Mission Possible

Marilyn Laszlo left her family, her job, and her convertible behind to go to the jungles of Papua New Guinea to translate the Bible into the Sepik Iwam language. A former headhunting tribe, the Sepik Iwam people welcomed Marilyn and her translation partner into their village (Hauna) unaware that their lives would be impacted for generations to come by the power of God. Though the people of Hauna village were intelligent people they lived in very primitive conditions, had no written language, and had never heard the name of Jesus. They also had never seen a white skinned person until Marilyn and fellow missionary Judy reached Hauna Village. Seeing that these beings had such pale skin and had a second skin (clothing) the villagers couldn't determine if they were male or female. They finally decided they were neither - they were spirit beings. It didn't take long for the villagers to see that though these missionaries looked very different from them, and brought many strange things with them, they were very much human.

The translation process was a long and difficult challenge. With no written language to translate from, Marliyn and Judy had to begin at the very beginning - writing down the Sepik Iwam language. Not knowing the language, Marilyn and Judy had limited ways to communicate with the the villagers. They began walking around the village with pen and paper, with curious children following and watching to see what they were doing. They learned the names of many objects by touching or pointing and saying the name of the object in English, hoping that someone would understand they wanted to know the name of that object in Sepik Iwam.  They would then write the Sepik Iwam word phonetically using the English alphabet in order to develop a written language for these people. This was the beginning of Bible translation work in Hauna village that would take years to complete. Along the way there were many challenges, trials that required deep faith, friendships forged, times of fun and laughter, times of deep sadness, and miracles wrought by God. A large portion of Hauna village is now Christian after having "asked Jesus into their throats". They have built schools, medical clinics, churches, and are faithfully sharing the gospel with other villages along the Sepik river.  They are happy that Marilyn came to their village to "carve their talk on a banana leaf" so they could have "Papa God's" words in their own language.

My Rating
If you want a first hand account of modern day mission work this is a great book to read. Marilyn's heart for God and for these people is evident in her respectful but truthful account of 24 years of life among these precious people.  I give Mission Possible 5 stars!

Mission Possible By Marilyn Laszlo / Tyndale House Giving up a comfortable life as a teacher, Marilyn poured herself into Bible translation. Strange sights, sounds, and customs became a way of life, but the payoff far exceeded anything she had imagined. Mission Possible is the story of Marilyn Laszlo's relentless efforts to translate the Word of God into the Sepik Iwam language resulting in the transformation of an entire people group.

Don't miss these other titles by Marilyn Laszlo:

A is for Airstrip: A Missionary’s Jungle Adventure by Marilyn Laszlo with Elizabeth Maddrey and Linda Ellen Perry

Fear, Faith and Following GodExtreme Answers from Extreme Missionary Marilyn Laszlo 20 minute DVD

Mountain of Light First Encounters with a Stone Age Tribe in Papua New Guinea 42:36 minute DVD

Come By Here A Church is Born in Hauna Village While Another Tribe Waits… 25:35 minute DVD. Angel Award Winner in the religious category.

Return to Hauna A Bible Translator’s Story from the Jungles of Papua New Guinea 48 minute “Special Edition” version DVD.


Please donate to the work of Laszlo Mission League by making your tax deductible contribution here.

Blessings,

What Really Happened During the Middle Ages?

I know of no better way to learn about history than to learn about the people that made history!   What Really Happened During the Middle Ages, compiled by Terri Johnson and illustrated by Darla Dixon, is a wonderful collection of biographies about famous men and women of the Middle Ages that will captivate your young learner with its well told stories and lovely portraits.  The book is for children ages 8-14, but I loved the stories as well.  I believe it will be a book the entire family can enjoy.  You and your children can read about St. Patrick, Theodora, Alcuin, Wenceslas, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joan of Arc, Johann Gutenberg and Martin Luther in an engaging story format with historically accurate information.  Books like this make history come alive for children (and adults), and with a Bramley Books publication you don't have to worry about inappropriate content for your family.

My Rating
I give this book 5 stars for its quality content, lovely illustrations, and engaging stories.  Don't miss the other books in this series What Really Happened in Ancient Times, and What Really Happened in Colonial Times.  Both of these books are on my wish list.

Blessings,

Disclaimer:  As an affiliate of Knowledge Quest Maps and Bramley Books I do earn a commission on purchases made through my links. I was not solicited to review this book. If you prefer to not use my affiliate link to purchase this book you may do so by visiting http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/What-Really-Happened-During-the-Middle-Ages.html

Free Books ~ Kindle on your PC

 

I love *free*~ especially free books.  I recently found that amazon has many books for free.  The catch is that these books are formatted for use with the Kindle reader only.  If you are like me and don’t have a Kindle, don’t fret.  Kindle is available for your PC, and the best part is the download is free.  I downloaded mine and the installation was simple.  This reader is very easy to use and has several nice options.  I was concerned about reading books on my computer as I didn’t want to strain my eyes, but the Kindle has a setting which allows you to change the background color/text.  I prefer the sepia setting as it seems to be easiest on my eyes.  I also like that the reader allows you to bookmark your place so that each time you open the book it returns you to the page where you were reading last.  It also has a feature enabling you to search for words and phrases within the text.  I didn’t want a fancy reader with lots of options I wouldn’t use and the Kindle for PC was great for my needs as it is simple to use.

Now for the free books!  Amazon has many free Kindle books in the Kindle Store.  I was able to download many G. A. Henty books for our family read alouds.  Other books I downloaded are:

“The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin

“The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806” by Meriwether Lewis

“Common Sense” by Thomas Paine

“The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle” by Beatrix Potter

“Letters to His Children” by Theodore Roosevelt

“The Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss

“Listening to God” by Charles F. Stanley… and many more.

 

I hope you will check out the Kindle for PC for yourself and load up on some great free books.  Until next time...

Blessings,
Missy

The Fundamentals of Drawing with Barry Stebbing

Drawing is a skill that at one time was considered a normal part of education, but no more.  Now students must take private art lessons, or take art as an elective in high school if they want to learn the basic skills of drawing.  Now you have another option.  The Fundamentals of Drawing with Barry Stebbing is a 3 DVD set that covers the essential basics your blossoming artist needs to get a solid foundation in drawing.

About the Author
Barry Stebbing holds a degree in Art education from Salisbury University.  He has taught art for many years, both in public education settings and privately.  He has authored numerous books on art instruction and is not producing art instruction in DVD format.  Mr. Stebbing's desire is to use his talents to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.  Mr. Stebbing said, "We foresee a revival in the arts, starting with our children, glorifying God through their talents; a revival to reclaim the arts through integrity and to, once again, touch the heart of mankind. Discipline, effort, goals and a program that emphasizes the fundamentals are the ingredients needed to prepare the next generation for the exciting times ahead." http://www.howgreatthouart.com/our-philosophy

My Rating
5 stars!  My youngest daughter loves to draw and has been using various drawing instruction books for a couple of years.  This DVD set has been great for teaching her some foundational techniques and skills that she was not learning in other art instructional books. 

The Fundamentals of Beginning Drawing 3 DVD Set By Barry Stebbing / American Family Association Learn to draw like the old apprentices did-by watching a master! Follow Barry Stebbing as he walks beginners through six lessons that explain the fundamental principles of drawing. Ages 6 & up. 3 DVDs. Lessons Include: Fundamentals Fundamentals Part 2 Perspective Portraits & Anatomy Animals Treasures Around the Home

Other art titles by the author can be found here:

More art instruction from Barry Stebbing


Get yours and get started drawing!
Blessings,

Books About Famous Historical Figures

Here is an older post that for some reason was never published.  In reviewing it I think the information here is worth publishing. 

People and places can be fascinating when we take the time to look, listen, and learn. Here are a few selected books about inspirational people that hopefully will inspire you.





The Lincoln Memorial
by Mary Firestone
Illustrated by Matthew Skeens

Have you ever wondered how the Lincoln Memorial was built? Who designed it? Who built it? In "The Lincoln Memorial", by Mary Firestone, Phillip will be your tour guide for the Lincoln Memorial, and he will tell you many interesting things about the building of this great monument in our nation's capital. The story flows well and most pages include snipits of more detailed information related to the story. The illustrations are cartoon like, and are cute so most children would probably enjoy them. Some additional resources are listed in the back such as books and websites. A well done book for children on the history of the Lincoln Memorial. This book would go well with a US history study, Presidents study, or study of our nations capital.





Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer
by Robert Byrd

Leonardo DaVinci was an incredibly complex man. A genius in his own right, yet so misunderstood in his time. He had an incredible eye for detail, for which most of us today do not have the patience. This book tells the story of Leonardo's life in a detailed but easy flowing story. Along they way the reader not only learns of Leonardo's life and accomplishments, but also of the culture in which he lived. The lands and their cultures, myths, and people all had an impact on the life of this amazing man; and here we get a glimpse of some of it. The illustrations are many, complex, and beautiful. There are many illustrations of Leonardo's inventions, art, and how he visualized many of his theories and mechanical ideas. This is a wonderful book that will take some time to go through in order to get a good understanding of the times and the man. I have looked for a long time for a book on Da Vinci that would be of interest to kids yet provide an abundance of information on a level that they could understand and find interesting. This book fulfills these requirements and more.






Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

An amazingly rich telling, in illustration and word, of the life of an incredibly brave woman and the faith that drove her to do incredible things. Harriet Tubman endured horrific mistreatment at the hands of her masters, but she had an amazingly deep faith in the Lord. She eventually escaped to freedom, but she would go on to risk her life to guide others to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She led her brothers to freedom and eventually her parents as well, and was ultimately responsible for leading as many as three hundred slaves to freedom, never losing one along the way. The story is a poetic journey with Harriet, and is really a story of her faith. Be sure to read the authors note at the end of the book. The information there is much more detailed giving much of the details of her life story that you won't find in the book itself. A wonderful book for the study of slavery, the Civil War, or famous Americans.


Until next time....
Blessings,
Missy

Dinosaurs for Kids

Dinosaurs for Kids by Ken Ham, illustrated by Bill Looney
If you are tired of the vast number of dinosaur books available on the market and in public libraries across the nation that do not present the scientific evidences of Creation and the Biblical history of the dinosaur this is just the book you've been hoping for.  Ken Ham's 7 F's of Dinosaurs - formed, fearless, fallen, flood, faded, found, fiction - will bring the real story of the dinosaurs to life to you and the young people in your life.

About the Book
Dinosaurs for Kids discusses the details of different kinds of dinosaurs; deals with evolutionary theory - refuted scientifically and Biblically; describes how fossils are made; discusses dinosaurs on the ark, dinosaurs in light of Biblical history and more.  Readers will learn to apologetically respond to secular assaults on the creation account.  NOTE:  Evolutionary views are presented in light of refuting them.

Book Stats
This book is published as a juvenile book, but is very informative and could be enjoyed by adults as well.  ISBN 13:  978-0-89051-555-6  ISBN 10:  0-89051-555-7

About the Author
Ken Ham, President and CEO of Answers in Genesis USA and the Creation Museum, is an internationally known Christian conference speaker. He is the author of many books for children and adults which emphasize the reliability and authority of the Bible. For further information see

My Rating:
5 stars! This is a very informative book presented in an engaging way with wonderful illustrations, lots of side notes, and "fast facts". This is a must have for the bookshelf any Christian with influence in the lives of children.

Dinosaurs for Kids By Ken Ham / Master Books What should you do when a secular scientist talks about dinosaurs? Why not ask 'Were you there?" Why didn't the animals eat each other on the ark? Perhaps God told them not to! Dinosaurs for Kids is filled with computer-animated illustrations that accompany Ken Ham's fascinating explanation of dinosaurs. Firmly instructing children that an old-earth timetable and evolution are false, he clearly and candidly breaks through the confusion that can come from reading conflicting accounts of early earth history. Following the "ages" of dinosaurs: formed, fearless, fallen, flood, faded, found, & fiction, kids will see how dinosaurs walked with people, only grew violent after sin, survived the flood, and can only be rightly understood by those who have the truth! 64 pages, hardcover.

Order yours today!
Blessings,

Absotively Posilutely!

No, I'm not having difficulty spelling or typing. You read the title of this book correctly...The Absotively, Posilutely Best Evidence for Creation by Carl Kerby, illustrated by Dan Lietha.  Did you know there are 70 sextillion (70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) stars visible using telescopes?  Why is the bull giraffe's heart 2.5 feet long and as much as 25 lbs in weight?  Answers to these questions and more are waiting to be discovered inside the pages of this book.

About the Book
 Denny is excited about his visit to the Creation Museum.  He has just learned the best evidence that God created the universe and all that is in it.  As he tries to share this exciting information with his friends they teach him some amazing facts about the design of various animals in God's creation.  Readers will learn about the giraffe, the frog, the universe, and dinosaurs.  They will also learn about a Christian worldview vs. a non-Christian worldview, amazing facts about the Bible, and amazing facts about the Christian faith.

Book Stats
Appropriate for ages 8-14, but older young men and young women will enjoy it as well as adults. Published by Master Books (http://www.masterbooks.net).  ISBN 13: 978-0-889051-494-8  ISBN10:  0-89051-494-1


About the Author
" Carl Kerby is among Answers in Genesis' most dynamic speakers.  With a passion for communicating the truth of God's Word to young people, he is featured at numerous speaking events in churches and conferences across the country throughout the year.  Carl and his family live in Kentucky near the ministry's popular Creation Museum." (excerpt from The Absotively, Posilutely Best Evidence for Creation by Carl Kerby) 


My Rating
5 Stars!  This is an excellent book that I think will be greatly enjoyed by the reader.  The writer has crafted a great story centered around the truths of God's creation and a Christian worldview.  This is a great way to teach young people some of the facts of the world God created in an enjoyable story format.

The Absotively, Posilutely Best Evidence for Creation By Carl Kerby, illustrated by Dan Lietha / Master Books Challenge your 8- to 14-year-olds to find evidence that God created the world! As they learn about the design of a giraffe's heart, frogs and tadpoles, stars in the universe, and worldview glasses, they'll discover that the most positive proof isn't always what you see---it's what's been right in front of you all along! 32 pages, hardcover from Master Books.

Get yours today!
Blessings,