Tim and I are back in Dallas after making a trip to Albuquerque to visit Tim’s home church, Christ Lutheran.  We arrived in time for the fellowship meal on Wednesday night where donations were given toward our ministry.  We are thankful for friends who braved the rain to come to the dinner.

During the week we were able to visit with 3 pastors, shared in classes at the Christian school, set up a information table at the church garage sale and shared on Sunday during in the adult Bible class and the kids’ Sunday School.  It was a nice opportunity to reconnect with friends from before as well as meeting some new friends.

We are thankful to report we have several new supporters which is helping us get closer to our goal of 100% support!  Thanks to those of you who have been praying for that need.

En route to Albuquerque, we stopped at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo.  We bought a can of spray paint before we got there so we could leave our mark.

This morning it was my turn to bring goodies for our Sunday School class.  My aunt had just told me about these pumpkin squares that she likes so I got the recipe and tried it out.

I took them to Sunday School and people took about 2 bites before they asked, “Do you share recipes???”  Of course I do!  Especially since my aunt just shared it with me and now I share it with you.

Pumpkin Pie Dessert Squares

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine melted

1 egg

filling:

1 large (1 lb. 13 oz) can of pumpkin mix**

3 eggs

2/3 cup milk

topping:

1 cup reserved cake mix

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup butter or margarine

crust:

grease bottom of a 9×13″ cake pan.  Combine remaining cake mix, melted butter or margarine and eggs.  Press into pan.

filling: Prepare filling by combing all ingredients until smooth.  Pour over crust.

topping: Combine all ingredients and sprinkle over filling.  Bake at 350° until knife inserted near center comes out clean (about 1 hour). Serve with whipped topping.

**Note: If 1 pound solid pumpkin is used, add 2 heaping teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice mix and 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar.

For those of you who weren’t at the Night at the Museum on September 10th, we have posted four video clips from the evening.  The video links can be found on this website by clicking on the new tab at the top of the page labeled, ‘video’. Or double click on this link:  https://matzkemission.com/?page_id=757

Part 1: The Big Picture Introduction by Tim and Martha; video overview of literacy work

Part 2: Martha’s Assignment in Communication Hear from Susan van Wynen, Director of Communications, Wycliffe International; Martha shares her excitement about the new role

Part 3: Tim’s Assignment in Literacy: Tim shares his thoughts and feelings about his new assignment

Part 4: Your Part Hear from supporter, Lora Graham; Tim invites you to join the team through interest, prayer, giving, and sharing; Pastor Fred Durham shares and prays

We are busy preparing for a special event tonight, a Night at the Museum.  We have invited friends and supporters to invite friends to come to the International Museum of Cultures.  There will be a tour of the museum, including a new Solomon Islands display which we just put up and a special exhibit with old testament scrolls.

We will have a short program as well where we will be sharing about our ministry and sharing about our need for additional financial and prayer partners.  It’s kind of a crazy outside-the-box idea, but we are trusting God to use it for His glory.

Out of the blue this morning we got an email from missionary friends who are preparing to go to Africa.  Maria said, I just read the most incredible verses and thought of you–this is so amazing, especially the last verse!  God bless you today!!”
Isaiah 30:18-21 (New International Version)

19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

These words were especially comforting this morning and I am so thankful for Maria sending them on the day that we are stepping out to do something new!

Then later we got an email from a new friend that Tim met through a men’s Bible study.  This man gave said they wouldn’t be able to join us tonight, but wanted to know how to be a part of our ministry.  Tim directed him to the Wycliffe website and we have a new partner in ministry.  We are very encouraged!

Today, Thursday September 2, 2010, the first day of issue and launch of the “Celebrating Bible Translation” commemorative stamp block was held.  His Excellency the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui was the guest of honor and unveiled the stamp during the ceremony.  The stamp was approved by the Governor General during the process by the Philatelic Bureau to produce the stamp.

The event was held at the newly constructed Bible translation center in the Solomon Islands which belongs to the Solomon Islands Bible Translation and Literacy Partnership and attended by members of the Solomon Islands Christian Association.  Following the stamp launch, the Governor General was given a tour of the new facilities.