Seeking

Good day Beloved! Husband and I would like to share a bit about how our last week has gone and give God all the glory (video recap here ). As you know, we set out for Rome on Sunday, January 9 to attend a conference and meet a missions team. We were compliant with travel regulations and documents but were detained in Zurich by customs. We did all we could practically to get through but were sent back to L.A. on Tuesday, January 11. It is with sadness we share this news, coupled with hope, encouragement and greater faith. This week, we would like to highlight three ways the Holy Spirit has been moving in strangers, the church and us . On Our Way to L.A.X. L.A.X. Airport Line for Document Check & Boarding Passes Zurich Airport, On Our Way to Customs & Connecting Flight Once the Chief of Police said, 'It's not going to happen folks,' referring to us passing through to Rome, tears began to pour out, and I began to sob, processing the reality that our trip would not go a...

Happy New Year Beloved! To start off 2022, Husband and I would love to hear from YOU :D What is one area we can be praying for you and what can we give praise to the Lord for 2021 , together? You can respond directly to this email or "enter your comment" at the bottom of the blog post. Also, we would like to share our vision, too. For those that do not know, several years ago, Husband and the boys started writing out their annual goals on a poster board. Since getting married, we now get a little more creative and hang them on the wall as a reminder and encouragement. (Enjoy the PJs :D) Top priorities for us include our relationship with the Lord, each other and others . We want to better use our gifts, resources and time, to the building up of His bride and kingdom . And I am reminded Christ and the Spirit live in us, to carry it out . You and I are precisely where He has us for the good work before us.  As you may be aware, we leave for Rome this Sunday, January 8. This wee...

"But the angel said to them [shepherds], 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people" ( Luke 2:10, NASB ). Beloved, when you think of "great joy," what comes to mind? My prayer is that your great joy is in Christ alone . This advent season, Husband and I rejoice as we reflect back and look forward to visiting Rome on January 9-23, with the privilege of sharing this precious gift with others in Italy. We need your faithful prayers more than ever, as this could potentially be the location where God is calling us to serve long-term (to be confirmed). As such, this month we will share on: 1) past events, 2) our upcoming trip, 3) the need in Italy and 4) ways we are at looking to the Lord for practical provision (for the formal approved support letter, click here ). 1) past events: when Rick and I began courting in May 2014, there were no discussions or desires to be missionaries - where we are today is a testame...

Happy November beloved! I recently read an article by Al Mohler on Thankfulness , and I was so encouraged by a practical apologetic. When someone says I am thankful for x-y-z, a great follow-up is: 'to whom are you thankful? ' In the Psalms alone, the word, "thanks" comes up 50 times in 49 verses  (NASB).  Everyone says thanks, but not everyone directs their thanks to God (even Christians): "Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples" (Psalm 105:1, NASB). This month Husband and I would like to share three items we are thanking God for.  (Conference: The Church, 2022 - An Urgent Appeal to Strenuously Contend for Our Common Gathering) First,  we are thanking the Lord for giving us the green light from our church to travel to Rome January 9-23  to visit a new mission's agency and team. We are excited to meet the brethren serving in Italy, their families and local church. Husband will attend their 3-day men's c...

Happy October beloved! This month has been both slow and fast for our family. Main highlights include Husband turning in his first essay for TC, Hacob had his first live performance at CBU and Zachary helped out at a church cleanup. Also, with the exception of Zachary, we all got COVID (he had it in January), so that has been what a lot of this past month has looked like for us. Our Father has shown us three things: one, He is faithful to provide; two, all things are working together for good; and three, how to serve and be served. We are thankful, the Lord is faithful (even if we are faithless) to provide just what is needed for the day. I am home and was able to take care of Hacob, when he was sick. And then my husband was able to work from home to take care of me for two weeks. We also had ten meals, a flower pot and sunflowers delivered. Also, eight different people brought us groceries, necessities for the house, vitamins or medical support items (humidifier, oximeter, etc). We we...

  Fall is in the air, and my Valadez men are loving it! I am a summer girl myself, but the change of colors and smells humble me to God's creativity and wisdom with seasons. This past month, our church has resumed various ministries, Husband continues with TC and we have been enriched by various interactions with the body of Christ and time in scripture and prayer. We are still praying about attending the bible conference in Rome, January 2022, because travel restrictions continue changing. Additional praise reports and prayer requests are noted below. Please let us know how we can praise with or pray for you. Also, we would like to share three  encouragements from John Bunyan's classic, "The Pilgrim's Progress," published in 1678: 1. the life of a believer is transient, 2. provided for, and 3. tested by sin, but God is gracious. Husband and I had the pleasure of reading this book with others from our church earlier in the year, and we highly recommend it (and I w...

Happy August beloved! This month, Zachary started 11th grade; Jacob is about to start band camp and his second year of college; Husband begins the Training Center (bible training) on August 30; and it feels like I am back in high-school, because I have been experiencing anxiety (more below). Also, Rick and I continue praying about, planning and asking our church to support a potential visit to Rome in January 2022 to: 1) attend a bible training conference, 2) visit the Italian Theological Academy (ITA), a biblical training center we are exploring for a long-term place to serve (click ITA  for more info) and 3) meet others serving the Lord, in the region. We request your faithful prayers for these items (and others below).  [ Asking the Question ] In May of this year, I spoke with a sister about my ongoing health challenge with allergies, fatigue and insomnia. In June, she called me on the phone and asked, ' Is it anxiety ?' Quickly, I said no - I had that before as a (lost) te...

  Happy July beloved friend and lover of Christ! While there is much to celebrate from the past month alone, I have been tested in faith, thought and walk. But in that, the one thing the Lord has continued to teach and exhort me in is faithfulness - towards me & that which he requires of me.  Psalm 23 ,  1 Corinthians 4:2  and  Philippians 4:4-7  (among SOOO many others) are ringing through my ears and spirit. My prayer for you is that you would be encouraged that  God is forever faithful towards you, without change or diminishing in supply, because of who you are in Christ, even when faithless  - and that this truth would motivate you, out of love and gratitude to  run the race that is set before YOU !  Recently, I have been  anxious  about my  unemployment and redeeming the time well .  Ironically, one prayer has been for me to stay home for work, but we have not been in a position to do so. Yet, since our engag...