Merry Christmas 2010

Holiday Blessings from the Tollett Family

God is good…all the time! I realize I am so blessed to be able to send out letters from year to year with the same glowing report that all is well with my family. Tyler, Emily, Lauren and Hannah continue to grow, thrive and excel in school and in all of their many activities. We stay too busy much of the year, and admittedly struggle as a family to balance “going and blowing” with “quality family time”, but try and make up for it on those rare weekends we “don’t have to go anywhere”!

Tyler is now 11 and in the fifth grade. He is still involved in football, basketball, piano lessons and church choir. He tried out for the spring musical and did a fantastic job with his part. He continues to express interest in being a cook or an artist. Tyler is genuine friends with everyone, without any regard to class or social status, which I feel is a rare and enviable gift. Although he struggles with legalism in many aspects of life, he is a wonderful helper, esteemed classmate and a great big brother.

Emily is 8 and in the third grade. She still does gymnastics, piano lessons and church choir, and is going to try basketball for the first time this spring. Emily remains extremely sweet and laid back; she is fairly social and quietly confident. Emily is my hardest worker at everything she does and is very devoted to her close friends. The more she grows, the more Wes threatens to put a book on her head or lock her in the closet; but I am excited to see the attractive young woman that she is quickly becoming.

Lauren is 6 and in the first grade. She is involved in the same activities as Emily, and also trying basketball this spring. Lauren is our “sweet chariot” child…her emotions are constantly swing high, swing low. When she is high, she is our comedian clown, with a smile that crinkles her whole face. When she is low, she does battle with anxiety, insecurity, frustration and anger. Lauren gave her heart to God this fall, and I look forward to seeing her grow and mature as she figures out where she fits in.

Hannah just turned 3 and constantly pushes us toward the very outer limits of our parenting skills. She is a constant delight with the faces she makes and the things she says (I have been known to leave the room to laugh before I come back to scold), but she is so willful and determined that I often feel worn out at the end of the day. Like Tyler, Hannah also makes friends easily, as long as they understand quickly who is the boss (hint: it is not them). She loves going to her classes at church and is fixing to start gymnastics. I would consider starting her in 2-day school, which I think she would love, but she absolutely refuses to potty train. She is quite vocal that she wants to remain a baby for-“evah”. I haven’t thought of an incentive to counter that one yet.

Wesley does a great job at managing the family and takes his role at being a dad very seriously. He even has the Dad’s Against Daughter’s Dating shirt to prove it! Seriously, he helps coach Tyler’s football and basketball teams, takes the girls to Father/Daughter date night at church, and even chaperoned Tyler’s 5th grade overnight science trip this fall (and actually enjoyed it!) Wesley recuperated from his broken wrist from last year, after having surgery and several months of physical therapy, and jumped back into playing basketball as soon as possible. There have been a few knocks and gashes since then, but nothing more serious than a sprained neck. I’m just thankful the two injuries were not reversed!

All of you know that I had the incredible experience of going to Malawi, Africa twice this year, once in March and again in August. God was with me and worked in me in a very real way. After returning from my March trip, two serious needs pressed upon my heart. The first was finding a way to plug in and really help with missions—specifically Malawi missions—from home. The second was that I and my family needed to get as serious about our Christian walks as we were about football practice or scheduling our annual May camping trip.

I came home and got involved with many of the administrative parts of Pure Mission. I began to write articles. I got the opportunity to tell my story and speak about Malawi several different times. I talked about Africa with my family. I taught the kids the verses of the “Romans Road”, and how those verses told a person the story of why and how we can come to a saving knowledge of Christ. I left for Malawi in August.

The one thing I remember pondering over at the end of my August trip was “Why?” I would have loved to have stayed in Malawi, but my life was at home. So I struggled to understand why I had been led to go to Malawi in the first place, and then go again, and fall in love with that place and those people, only to have to leave, knowing I probably couldn’t ever go to stay for any real length of time, without any clear indication of when I might even be able to return. I grew depressed and struggled with finding joy in the tedium of my daily activities. I questioned my effectiveness in what I was doing here. I grew more reticent in my walk with God than I had been before going to Malawi in March. And I began to wonder if I was capable of making any kind of a difference at all.

We all struggle with life, even as Christians. There is no magic cure, and walking the walk is a slow (and sometimes agonizing) process. But this I know. GOD IS GOOD. Two people stepped in from out of the blue to help talk me through my time of despair and doubt, and I let them. GOD IS GOOD. My uncle, after many years of turning his back on God, got saved against tremendous odds. GOD IS GOOD. My brother has been able to be a father to his son after a year of heartbreaking separation. GOD IS GOOD. I was offered a volunteer opportunity to help coordinate and organize other groups to go to Malawi throughout the year. Organization is my gift, and Malawi is my passion. Being involved in this is the next best thing to going to Malawi myself. GOD IS GOOD. I have a beautiful family, a wonderful home, and people who love me. GOD IS GOOD. I am not perfect and never will be, but thank God He is. GOD IS GOOD!

You know, as little as they have in Malawi, and despite the things they deal with on a daily basis like hunger, poverty, sickness and disease…they have a favorite saying. And they say it a lot. Mulungu ndiwabwino nthawizonse. Nthawizonse Mulungu ndiwabwino! God is good all the time. All the time God is good!

And it is true.

Thank all of you for supporting me and praying for me through my journeys. If you want to read more about my time in Malawi and see some pictures, check out my other blog posts.

Have a wonderful holidays!

Wesley, Beth, Tyler, Emily, Lauren and Hannah Tollett

Candy Time—Maple Walnut Truffles (New for 2010!)

Maple Walnut Truffles

1 can Eagle Brand milk
1 stick butter, melted
3 tsp. maple flavoring
1 tsp. vanilla extract
7 ½ cups powdered sugar
2 cups chopped walnuts
semi-sweet chocolate chips for dipping
ground nuts for garnish (optional)

In a mixing bowl, combine milk, butter and flavorings. Add powdered sugar and combine on low speed. Stir in walnuts. Chill dough; form into balls and freeze. Dip in melted semi-sweet chocolate chips that have been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Sprinkle tops of candy with ground nuts before chocolate sets. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Turtles

Turtles

1 pk. Kraft caramels
3 Tbsp. milk
2 cups pecans, chopped
milk chocolate or white chocolate chips for dipping
vegetable oil

Unwrap caramels and melt with milk in the top of a double boiler (or use a pan within a pan…put several inches of water in the bottom pan and put the caramels and milk in a smaller pan that you place inside the larger pan of water). Stir occasionally until caramels are completely melted. Take off heat and add pecans; stir well. Drop by spoonfuls onto a well-greased non-stick surface jelly roll pan and freeze. Dip in melted milk or white chocolate chips that have been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Chocolate Covered Cherries

Chocolate Covered Cherries

2 ½ cups powdered sugar
¼ cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp. milk
½ tsp. almond extract
2 (8 oz) jars cherries with stems
1 cup milk chocolate chips for dipping
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips for dipping
vegetable oil

In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, milk and extract. Chill dough. Drain cherries and place on a paper towel. Roll dough into one-inch balls and flatten each ball in the palm of your hand into a flat disk. (Use powdered sugar to keep your hands dry and the dough from becoming too sticky). Wrap each disk around a cherry, rolling the cherry lightly in your hands and pinching the dough together around the stem, removing any excess. This process takes practice. Freeze wrapped cherries. Combine chocolate chips together before melting; dip cherries in melted chocolate chips that have been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Roll

1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
¾ cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
¾ cup chopped pecans

8 oz. brick cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, eggs and pumpkin. In another bowl combine together flour, salt, soda and cinnamon; add to pumpkin mixture. Grease a jelly roll pan with oil and line with greased waxed paper. Pour batter in a rectangular shape onto waxed paper (if you have a really large jelly roll pan the batter might not go all the way to the edges) and sprinkle batter with pecans. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Sprinkle a clean dishtowel with powdered sugar; flip cooked batter face down on towel. Remove waxed paper. Roll cake loosely in the towel and let set until cooled. Meanwhile, make the filling by beating together the cream cheese, vanilla, butter and powdered sugar until smooth.

Unroll the cake and spread with filling. Roll again without the dishtowel, wrap in aluminum foil and freeze until ready to serve. Unwrap and slice while still frozen. Let sit for 30 minutes before serving.

Candy Time—Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter Balls

6 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
milk chocolate chips for dipping
peanut butter chips for garnish (optional)
vegetable oil

In a mixing bowl, combine butter and peanut butter. Add in powdered sugar and mix on low speed. Chill dough; form into balls and freeze. Dip in melted milk chocolate chips that have been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Freeze candy. Melt peanut butter chips in a small bowl and thin with vegetable oil. Pour into a ziplock baggie and seal. Snip the corner off of the baggie with scissors and squeeze the melted peanut butter over the candy for decoration. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Almond Joys/Mounds

Almond Joys/Mounds

1 can Eagle Brand milk
1 stick butter, melted
4 cups powdered sugar
1 (14 oz) bag flaked coconut
whole almonds
milk chocolate chips for dipping (use semi-sweet for Mounds)
vegetable oil

In a mixing bowl, combine milk and butter. Add powdered sugar and combine on low speed. Add coconut and mix well. Chill dough; form into logs. Press two almonds onto the top of each log, if using, and freeze. Dip into melted milk chocolate (or semi-sweet) chips that have been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Oreo Truffles

Oreo Truffles

8-oz. brick cream cheese, softened
1 pk. Oreo cookies
white almond bark for dipping
vegetable oil

Beat cream cheese with mixer until fluffy. Using a blender or food processor, grind Oreos into crumbs. Add Oreo crumbs to cream cheese and mix until completely blended. Chill dough; form into balls and freeze. Dip in melted white almond bark that has been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Cinnamon Crackle Cookies

Cinnamon Crackle Cookies

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup shortening
1 cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ tsp. almond extract
2 ½ cups flour
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. dried grated orange peel
½ tsp. dried grated lemon peel
½ tsp. salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugars. Add egg and extracts; mix well. In another bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients together; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Shape into one-inch balls; roll in additional sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Candy Time—Cookie Dough Truffles

Cookie Dough Truffles

1 stick butter
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 (14 oz) can Eagle Brand milk
1 tsp. vanilla
½ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
semisweet chocolate chips for dipping
vegetable oil

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour, milk and vanilla; mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill dough; form into balls and freeze. Dip in melted semisweet chocolate chips that have been thinned as desired with vegetable oil. Freeze again and store in an airtight container.

Candy Time—Getting Started

Every year at Christmas I make a huge bunch of dipped candy to share with friends and coworkers. I always get asked for my recipes and how-to instructions. This year I decided to tempt even the most reticent in the kitchen with pictures of my candy, and include recipes and full instructions so that some of you can start your own candy-making traditions!

I have a certain pattern I follow when making my candy. You don’t have to do it my way…especially if you are only making a single batch of one kind! But for me, this method works best to get a large amount done and stored.

1. I start early and store all of my candy in the freezer in gallon-sized baggies. I make much of the candy before Thanksgiving, and dip it all after the break.

2. I chill my candy “dough” before rolling it out. I keep my hands as dry as possible when rolling. A powdered sugar shaker (for the dough and my hands) is a must for the Almond Joys.

3. I place my candy on Pam-sprayed waxed paper-lined jelly roll pans.

4. After rolling candy into balls, I place the jelly roll pans in the freezer until the candy is frozen. I then transfer the candy to the gallon baggies and return to the freezer until I am ready to dip.

5. I dip all my candy frozen. It is much easier to handle that way.

6. After the candy is dipped, I return the pans to the freezer until the candy is frozen again. Then I transfer the candy back to the baggies and continue to store in the freezer until I am ready to give it away.

Dipping tips:
1. Melt your chocolate in the microwave. Just be careful not to overcook it because chocolate WILL burn. You will know you have overdone it when it comes out clumpy or smelling charred. Just dump it and start over. You’ll be sorry if you try and use it.

2. Add vegetable oil by teaspoons to your chocolate, stirring until your chocolate is a good dipping consistency (meaning not too thick—you want it to pour from the spoon, but not too thin—or it will roll off of the candy, forming a “pool” at the base of each).

3. I use toothpicks to dip my candy. I spear a frozen candy with one toothpick, dip it into the chocolate, and use a second toothpick to gently scrape off the excess chocolate.

Merry Christmas and Happy Candy-Making!

Africa 101.8: The Needs of Malawi

When people think of Malawi, they think of dirty children with torn clothing and big eyes. They think of tired adults carrying heavy loads. They think of sick people, dying of malaria and AIDS. They think of the need for food and clothing and medical care. And all of this is very heartbreakingly true.

But while many in Malawi are desperate for relief from all of those things, there is something they need more than all of that put together. They need God.

Malawi is so open to the good news of Jesus Christ, but change comes slowly. As Christ is shared, love is shown and trust is earned, then lives are dramatically transformed. And as more Malawians live their daily lives for Christ regardless of and even in spite of their circumstances, everyone else starts to notice and wants to know how they, too, can have that peace and reassurance in the midst of pain, suffering and death. And so God is able to move and spread throughout a country desperate for Him.

What does it take to see this happen?

Malawi needs Jesus. They need people willing to step out of their comfortable lives, come sit in the dirt on their level, and tell them about the love of Jesus. They need to see Jesus living and active in the hearts of real people who are unselfishly coming to share with them.

Malawi needs people to care. It is so easy to see a picture, watch a television special or read an article and say “Awww, isn’t that a shame. Someone should help them.” But is that really caring? Jesus didn’t see the blind and the sick and give them a sympathetic look as he walked on by. God demands action from His people through giving as well as going.

Malawi needs prayer. It sounds so trite, but who in this world doesn’t need prayer? We all suffer, with much of our suffering brought on ourselves through our selfishness, greed and rebellious choices. Malawi is no different; it is a suffering country that greatly needs prayer.

Malawi needs most the one thing that will never run out, grow old, or decay. Malawi needs God.

Thank you for going along on this journey of learning a bit about Malawi. I hope you enjoyed the information and pray it has opened your heart to other people in need. Give thanks for all that you have, even as you ask God how you might help others less fortunate. Happy Holidays!

Africa 101.7: Esther’s House in Malawi

Esther’s House is an orphanage facility where children without family to care for them can come to receive help. The complex includes girls and boys dormitories, a large classroom, the cafeteria building, worship chapel and an administrative office with private living quarters.

The children in the Residential program live at Esther’s House full time, receiving love and family care, food and clothing, nutrition and hygiene education, school tuition and uniforms, life skills training and English classes, and most importantly exposure to and discipleship in God’s word.

The children in the Non-residential program come to Esther’s House each morning for breakfast before school, and all day on Saturday for a larger meal and various Christian and English education programs. These children also receive school tuition and uniforms and other clothing as needed throughout the year.

Esther’s House also offers a widow program. These elderly ladies, many who house and care for orphans in addition to caring for themselves, come one day each week for a meal and Christian discipleship training to expand their Bible knowledge and strengthen their faith.

Esther’s House was created in a partnership between Americans and Malawians who wanted not only to care for impoverished children and widows but most of all to form a ministry built on sharing the gospel of Christ to the local village, the surrounding areas, and ultimately the entire country.

Africa 101.6: Village Life in Malawi

Life for many of us in America is busy and complex. Most of us have a wealth of choices and opportunities at our feet, but the price of our abundance is often many hours spent working hard to get ahead.

Life in Malawi can be easily classified as simple and basic. Malawians work very hard, but it is not so they can “outdo” their neighbors. They work for the basic necessities of life and survival.


The day begins early in the villages of Malawi. With no electricity or modern conveniences like clocks, the morning starts when the sun comes up. The people rise from the thin straw mats on the dirt floors of their homes to begin the arduous tasks of starting cook fires for their daily meal of nsima, drawing water and carrying it back to their homes to use for cooking or washing clothes and working in the fields to either prepare the land, plant the seed, tend the crops or pick the harvest.

Some stay at their homes to weave mats or remove corn from the cobs or hang tobacco and set it in the sun to dry. During the dry season, many make bricks.

The school teachers head to their classes, the local tailor heads to his sewing machine, and those with wares to sell head to the roadsides or local markets hoping to fetch a price for their goods.

Children run around the village, largely untended and taking care of themselves. They are extremely resourceful and play games with rocks or build toys with scraps of wire and old spools.

Malawians walk to get wherever they need to go. Some of the more fortunate ones own bicycles. The chief is the only one in the village who owns a motorized vehicle.

At the end of the day, the village people come back to their homes. Although some are fortunate enough to have candles, the day is over when the sun goes down or the fire goes out. The people go back inside their largely unadorned homes and lay back down on the ground again until dawn.

Africa 101.5: Food in Malawi

Possibly the most intriguing aspect about Malawi to someone who has never been is what you eat when you are there. Just about any food is available in the major cities or at the resorts for a price, but in the village areas there is a very limited diet for most of the people.

The staple food in Malawi is called nsima (n’see-mah), which is a thick porridge made from their staple food crop, maize. Corn is removed from the cobs, ground twice into a very fine powder, then mixed with water and boiled until extremely dense. The nsima is often molded into patties and always eaten with the hands. It is used to “scoop” up any other food that may also be available as part of the meal.


Other foods sometimes available to village Malawians are rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, cabbage, tomatoes, onion, bananas, eggs and occasionally meat—mainly chicken and goat. However many of the impoverished Malawians survive on one meal of nsima a day.

Africa 101.4: Animals in Malawi

Everyone always wants to know what kinds of animals are in Malawi. Many assume when you hop off the plane you are gazing at fields of elephants, lions, giraffes and zebras! While it is an engaging thought, the truth is not nearly so spectacular as that. Similar to the United States, there are two different groups of animals in Malawi; I will call them local and exotic.

Local animals:
These animals are the ones that you find in the village areas where people live. Everywhere you look you can find free-roaming chickens, goats, pigs and cows (including on the roads!) I also saw several dogs and a few cats, and of course various birds, insects and snakes.

Most animals are not tethered in any fashion, although I once saw a goat being pulled along by a rope tied to its front leg. (I thought the poor little goat looked pitiful limping around on three legs, but when I asked why they didn't use a rope around the goat's neck, I was met with complete comfusions as to why we would choke the goat so that he could not eat properly!)

Exotic animals:

These animals are the ones that you will find when you go to the game parks. Although the animals roam free within these areas, it is easiest to think of these places like zoos. The animals you find here are animals that most of the local people will never see in their lifetime simply because the game parks are not close to the village areas and there is a substantial fee to enter them.
















There are many different game parks in Malawi. I went to Liwonde National Park and was fortunate to see a number of fascinating animals in their natural habitat: elephants, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, baboons/monkeys, many kinds of antelope/deer-type animals and various eagles and birds.














In other game parks in Malawi, it is also possible to see animals such as lions, leopards, rhinos and zebras.

Africa 101.3: Landscape and Weather in Malawi

So what is Malawi like? Malawi is a gorgeous mix of many different landscapes:

distant mountains and expansive prairie;

large trees and scrub bushes;

lush greenery and barren grasslands.

In the villages I was surrounded by dirt roads and fields of corn and tobacco.

During the safari I marveled at the array of vegetation, trees and breathtaking scenic views.

On the shores of Lake Malawi, I almost believed that I was on standing on the edge of the ocean. Of course like most places, exactly what you see depends on where in the country you are and what season of the year it is.

Weather in Malawi varies with the seasons, which are opposite of our seasons in the United States. Spring is generally mid-August through October, and summer is November through March. Rains come seasonally as well, corresponding with the summer season. Temperatures reach up into the upper 80’s and lower 90’s but it feels much hotter than that due to the high humidity. April and May are autumn months, and June and July are winter. There is very little rainfall during the cooler time of the year and temperatures can dip down into the 40’s at night.