Michigan State Women Active for Christ NEWSLETTER July/August 2012 President’s Corner! Michigan State WAC Executive Board: Officers: President: Mattie Riley Vice President: Sherry McBroom Sec’y/Treas: Pauline Penix Ass’t Sec’y/Treas: Angela McGinnis Field Worker: Katy Taylor Ass’t Field Worker: Rosemary Fairchild Members at Large: Fellowship District Donna Riley Liberty District Joyce Kincaid West MI District Geraldine Muncy Wolverine District Susan Newton Inside this issue: President’s Corner 1 Retreat 1 Wolverine District News 1 WNAC Update 2 The Johnsons 3 Recipe Nifty Tips 3 3 Riggs Update 4 Corrections 4 Battle Creek Update 5 Female Heart Attacks 5 Female Heart Attacks continued 6 Editor: Sherry McBroom North Warren FWB [email protected] Late spring and early summer brought extremely "HOT" weather. With record temperatures reaching as high as 102 degrees and a high heat index it is hard to stay cool unless you are indoors with a cooling device. Fans, air conditioning, ice water, etc. help some while indoors but when going outside into the heat you will suffer greatly. But just imagine spending eternity where the fire never dies and there is no relief to quench the constant pain. What a terrible place to be forever! This constant horrific pain never ends. The temperatures cool here and we have relief. Just remember that when we reach our heavenly home the weather will always be perfect. We can enjoy our new home without pain and suffering. I am looking forward to my final reward in heaven. I will be lookWolverine District News! By Mattie Riley ing for you to join me where we will praise our Lord forever. I encourage you to bring your friends with you to the 2012 State Retreat, September 20,21 and 22 at Holiday Inn French Quarters in Perrysburg, Ohio. The guest speaker will be Elizabeth Hodges, our National Leader. She is a great leader and an excellent speaker. We know you will enjoy her while getting a blessing and updates of activities, etc. Our theme is "A Woman of Many Hats." If you wish to join in the fun, bring a hat with you to wear at the meetings, especially the Banquet. (Not required but suggested if you wish to participate.) I am looking forward to seeing each of you in September. God bless you and your families as you continue to work for Him. Special thoughts, memories and prayers! Mattie Michigan State WAC Retreat! Boy, it seems like once the Fourth of July has passed, the summer quickly does the same thing. . . but in reality, it has just begun. Nevertheless, the retreat is approaching fast, and we hope you are planning on attending. If you want to have an easy registration, you can pay your full balance owed when you send in your form. Then, when you get there, you simply have to sign in and not stand in line to pay. Make sure you include all the names of the people you intend to share a room with. Sis. Pauline has been Secretary a very long time, and she is good, but she is not a mind reader! Please consider her, and her Assistant Angela McGinnis when you are sending you your forms. Include addresses and phone numbers too, please. We are excited about our theme: “A Woman of Many Hats” and know the speakers will touch our hearts. By Katy Taylor The Wolverine District ladies are so sweet! I have discovered that our ladies are touching many lives through their kindness. One church is sewing pillowcases for young children at a nearby hospital out of cheerful kid material. I can only imagine the smiles these pillowcases produce. This group also sews walker bags for some seniors. Some ladies I know made hundreds of Christmas stockings for children. Some ladies made little dresses for children. Another group collects local grocery receipts to help the young people, earning one cent for each dollar spent. This is something most people just throw away. Pop can tabs are so easy to save. When collected, they are sent to the veteran’s hospital. I know that so many more are doing things that are an outreach to others. What are you doing? Look around, assess your ladies interests, abilities and resources. Do what you can for those around you! I know our ladies are praying for all involved in the retreat. Many of our ladies are hoping to attend and some have a part in the schedule. Our next meeting is on Novem- ber 17th at Central church. (Please note date is corrected from last publication). It is about “Treasure”. You will be blessed. Plan to come out to worship and fellowship. District President Katy Taylor MI WAC Newsletter Michigan State WAC Women Nationally Active for Christ Now on State Association website: www.mifwb.com Look for the WAC tab and find updates and our newsletter. We appreciate WNAC for all they do for FWB women Free Bible Study: Conflict Resolution and missions. Thank you! As part of its ministry to the greater Body of Christ, WNAC now offers a complete Bible study: “Treating Muscle Tension: Resolving Conflict within the Body of Christ.” Written by Dr. Jacquelyn Rasar, this free, reproducible resource is suitable for individual or small group use. The study can be downloaded from the WNAC reporting States WNAC website. WNAC P.O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN 37011-5002 www.wnac.org To God Be the Glory! Page 2 Free Will Baptist International Missions Mailing Address P.O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN 370115002 Phone (615) 760-6123 www.fwbgo.com Please pray for our Missionaries Tim and Kristi Johnson [email protected] Verlin and Debbie Anderson Page 3 Michigan State WAC Greetings from Spain—Tim and Kristi Johnson Dear Michigan Ladies, Please pray… I shared a special prayer request with many of you at the retreat last year. I wanted to give you an update on this request and let you know how you can keep praying. ...for my mom as she waits on this kidney that her health would be stable. My mom, Faye Hanna, is still on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. I had originally hoped to give her a kidney, but found out from blood work that we weren’t compatible. A few months later, a lady in her church went through testing and discovered that even though she WAS compatible, she had some minor health issues that disqualified her. So my mom was back to square one...waiting on a kidney again. ...for me, as I am all the way around the world. ...for Mona as she goes through more testing for this procedure. Thanks for being a part of my life and for your prayers for two very special people that I love. I hope to send news soon that my mom has a new kidney! Kristi [email protected] 3 1/2 T. all purpose flour 1 1/2 c. sugar Dash salt 3 eggs, separated 3 c. milk 1 t. vanilla 1 (12-oz.) pkg. vanilla wafers 6 medium bananas 1/4 c. plus 2 T. sugar 1 t. vanilla Combine flour, sugar, and salt in heavy saucepan. Beat egg yolks; combine egg yolks and milk, mixing well. Stir in dry ingredients; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Following her doctor’s suggestion, she decided to apply at a different hospital in Augusta, Georgia. This particular hospital was willing to test Mona Dukes, my mom’s sister, who had some minor blood pressure problems a while back. And guess what? Mona is compatible with my mom! (Well, they have to do a few more tests, but it looks very promising.) After Mona goes through more testing, they will decide if she is able to donate a kidney to my mom. If so, we are hopeful that it will happen in the next few months. If not, my mom will probably have to start dialysis treatments soon. Layer one-third of wafers in a 3quart baking dish. Slice 2 bananas, and layer over wafers. Pour one-third of custard over bananas. Repeat layers. Beat egg whites (at room temperature) until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Blend in vanilla. Spread meringue over custard, sealing to edge of dish. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Yield 8 to 10 servings. Ummmm good!! [email protected] Steve and Becky Riggs Southern Banana Pudding from Scratch! Nifty Tips! Hull strawberries with a straw. Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes. Page 4 Michigan State WAC Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19 & 20 Update from the Riggs in France Dear Ladies in Michigan, Words cannot express the thanks we feel for each of you and for all the work you continue to do to support us and all of our Michigan missionaries. Just recently we were thrilled to hear from Joe & Julie Wilson about their trip to France. They led a group of young people under what is called "ETeam" to minister, observe, and learn about Missions in France. Part of their ministry was to help our new church in Châteaubriant. We wish we could have been there to welcome them, but we are thrilled about what they were able to accomplish. Please go to the link below and listen to Joe's interview with Jean-Charles. You will see some scenes from our town of Châteaubriant and learn about the need for an evangelical church in this area. Hear for yourselves their testimony about the new work in Châteaubriant. We hope it will inspire you to pray for this work. And thank you so much for your labor of love for Christ and His Kingdom! Steve & Becky Riggs http://joedwilson7.blogspot.fr/2012/06/working-in-chateaubriant-france.html Newsletter Corrections! Local WAC Auxiliaries: Are you working on Your provision closet items for 2013? I apologize for some incorrect information in the last edition of the newsletter regarding the provision closet collection at the State Meeting. So, let me clear it up. . . Steve and Becky visit North Warren FWB! We invited them back to our evening service and the fellowship we would have afterwards. While they made no promises, they were able to come back and shared more about their mission ministry in France. After spending a busy couple of days at the MI FWB state meeting in Frankenmuth, the Riggs’ attended North Warren on May 20th. Before Steve preached the morning message, Becky shared with the kids and there were many questions asked. We enjoyed the special time we got to spend with them in service and during our fellowship time. It is always a blessing to have the opportunity to learn more about the special prayer needs of Missionaries. Thank you Steve and Becky for all you do for the cause of Christ and for sharing your ministry with the various churches while you are home. We love you and pray for you! Sherry Jill Daniels and Debbie Hearod and teen girls brought the trailer from Kirby and were prepared to pack the trailer. But, Rosemary Fairchild arranged to have some “strong young men” on hand to load the trailer. Among those helping were Pastor Tom McCullough and his son Ian. Having worked on the Mission field, Bro. Tom surely appreciates the value of the Provision Closet. It was great to have Steve Riggs also present to lend a hand. Thank you everyone for all you did for this cause! Free Will Baptists National Home Missions Mailing Address P.O. Box 5002 Antioch, TN 370115002 Phone Toll Free: (877) 767-7674 (615) 731-6812 www.homemissions.net Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Page 5 Michigan State WAC From the Isaacs in Battle Creek! Dear friends, The last few months have been nothing shy of a miracle. Truthfully, I could say this about the last ten years. Battle Creek continues to be a blessing and wonderful place of ministry. As many of you know during our time here so far health has been a struggle, but through all of it God has continued to use Jeff and I in exciting new ways to minister. I am pleased to tell you that Jeff is doing great right now. He has lost over 100 lbs. in the last 8 months and his back is doing much better as a result of your prayers and the reduced weight. He has not had any additional seizures since the first (very scary) one earlier this year and his memory has made a full return. This actually happened relatively quickly. We were thrilled to find out that all of this was likely a reaction to medication and not something more severe and long lasting. The side effects of the medication have all gone away at this point and he is back to his former creative and silly self. Well enough about us, on to what you really want know about; what God is doing with the rest of Battle Creek! We were blessed earlier this year with the addition of a Burmese Church in our midst. Two won- derful members came to see us on a Wednesday evening and asked if they could come and worship in their own language. With prayer and thought the group of approximately 50 Burmese nationals came for services in the Zomie Chin language (one of several language dialects in Burmese country of Myanmar.) Many of the young people in this group speak English, but this is not the case for the majority of the adults. They are learning quickly and are respectful hardworking people who love the Lord and worship him whole heartedly. A typical Zomie Chin service lasts for three hours and is followed by strong fellowship. While they enjoy hearing the message preached in their language (as do I) they have invited Jeff to preach via a translator. We will be having our first joint service on July 27th. We have seen our English speaking congregation growing as well. Carl Lemmon came to us in May as an intern, but has since decided to stay as a long term part of our ministry team. Carl is not the only new face, we have met new families and our congregation has grown, in every direction. The nursery and children's church area that so many of you helped us prepare is a very busy place with an average of 12 children under age 6 every week while their moms and dads are in service. Our church has seen births, adoptions, weddings and life changing decisions in the families that have been a part of the church in Battle Creek over the last 6 months. Many of you recently read Carl's recent blog about the words of a dying man. I am rejoicing for our friend Dick Braebon who went to be with the Lord June 29th, 2012. He held a weekly Bible study in his home so his wife Joan could hear the gospel and experience the church family he loved. Please pray for Joan as she mourns the loss of her husband. Joan committed that she would give her heart to the Lord, but so far has not made public any decision. God is far from through with Battle Creek and I am waiting to see what He does next! Yours in Christ, Charissa Isaacs Female Heart Attacks! Jeff and Charissa Isaacs [email protected] Greg and Lea Floars [email protected] I’m sure many of you have seen this article, but I wanted to pass it along. It was shared with me most recently by Patty Ouding. Women and heart attacks Myocardial infarction). Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack. . you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack. 'I had a heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on. I was sitting all snugly and warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up. A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of (continued on page 6) God wants us to care for our physical body! It is important to eat properly and exercise and to use self control! Do you have things you would like to share with our ladies to help them improve their health? We know God is the great Physician but aren’t you glad he gave men and women the ability to help in the medical field? He does all things well!!! Female Heart Attacks! Continued from page 5 sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m. After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hindsight, I was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmica lly when administering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack! I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment. Baby Aspirin . . Keep them in your purse!!!! Page 6 Michigan State WAC I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in. I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery. I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints. Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand. 1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body, not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they did not know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be! 2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road. Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr will be notified later. 3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.