A Candle at Midnight

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2.

Even though the Thai's Buddhism does not have a caste system and those outside that are not considered to be living, breathing people just like everyone else like India's Hinduism does, there is still the concept of karma, reincarnation, and lower plains of existence. Human trafficking is a problem in Thailand, as well as other places, but I am going to focus on Thai women.

Woman are held at a much lower level of life as the men and as human trafficking defines, are many times traded, although illegally, as payment for debts or other such dealings. The dictionary definitions of trafficking are as follows: vehicles moving on a road or public highway, or the action of dealing or trading in something illegal. The fact that it is illegal to traffic humans: men, women, and children is illegal does not seam to stop those who do not like to follow the law to slip in between the cracks. These women once traded are treated with as much dignity as the untouchables in India and other Hindu populations, as if they did not live, breath, have hearts or walk the earth in a manner worth of being called human. Pets in America are treated in better regard as these women who are used as slaves, receive beatings, and are victims of sexual assaults. An article from from gvnet.com gives an example of human trafficking for children explaining that, “On a monthly basis, a small number of children vanish. These children, ... are forced into working as beggars, laborers and prostitutes in Malaysia, Bangkok and Nakhon Sawan. It has also been reported that the children are badly maltreated by those who employ them, even giving them electric shocks if they don’t bring in sufficient money from begging. Some of the schemes that the immigrants perpetrate are: selling their children, luring some away and stealing others, even hiring out babies for 20 Baht daily to be used as fronts for begging.”

One reason, in addition to my home that human trafficking is resolved, that I chose to create a blog on this issue is because I heard about a business called Night Light International in another class this semester. It is a company located in Thailand and in the United States that targets women who have been victims of this human trafficking and sexual immorality in which their self-esteem and self-worth are greatly diminished. Night Light provides lodging and jobs for them, seeking to provide them with freedom, relationships, love, a chance to find their dignity and discover a way to live and make a living in their community by making the beautiful jewelry shown on their site.

Night Light has taken that leap to help fix a global problem one step at a time, and whether they know it or not, make an impact for the Kingdom of God. There are so many issues in this world like starvation, homelessness, etc. that right now we cannot go and address personally within a suffering area, but we can contribute to that difference by praying for and donating to that cause. Personally, I want to start purchasing the lovely jewelry from Night Light International.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, Love your neighbor as yourself. ...A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ...But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ...Go and do likewise.” Luke 10: 27, 30, 33-34, 37b.

http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Thailand.htm

http://nightlightinternational.com/

Here are some links of websites related to whole wheat cooking.  Giving some recipes and explaining what whole wheats give:
 http://oldfashionedliving.com/wholewheat.html
http://www.wheatfoods.org/Recipe-Recipe/Index.htm

At Home In The Kitchen

I have always enjoyed cooking, and cooking has always been a memorable experience for me, baking Christmas candy cane and 'haystack' cookies from scratch with my mom for the neighbors, and even picking up those 'all they need is cooking' dough from the store with the little Christmas tree or the face of santa or rudolph the red nosed reindeer, already cut in their circular form, as a last minute alternative for a church event. I ended up burning them though, but surprisingly enough they were they first ones gone from the table. Hmm. There are many fond memories of a house enveloped in sensational aromas while we were creating the masterpiece for stuffing for the Turkey, mashing the potatoes, boiling the gravy, pouring the pumpkin mixture into the pie shells.

In tenth grade I began homeschooling along with my best friend, Soozie. Our instruction was mainly independent, but my mom became our teacher for chemistry and her mom for home economics. This particular home economics course was about baking and cooking with whole grains. Needless to say, building a meal from scratch with whole grains takes a better part of the day, but we had oh so much fun! I would venture to say that the recipe that took the least amount of time was the waffles, but we soon discovered that they cook differently and burned a few before we got it. The meal that took the longest was probably the dinner crapes, not only the breaded outside, but the meat, broccoli, and avocado that filled it, along with the salad. On this day, we were preparing crapes and salad for a dinner that night with her family and mine. Her elder sister was sitting at the table across from where the two of us were working, and witnessed our silliness: talking to the food.

We spent a better part of two and a half years in this course laughing and learning and making a variety of breads, cinnamon rolls, muffins, waffles, crapes, and even chocolate candy – but, without whole wheats. Come to think of it, I still have some of them in the fridge. =/ I love being in the kitchen, it just feels so warm and cozy. Although that warm sensation might have something to do with the oven, it goes much deeper. I am grateful to have had a kitchen all three years of my college life to be able to cook for Christmas events or even just a little something to give a friend. I guess you could say, the kitchen is one of my happy places. =) Following is one of my favorite recipes from my home economics course that I thought you would enjoy, the cinnamon rolls, and perhaps partake in the excitement with a friend or a family member. Careful not to get the honey on your sweatshirt like I did.

Sweet Roll Dough:

1. In a glass measuring cup blend yeast and honey into the water with wire whisk and let stand for 5-10 minutes until it bubbles up:

-1/4 cup lukewarm water

-1/2 teaspoon honey or other sugar

-2 teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast

2. Blend in mixing bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let stand overnight or several hours in a place away from excessive heat and drafts:

-1¼ cups cool water

-2 cups whole wheat, spelt, or kamut flower

-yeast mixture (step #1)

3. Blend in and beat vigorously for 200 stokes or on a medium speed in electric mixture for 5 minutes:

-1/4 cup honey or other sweetener

-1/8 teaspoon vitamin C crystals (or 500 mg. Crushed)

-2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter

-1 egg

-1¼ teaspoons salt

-1 cup whole wheat, kamut or spelt flower

4. Add enough remaining flower to begin kneading easily; gradually use additional flower as needed during kneading process to prevent sticking to hands or work surface; knead 10-15 minutes (or 300-400 strokes) until dough is resilient and resistant to kneading motion:

-about 1¾-2 cups whole wheat or Kamut flower, or about 2¾ cups spelt flower

5. Place in bowl greased with melted butter, turning dough over to grease the top; cover with damp cloth and let rise in warm place until double, about 1-1½ hours

6. Press down gently, turn over in bowl, cover and let rise until double, about 30-40 minutes.

7. Press down gently, knead lightly a few times on working surface, cover with damp cloth and let rest 10-15 minutes.

8. Shape and complete dough for desired recipe.

Cinnamon Rolls:

Amount: 15 rolls (9”x13” Pan)

Bake: 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) 25-30 minutes

1. Prepare Sweet Roll Dough (below)

2. Roll dough out with rolling pin to 9”x15” rectangle about ½ inch thick

3. Evenly spread over surface of dough, not quite to the edges:

-1/3 cup honey or other sweetener

-cinnamon, generously, about 1 tsp.

-1/2 cup raisins, soaked and drained, optional

-1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

-1 apple, grated, peeled or unpeeled, optional

4. Roll dough up firmly from the long side, sealing the edge by lifting it up and over the top of the roll, pinching the edge of the roll. Turn the seam downward. Even up to roll with hands.

5. Slide a piece of thread or dental floss under the roll, cross it over the top and slice it through the dough. Cut each roll 1” thick.

6. Lay rolls, cut side down, in greased pan. Allow room between them for rising. Let rise until almost double, 20-25 minutes.

7. Bake at 325 degrees about 25-30 minutes or until golden on bottom.

It all comes around

     Ready, set.............go? As far as academics are concerned, this semester has been flying by like any other, waving as it goes along, but as far as extra curricular activities are concerned, the fall semester of 2010 has been putting along, hoping to catch up with its fast flying friend. But hey, the year is still young, it may just find the boost it needs to soar after all! Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed this new year, and it is crazy to think that this is already well into week five.

     One thing in particular that I find especially fascinating is a little something that my roommate brought to my attention one afternoon while, if I remember right, walking to the third story of the James building together. She was on her way to a graphic design class as I was headed to yearbook. Where were just passing the palm tree in front of the new temporary grass parking lot that always reminds me of a pumpkin patch when I hear, “Hey Nik, you know what I just realized? I started here at CBU with you two, and now I am ending with both of you! It has been a well rounded experience.” She said something along this order, but its difficult to remember exactly, word for word.

     My two roommates and I got to know each other at the mere beginnings of our adventures here at this lovely place known as California Baptist University. My roommate Faith had come early, being an international student, I had come about four days before freshman orientation began for music camp, but orientation was the very beginning of the story for my other roommate, Lailani. The ironic part of this tale is that Lailani was friends with my best friend and her family for years and I actually met her just earlier that summer while picking up my friend. Funny how life works sometimes, how special it is when you realize how God ordained a matter is when looked at over a course of time. God is good! These two girls have been a great blessing in my life. We can laugh when we're together, so hard that our sides hurt, and be sarcastic while understanding the other, but we also are there for each other when one of us needs a lift or some words of advice from a trustworthy friend. Our apartment this year, the year that brings Lailani's journey of a traditional CBU student to a close, has been a blessed place, and has felt like a cozy home to others who come in as well!

     A quick side note of a story I have with these girls that I particularly remember with affection and a grin on my face and a suppressed giggle within my chords is a time when the three of us went to the beach. Lailani just had to take us to her favorite cupcake joint called Sprinkles. Just from the name alone one can tell that this certain treat will be loaded with sugar. I have never before heard my ears buzz from a cupcake or have been so wild in a car. The music was up, Faith and I were in the back making our own moves and adding 'Ah's' to the beat. I don't know how to ride a bike like the rest, but my little scooter made its way along the path, matching their pace. Last but not least, that song entitled “The Breakfast Song” by the Newsboys now has a new lyric. Instead of 'breakfast', there is now inserted in its place, the memorable noun of......Sprinkles. These three years have tied together nicely, like a bow on a package, and I am grateful for every single experience that the Lord has blessed me with here.