Tie dye fabric

I gave Hannah two pieces of muslin fabric to tie dye.  I then made a child's sundress out of one of the pieces of dyed fabric.  I forgot to take a picture of the fabric before I cut it up but I did take a picture of the second piece she dyed.
Now I have a hand dyed one of a kind sundress.  I think at some point I may go ahead and make the sun dress and then have her dye it to see which one I like the to use the best.  Dyed fabric or dyed finished dress.
I am pleased with how the project is looking so far.

Homemade armor all

Our pickup bed cover was getting so dry and icky looking from the elements here.  I wanted to spruce it up but armor all is so expensive, full of chemicals and stinks so bad that I thought there had to be an alternative.  I looked on Pinterest and sure enough I found a recipe for home made armor all.  I just mixed up 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice and spread it on with an old rag.  It went on easily and looks great.  I did pour it on once in a little area and it was messy so I just put it on a rag and spread it around that way.  We will see how it holds up.  I imagine it will be just as good as the store bought stuff but much less expensive and no chemicals.  If it ends up looking good I will do it to the inside of the pickup.

Fun on the beach

My granddaughter enjoyed our time at the beach.

Missionary update july27,2013

Bush Beat Blog From: Linda Ferguson, for" Bush Bunny Brenda" Date :, July 27, 2013 Hello to all of the faithful supporters of Orphans Unlimited, Inc. This email blog is coming to you from Linda Ferguson in our Texas office. I am the person who's name appears at the very  bottom of your weekly Bush Bunny Brenda Blog. Brenda is in Pemba today and didn't write a Blog entry before she left the Mission Headquarters in Balama. Because of the jam packed schedules of the staff, Brenda was the only one available to deliver the team from Michigan back to the airport for their flight home. The Go Project's team of Sally Dykema and Dale Meindertsma have been busy helping bring in the harvest, both of corn and of souls. We will have details of their adventures soon. But while "The cat is away..... this mouse" thought you might enjoy seeing some photos that represent a typical, power packed, "day in the life".. of The Bush Bunny. Brenda Caring for a babe in mother's arms- a daily sight. These starving children were rescued from sure death by their Grandmother, who walked many miles,not knowing if she would find help. "Bush Bunny" Brenda Lange LOVE GIFTS TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED, INC. 11152 WESTHEIMER RD., PMB 391 HOUSTON, TX 77042 LOVE GIFT TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED in RSA Standard Bank-Hatfield (branch code) 011-54515 Name: Orphans Unlimited Acct. # 017743036 PERSONAL NOTES TO BRENDA brenda@orphansunlimited.org ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: LINDA FERGUSON linda@orphansunlimited. org phone: 979-234-3422or 713-854-9197 Brenda’s Blog is Posted at: www.orphansunlimited.org/blog or SUBSCRIBE to receive the blog by e-mail. Worship service looks like lots of fun. The puppets are a favorite of both children and adults. Thw wheelchair and the crutches were such a happy surprise. As you can see by the beautiful smiles. Brenda shows us a stick with cord wrapped around it and beetles in bright colors attached. This tool of the witch doctor was given to her by the woman who was saved and baptized. The former witch doctor hut was burned as a testimony to a life changed by the grace of God. We couldn't end the day without checking in on the goats. Sure enough, there's Brenda and one of the goat team busy worming a reluctant volunteer.

This message was sent to bootstrapdko@yahoo.com from: Orphans Unlimited, Inc. | 307 East State Street | Eagle Lake, Texas 77434

Email Marketing by

Manage Your Subscription

Missionary update July 21, 2013

JESUS FILM IMPACTS OVER 1000 “UNREACHED” IN MAPONE VILLAGE

Our Orphan Drama Team at their best, just before the Jesus Film is shown. The boys did a great job and had the audience totally captivated.


Our orphan drama team engaged the large crowd with 2 very powerful programs while our Missionary Team set up the film equipment just before dark last night at Mapone’s soccer field. Many hid in the shadows to watch, too afraid to be seen in the crowd by their neighbors. Today, Sunday, 80+ adults and 95 children came to the church meeting to find out more about Jesus. FOUR people prayed to receive Jesus as they met under a large Mango tree that had been designated “the church” for this village. A total of 32 new Christian adults will now cut fence posts and bamboos so they can build a proper meeting place. Having 180 people show up for our first post Jesus Film meeting makes this village a record setter. It’s the best response we’ve seen so far. The fields are RIPE and we are ready to bring in the harvest! These new believers begged Pastor Alberto to start a Bible School in their village. We’ll be organizing that to begin 2 weeks from now. Evangelism is only the first step. DISCIPLESHIP through our International Victory Bible School curriculum is the way to “train them up in the way they should go”.



Our team is off to the 5000+ population of the Mpaca village for tonight’s showing of the Jesus Film. More on that showing next week.
DALE’S OBJECT LESSONS IMPACT NAMARA AND PEQUARIA CHURCHES
Dale Meindertsma of Michigan is visiting for his 3rd year in a row, specializing in “object lessons” that teach valuable Bible Lessons to both adults and children. His 2 audiences were totally engaged this morning as he used a blind folded child to show how we are lost and in danger without Jesus. But WITH Jesus in our hearts, He guides us through life, keeping us safe, even when danger is right in front of us. Dale’s sponge dripped water, a perfect example of how our words drip out of our mouths, and once gone, can’t be taken back for they are “lost” forever as they hit the dirt and soak into the ground. Bridle thy mouth or face the consequences if our words harm others for you can’t get them back, no matter how hard you try.

BABY RESCUE AT PEQUARIA CHURCH
A mother came forth when Dale prayed for the sick, who has a new born but no breast milk. We organized a baby “RESCUE KIT”. A baby bottle, can of formula, and filtered water. Nelson, my 16 year old nursing trainee, got his first chance to teach a new mother how to boil water, clean the bottle, and take proper care of a baby on formula. The baby is very weak, so our prayer is that the baby will survive it’s rough start in life.



PREGNANT MOTHER IN TROUBLE
Just as everyone returned from church, I received a call from the hospital begging our help for a pregnant mother in trouble. Being “on call” with 1 of our Land Cruiser pick-ups as an Ambulance is one of the ways we help out when lives are at stake. Our driver, Janito, rushed out to the clinic in Impire at noon to fetch a pregnant woman having a seizure. He just came back to say they requested him to take her on to the Regional Hospital in Montepuez, 30 miles (60 km) away where C-sections are possible. I had anticipated this, and organized Manuel, our main driver to handle this fast trip so that Janito could carry the Jesus Film equipment out to Mpaca tonight.



My official title here is “THE COORDINATOR”. It’s a gift from God, and He helps me do it well. With HIM BY MY SIDE, many lives are touched in everything we do. There is no better place to be than in God’s will for your life. For it is in that place, that HE will show you that you can do more than you ever dreamed you could. NO ONE could have convinced me when God called me in 1988, just how much HE would have us accomplish in these last 23 years. AMAZING is all I can say when I look back at how many lives He’s touched through us and the visitors he’s sent us.



SALLY PREACHES THE PRODIGAL SON IN ROVUMA TODAY


Sally Dykema of Michigan is also here for her 3rd “tour” to preach and love on our kids. Sally’s USA church founded Rovuma’s church 5 years ago, so she was received with much singing and dancing today by the members. Sally told us at lunch that even ERIC got in on the dancing with the men in the church. Linda’s camera battery died, or we would have had that rare happening on film!


CORN IS IN THE BARN!

Dale and our team setting up tarps as the rain drizzled down.
On a cold and rainy Friday this week, our 60 man team worked hard and fast to sack and stack the last 305 sacks of super dry corn that will see our orphans through the rainy season (Jan. to May). I’m very proud of our team of Missionaries (Emma and Melissa) as well as our 60 man staff and crew who moved 103 tons of corn in 5 days. It was never more true, when I say that “many hands make the work light”. Our corn barn is now “full to the brim” as we were barely able to close the doors once it was stacked in 7 “pillars” reaching 13 ft. (3.9 m) in height. The first distribution to 447 hungry orphans and the 211 widows who care for them will be Tuesday this coming week. This area had a poor corn harvest due to crop failures from either too much rain or not enough, depending on which of the 9 villages the kids live in. We THANK ALL OF YOU who have generously given so that these children may grow up healthy and do well in school. As everyone knows “hungry bellies have no ears”.



TIDBITS:
DANIELLE VAN ZYL is back in RSA to get her residency documents. Melissa Olmsdahl flew in Wed. with Sally and Dale. Melissa is from the Christian Motorcycle Association church in George, RSA and applies for residency tomorrow, give a year of her life to help us out! Welcome aboard, Melissa! Biker Woman!

BLESSINGS FROM THE BALAMA TEAM,
Bush Bunny Brenda Lange
Eric Dry (The Bush Bear)
Linda Stanley, (Angel)
Melissa Olmsdahl (Biker Woman!)
Emma Clifford, Rough Tough Texan

Missionary update July 14, 2013

From: "Brenda Lange"

Subject: Blog, July 13, 2013

Date: July 13, 2013 8:14:27 AM CDT





MAVALA BAPTISM SEES 23 DIPPED IN COOOLD WATER!











The photo shows Pastor Alberto (in the rubber boots) using our newly made invention by Eric Dry, O.U.’s Associate Director in Mozambique. His portable Baptismal tank provides us a way to do Baptisms throughout the dry season. Eric puts one of our 750 liter water storage tanks on the back of our 1 ton Land Cruiser, fills it with water, and away they go. This smaller, 500 liter tank with the top cut (reinforced with a rebar ring at the top) provides the dipping station.

Before this, we were restricted to having baptisms ONLY at the end of the rainy season while water still existed in the local rivers.

Eric’s invention now makes it possible all year round.

THANKS ERIC for your Bush Engineering!



SOCCER PLAYING ORPHANS GET FIRST UNIFORMS



Our teenage orphans have had a great soccer team for 2 years, but we never had uniforms before. Thanks to the MCMI STAFF in San Antonio, our kids are now outfitted in proper soccer uniforms!

I just drove them to their first game as they proudly wore their new uniforms. It’s a BIG THING in this town to have a uniform, as the only others who have them are the city’s men’s team.

They are playing the Sunday School children from our Rovuma church, just 5 km from our base.

I’ll let you know the outcome in next week’s blog. THANKS MCMI STAFF!



SECOND CORN BUYING STARTS MONDAY, JULY 15TH



For the rainy season, we need super dry corn that can handle the damper weather. Our final 105 TONS will be trucked in this week, processed, and sacked for long term storage. So back to the corn chutes we go! If we can move 20+ tons a day, we’ll be finished by Friday, PTL!











THE NEW MOZAMBICAN FAMILY TRANSPORT





If you count closely, you will see EIGHT people on this 50 cc motorbike. This photo has NOT been photo-shopped.

We commonly see up to 5 people on motorbikes around our area, but this one beats all!



Last week, someone asked me if the goat photo had been photo-shopped. NOPE, that was the real thing.

Goats are normally carried tied up in a large basket on the back of a bicycle, so the Goat BAAACK PACK was a first for all of us!



Keep those prayers coming! We show the Jesus Film in 2 different villages next weekend and old “Smutty Face”, the devil is going to be a bit riled over that.

We pray many will see the truth and come to Christ.



Blessings from the Balama Gang

Bush Bunny Brenda Lange

Eric Dry

Linda Stanley

Emma Clifford

Danielle Van Zyl

Im sorry but my blogger wont let me post the pictures in their proper places.  It barely lets me post at all.  Who knows what it wrong with it.

Granny ripple afghan

The other day a friend and I were looking through an antique store and the clerk was crocheting a granny ripple afghan.  I commented to her that I had been going to try to learn that stitch.  She asked me if I wanted her to make a copy of the directions.  I said yes, came home and sat down to learn it.  I'm using yarn I already have so it would not be my first color choice but I like it anyway.  The first two rows I had to pay close attention to the directions and then after the third row I was off.  Its a neat stitch and would make a great scrap afghan.

I will try to remember to post pictures once its done.

Gate guarding

I am friends with a sweet couple I met at church. They are an older couple who have what to me is an unusual job. They gate guard.




Here in Texas the oil and gas industry is booming as well as other businesses and ranches. Many of which need gate guards.



Gate guards are usually a couple who live in their own RV that is situated right at the gate of the business. The couple stays there 24/7. One person can go somewhere but unless they hire someone they cannot both go anywhere. It’s a good job for retired folks who do not spend a lot of time at the doctors.



The gate guard company supplies, water for drinking and water for showers, flushing and so on. The company also supplies a generator and fuel. Ice and so on. The couple must provide their own food.



These folks would sure have to be able to plan all their meals out in advance and stick to the plan and be sure they have purchased all supplies needed.



The pay is not huge but the work isn’t too hard. If you are someone who enjoys people then this might be a good job for you.



My friends are not gate guarding right now because the husband is taking care of a health issue which should be resolved in the next month. At that time they will go back to gate guarding. My friend said she will call me once they are guarding again so I can come over for a visit. I imagine I will bring my crocheting along as its doubtful we would do much running around which is fine with me. I will be sure to ask if there is anything I can pick up for them when I go.



I just thought this was an interesting way to earn money and thought you all might enjoy learning about it too.

MIA

I know I have been missing in action lately.  Its been a busy summer.  We went to Kansas last week for a week to help my mom sort through boxes and so on.  I was able to bring home several bags of fabric and yarn.  There is more there but it will have to wait until next time.

I made Hannah and myself a chore list to try to keep more on track and to train us both to keep things flowing.  The picture is of the original chart.  I tweaked it this morning because I had actually forgotten to list cleaning of our bedrooms.

Today a company is coming to install some carports for us.  I am happy about it.  I know it will sure cut down on the heat inside the automobiles as well as help keep the pain jobs in better shape than the sun just bearing down on them.  I'm hoping that an added benefit will be that they will cool the front porch off as well.

Yolanda, I sent for the catalog you talked about in your post a while back.  I cant wait to see what all they have.

Right now I have a batch of sauerkraut making in the pantry.  It should be done in about 3 or 4 more weeks.

Oh and yesterday I canned my first figs.  I made strawberry fig preserves.  I got 7 half pints.  Next picking I think I will just make fig preserves.  That way at some future time I can make home made fig newtons. Or cake or something.

I also was given an Amish friendship bread starter by a friend at church.  I am figuring out how to use and make it without having to give some to friends.  I recently found a recipe for fermented cake.  As soon as I get some marachino cherries.  I will post the cake recipe soon.

Missionary update July 7, 2013

MOPONE VILLAGE A SERIOUS SPIRITUAL CHALLENGE



The remote village of Mopone is only 14km (8.4 miles) from our base, but it’s like another world. No market exists, which signals a VERY poor area. The road to get there took 4 wheel drive due to deep sand and several washed out trenched areas. Not a fun drive in the daylight, much less in the dark when we show the Jesus Film in 2 weeks.



Over 120 people came to hear the story of “HOW MAN CAN DEMOLISH THE SIN GAP AND MEET JESUS.”

As usual when we begin a spiritual work in a village, the crowd is full of doubters and scoffers.

Such was the case today, but most did at least listen to the story (complete with pictures of how NO ONE can earn their way into heaven through good works).



One of the X-Witch Doctors who burned her witch hut 3 weeks ago, is a strong Granny figure, highly respected in this village. She gave a powerful healing testimony telling how her medicine couldn’t cure ailments she’d had for years, but since she met Jesus, HE CURED HER! I could see the women in the crowd starting to “perk up” and take notice, while the men continued to stand off at a distance and talk among themselves.

We prayed for the sick and 9 MOTHER’S with young children asked to receive Jesus.

Many told us to keep our Jesus, they just wanted to be healed.



We prayed for them all, but explained that it is by FAITH they receive the Master’s healing.

The doubters stomped out when they didn’t receive an instant healing.

But those 9 mothers stood fast in the face of many doubters and left with big smiles on their faces.

So keep us in prayer as we continue to “break new ground” for Jesus.

There are now 29 BELIEVERS in Mopone, and we are sure the Lord will reap a big harvest once His story is told via the Jesus Film.



Mopone will be a real challenge for sure.

But as we always say, NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR JESUS!



Blessings,

Bush Bunny Brenda in Balama, Mozambique

Missionary update June 16, 2013

LIFE AFTER CORN BUYING DOES EXIST!



200 TONS of corn in the barn.


When the whole team is focused on corn buying for 9 days straight, it can seem like an eternity.

For this Bunny, here’s my daily time line:

Getting up at 3:30a.m., get the office work done before weight teams arrive.

5a.m. our 2 trucks and weight teams (28 men) leave for the bush villages where the corn co-op groups eagerly await our arrival.

I organize breakfast and lunch for these teams as well as make sure they are fuelled, have drinking water, etc.

Sort of like getting a massive group of kids off to summer camp each day.
5:30a.m. the missionary team and I leave for the barns.

5:35a.m. singing, prayer, and an evangelical message is given to the 65 workers (most who don’t know Christ).

Got to have our spiritual food so we can start out day.

6a.m. the work begins.

The 65 man crew moves up to 500 sacks of corn/day, unloading the trucks, running it through the sacking chutes, and stacking it 13 rows high (14 ft. or 5.5 meters) in our barns. It must be done PERFECTLY or that 100 ton mountain of corn WILL come tumbling down.

Our missionary team operate the chutes making sure all the bugs are eradicated before it goes into the sacks.
EACH of those 500 sacks (140 lbs. or 70kg) is lifted at least 6 times between the weighing process and being stacked in our barn.

That is one reason we need so many men, as that is an average of picking up 2,500 sacks in a 5 hours! (about 50 sacks/person so it’s not an overload). But climbing a “ladder” made of stacked corn to get it up to that 13th row IS A CHALLENGE for all of the men and is very tiring.

I organize extra men to help on the 2 days we have to “take it to the top”.


Lots of prayer goes on before each day’s work for protection from accidents.

I personally saw 3 men fall off the “ladder” trying to get the bags to the 13th row.

NO ONE was harmed in these falls as the bags fell to the side instead of crushing bones.

Our angels are “on guard” so that even the unbelievers go unharmed.

I thanked JESUS every day as we completed the work in record time, with no injuries.

FRIDAY YOUTH NIGHT OPENED LAST NIGHT
What we loving call our “Dream Team”, consists of Emma Clifford, Danielle Van Zyl, and Melissa Olmsdahl. All these girls have youth ministry experience. With Eric’s and Linda’s help they did a great job of organizing their first “Youth Night”, showing the movie: THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE (in Portuguese). The church was packed out! We plan a 2nd Christian movie next Friday to get draw more young people.

After that, they will organized games and evangelical programs to help these teenagers find Christ and learn to walk according to the Bible.


P.S. Breanne Brammer returned to the USA on Wed. due to a diagnosis of “complicated malaria”. She is now safely back at her home.

We wish her a speedy recovery.
MELISSA FLIES TO RSA TO OBTAIN PERMANENT RESIDENCY STATIS FOR MOZAMBIQUE


Melissa, 25 year old Youth Director from George, S. Africa, is top notch at working with young people. She has committed to a year and will return to us on July 17th, as it will take several weeks to get her police clearance and other required documents in order.

WELCOME ABOARD, Melissa!
DANIELLE AND MELISSA’S ENGLISH LESSONS HAS THEM SPEAKING MAKUA!
Nelson teaching Makua and Portuguese to Emma, Melissa, and Danielle (sitting in our pro-school classroom) cause it has a black board.

Nelson, my wonderful 16 year old orphan interpreter, has now turned language teacher!

Nelson desires to follow in my footsteps as a Preacher/nurse/interpreter.

His first challenge is to learn English, so I asked the girls to teach him.

The Lord impressed on Melissa that she must learn Makua.

Next thing I hear, is that they are swapping languages!

All 3 “student/teachers” are learning at a fast pace.

Our meals are now a mixture of 4 languages, making it a barrel of laughs.

You’ll hear English, Africaans, Portuguese, and Makua. But Emma and I don’t stop there, as we usually throw in a bit of Texan when we sing the “HEE HAW TV THEME SONG”. Now the whole team knows it. Linda even does the HEE HAW shout with a fancy leg kick!

P.S. Linda’s birthday is June 22.


WHY LEARN MAKUA? Because it’s the local language spoken by EVERYONE in the villages.

What better way to teach the Word of God, than to learn it so you don’t depend on an interpreter like I do.

Both these young ladies and Emma, who speaks Spanish, are also studying Portuguese from our computer taught coarse.


BIBLE SCHOOL FOR THE MISSIONARIES


Our International Victory Bible School has been in session for several years, teaching God’s Word to new converts in the villages.

This week our energetic young people have now started an informal Bible School via DVD for our missionaries.

Each person can take it at their own pace to enhance their understanding of God’s Word.

THANK YOU VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTER for providing us with these classes.


OUR DREAM TEAM IS DEFINENTLY AN ENERGETIC ONE!


They remind me of intellectual sponges, with the speed at which they are learning.

Emma and Danielle just completed 30 days in Moz., and Melissa just joined us on June 1st!

No grass grows under their feet for sure!


Danielle and I weighing Toto on our baby scale. He got in a dog fight and needed an injection (dosage by weight) and this was the only scale that would weigh him.

Love and Hugs,

Bush Bunny Brenda

Eric Dry

Linda Stanley

Emma Clifford

Danielle Van Zyl

Melissa Olmsdahl

Adult bibs

At the craft shop where I work part time someone put in a request for more adult bibs.  The lady who makes them said she doesn't have time to make them because she hand sews everything.  I offered to make some.  This is what I came up with.  Two of them are made from dress shirts Jeff no longer wanted.  I was trying to make them look less baby like.  I think I have the pattern worked out.

This last one shows the Velcro I used for closure.  The orange tags are the tags I put on them for the craft shop.  I will take these in and see if they sell before I make too many.

Poem

Warning


by Jenny Joseph



WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit



You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes



But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.



But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.



Taken from the book

When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

Editd by Sandra Martz

Papier Mache Press--Watsonville, California 1987

Get your groove on, Hannah

     Hannah has decided she wants to learn to tie dye and try to get good enough at it to make some money.  I think she will end up doing just that because this is her first ever attempt.  I love them. 
     I bought some bleached muslin and I am going to have her tie dye it and then I am going to make some pillowcase dresses, summer beach cover up dresses and boys shorts with the fabric.
     I think she will be really good at this.  No wait she already is.

Years ago I tried tie dye but I never did a spiral.

Easy ruffles or gathers

I just learned something new for all of you who sew. You don't need to spend a penny on a special ruffle or gathering foot just do this. I saw it on pinterest and tried it and it works like a charm. I am excited.


An easy way to gather is to set your tension on the highest it goes...my machine 9. Put your stitch length to the highest it will go....my machine is 5. And now just start sewing your fabric. The machine will ruffle it for you!!!

Just be sure to write down the number of where the correct tension is so you can put it back when you are done and you don't have to have a heart attack trying to set your tension.