Gayla's Magazine

Naomi and Ruth

Mama.... we have a great relationship - and you have been a wonderful Mother-in-law to me.  There are times when I think of picking up the phone and calling you to tell you something funny, and I have to remember, I can't call - you have moved away! Funny how sometimes I forget that!   Remember all the Saturday afternoon phone calls we had together sharing what we both felt about this and that.  And how you would give me sage advice, always so wisely clothed in 'other women's ideas', so your advice to me would never be awkward. We both knew what you were doing, and it just made our relationship sweeter in respect.

Remember the time I sent you a huge bouquet on your big event - when you had your first Women's Conference, and I called you to see how it was going?  And your words to me were so special.  I have never forgotten them.  All those thousands of women attending your Event, but you were mad because I wasn't there!  How "this was all my idea and now I am not there to see it all happening"!  We laughed and cried together and I was so happy and proud for you.  It meant everything to the two of us.....that all the dreaming and planning we did ....... happened! 

Remember when we would spend time at your house - cooking together and once you took me by the shoulders and told me, 'don't worry about what other's think, just be true to your heart and be what God tells you to become.'  Your words gave me the assurance I needed right then. Thanks again Mom! I still love you for that!!

Wish I could send you some more roses right now in your Biggest Event Ever.  But somehow I can't find the address to get them personally delivered to you.  But I do want to tell you that I am still wearing your shoes, and still have some of the dresses you gave to me.  And yes I still have the silk roses from your kitchen - they are in my kitchen.  And you would be so proud of your grand-daughter if you could see her.  And your Great Grand Children are incredible.  Wait till you see them!!!   

Every now and then it sure would be nice to see you.  But rest assured one day I will come to see you!  In the meantime - enjoy one of your fabulous days in Paradise.  Don't worry about coming here for a visit - your World is so much better than anything here.  Round here it's still so very busy, no real time to rest.  There are still all the human elements to deal with, along with dirt and accidents and mistakes.  Don't give this place another thought.  When it's time.... we will come your way.   

  I love you Mom, and appreciate all the training you gave to me.  The administrative skills, and the ability to smoothly continue on while everything may seem to be going the wrong way.  Thanks for your notes and the gift of teaching you gave to me.  I use the organizational business savvy in our ministry everyday.  And thanks for teaching me courage to be what God wants me to be!   

The last time we held hands and you gave me a secret kiss goodbye, I have to tell you that your fingerprints are still here with me and the mantle of blessing from your hands to mine, is invaluable and priceless.  Your training in me still echos from time to time in different arenas, and I know you and I would share a smile if you saw it all. The older I get, your mantle is starting to fit me better, I love you for passing it on to me. You were my Naomi and I was your Ruth!      

Mom...... enjoy some Heaven for me your daughter in law, someday my moments in time will turn into Eternity too, and we will be together again!    

love Gayla      

Powerful Praying Women

Walterene's table at the Role Models of America 8th Annual Tea was so meaningful and strong.  Her theme was 'Unlocking God's Treasures Through Prayer'.  And the focus of this beautiful table was the power of a woman's prayer life.  She understands this subject so well, as she is a woman of prayer night and day in her own life. 

She used iridescent fabrics to represent the invisible power that prayer invokes when a woman prays.  Just imagine what God has for you and wants to give to you!  Each woman has the key to change her own life,  it's called prayer.  It can be used at any time and at any place.  All a woman needs to do is ask, believe and trust God. 

Look how the fabric was draped around the edge of the table.  Not only was it beautiful  to look at, it was also inspirational to hear her words about prayer. Each guest setting here was given a women's devotional book on prayer.  Her table scape was not just for looks, but it was also to encourage each lady to pray more than ever before in her life. 

Walterene's use of scriptures and comments to look at on this purple, gold and white banquet table made every angle of it powerful to read.  I would like to encourage each person reading this post, although you did not get to attend this wonderful event, you can still receive this message and pray. All things are possible to those who pray! 

A table of value and one that gives a message of extreme importance to everyone. Never underestimate the power of a praying woman!  Jesus said, "ask and it shall be given..... "

Why worry when you can pray?

      

Monkey Business

These two precious pictures are dim I know, but you just got to see these!  This is Marvin my brother who is on his knees playing with Monkey. And I think it's Regan with him with the other baby monkey.  If you don't know who Monkey is - you might want to look back at my post, "Stop Playing with your Supper".  We all had such fun with him!  He was inquisitive and playful and we carried him everywhere.  Between four children he never had to walk around very much.  Usually he was hanging on someone's shirt, his legs wrapped around their waist and holding on to the collar of the child's shirt with his one arm pulling it out of shape continually.  Mother fussed but he still did it. 

This is Marvin and Regan with Monkey and his baby twin brother.  And two little native girls in the background.  Monkey would try anything and he was so smart we only had to show him a few times and he would be trying to do the same trick.  He loved bananas and we tried to keep him full of them.  But he was so greedy that it was hard for him to understand we would keep feeding him.  Once a friendly African man brought us a whole stalk of bananas and we brought them in and all of us really looked forward to having some fresh ripened bananas for a couple of weeks in the mud frame house we lived in.

A couple of days later we left and went to across the bridge to the village church for a church service.  (Mom and Dad refused to let Monkey go with us, although we begged and begged)  Monkey was so mad that he wasn't going and we left him shrieking on the screen door. So he decided he would make sure  that no one would eat any of the bananas, that he would get them all.  So he took all of them off of the long stalk and piled them on the seats of the chairs around our table.  And as he stacked them up, he took a big bite out of each one!  He knew our mother would not let us eat anything that he had already bit into! 

We can home and did not suspect anything until we went to set down at the table to eat!  Everyone was so surprised when one by one we pulled out our chairs and found his revenge.  We all laughed and laughed at him!

Another time when we left him alone, he picked up a large gallon jar of pickles (which were a real rare luxury for us and one we were saving for a special occasion)  wrapped his arms around it carried it to the floor trying to get the lid off.  Finding that impossible he did the next best thing - open it from the bottom.  Now this made perfect sense in his little monkey mind.  He simple picked it up and dropped it hard, breaking out the bottom of the glass jar.  When we returned he was setting in the pickle juice happily still eating pickles.  A big pickle smile across his face and his fur completely soaked in his party pickle fun!  This time all of us children giggled quietly hoping Mom did not see our secret smiles. 

Monkey grinned at us and we grinned back behind Mom's back.  As she rushed to get him out of the house and us four away from the broken glass, he was reaching for us with his little green pickle hands.  We did not dare to go to his rescue this time - Mom meant business! 

He had little pouches in his cheeks that he liked to keep filled with food for later snacks.  We children loved to squeeze his cheeks and make him lose his snacks.  He learned to stay away from the 'horrible children' when he had a fresh mouthful going!  He looked so funny with his little cheeks all filled out the bottom half of his face would be bulging.  He would do anything to keep his face from being squeezed by us! 

But he loved us and we adored him!  He took turns with each of us, staying only with one child until the next one had something better to do.  He was the most entertained monkey in Africa.  He could wear Barbie clothes and play Barbie's with me, then become G I Joe with one of the boys, and ride in their little jeep (just his size) then catch a ball with another, and sneak a snack with another child.  And back again.  Life was a grand fun event for him! 

When we left Africa, we gave Monkey to the sailors aboard an American Navy vessel.  And they promptly renamed him 'Uncle Sam'.  I am sure all the tricks we taught him became great entertainment for the entire ship!      

Will the Latta guys stand up....

Before going much further into my family story I need to introduce my brothers to you.  There are 4 of us siblings, all 4 children born in 5 years!  It was quite a feat for my mother to birth this litter!  We are all close in ages, and close in relationships to each other as well.

All 4 of us are born leaders.  Alan the oldest was the gang leader and we all let him lead until one of us had a different idea. And then the war would be on to see who would be the leader of the pack with a new idea.  He was and still is Mr Strong Calm, Cool and Collected. Then I came along.  Then Marvin was next - Mr Fabulous Personality himself.  Then Regan was the last - Mr Eagle-eyed Business Man. 

3 boys who grew up to be kings, all three. 

Now..... here is what they look like right now.

Marvin (on the left)- forever the entertainer, who started and owns his own Painting Company as well as he is an Minister at his church. Awesome song writer and musician.   Alan (in the middle) - who is the greatest Christian I know, who started a Church from the ground up, and is the Senior Pastor of a happy congregation that he birthed. Also sings, writes and plays music. And Regan (on the right) - a great self motivated business man who owns his own Insurance Company now. He writes, teaches, is a computer wizard, and a good speaker, oh yes he can sing too!

If you had a problem and went to these three guys. Here's what would happen to you.   

• Marvin would make you laugh and feel better about the whole thing, he would be sure to enthuse you with his infectious joy and encouragement. Might even write a song from out of your trouble for you! 
• Alan would minister healing and comfort in the situation and give you a solution for it. You would feel like there is a way out of your problem. And he'd pray for you and you would have peace.   
• Regan would help you make a business plan out of it, and make your problem pay your bills! He has a way of making misery turn into money!

My brothers, whom I love dearly.  We all talk often and the 4 of us are connected for life! They all have great families of their own.  And now starting to enjoy the greatest, grandest time of life...... GRAND BABIES!   

I love you my brothers. You all three are incredible amazing, men! Thanks for being my fans. I am proud of these guys - no drug problems, no jail sentences, no alcoholic addictions! All three still alive and an influence in the earth, AND putting their fingerprints on an enormous number of people in this world.   

Thank you Mom and Dad for raising decent Christian men. You can be proud you raised good men.  You did a good job. Well Done.   

 

Traveling African Style

Traveling these days is such a breeze compared to the early missionary journeys into the deep jungles of Africa.  I am not talking about the Sahara Deserts of Northern African, nor the Southern plains and bush country.  Or even the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya.  But I am talking about the sultry steamy deep jungles of West Africa! Where the trees, rope-like vines, huge leaves of vegetation and thick underbrush literally covered the entire country. And the thick jungle is teeming with live creatures. Very few roads (they were just dirt roads) had been created into the interior, and so traveling from one place to another was very difficult.  We lived 65 miles from the nearest road!  Now does that put it into perspective? 

My Daddy was a airline pilot and our form of travel was a small plane.  I will tell you more about those adventures in other posts.  But for now I just want you to understand traveling 'African style' for a moment. No maps - only paid guides, who from their years of traveling knew where they were.  No restrooms, only very watchful quick private moments off to the side.  Animals were a constant threat, and their numbers ranged from the large fierce cats prowling around constantly, to the smaller variety of ground hugging deadly spiders and bugs.  Oh and don't forget the many many snakes that were hanging from the trees looking just like vines! And no restaurants for sure!  Better bring what every you planned on eating for the entire trip. Plan to travel from sun up to sundown, as safety matters first in this wild place.

Most natives were born, lived and died in the same small village, having never known of an outside world.  And except for the occasional brave hunter and adventuresome men, they all lived cloistered in their own small lives.  The witch doctors would travel between villages keeping the people bowed under their forms of intimidation and fear.  These men above all kept the people tightly bound in terror afraid to step outside of the boundaries set by their curses and demonic activity. And so education and learning was not possible for them. No one could change this from the inside.   

It could only come from outside people coming in to their worlds.  And who would dare to go?  Only those sent by God.  I repeat, no one else had any interest or any measure of human love to help the helpless.  It was God who loved them and had mercy upon them and sent them families to love them to God.  And His wisdom proved to set them free in EVERY AREA of their lives. It took Dads, and Moms and yes even their children to help show them the love of God day by day.    

Learning how to walk on the bridges over the streams was an art.  I was just a child and so we children would be carried over in the arms of strong Africans.  These bridges were made of logs and vines tied together - no nails were handy.  But they were strong and provided safe travel across.  I still remember coming home at night from the village church service in the dark.  And being carried on the back of someone who was singing softly.  Stopping every so often to adjust my weight on his back, he would continue on humming.  And then the whole train of people would start up again and we would continue walking until someone else carrying a child would need to adjust their load. I think we were all carried for safety reasons, not that we couldn't walk!  But the Africans were kind and gentle, and I am sure that they felt important and needed in this job of carrying the 4 sleepy children back to their Mission, across the monkey bridge.  Hearing them sing was soothing and enjoyable even though it was in an African dialect that I did not understand.  It also served to keep the wild at bay away from all of us.    

I remember watching the flash lights of the adults on the trail, and then the little circle of light shining up in the trees and circling around again. This constant shining of the flashlights all around was to keep the animals away from us, and us from stepping on something we did not mean to. 

We would hear the trees rustling and sounds of animals as we went past.  But no one was afraid.  Amazing ...now that I think back about it all.

Thirsty in this heat?  Certain types of vines produced water that when cut at a angle would run out and would provide natural water that was pure enough to drink. Wise Africans taught the white missionaries many things about living in the jungle safely.

Someone once said, 'It depends on what part of the world you are standing on, as to how smart you are'! For example; if you took the city dweller and placed them in the jungle they would not be able to survive.  And if you took the African and placed him in the City, he would not know how to survive.  But each in their own element could certainly help the other to gather new skills and survive the rigors of each life. 

The Africans taught us how to live in the brutal jungles of Liberia, and we taught them how to live eternally!  Together we all helped each other traveling towards our destiny's arm in arm.   

 

   

Can I Have a Job?

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Today while working at our RMA store, doing my usual functions of sorting clothing for various missions, and working side by side with our assigned community service girls, something special happened. 

A little 11 year old girl walked into the store.  Now she did not come to shop or to just look around and hang out. She came on a mission.  Walking straight to the front counter, she asked the cashier if she could have a job. When the cashier smiled and told her that she was too little, that she would have to wait a few years to be old enough.  She said, "can't I just sweep or clean or something here to make some money"?  Gently the cashier told her again that she was too young.  And questioned her why she needed a job. Thinking she was trying to make some money for shopping for something she was wanting.  But instead of hearing the usual kid statements, the little girl told her that her parents were having problems and she wanted to help pay the bills at home.  She told her eagerly that she would work hard. Not knowing what else to do the cashier took her to the ladies shoe department, set her on a seat, and went to get me. 

The shoe area was quiet without anyone around, so I went to her and knelt down beside her chair, smiled and asked her name.  She was open with me and started telling me her family's story.  They recently moved here from California, having suffered a death in the family and they were all hurting over it. Dad was working some, Mom was not yet and their little daughter knew they did not have enough to live on.  Her mind was filled with adult worries and she just knew she could be working somewhere and help out.  She told me they had had to leave their church in California and did not have anyone here to help them, nor had they visited any church in the area yet.

I told her about our Family Client Services program and ask her if she thought Mom and Dad would like to come to receive some help. She did not think that they would want to come, it sounded like she thought they might be too embarrassed to come.  So I dropped it.   

I ask her if she had ask Jesus into her heart, when she said yes and that she had two Bibles - one was her children's Bible and one was an adult Bible I knew this little girl was special. The Father directed this child to walk into RMA today so I could minister to her.  I found out she lived in the neighborhood behind the store. So I asked her to run home and ask her mother if she could give me her telephone number.  She jumped up and ran out, and come straight back.  She must have run all the way she came back so quickly.  She had all of their information neatly written down for me.  Mom and Dad's names, address, phone numbers and she and her big brother's names and ages.

When I started telling her about New Life and how they could be a part  of God's family here, that they were not alone, her anxious look began to change.  Her eyes calmed and her lips turned up into the first smile I had seen.  I said, "let's pray together over Mom and Dad and your family". I took her hand and she bowed her head and closed her eyes, and we prayed together right there in the shoe department. I hugged her and told her our youth pastors would be calling her to invite her to be a part of LIT.  She wanted to know if her brother could come too. 

It doesn't matter if shoppers came by and watched.  The store does happen to belong to New Life - so our customers do expect to see me from time to time doing Pastor's Wife's functions.  Even customers occasionally call out to me, 'Pastor Gayla'!  All of the community service workers call me Pastor - so it's perfectly normal for anyone to see me pastoring another person here.  This one was just the youngest I guess.

Pastoring a community is far different than just ministering in a single church.  Caring for the needs of our town, requires the Bishop and I to be among the people daily.  It is a privilege and a honor to care for those whom the Father loves.  Later after a phone call to the Youth Pastor to give out her information - I watch our shoppers and know that they were all in  church today - the marketplace church. 

By the way - my husband the Bishop, has another blog now.  It's called www.marketplacefaith.biz  and it deals with business people in the marketplace and their faith.  If you are in business - you will want to link to it for a daily inspirational word.  God knows we need more marketplace ministers in this world! 

It's been a fun day!         

The Skyward Academy

Vacation Bible School this year was held in our Palace Theater for the children of our church and community. I have seen teachers and helpers and volunteers working all week to prepare all of their classes and props for this wonderful event for kids.  

Their theme was called The Skyward Academy and it was based upon the Hero's in the Bible.  The staff wrote their own curriculum this year, they had so many ideas that they decided to create their own!  Now that's true creativity!  They designed and built big props just for the week long Event ( more on that later)

Their activities included demonstrations from   David and Goliath, Queen Esther, also Jonah and Daniel, and many other's! The children were rewarded for their Bible verses and enjoyed dramas, skits, music, acting, prizes, special treats and loads of fun!

A life size lion was there - representing his pack of lions in the den with Daniel. Goliath donated one of his legs and feet for VBS this week. 

And the Grand Queen Esther loaned her royal Throne for the children's delight.

There was laughing and shrieking and gales of giggles.  At times it was so loud that the teachers had to somehow keep things under control they were all having so much fun!  What could be better in the summertime for children.  VBS is a truly great way for the next generation to learn about their Bibles and to spend time with their teachers learning new concepts and goals for their lives. 

Jonah even came out of the whales mouth to teach them about obeying the voice of God. 

These kids had a ball!  Playing and dancing and shouting and loving every planned part of it.

Coloring and drawing, making crafts that all depicted the lessons they were learning.  Every night (this was a 5 day event) the children took home projects they made in their classes.

                                           Everyone including the adults had a really good time.  Well done Pastors Thomas and Jamie, Pastor Angela and the entire children's ministry team.  Want to do another one next year?  I hear they have already dreamed up next years ideas and are ready to go again!  We've come along way from the early days of puppet shows done in youth camps that my husband and I did when we were first married. Now the next generation has taken it to a whole new dimension - we are so proud of each of you!    

Whose in Charge?

Early this morning while in private devotions, my conversation with God settles within me a renewed focus in life. Sometimes I have the distinct blessing of His words being spoken to me in a still small voice. Here is His message - word for word.  

In your world there are things that man does not have control over in his quest to play God.  These areas should show him that he still needs Me.

• The progression of time - no one can stop time from moving.
• The air currents flowing across the world - who can change the temperature?
• The weather controls - can you stop tornado's? Lightening strikes? Rainstorms?
• The movements of the Seas - the tides and currents that flow in and out, the power and force of the waves?
• The supernatural occurrences in the Heavens -Orbits? Falling stars? Magnetic pulls?
• The earthquakes on earth - where they will occur next, and how to stop them?
• The volcano's - who proposes their own strength to control them?
• The power of death to take a life - who among man can stop death once it takes a life?
• And Eternity? How shall man keep it from occurring with his own beliefs? And what human can keep from going there?
• The body and blood of a single human being - who chooses their own parents? Their sex? Their nationality?  Their own ethnic background? Who decides among you the choices of height and coloring and looks?

Man cannot control these areas - they are still firmly in My Hand and those that feel they are masters of their own destiny should consider these fields before they decide they are in control.

So my question to you today is..... are you still pondering if you believe in God?  Unsure if there is One and if He cares about you?  Atheists and Agnostics are only people who have never been in the Presence of Almighty God. 

Once a person experiences His Holy Spirit, all doubts are forever gone.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.   

Healthy Sugar

Let me introduce you to a healthy surprise. This is called Jaggery or 'Gur'.  It's from India and provides all the sweetness of regular sugar- you know the white (bleached) addictive stuff that has no nutritional value, and empty calories.  But Jaggery is a wholesome unrefined natural sugar that is loaded with nutrition and minerals! Manufacturing sugar from  sugar cane takes chemicals to extract and produce the cosmetically correct looking  stuff on our American grocery shelves.  But Jaggery is produced all naturally with NO chemicals used in any stage of processing.

It is rich in iron and magnesium, and is often called the medicinal sugar, as it was used in ancient times for a remedy of various ailments. 

It comes in cubes or little cone shapes.  What does it taste like? By itself it has a buttery caramel very sweet taste.  It crumbles and still has the grainy texture - it needs to be grated or put in a food processor to break it apart easily. This is the sugar of India and when added to desserts it tastes fabulous!  Just think ..... sugar with nutrition! 

We discovered this while eating at a Indian vegetarian restaurant.  And the waiter actually brought some to our table for us to try.  This product can be found in a Indian grocery store.  I will be making some desserts with it soon, so I'll let you know how they turn out.  MMMM this is going to be interesting.... can't wait.      

      

One Finger at a Time

It's a little hard to type - so the post tonight will have to be a short one, as one finger typing takes forever!

I have had a 'prang' as an accident is called in Africa.  How?

As usual - racing the clock headed through a doorway carrying things in the RMA store and reached with my right hand into the small handle of the door and going too fast, my fingers got stuck and I could not get my hand out in time as my momentum was going too fast, which jerked me backwards and wrenched my hand pretty good. Ouch! 

I had to sit down a minute and catch my breath - think it is just badly sprained, but in any case wisdom is needed here so my two fingers are braced together to semi keep them still while I carry on with my day.

Say a prayer - there is too much to do to be slowed down (it's the right hand - so relearning typing, writing and eating slowly.  A challenge for sure! 

Don't think anything is broken, because it can still be wiggled (a little), but my daughter reminded me how when my foot was broken, I still got up after falling, and carried my two year old grandson all the way from the parking lot up to the 3rd floor to see our precious newborn grand daughter. Limping but walking on a fractured foot. Admittedly that did happen and it is possible to walk on a fracture.  But seriously no more broken bones here please.

So today  friend, would you whisper a prayer for healing for me please. So what's the moral of the story?  I know I can hear your reading thoughts .... 'slow down did you REALLY have to be going so fast'?  No, in the light of all things, this may take MORE time than simply slowing down .... okay I will.