October 2008

Peace

Real Peace is not the absence of war, but rather presence of absolute order of heart.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Pumpkin jam

Its not a soup, but it is a recipe that is great for using up pumpkin. It is also my daughter, Serenity's favorite jam of all I received this jam as a gift when Sadie was born and it was so good that I begged for the recipe. I love the chunks of pumpkin in it. I have tried many different variations over the years. One big pumpkin makes A LOT of jam, so there is plenty for your next bake sale or for Christmas gifts. I also add a Tablespoon of virgin coconut oil to each pot. This keeps it from foaming up and gives it a very nice consistancy. Enjoy!

4 lbs pumpkin diced

4 pounds sugar and appropriate sure-gel

3 fresh pressed oranges

Ginger root minced- vary amount according to personal taste

10 cloves

Cinnamon sticks and cloves according to personal taste or ground cinammon and pumpkin pie spice

2 tsp vanilla

Optional - cranberries or raisins or dried apricots (my favorite)

Cook pumpkin until Translucent - pour off liquid

Add sugar, orange juice and sure-gel. Stir together well and allow to sit overnight.

The next day, add the spices and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or according to sure-gel directions.

Remove from heat.

Remove cinammon sticks and cloves

Stir in vanilla

Seal in jelly jars

altered version

Here is the altered version that I used while on the road last year for furlough:

1 Tablespoon virgin coconut oil

1 can of pumpkin

1 can cream of chicken

1 can cream of celery

1 large can chicken stock

1 large can cooked potatoes

2 stalks celery

1 onion

1 clove garlic or crushed garlic or whatever my hostess has available

parsley

salt and pepper

sour cream and chives

Saute celery, onions and garlic in coconut oil. Place in Crockpot with canned goods, stir. Cook on low. Serve with sour cream and chives.

If you use small pumpkins the size of grapefruits, save the pumpkin shell, leaving 1/2 inch pumpkin inside. After soup is cooked, spoon it into pumpkin shells, brush the pumpkins with lemon juice (keeps it from getting too dark), cover with puff pastry and bake in oven until pastry is golden brown. - Fun and festive.

Pumkin soup Original

This is the original recipe, given to me by my German neighbor:

1 Tb butter

1 onion

1 clove garlic

salt and pepper

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 Liter chicken stock

1 pound pumpkin pieces (bite size)

1 pound potatoes

1 cup cooking cream

sour cream

chives

Melt butter in large saucepan. Add onions, garlic and pumpkin. Saute until pumpkin is translucent. Add potatoes, seasonings, and chicken stock. Cook until potatoes are done. Bring to a boil and turn off heat. Add cream and stir through. Serve with Sour Cream and chives.

Our Provider

Wow, is this world looking crazier and crazier as each day passes! I am so glad that I am just a traveler passing through. As I look around and see the world changing and the leaves falling, I am moved to thank my God and provider for all that He has done for me. He is so awesome! He takes care of me in the big things and then sends me little things to remind me that He is there every moment of every day. Just yesterday, I went to buy house shoes for Samantha (who is growing into quite a wonderful young lady) and I picked up an extra pair for another girl in the church as a Christmas present. When I got to the register, the clerk rang in my purchases for a total of about $6. I gave her the money and when she tipped the enter button, the register started singing and ringing like a slot machine! I have never been to Vegas, but it sure reminded me of a few scenes I have seen on TV. The clerk smiled and said, "Congratulations! You have won our bingo shopping spree. Here is your money back, your purchase is on the house today." Thank you Lord! Free house shoes for Samantha and Hanna. Now that is really cool! God does stuff like this for us all of the time, but it never ceases to amaze me. Last weekend I sold the clothes the children have outgrown at a local flea market and bought them winter coats, insulated jeans and long sleeved dresses for winter. I was amazed at the end of the day to see that I had earned more money than I had spent! God is so good to us!

We received a phone call yesterday from a friend who has a grape arbor and doesn't have time to process all the grapes. So, they asked if we would like to come pick them. Yippee!! There will be grape jelly in our pantry this year along with the peace, cherry and berry that God has already given us. The Lord blessed our peach harvest so much this year that I canned 50 pints of peach jelly! Our provider is so good to us! Now, I am just praying for a pumpkin or two. Have you tried our pumpkin soup yet? If not, I will post the recipe. It is really yummy!

We want to thank all the pastors and churches who participated in "Operation Stabilization" through the BBFI missions office. These extra offerings have indeed helped to stabilize our situation here on the field. We have been able to balance out all of our accounts and repay our furlough fund (providing us a way home if things get too crazy out there). There have also been many individuals and churches who have privately sent extra funds to help during this time of financial crisis. Thank you so much! It is so encouraging to see how God had provided through all of our prayer supporters.

An extra special encouragement was the Christmas box we received from Albia, Iowa. Despite the turbulent times and the rate increase at the post office, they still thought of us and sent a package full of goodies for the kids for Christmas. I just can't express how much that means to us. The physical reminders sure do lift our spirits and help to remind us that you all are in deed praying for us and the people of Wittenberg, Germany.

Thank you all so much for supporting us in prayer, gifts and financial support. We pray that you have a wonderful fall full of thanksgiving!

Chelli