"Baker Belin"

Roy has always called me "Baker Belin" because I have high aspirations of cooking. Over the past two years of marriage I have made some attempts to cook, some successful, while others being major flops. I am happy to say my cooking skills are definitely improving! I have spent the weekend in the kitchen trying out a few recipes from allrecipes.com and Real Simple Magazine.



A yummy strawberry marble cake from allrecipes.com






Homemade blueberry muffins from allrecipes.com

Homemade pita chips from Real Simple Magazine

SE Asia Video

Here is a small glimpse of what our trip to SE Asia was like. Hopefully this helps paint a picture in your mind of what we were blessed to see and experience!

South East Asia from Jeffrey Hoy on Vimeo.

First thoughts of SE Asia...

It has been a month since our time in SE Asia and in this moment I feel as if it never even happened. I know we have yet to blog about our time there, what we did, what we saw, how He spoke to us. It was an overwhelming trip to say the very least and with extreme culture shock and exhaustion I felt numb the entire trip. I can remember on several occasions voicing out loud that "I feel like I am in a dream." I saw things that will forever stay in my mind, things I honestly want to forget because it would be easier to say "I never knew" than to see it and feel held responsible. Poverty. We don't even know what severe poverty is here in the States. I felt so worldly and materialistic and downright selfish for all of the things I have, treasure, and want. Possessions are not a bad thing per se, but how much I value what I have and how badly I desire more reflects the selfish, worldly nature of my heart. I saw beggars with no hands. Seriously. A boy, probably around 18 or so, came up my window and was beating on the window with no hands. In that moment I froze. It shattered my heart into millions of pieces that I had nothing to offer this boy. What he needed and still needs at this instant is the saving grace that comes from Jesus alone.

I remember walking through the slums of the capital city. I was in flip flops and was more concerned with what I was possibly stepping in than what I was seeing. Poverty as far as the eye could see. Trash and filth lining the muddy streets, children half naked and barefoot. There were no material goods to be had. In the slums, it is a fight for survival. Where will my next meal come from? We were welcomed into the "home" of a Muslim family and all 12 of us (at least, if not more) crowded into the one room. Inside this room was a large bed, which took up the bulk of the room. The rest of the room was taken up by a few items of clothing and some pots and pans.... seriously, the most basic and necessary things needed to survive. As I sat on a bed that felt more like a slab of concrete I had a serious reality check. THIS PLACE IS NOT MY HOME! I was not made for earth, I was made for something much greater and therefore, I can't get comfortable here.



A little boy in the slums




My biggest fear of walking away from SE Asia is that I will forget what I saw... that I will remain number to these people and pretend it never happened. Oh, it happened all right. We have some pretty incredible pictures and intense stories, but even still I remain emotionless. We spent some time in some very dark places. You could feel it. You could feel the absence of Jesus' name being praise. Allah is the god of these people and their cries to him in prayer made my stomach churn. I can remember lying in bed one night, windows open, two mosques on both sides of our $5 a night hotel. Around midnight lying in the pitch dark we heard our very first call to prayer and immediately I reached for Roy's hand. I was terrified, disturbed, and although fully acknowledging that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords I felt as if He wasn't present. Even now as I am writing to help myself process this trip really more than anything, I still find myself speechless. How do you put this trip into words? I am still struggling and ask that you bear with me and I wrestle through my scattered thoughts.

Please pray that we will continue to process this trip. It was a privilege to go and see what life is like in SE Asia, but I long to be changed by it... forever changed. May my heart and yours as well break for those who do not know Jesus. Please continue to lift up the people of SE Asia and beg the Lord to satisfy every longing they have.

The life of a seminary wife...

I am beyond blessed to be walking through this "seminary" season of life with some incredible women of God. I have formed an incredible bond with a phenomenal group of women whose husband's are in the same class as Roy. We started this journey together and what a wild ride it has been. Usually we have a "Family Night" as we like to call it a few times a month. We'll get together and share a meal, play games, and enjoy community. Roy and I always thank the Lord for the amazing friendships we have here in Orlando, both with RTS and City Church. I am convinced that community and deep friendships are far more valuable than any worldly riches. I am so thankful for the first year of seminary and having spent it with some awesome brothers and sisters in Christ! Thank you, sweet friends, for deeply enriching our lives! We are grateful for you all :)

Valley of Vision

A Puritan prayer:

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

Please pray for Asia!

Having seen the work God is doing first hand, we are asking you all to please pray for the nations! Our God reigns and one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. We are begging God to change hearts and touch lives with the Good News! Here is an incredible video that some wonderful friends of ours shared with us. Please pray and beg God for the people of Asia!

SE ASIA 2010

We are back in Orlando safe and sound! The 10 day trip was overwhelming and phenomenal all in one. It will take us many months to process all that we experienced. We will update you all with more specifics soon :) For now, here are just a few pictures from our trip. You can view more on my Facebook page. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement!