Seeking

Beloved, it is that time of year when the season is about to change and students are going back to school. Recently, in a Q&A, a young lady shared her testimony and call to serve as a missionary with bible translation. She defined her "spiritually dry season" as a time of being lonely with unmet expectations, in a region where there are no thriving, strong or welcoming churches - she had to bear her burdens alone, apart from her strong church family and look straight to the Lord. This summer, while reading "God does His best Work with Empty," by Nancy Guthrie, it was made clear I am naturally dry and empty, but Christ is faithful to continue providing Himself  (see Philippians 4:19 and Romans 8:32 ). In her book, Nancy hones in on the perspective of seeing emptiness in our life as a pre-planned opportunity for God to personally fill us in ways no one and nothing else can. Instead, we tend to quickly and regularly feed on our 'disappointment or frustration...

This past month I had the blessing of two weeks off from work at CBU, since my job is active 10 months each year. With some of the time I was able to rest and reflect, quite a bit. For our update, we would like to share some pictures, praises and prayer requests.  Praise Reports: July 1, Husband, Zachary and I toured the Master's University, and Zachary said it was his favorite college tour, so far; he also enjoyed his first time eating sushi, and we had a great conversation (picture #1); July 4, Husband and I celebrated by taking "A," an international student athlete to the airport, before she went back home to Western Europe; I met her at work, and it was a gift befriending her; I gave her a copy of the "Gospel Primer" and pray the Lord continues drawing her to Himself (picture #2); Husband and I had the blessing of meeting up and sharing with two young couples that are courting; Husband and I were able to fellowship with a brother and another family for lunch...

"There [at Puteoli] we [Paul, prisoners and guard] found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus* we came to Rome" (Acts 28:14, NASB; *see Acts 13-28 for Paul's rugged missionary life). Husband and I are back from our vision trip to Rome and would like to share about meeting the Italian theological Academy (ITA) missionary team, visiting the local church and assessing whether this could be where the Lord would have us relocate to serve. The ITA team consists of three main leaders (+3 associate professors in Genoa and Florence): Johnny Gravino (missionary), Cesare Albanessi (missionary) and Sebastian Mendez (ITA graduate now pastor). The Gravinos and Alabanessis are in Rome, and the Mendezes are in Messina which is near Sicily in the south. The academy serves to build the church by  training and equipping men to understand and properly divide the word (click here  for more info), with a goal to plant a church in Rome . ITA classes have ...

This is my third update topic, because things have been changing so quickly. Earlier this month, Husband and I were discussing whether the Lord had confirmed for us to return to Italy this summer. We were both at peace with no. The next week, we received counsel and every necessary green light to book flights to Rome May 26-June 10 for a week long exposition through the book of Daniel . Planned before the foundation, the day after Husband's one-year graduation from bible training, our oldest son tested positive with COVID. The verse that was brought to my attention is, " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God..." (Philippians 4:6) . Would you continue joining us in prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, regardless of His answer? 'Trusting He can and will guard our hearts and minds' (Philippians 4:7). One very specific prayer request is for peace:  Husband is staying in the hous...

Happy March beloved! While I do not like the rain, I know that that which is watered grows. This month, we have three areas that are bearing fruit: first, Husband, Hacob and I attended a one-day missions symposium; second, Husband attended the annual Shepherd's conference ; and third, the family and I are adjusting to me working 30 hours a week at CBU. Jonathan Jones (elder), me, Husband, Cesare, Johnny, Pastor Mike Berry, Yarislav On Tuesday, March 8, Husband, Hacob and I embarked on a journey to Santa Clarita at 5:30AM. I could not help feeling nostalgic, recalling two years prior, I was a babe in my understanding with missions and only two months at our new church. That was the conference where many had suggested linking up with Johnny Gravino (GMI missionary in Rome). Since 2020, we have grown EXPONENTIALLY; this year we were able to understand much of the topics being discussed. Also, we were able to have lunch with Johnny, two others from his team in Italy, our missions pasto...

Happy February Beloved! Recently, I had a conversation with a sister about the film, "Redeeming Love" and the book of Hosea. That evening, I had a sobering dream that Husband was unfaithful. I woke up, distraught, speaking truth to myself about my marriage and the Lord, but I began to weep. Husband woke up, and we prayed together. He hugged me tightly and told me, "I'm right here. I'm right here." But I could not sleep. There was a stirring in my spirit. I went to the living room, began to write and the Lord showed me a deeper instruction: there are  three types of love 1) imperfect, 2) cheap and 3) redeeming. Engagement November 2014 I pray it goes without saying, I love my husband, and I know my husband loves me, yet I am keenly aware,  our love for one another (& others) is imperfect, conditional and ebbs . At times I find myself believing the false reality that our marriage will endure anything, because of our love for each other. But disappointmen...