Ipod's4Missionaries

This is a project uniquely provided by Roy (Eden's Song Ministry) to empower missionaries, especially in isolated regions, with the means to receive and rejoice in the worship of God's Word.  As we obtain donated Ipods, used or new, Roy tests and fills them with hand chosen worship music, teachings and podcasts that we believe will bless those serving others in remote areas of the world.  

If you are a missionary or know a missionary that would benefit from an Ipod and all the accessories, please feel free to email us at edenssong@gmail.com.  We will ship to a party anywhere within the United States that is sending you a package or coming to visit.  

The only stipulation is that your give us your/other name & country (including the US) that you/other minister in and send us a picture with the iPod.  

We pray this blesses you.

www.edenssong.org

International Victory Bible Institute

International Victory Bible Institute (IVBI) has helped hundreds of missionaries and national ministers start and grow Bible training schools. IVBI desires to see believers equipped with the full armor of God so that they can live victoriously and do the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12 and 6:13-18).

Their work has been one of training people how to start and direct a Bible school by providing materials (how to manual, written and video curriculum, forms, etc.), short term missionary teachers and counsel. They have worked with our Bible school, Victory Bible Institute, to establish guidelines for those people who want an affiliation with IVBI. They have a policy to not provide financial support for our schools, but recommend each school affiliated with IVBI become financially dependent on student tuition and other sponsors.

For more information please visit the website at http://www.victory.com/page2.php?q=158 or email Ron and Jill Stafford at ivbi@victory.com

Doves' eyes

Song of Solomon 1:15 Amp

“Behold, you are beautiful, my love! Behold, you are beautiful! You have doves' eyes.”

I’ve been thinking about this scripture for a week or so.  “You have doves’ eyes.”  What does that mean?  When Roy and I lock eyes we can speak volumes.  Love Birds.  Yes, we are.  When we fix our eyes on each other we are not distracted by the things going on around us.  Undistracted devotion.  For just those few moments there is no-one there but us. 

I want to have dove eyes for the Lord.  I am hungry to sit in His divine presence; to be elevated from worldly aspirations.  I want to possess a greater spiritual awareness.  Matthew 6:23 says, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”  Jesus wanted us to understand the significance of directing our total attention to God.   Cultivating this “single eye” will enable us to become sensitive to the Lord's presence, and obedient to His desire and purpose. 

Psalm 25:15 (Amplified Bible) “My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.”  There is an intrinsic pull in all of us to follow God’s direction for our life.  I wake up every morning and move into a time of worship, prayer and asking for direction.  I leave that place of sweet, quiet presence, start getting ready for work and it doesn’t take an hour before I’m rushing around concerned about all the things that need taken care of; the household chores, family, work, Eden’s Song take that sweet presence to a whole other dimension of anxiety.  If I shift one inch inside that atmosphere my attitude gets worse as the day progresses, but if I stop and set my eyes back on the One who loves me most, I feel a sense of peace descend and life is good again.   Once we are reduced to a single vision and all else fades away, we learn the beauty of abiding; a branch united to the vine producing Christ-powered fruit.

I pray for you today, as you selflessly give of yourself in a land not your own and to people of a different culture and mind-set that you and God have doves’ eyes for each other and that all throughout the day you are fed life-giving water from the vine. 

The Garden

3/13/11

“And the Lord God took the man and put him in the

Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)

It’s early morning after ‘springing forward’ and I am managing the chill with a cozy fur throw and the tiredness with my hands wrapping that oh-so-good first cup of coffee.  As the sun streams through the window, the hope of spring draws close and I gaze through the glass daydreaming about my plans for the overgrown and sleepy garden.

In my mind’s eye, I can already see the freshly cut rose bushes pushing through the recently frozen ground, exuding that exotic fragrance that only roses can put forth.  The beautiful lavender tree shades the walk as the perky little faces of the morning flowers greet me from their just tilled beds.   I smile at the perfectly trimmed grass, budding leaves from the giant oak and all the ivy and bushes coming to life.  Oh I love what spring brings, but really…who will do it?

Isn’t that always the way?  We see the greatness of what could be, but scramble to find the time to create it.  God set Adam in the garden and gave him explicit directions to tend, guard and keep it.  The word ‘tend’ means to ‘watch over, cultivate (nurture, care for), or look after.’ To ‘keep’ means to hold or retain one’s possession, maintain, or have custody of.  The word ‘guard’ means to safeguard, shield or watch over.  The Garden in Eden was man’s perfect environment; a paradise to behold.   Adam’s job was to take care of the garden that God entrusted him with.  They enjoyed walking the land together until temptation drove Adam out.  When the Lord gives us a thing to do; when He calls us to tend, guard and keep a relationship, a ministry, a nation or a people we must cultivate it on a continual basis to make it strong and productive.  Our garden must be watched over and nurtured to keep it strong and productive. We must maintain it and safeguard it from disaster.  If not, just like any garden, it will depreciate, become overrun with weeds and become an eyesore. 

I turned away from the window knowing that I will diligently work to keep the garden of my Eden alive just as God would have me do.  In Love, with Joy I will be obedient to His call and with every piece of soil that falls through my fingers dropping a seed to the ground, the Holy Spirit will touch the heart of someone somewhere.

Treasure your Eden.  Thanks to all the missionaries that are tending their gardens with zeal and commitment.  You are amazing.

Home-made Laundry soap

Here is a great idea shared by Brooke Ramos (missions - Mexico)

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front/top load machine best value
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

IN the beginning...

 www.edenssong.org

Eden's Song Ministry is all about sharing resources and Roy & I are so excited to introduce a new blog site where missionaries from all over the world can share information with each other at the touch of a button.  M2M - missionary to missionary.  If you have questions, concerns, recipes, ideas or suggestions please feel free to post them here. 


Here's a few examples:
if you are out of insecticide and have bees, wasps, hornets or yellow jacket in your home, try a spray of Formula 409.  insects hit the ground instantly…


Fill a Ziploc bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in any problem area. Hang it in entryways, next to windows and even outside by the doors.

Research has found that the millions of molecules of water present its own prism effect and because flies have a lot of eyes, it’s like a million disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. They say it works because a fly sees a reflection so won't come around.  Also flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, and birds so they simply won't take the risk of being around that much perceived action.

If you live in Kenya and are a missionary in need mosquito netting, visit the HEART website at http://www.africaheart.com.  Their WEEP center is an amazing place where abandoned mothers with AIDS are taught a trade to support their children and create a self-sufficient lifestyles.  They will provide the bed nets at a reduced rate for you.

On our Eden's Song website, we post as many resources as we can once they have been approved.  Please join us as we continue our fight to build self sufficient lifestyles around the world. 

Roy and Deb

My First Blog!

Aren't you all so excited I am here!?