Be Kind

 In a world where you can be anything.....BE KIND

Be Kind...But sometimes I don't feel like it! I will whine this sometimes. Especially when driving. Sometimes it just feels good to just "UGH" or sigh loudly. No matter what your mood is for that day, what someone says, or how they drive or even if you are not a morning person, BE KIND. Your words or actions do affect others, either positively or negatively. 

Here is a perfect example that happened to me. Not sure if you know, but me and my husband are building a house. We had to go out and pick out all the flooring, lights, brick..all the things that goes with a house. Exciting? Kinda, but stressful.  At one of the stores we were at, the saleslady helping us looked so familiar. I couldn't place her. Toward the end of the session with us, she said "I know where I know you from!" (I guess she was thinking the same thing). Turns out, I took care of her mother in the hospital. She thanked me for all the help I gave her and work for setting her up at home on discharge. You just never know how you work in someone's life and help them. But then there will be that one day in a store, or going out to eat and someone will see you and remember how kind you were. (but they will also remember how you were not so kind too.) 

When talking to someone, whether in person, or via text or social media, remember to be kind in your words and actions. The old saying (I am showing my age now!) sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me IS JUST NOT TRUE. They do hurt. A lot. We all can have a difference of option, but still be respectful. Set the example for others in speech, conduct, love and your faith.

We, you and I, are on mission every day. We are setting the example everytime we interact with others. This is verbal and non verbal actions, our words, deeds. Yes we are human, and we do mess up. God knows how many times I mess up and yet He forgives me. It is called grace and we need to spread that out a little more to others. 

So when you are waking up and your coffee maker is broke, or there is a long line of traffic and people just can't drive, remember who you are and whose you are and be that example. Take a breath, and thank God for the breath in your lungs, and the new day you have been given. God chose you and you are never too messed up or broken for him.

1 Corinthians 15:57 states, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

Blessings to all,

pickle time!

 If you know me, you know what time it is right now! And for those that don't know me.....IT'S PICKLE TIME! What this means is that the cucs are planted and starting to grow! This is a project I have been doing for many years to help fund-raise for my mission trips. 

I know you are wondering, "Autumn, why did you start this?" Well, let me tell you the back story!

My pickle recipe is my G.ma recipe. I started making bread and butter pickles for my dad and cousin. Then one day, I had someone ask to try them and they loved them, so I started making some for friends. Then one day, someone came to me and said I should sell them to raise money for my mission trips. She said I should call them Autumn's Mission Pickles. So guess what, that is exactly what I started to do! 

Then after a few years, some special requests came in for dill. I researched and found a recipe that I like. Then some were asking for spicy. So I started that. And this is how my pickles evolved. I have a following of some that want some every year. I enjoy canning them. Don't get me wrong, it is A LOT of work. But it is only for a few months then the pickle season is over!

I love working along with my dad. He plants the garden and I make the pickles. It is a family effort.

We even have our guards to keep watch over our little plants!

I know you are enticed to want some and I'm sorry, but I only make them for local delivery. (darn). My production is not that large and I only make enough for my yearly trips. I am praying that I am able to have an increase in my fund-raising so that I can go on a few more extra trips. I am looking at planning my next year and have 3- 4 trips that I would like to take. A couple require plane flights, but 1 I can definitely drive. The other is a little distance and could drive in 12 hrs. 

I am also thinking of returning to Honduras next summer, maybe. We will see what God has in store for me for 2026.  For now, I have one trip left for 2025 in August. 

So now I am focusing on pickles! Pre-orders have been good and I hope to increase sales as I start to make them. I am also working on my spirit and mind and focusing on my daily talks with God. He is preparing my heart and mind for bigger things. I can't wait to see what He is going to do through me!

Question for you to ponder...Are you bearing good fruit? Do you just do things to just get through the day, just to survive or are you living your life? Are you proud of what you do, what you say, or are you just going through the motions? 

Live your life to the fullest! 

Psalm 37:4 states, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." 

Colossians 3:23 states "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Blessings to all, 

Serve like Jesus

Serve like Jesus. That is hard to do. Jesus is the ultimate example of how we are to serve one another. But He calls us to follow his example, wherever we are and with whatever we are doing. Jesus led by example through being a servant to others. He washed the feet of his disciples, he sat at the table with tax collectors and the people that were looked down on. 

We must not look at ourselves as better than other people. But we should be loving others, unconditionally, no matter where they are from or who they are. This is hard because we all get in our comfort zone and some of us struggle with approaching people and talking to strangers. It is hard to find that courage to do this. We all are sinners and fall short, but Jesus has paid that price for us to be forgiven and live eternally with him. Look at others, and yourself, through the eyes of Jesus. He will give you courage and the words to do what is needed. 

I have seen a lot of despair and sorrow throughout my missions. On the medical side, I have seen a lot kids with problems and parents coming through in desperation needing medicines because they just do not have the money. I have also see how happy they are too. The hard times do not define them, but they work through it. My heart goes out to them, and I do what I can for them. It is always a joy to love on the kids and babies, whether it was at the medical clinics or at the kids ministry. Just spending time playing with them makes a difference. And showing you are human, no matter what age, is always fun. As I get older, I find that skipping and jumping is getting a little harder, but I keep doing it, CAREFULLY, and the kids love laughing at my struggles. But that's ok, because it is something that draws us together.

On our prayer walks through the neighborhoods, we ask them what they would like for us to pray for them. Most do not know, they just say health. But as we talk and open up our hearts to them, we both see that we are not different, and have some of the same problems. Life is like that. Sometimes we just get so focused on what is happening that it can be hard to get out of that cycle. We feel that no one will understand, but actually, your struggles can help someone else overcome theirs. 

While I am not in medical missions right now, I am working in communities to show the love of God through acts of kindness. Just small acts of cleaning a house, or reshaping a playground, makes a big difference and plants seeds. 

Ask God to show you how to work in a way that honors Him and helps you to trust Him more. Start planting those seeds. 

John 13:14 states: "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."

Blessings to all,