Monthly Archives: May 2007

May 20 2007

jajah and linked in

So a few websites I want to tell you about.

Since getting rid of our cell phones, we have been trying to find a good alternative for long-distance phone calls. We first tried Skype, which is fairly inexpensive for calling phone numbers. At first, we liked it but we soon found that people had trouble hearing us. Also, there was a slight annoying lag time, and it wasn’t very convenient for us to always have to be at our computer to make a call. (Especially since the computer is in the same room as the TV.)

So Paul searched around and found a service called Jajah. It’s basically VoiP and it’s pretty cool. It’s a tad bit more expensive than Skype, but still at 2.8 cents a minute much cheaper than our prepaid cell phones (20 cents and 25 cents a minute) or using the landline (10 cents a minute)! Basically, you sign into their website and then you dial the number that you want to call. They then call your home phone, which you answer, and Jajah connects you to the number. I believe that it shows up as your home phone number when you call people – which makes me happy because a lot of people were confused with Skype showing up as weird numbers! So far the call quality has been great – as far as I know, people can hear us okay. I recommend this service if you’re looking for something like this. :-)

The other website I recently discovered is LinkedIn. It’s a social networking site for professionals. You can record your education history, work history, websites, etc. and you add connections (like the “friends” of Facebook). You can also write recommendations for your connections. This can be very useful especially for those who freelance or contract work, or if you’re job hunting. It’s great to see what resources you have available to you, if you should need anything in the future (i.e. a graphic designer!) I invited everyone in my address book who I thought might be interested so be sure to sign up and accept my invitation. :-) I love networking, and if/when the day ever comes when I need to freelance for some extra money, I’m excited to have something like this to help me.

Since I’ve signed up for this, I suppose I should work on my design website and get it up and looking nice. My portfolio is so old – it still has my maiden name! And an email address and phone number I don’t have any more. Yeah I guess it’s time. :-)

May 17 2007

just so you know

I haven’t seen the Gilmore Girls series finale yet. I probably will not get to see it for a long time, so please don’t spoil the ending for me!! Trust me, this is KILLING me. I have been bookmarking all the articles referring to it in the hopes that someday when I’m actually able to watch the finale, I will be able to go back and read them.

Olivia, I saw your comment but purposefully haven’t read it yet. I will respond later when I finally get to see it.

When I turned on the TV on Tuesday night, the station was coming in SO bad I couldn’t even make out people on the screen. And half the time it was blue. I finagled with the TV antenna a bit, but nothing was helping. Sigh. (Good thing no one showed up for my party!)

This is me being sad and frustrated: :-(.

May 16 2007

homeland missionaries

Originally published on August 11, 2006 at Onward & Upward

There are a few things I am passionate about, and missions is one of those areas. It mostly has to do with my background: growing up on the mission field, seeing firsthand what amazing things God is doing in other countries, and how much more still needs to be done.

One of my desires is to raise my kids to be missions-focused. I have been thinking about the best ways to do that, while Paul and I don’t necessarily feel that God is leading us to the mission field right now. However, that doesn’t mean we have to be silent! Here are some ways I’ve thought about:

• Support missionaries regularly and actively. We have several friends who are missionaries, both in the United States and to other countries. Not only do we send a check, but we actively pray for them and we write to them, showing interest in their work and trying to encourage them whenever possible.

• Put a world map up in the dining room. Hang missionary’s prayer cards around the map, using yarn or string to draw a line from their picture to the place on the map where they are serving. Use this as a reminder to pray for missionaries and God’s people around the world before dinner each night. (And throughout the day!)

• Send care packages to those on the mission field, especially those abroad. Not only are they much appreciated, it’s always good to get a little taste of home! Besides, it tells the missionaries that you care about them and that encourages them so much.

• Go on a short term missions trip to a third world country. I think this is an incredible way to get out of your comfort zone and widen your horizons. The Mormons require all of their members to spend a couple of years as a missionary and I wish we did that too! Imagine what a difference that would make in our heats, being open to where God would have us serve.

• Open your home to visiting missionaries. Most missionaries return to their home country on furlough every 4 years or so. They use this time to raise support and funds, further schooling, reconnect with family and friends, etc. They usually spend large amounts of time on the road, visiting and speaking in churches. I want to regularly have missionaries over for dinner and staying with us as necessary, to get a chance to fellowship with them.

• Get involved with local missions and charity outreaches. While third world countries may struggle more with poverty and lack of education, first world countries are not exempt from these issues! There are many organizations that seek to minister to the physical and spiritual needs right in our hometown! Committing your time to help in these areas is a great way to be a missionary yourself.

• Join the missions board or missions committee at church. This can be a great opportunity to help the entire church body be more active in missions.

• Pray, pray, pray! There are so many countries around the world that need Christ, and so many hurting people. A GREAT resource that I highly recommend is the book “Operation World” by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk.

Jesus prays for all believers: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:20-21

There are many different types of great missions and organizations, but for me personally I am partial to Bible translation. Therefore, I am going to do a little plug for Wycliffe Bible Translators. They have some great ways of how you can get involved in missions on their website, as well as some specific areas of prayer. I am excited to be able to take the ways God has blessed me and reciprocate them to others who need it. Isn’t God amazing how He uses us to fulfill the needs of those around us? I am constantly blown away by it… But I’ve mentioned this before. :-)