyone to leave to minimize chances of accidents and stressful situations. I made this decision because Caleb let 4 of the bunnies out of their cages and did belly flops 3 times in a row into a mud pool that Elijah had dug yesterday.
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: leftover apple pie, scrambled eggs
lunch: African lunch for school kids, leftover chicken noodle soup for Caleb, Gabriel, and me
dinner: homemade corn tortilla tostadas, canned apricots, lemonade
Scripture on my mind today: “I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2
I’ve modified only a couple of my favorite recipes to make them gluten-free for our family. This is one that still tastes just as yummy as the original recipe (5 votes out of 5 from my family)
Pumpkin Bars (gluten-free)
2 Cups Four Flour Bean Mix (taken from Betty Hagman’s Gluten Free Gourmet: 2/3 part Garfava bean flour, 1/3 part sorghum flour, 1 part cornstarch, and 1 part tapioca flour)
1 tsp xanthum gum
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsps. baking powder
2 tsps. cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 16 oz can pumpkin (cooked and mashed my own)
1 cup cooking oil
4 beaten eggs
Cream Cheese Frosting
Directions: In a large mixing bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cloves. Stir in the pumpkin, cooking oil, and eggs until thoroughly combined. Spread batter into an ungreased 15×10x1 inch baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or till wooden toothpick comes out clean. cool in pnan . Frost with cream cheese frosting.
Cream cheese frosting:
In medium mixing bowl beat one 3 oz package cream cheese, 1/4 cup margarine or butter, and 1 tsp vanilla on med to high-speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup sifted powder sugar. beat in an additional 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar.
Caleb has improved developmentally in speech, comprehension, and social behavior since we’ve started a gluten-free diet. We also try to keep milk product usage low as I’ve noticed it causes him pain. A little bit of milk every few days doesn’t seem to bother him. I still use butter in all of my cooking. This recipe does have cream cheese but as long as I’ve used soy milk in whatever I’ve made for him the past 3 or 4 days the frosting in this recipe hasn’t seemed to hurt him yet.
(Hint: If you have no reason to make this recipe gluten-free you can substitute 2 cups of normal white flour for the 2 cups of featherlight flour mix and delete the xanthum gum and you’ll have delicious pumpkin bars!)
What our day looked like today:
Long. That’s how I feel now at 7:40pm. My children are still not asleep and I am not trusting myself to sit in the room with the boys until Caleb falls asleep tonight because my patience has been tested well beyond its normal limits today and, unfortunately, I find myself wanting for it. I can best exercise it sitting outside the room typing at the moment on guard for a small 3 year old escapee. The morning was actually very enjoyable and easy going. AnnaMarie came over to play with Caleb and we had lots of fun together. They were great little buddies and we enjoyed at one point dressing and cleaning one of Hannah’s old baby dolls together, which brought back sweet memories. I would rather not write about this afternoon yet as it makes me very frustrated. Suffice it to say I am very ready for David to get back tomorrow. (I’m hoping all goes well and they can return when planned.)
Today’s Menu:
breakfast: scrambled eggs, fruit smoothies
lunch: sack lunches
dinner: Homemade chicken noodle soup, garlic green beans, GF garlic cheese biscuits, GF apple crumble pie for dessert
Scripture on my mind today: The fruit of the spirit is….patience. Gal 5 (Lord, grant me patience and above all love at the end of this day!)
The dry season has officially begun here in Northern Togo. No rain has fallen for the past 4 days. I have learned over the years to love the coziness and refreshing that rainy seasons bring, but deep down I’m still a sunny weather girl. I guess it comes partly from being raised in the rain shadow desert of the Tri-Cities in Washington state. Yes, it will probably get hot here for a few weeks before the harmattan descends. BUT the doors aren’t sticking anymore from humidity, our internet stays on most of the time (it doesn’t like the rain for some reason), and the sunlight shines in a special, soul-bathing way for me in the late afternoon/early evening. Everything feels a calm sort of beautiful in these early dry season afternoons. I feel like living completely in the moment. The past and the future stay in their places and I don’t feel tempted to dwell in either one. The Lord’s presence is tangible and I can’t help but praise Him and soak in the blessing of these moments. My attitude has been tested today and I’ve struggled with frustration over different things, but right now God has answered my prayers and I feel blessed and thankful. He has really won my soul to Him. In moments like these I know this in a deep place within me. I’m overwhelmed by His goodness and love.
What’s Happened Today:
This morning I was home with Caleb. We had a really good time reading together, talking, making chocolate chip cookies, doing laundry, cleaning up, and making lunches. We went to the post office and Jacque, one of our teachers, had a package! She’s sick today and Nicole was subbing for her, so we took the package by the schoolhouse to hopefully boost her spirits. I picked up Gabe and Asher at 12:30pm and then all of the Big Kids on the team at 3pm and took them home. Wednesday morning is usually my morning to meet with Christianne and Mazalo in Ketao. Because David is gone and Caleb is still having some diarrhea and we hadn’t spent much focused time together the last few days I decided to send a message to my two friends to read the passage for next week and to wait to continue with our study until next Wednesday. Right now Abby is over here playing with Hannah. Elijah is over at Aidan’s house playing with him. Caleb is running around the yard as I sit on the porch and our day guard Amalao is keeping him from climbing on the car. We’re back inside now and Gabe and Caleb are watching My Little Pony. Here are two interactions Caleb and I had today.
Me: “Is your tummy hurting?”
Caleb: “No. I”m tired” (rubbing his eyes)
Me: “Are you ready for some lunch?”
Caleb: “No. I’m thirsty!”
I know these are not exceptional conversations but if you have known about Caleb’s speech delay, these are a big deal!! He’s doing so much better in responding with yes, no and then making full sentences! I’m thanking God!
Today’s Menu:
Breakfast: Gluten free biscuits, fried eggs, apple juice
Lunch: leftovers/sack lunches
Dinner: Focaccia crusted (GF) Pizza, carrot sticks, lemonade, choc. chip cookies (GF)
Scripture on my mind today: “Whatever is good, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things!”Philippians 4:8
Well, today has had all of the marks of one of these (see title) beginning again. Maybe it will be short or maybe long. I don’t plead with the Lord for it to be either way. I know, by now, when He allows one of these to come He has good reason and is ready to perfect my faith and be my strength in the consistent waves of weakness that wash over me. I don’t shirk away but pray for courage and greater faith.
What’s happened today:
Good time in prayer together with David last night. So thankful for Him. I spent the morning running errands. First time to the ATM, it wouldn’t give me money. Shopped in the market for a boom box that would put scripture we have on a CD onto cassette tapes. Found a used one and got it used for around $50. (starting price was $100) Got a sturdy cassette player to loan to bible study groups in the villages for around $20. I’m looking forward to starting our inductive Bible studies with my two mentorees (Christianne and Mazalo) ORALLY so that they can be more reproducible among the women they teach. I took the kids’ their snack, then their lunches after I got more money out of the ATM the second time (it worked! God gave me a word in that moment about persistance that made me choke back tears) so I could buy something to put in their lunches (We’re always short on food on Tuesdays as it’s market day and most of my food has run very low from my purchases the week before). Our dryer died today. And our house worker who helps me with the laundry is still home healing, so this means more work and hanging clothes on the line for the next few days. David left around 12:45pm for Lome’ with Matt. They’ll head to Accra tomorrow. David is hoping to get his tooth fixed and Matt is hoping to get his computer fixed. They plan to be back on Friday.
I bought one of the beggar boys in town some food today at the market. I think he gives it to his lazy father at home who beats him unless he brings some food back. He ran off before I could get him to eat some food first. He’s obviously malnourished.
There is a new naked lady in town who is laying the last few days by the round point near the center of town. She’s been walking around but yesterday and today she’s just been laying by the side of the road in distress. After I picked up all of the team kids from school at 3 and took the other families home, I bought bananas and bread along the road to give to her. The police stopped me at the round point because I had gone through a yellow light. A bit shaken, I was determined not to just drive straight home. I turned the car around and parked with my children waiting just a distance and walked down to the intersection to give her the food. She seemed in pain with her hands over her face. I put my hand on her arm and spoke to her kindly in Kabiye telling her that I had brought her food and said God bless you and walked back to the car. I wish now I had told her not to be afraid and had said a short prayer for her. People were commenting to each other in Kabiye as I walked back to the car. “look, the white lady gave the crazy lady food.” I don’t know if it was the right thing to do or not, but my spirit was in pain for her and I felt God prompting me to help. My children watched and wanted to know why I touched her because she was dirty and naked. I told them that whenever Jesus helped anyone he always touched them first, so I thought I should too.
(Our electrician friend, Adam, just interrupted me and told me that he fixed the dryer. Yay!!! It wasn’t some expensive obscure part we needed to order. Praise God!)
Praying for well-behaved and helpful children while David is gone and for sufficient rest. I need to go make dinner.
Our menu today:
Breakfast: omelets (made by Elijah)
Lunch: sack lunches/leftover pizza/tampicos
Dinner: Refried beans and cheese, mexican rice, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, fresh lemonade
Scripture on my mind today: It is more blessed to give than to receive – Acts 20:35
Today I ran a couple of errands around town and spotted (1) a car full of tourists with an African driver and (2) a heavy set, male French tourist leaving one of the hotels in town with his camera in hand and a look of “photo-op lust” on his face. As I drove past both the man and the tourist group I remembered what it felt like for myself to be a tourist in this place. When we arrived in Kara, Togo in both the summers of 1996 and 1997 to survey this town and people, I didn’t consider myself a tourist, but in a way tourism was part of my mentality. Everything was so foreign: the language a strange cacophony of sounds strung together, the mannerisms of people consisting of strange sudden outbursts without context, the landscape both beautiful with the surrounding hills and dirty with garbage strewn about, the smells of food cooking and rotting waste mingled together making me feel both nauseated and perplexed. Through all of these new bombarding senses I was seeking God’s voice, listening for a call, wondering if it was these people he wanted David and me and our team to move to minister among.
Now, 12 years later, these sounds, smells, and sights are neither foreign nor difficult to process. They are common, known, familiar and in most every way comforting. I realize that I still don’t completely fit in but many people know me and accept me as an established foreigner. The best part is that I no longer have a desire to “fit in” here or to “fit in” in America. From observing me when I’m in the US I look like I belong but my mind and values and world view are different. In Togo, I know what to do, how to speak, how to respond, and how to relate to others. But, of course, my skin color and inward values and thought processes are different here. Over the past 10 years I belong more fully to a different culture. I am a citizen of heaven, able to exist and function well in 2 separate cultures, but my core values, ideas, and relational strategies are different from both cultures. I pledge allegiance to Jesus. I follow Him and my deepest desire, wherever I am in whichever country in this world that He and the Father created together, is to share with others who want to know Him, too. So, in some ways as long as I’m in this world I will always be a tourist. I’m enjoying the trip for now but I’m looking forward to getting home.
What happened today: Today is our community’s “Day Off”. Our work week is Tuesday through Saturday. In case anyone is wondering, the baby bird’s mother came and fetched it back to the nest yesterday. (Yay!) And Caleb still seems to be feeling fine today except he’s not eating quite as well as normal. We slept in this morning as we were up talking to The Ries family on skype until way past our bedtime last night. (It was well worth it!) David and Andrea taught the older children on the team the first in a series of lessons on badminton. Hannah, Elijah, Maddie, Abby, Aidan, and Gabriel are all trying to earn a badge through the little “Keepers” club we’ve formed for learning the rules and playing a certain number of games of badminton. Aimee (our house helper) didn’t come to work this morning because her foot was so swollen she couldn’t walk. I went to her house and picked her and her cousin up and took them to the SOS hospital in town. She found out from the doctor there that she has a significant infection in her foot. She got the proper medication and I took them back home. Her sister came and worked in her place today. I told her to REST!!! and stay off her foot (Not an easy task for this strong, hard-working and loving lady to do!) David also broke part of his back left molar off while eating lunch today. The nearest dentist we trust with hygienic procedures is a 9 hour drive away in Accra. We weren’t planning to travel there until May so an emergency trip is in store for David and Matt M. tomorrow or Wednesday, as Matt’s computer completely crashed and can get repaired there also. Tonight’s our prayer night so we’ll spend a good amount of time in prayer for many of you.
Today’s Menu:
Breakfast: Rice Pancakes
Lunch: Take Out from Le Jardin (steak, potatoes, and carrots)
Dinner: Gluten free pizza, broccoli, and canned fruit (we ended up making homemade chips, salsa, and smoothies last night instead)
Scripture on my mind today: “By faith Abraham lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents…for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:9,10
