Posts on Isaac & Hope Douglass

Before the Summer Simmers Down

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 03:59:05 +0000

Hey everyone! Wanted to share an update on what has happened the past few months.

Life has been moving along after returning from Africa. Only a few weeks after getting home we left to the mountains for our youth summer camp! We had an amazing time and we saw 3 people profess Christ during the week. We were so blessed by many different speakers coming up and sharing the word through Hebrews and we were also blessed by our good friends Rob and Colleen Myers taking our youth out on Big Bear Lake to inter tube! Everyone said that was the highlight of the camp.

How Was Uganda?

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 04:29:05 +0000

Well… I’m glad you you asked! It was amazing! I got to see some of the places where the Lord first made an impact on my life and was privileged to see people I hadn’t seen in years. The Lord is doing amazing things in Uganda through the different people and ministries Joel and I got to visit on our 2 week trip in June, but before I give you more details, I want to take you back to when I first visited Uganda in 2009.

Africa

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:25:56 +0000

By the time you read this, I’ll be in Uganda, Africa! I’m very excited to be visiting 3 of our missionary families. The Kanyikes, the Harrises and the Anikus, all of whom are serving in Uganda. Please be praying as pastor Joel and I. Our goal is to visit our missionaries and spend time with them, hangout with their families, see what works they are doing, and help meet any needs they may have. This is something that we love to do and our missionaries have expressed so much gratitude when people from the states come and visit them. It’s so exciting and I will be sharing an update when we get back!

In Case You Don't Know...

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:19:16 +0000

Hello friends and family! Thank you so much for taking the time to read our newsletter and for partnering with us in the Gospel! It’s a huge blessing to know that we have people who love us and care to hear about what God is doing in and through our lives. We’re excited to share where the Lord has us right now and what we are doing at SGWM (Saving Grace World Missions), at CCSG (Calvary Chapel Saving Grace), and in our home as our family continues to grow.

Better Late Than Never

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 22:00:52 +0000

I beg your forgiveness for the delinquency of this update. Life has been crazy and there’s so much to share!

Since May…

Since my last update in May we have had some extremely happy news that fast tracked some things we had been praying about for quite a while; we found out that I am pregnant with our second child! We had been praying for several months about God’s timing for us to move back down to Southern California and the Lord spoke to Isaac that we would be back in SoCal before our next baby came. When we learned the happy news, it caused us to pray all the more fervently and God made it clear that we would be transitioning back down in August/September.

Spring or Winter?

Thu, 05 May 2022 18:40:04 +0000

This month the weather has vacillated between spring sunshine and winter storms. The daffodils turned their bright faces toward the sun only to shortly thereafter be pressed back down to the earth by an icy blanket of snow. Many forms of life are beginning to stir and shake off the winter but the snow keeps coming, trying to postpone and forestall the inevitable spring that is beginning to dawn.

It is sad to feel the first sweet caresses of warmer days, only to be jostled back into the icy cold, BUT, we see the good it’s doing. The lake is steadily rising as the snow deposits melt and flow headlong into it, the hills are green as the snow releases its icy grip and the sunshine beckons the grasses toward its light, the flowers are blooming in gardens and abandoned trails alike. Though the spring feels suppressed by the winter that doesn’t know when to quit, we know that spring is here and will only harken in warmer and sunnier days.

February 2022

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 02:47:39 +0000

Sometimes updates are easy to write and other times they aren’t. This is one of those not-so-easy updates simply because this month was made up of the everyday, ordinary things rather than the highlights.

Youth Group

Thank you for your prayers for the youth group that we started on January 24th! After our first meeting it was apparent that we aren’t ready to start yet. With one student and three leaders, it hardly felt like your typical youth group and everyone felt a little out of place. We are continuing to pray that God would work in our midst and give us wisdom in how to faithfully minister to the student He has placed in the ministry as we wait for more to come.

Truckin' Along in Truckee

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:03:43 +0000

Happy new year! I pray that you all had a blessed holiday season full of family, friends, and fellowship with the Lord. God has been working in all of our lives and I am excited to share how He has been working here in Truckee.

Young Adults

Things are starting to take off in our young adults group! Last Friday we had 4 young adults attend with one regular out because of work and two new people who wanted to come but just weren’t able to make it work. This Friday we will have a young woman join us who visited our church last Sunday and she will be bringing her boyfriend. We could potentially cram 10 people into our small space tomorrow night! Please pray that God would move in our midst and that He’d be greatly magnified as we fellowship and draw near to Him.

Our First Month in Truckee

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 21:30:00 +0000

October flew by! What a whirlwind it’s been to move up to Truckee and settle into a new routine. God has been so faithful!

Our new home is perfect for our family and such a blessing. We’re nestled in the woods right across the street from Donner Lake in a quaint little one bedroom cabin. I have a full kitchen now, which I love and a very large attic space for storage. God blessed us with a beautiful couch, a new vacuum, and a TV to help make our house “home.” We’ve already started hosting the young adults group on our home on Friday nights and that has been a huge blessing.

Faith That Moves (to the) Mountains

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 13:35:53 +0000

We are called to be a people of faith. It’s that simple. Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Think about that for a minute- impossible to please God without faith! Jesus told His disciples that they only needed faith the size of a mustard seed in order to say to the mountain, “move from here to there” and it would move (Matthew 17:20). How incredible that our salvation hinges upon a little thing called faith and that our daily Christian life is supposed to be saturated with it.

Blessed Returns

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 19:58:18 +0000

Hello friends and family!

It’s been quite a while since I have had the pleasure of updating you on what is going on in my life and ministry. Thank you for all of your prayers for the delivery of my son, Fletcher! I went into labor on May 7th and delivered him safely at home at 1 am on May 10th. It was the most challenging thing I have ever done but praise be to God for keeping us and allowing us to persevere through your prayers for us. I needed every prayer and am so thankful for each of you.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:29:45 +0000

Spring is in the air, May is around the corner, and new life springing forth! This month we have received wonderful reports from many of our missionaries of the amazing things God is doing while many other missionaries are hunkering down and experiencing the storms of this life.

Missionary Reports

Some of the wonderful reports we received from our missionaries this month regard spectacular Easter celebrations and exciting movements of the Holy Spirit. In Uganda, Brian and Jill Kanyike were able to host a church gathering that included women and children who had previously been restricted from coming to church due to government mandates. In her update, Jill describes a moving and emotional scene as the saints of God were finally gathered together to sing praises to our King. In Mexico, Pastor Hassan and his congregation celebrated the resurrection with a special sweetness, remembering the shutdown last year and enjoying the freedom to meet this year. Their church has grown so much that they need to expand their sanctuary!

March Update

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 21:21:35 +0000

March has been an exciting month in the office as we have been able to facilitate more and more mission work!

CSOM

The Calvary School of Missions is fast approaching and we have already accepted several students! Please continue to pray that the Lord would draw those prospective students who are supposed to be part of the team this year and that He would provide the funds for every student.

February 2021

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:12:55 +0000

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! It is a joy to serve the Lord together with you.

Time keeps slipping away and we are already headed into the third month of this new year! I look forward to the dawn of spring here in California and pray that you are well wherever you may be reading this.

Christmas 2020 Outreaches

Last month I promised an update on the Christmas outreaches that took place in the 10/40 window and I don’t want to disappoint!

Answered Prayers

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 18:36:00 +0000

God is so good! I pray that the beginning of 2021 has been a blessing for you and that your January was full of God’s presence and grace. I know mine was!

This year is a big deal for me personally as my husband and I will be welcoming our first child into the world. Throughout my pregnancy I have seen God faithfully answer so many prayers regarding my position here with SGWM and the next steps once Fletcher is born which brings me to some exciting news!

Merry Christmas!

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 00:29:30 +0000

I am in shock when I think back on how quickly this year has flown by. Like all of you this year, I was not without challenges- planning a wedding in the midst of a pandemic is not fun- but we can all stand together and say that God has been faithful through every difficulty.

This year SGWM has seen God provide over 2.5 million dollars in funds for and sent to missionaries on every inhabited continent! That’s over 2.5 million dollars donated toward specific missionaries that God allowed us to funnel into the battlefield for souls! Imagine what God wants to do in 2021 if THAT is how He provides in the middle of a worldwide shutdown and recession.

November Update

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 21:17:00 +0000

November was yet another fly-by month here in the office. We have started praying for our Christmas outreaches and we had the privilege of sharing the needs of 6 nationals with our church body.

Christmas Outreaches

Every year SGWM helps nationals working with us in the 10/40 window conduct local Christmas outreaches among their unreached neighbors. This year will be no different in spite of COVID! If you would like to be part of what God does this Christmas season among the unreached, you can give at this link. We are putting our Covid Relief fund to work for Christmas themed outreaches and would love for you to join us.

Just Like That

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:59:00 +0000

Another month has flown by! October was a bit of a slow month in the office as we focused on a lot of the usual tasks without the added workload of planning mission trips due to the continued shutdown. Although we in the office are not going far or long for the foreseeable future (we do have a little trip up our sleeves!), we are helping some of our missionaries move around!

Bye, September

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 22:54:12 +0000

Is it just me or did September simply fly by?

This month has been as active as any with the internship getting fully underway! Here are a few highlights.

I had the privilege of training two of our three new interns in the office and showing them what it looks like to send someone out onto the field. It is always an educational experience for those who haven’t considered just how many hours are dedicated to such a feat. Gabby and Nathanael have both done well in their training but the bulk of what they will learn this year is hands on. Please pray for them as they continue to serve in the office and press into whatever the Lord has for their internship this year.

What an August!

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 00:10:56 +0000

Mexico Trip

What a great August! I had the opportunity to travel down to Mexico to visit with our school of missions students personally and attend Calvary Chapel Rosarito’s Church Planting Conference. It also turned into an opportunity to spend time with our newest missionary who I had the privilege of onboarding this month!

The School of Missions wrapped up on August 17th and it was such a great year of growth for our 12 students and 7 staff members. From it we are receiving two new interns and we hope to receive several more students-turned-interns in January.

"Your Majesty, I Am Coming"

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 22:36:28 +0000

I recently read this quote from a book of mission quotes compiled by Marvin J. Newell called Expect Great Things. I think it would do us all good to read it and adopt the heart it speaks of.

During the last world war, on the Gold Coast of Africa, there lived an elderly African man who had honorably served his Majesty’s government and had been given a small pension. With it he retired to the hills to farm. One day while he was working with his hoe, he heard a message come by drumbeat across the jungle forest. He stopped to listen and to translate it for himself. He learned that a Great War had begun and that his Majesty’s government was in great need of help. About a week later at the little ramshackle post office down on the coast, the postmaster processed a grimy little postcard on which this eloquent message was written, “Your Majesty, I am coming.” May God hear that from hundreds of hearts today; “Here am I, send me.”

June 2020 Update

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 22:23:32 +0000

June was a great month of ministry and missions!

I know, that may sound weird, but it’s true. Last month we helped orchestrate several COVID relief outreaches in Nepal and various other countries like Mexico and Peru! Thanks to your generous support of our missionaries and of Saving Grace World Missions, we were able to get the funds into these countries where they were able to use them to purchase and distribute goods to the poor and needy.

Things are Changing

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 15:51:33 +0000

This month has been one of incredible changes in our church, in our country, and in our world. We’ve seen the back and forth squabbles of when to open our economy and how, we’ve seen frightening protests and riots, and we’ve seen the church doors open up to continue being the pillar and ground of truth in a world where truth is so often twisted and marred.

Last week we had our first in-person, sit-down church service in our courtyard after spending weeks in our parking lot (I lost count of how long we were out there). It was INCREDIBLE! I wish you could have been there to hear the sweet sound of God’s people praise His name in the midst of the unrest we see around us.

United in Spirit

Fri, 01 May 2020 18:01:50 +0000

This month has been a crazy one for all of us.

I mean, if I had told you last Easter that in 2020 no one would be in church for Easter service, you would have laughed me out of the room. And yet, that’s exactly what happened.

We celebrated the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord from the solitary confinement of our own homes and immediate family circles and yet the message and the ministry are still thriving.

What is What?

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 23:00:36 +0000

As I am sure you are all aware, the world is being rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic and it has greatly affected everyone of us and our daily lives. This past month has been interesting as I have transitioned to working from home and have experienced a drastic change of pace.

Ministry

All of my ministry responsibilities have been on pause as we are unable to meet in person on Sundays or throughout the week but our church leadership has been very intentional in reaching out via technology. We are meeting with the youth of our church through Zoom- an online meeting platform that allows up to 100 people to connect via video chat from their own computers. We have also utilized this resource to connect with the guys and girls separately according to age group (high school girls with high school girls, etc). The high school girls are meeting twice a week to go over a short devotion together, exchange prayer requests, and keep one another accountable. It has been a total blessing to be able to see all of their faces and briefly connect during this time of social distancing.

Some Thoughts on Life and Death and Life Eternal

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:58:21 +0000

I briefly mentioned this in my update this month in way of prayer request but I’ve been experiencing some difficulty with my speech and thinking- I have been mixing up syllables in words, jumbling letters when speaking and typing, using the wrong words for common things (like calling mango “watermelon”), and having trouble thinking and reasoning clearly. This is not normal for me.

God gifted me with an incredible brain that has served me extremely well throughout my life- I have received top grades all through school, excelled at almost everything I’ve taken on, and now I get to use that brain power to serve the missionaries of Saving Grace as well as the church body. I wouldn’t say that my job is high stress, it comes in waves of extreme pressure and deadlines followed by lulls of almost nothing but it takes a lot of brain capacity to juggle all of the various responsibilities of my job. Acting as personal assistant to four pastors on top of my regular office duties means many, many details to remember and I love that God has given me the ability to do it with excellence.

Delight Yourself In the Lord

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 18:52:02 +0000

…and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Ever since I was a little girl, the greatest desire of my heart has been to be a wife and mother. To be the wife of the man God chose for me, who loves Him with his whole heart and loves me with the rest of it. To walk alongside that man and help him be all God has called him to be, to edify, exhort, challenge, and encourage him all the days of our lives.

Every Day I'm Ministering

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 05:13:03 +0000

January was an awesome month of seeing God work and move in my life and ministry. Every day comes with its own ministry opportunities and every day I see God’s hand at work.

I serve in the youth ministry at my church and I had the privilege of seeing 6 youth get baptized, one of them receiving Christ just a few weeks prior. I had the opportunity to sit with, listen to, pray for, and counsel one of our students as she shared her burdens with me, I just started meeting with one of our high school girls for discipleship and am excited to see how God uses me in her life and how He uses her in my life, and I will begin meeting with another girl this month. It is such a privilege to walk with God and be used by Him to plant seeds in the lives of these high school and junior high students who are just beginning to seek God for themselves and make their faith their own. I love seeing God transform and restore lives!

Fresh Start

Sat, 18 Jan 2020 00:15:24 +0000

The past month and a half have flown by! My Christmas and New Year were a success in every way. I got to spend Christmas surrounded by friends and family and I went to bed at 8:45 pm on December 31st. It was dreamy.

For most of December, we were working hard to help our missionaries host Christmas outreaches in their various villages and communities. We sent over $2,000 to South Asia and the Gospel was preached to over 1,000 unbelievers! It was such a privilege to see some of the pictures that came back to us.

Some Statistics

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 19:54:21 +0000

I have been going through Rob Douglass’ missions class as part of my training for my position at SGWM and my heart has been so stirred for what we are doing here that I needed to write something down.

Rob is the founder and President of Ends of the Earth Ministries which goes into unreached countries and raises up nationals to go further in, where white people cannot go, and bring the hope of the Gospel through planting churches, providing education, and offering safe medical care. They work largely in South Sudan and other unreached areas.

Where Do I Even Begin?

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:31:27 +0000

The trip to South Asia that I was privileged to be part of last month was pretty incredible. So incredible that I don’t really know where to begin or how to convey all that God deserves credit, honor, and praise for.

If you want to read about the vision of the trip and what we were planning on doing, take a look at my last update, Did Someone Say “South Asia”.

Did Someone Say "South Asia"?

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 21:12:17 +0000

Did you know that there are approximately 3 billion unreached people in the world? That means that 3 billion people have never heard the Gospel and have no opportunity to hear it. This can be due to several reasons; they may live in an area where there aren’t any Christians (like persecuted countries), where Christianity, the Bible, and even saying the word “God” is illegal (like North Korea), or where they simply don’t have access to Gospel materials (like remote headhunting tribes).

TORNADO!

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:38:58 +0000

Do you ever feel like life hits you out of nowhere like a tornado without the tornado warning? All of a sudden, your rosy, cheery existence is interrupted by a whirlwind of upsetting change and chaos that leaves you windblown and chapped as you try to fit together the remains of what you once knew as normal?

That’s how this past month has been for me.

I have just experienced a lot of personal loss that sometimes feels debilitating. My younger sister (who is also my best friend) got engaged and went away to school in Arizona, my uncle passed away, and I said good-bye to the high school ministry at my old church as I now transition to Calvary Chapel Saving Grace.

Can you say "Summer Camp"?

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 03:51:07 +0000

This past month has been a whirlwind and God’s faithfulness is so evident.

I had the privilege of serving as a counselor at two summer camps this year which happened to be back to back. Basically I left on July 24th for the first camp, got back in the afternoon on the 28th, and left the next morning for another four days!

The theme of the first camp was Created and we talked about science and the Bible and why we can trust the Bible to affirm true science. It was a radical week as we saw students’ questions answered and lives changed. Two of the girls in my cabin accepted Christ and were baptized! I was one proud leader.

Our God

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 19:14:05 +0000

I have been sitting here staring at a blank screen for the last few minutes because I don’t know how to convey or properly share the beauty of our God.

Our God is the God who leaves the 99 to seek and find the 1 lost.

Our God is the God who loves us so passionately that He submitted to death on the cross.

Our God is the God who calls every nation, tribe, tongue, and people group to Himself.

Hello!

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:54:17 +0000

Wow. Just wow. There is so much that God has done in the past few months and if you have followed me at all on Facebook or on my Christ Pursuit blog I must beg your forgiveness for neglecting to update you all!

Life has been somewhat crazy and I have gone through quite a few transitions, the most notable of which is my new position as administrative assistant with Saving Grace World Missions.

The Tiger Pit (Part Two)

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 17:30:48 +0000

Joshua’s heart broke for the hundredth time as he reflected on the happenings of the last 6 months. Not only had his subjects rebelled against him under the direction of the Eastern foreigner, but his beloved wife had been hiding an affair for 4 months before openly leaving Joshua to stand behind the man who seemed to take everything from him.
He couldn’t understand how she could leave him, and worse yet, he couldn’t hate her; he loved her too much. Many in his kingdom had been reluctant to follow the man from the East, but when the princess came out as his mistress, they began to question if Joshua was actually as good as they thought he was. If his own wife chose this Eastern man over him, how good could he really be? It was then that Joshua truly lost it all and in the last two months the rebellion had grown from a smoldering ember to a raging blaze. Joshua was not a coward, but he was patient and he waited for correspondence from his father, the King, before quenching the rebellion. He wanted to be sure to act in accordance with his father’s wishes. When word came, Joshua was swift to act and he rallied his loyal soldiers to march against the very people they were sworn to protect.

The Incubator

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 17:14:56 +0000

“Vision always starts with a burden. Follow the burden, see where it takes you, and maybe it will lead you to the Lord’s vision for your life.”

Doug Souder

When I heard those words, I knew I had to begin earnestly praying for a burden from the Lord. I began to fast and pray that God would give me some sort of vision in regards to what He wanted me to do because I simply wasn’t feeling burdened for the land of Israel. For almost two and a half years I have been praying for the Middle East and though I felt burdened for it, I did not know if the burden was specifically for long-term missions, or just for prayer. As many of you know, I felt called to Israel and I knew that coming here this semester would help clarify that calling and that God would either open or close doors. My heart was confused when I had been here for two weeks and didn’t have any desire to stay here long term or even to go out and evangelize. Part of that has been the spiritual warfare of being here, Jerusalem is a heavily oppressed city and it is evident after being here for a prolonged period of time, but part of that was also that I simply didn’t feel any kind of burden outside of the usual for this place.

The Tiger Pit

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 16:58:03 +0000

I heard this story on April 20th, 2017 and I’ve been writing it ever since. The story I heard was just the bare bones but it pierced my heart and I thought, “I need to share this.” This is only the first half, if you enjoy it, leave a comment and let me know that you want the second half, it should be ready next week. Enjoy.

\\\__
The sun broke over the tops of the trees and cast its brilliant light upon a clearing in the forest. The light revealed a circular pit eight feet deep and twelve feet across with a single lonely post standing in the center. About the pit, a stillness hung in the air and an eerie silence seemed to speak of the terrible fate that met all those who spent their last moments there.
The only disturbance to the unsettled peace was a soft breeze that explored the deep grooves on the post where tiger’s claws had left their fearful mark. Wrapping around the post and picking up speed as if spooked, the breeze raced back into the forest, through the trees and into the valley several miles away where it rallied its strength and charged onward across the valley to the royal palace that stood proudly upon the mountainside opposite the forest.

Now and Next

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 16:39:21 +0000

The Lord is doing amazing things here in Israel!

It has been two weeks and I am so incredibly blessed by His presence with me and His gentle care of me. As the girls’ dorm steward I have additional responsibilities like resolving conflicts, making sure the rules are being upheld, and serving the others students in general. The past weeks have been extremely stretching because I struggled the first week with fatigue and I had to daily crucify my flesh just to stay awake, let alone serve others. Through it God reminded me that I do not have the luxury of walking in my flesh, whether everything is going well or everything is going wrong. As a servant of the gospel, I am called to die daily for His name’s sake and this was a wonderful opportunity to grow in that daily crucifixion when I most certainly did not feel like it.

She Who Believed

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:14:48 +0000

It was 3:30 am and the last four hours had seemed an eternity as she slipped in and out of consciousness. When the plane finally landed in Israel, the feeling of victory that swelled in her heart was indescribable as she praised God for His unfailing faithfulness.

“I am sending you to My people, Israel.”

He had said. And in Israel she now was. There was still customs to get through, the shuttle to find, the hotel to locate, and then the question of what to do for the remainder of the morning, but none of that was as important as the fact that she had seen the fulfillment of God’s promise in her life in such a real and tangible way.

Holy Land, Here I Come

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 20:51:51 +0000

“Are you interested in going?” she asked, looking away from the road for a brief moment to look at my face.

“Yeah, I actually am.” I said as I pondered for a second the reality of what was going through my heart and mind.

Israel.
The Holy Land.
The inheritance of God’s chosen people.
My home for the spring semester.

I had not planned on going abroad for any more semesters. Work, pay for school, finish school had been the plan, but as Alina answered the questions I was asking about the Calvary Chapel Bible College campus in Jerusalem, I realized that a true consideration of the possibility had been stirring in my heart.

Laffy Taffy Faith

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:59:06 +0000

Have you ever seen the movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? You know the scene where Mike Teavee gets shrunk and Willy Wonka has the Oompa Loompas take him to the taffy puller to make him big again? Well that’s what this semester has been like for me.

I thought I had firm faith before coming here this semester, I thought I had learned to live by faith and trust God, but let me just say that I hadn’t (and probably still haven’t) seen anything yet. If you’ve followed me on my adventures through Bible College, you know that I am now pursuing my bachelor’s degree at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta through Calvary Chapel University. I shared a few posts ago about the higher tuition costs and the way God has provided, but recently my faith was put to the test.

Endlessly Faithful

Sat, 02 Sep 2017 18:46:02 +0000

Human beings will let you down. It is just a reality of life.

It isn’t a sad reality, really, just a fact of life. If we can grasp that then I think our relationships will be a lot more fruitful because we won’t project unrealistic expectations upon those around us.

The only thing we have to be careful of is that we DON’T lower our expectations of God.

So often I feel like I have it backwards; like I have monumental expectations for the people in my life and then when they disappoint me, I turn that back on God and expect Him to let me down too. The only difference is that He never disappoints and He always fulfills His promises even when people don’t.

The One My Soul Loves

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 18:29:56 +0000

Do you ever feel like there are some parts of you that you need to conceal in order to appear to advantage?
I do.
Parts of my face, my body, my heart.

So many blemishes and flaws that I wish to hide as if tucking them away and keeping you at arms distance where I look my best will make them any less present. But the reality is that those parts of me are still there even when I fool you into thinking they aren’t.
Before you read any further, I have to give you fair warning; I am about to be totally honest and it may be…well, I’ll let you decide how it affects you when you get to the end.

When Your Best Friend Gets Married

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 17:34:06 +0000

Roses are sometimes pink.
Violets aren’t always the same shade of blue.
And life isn’t always what we thought it would be.

Last night two of my closest friends from high school promised to love and cherish one another before death do they part and I couldn’t be more excited for the new chapter of their lives.

I had the privilege of standing beside Mel (the bride) as her maid of honor and it was not at all what I thought it would be. If you asked her, (and she answered honestly) she might tell you that I let her down and that I didn’t really fulfill the role she asked me to play in the biggest day of her life. And she would be right.

Home Sweet Home

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 17:26:06 +0000

May 31, 2017

And just like that the semester is over, Bible college is complete, and I am back in sunny southern California. The emotional transition back into life at home has been MUCH smoother this year, for which I am grateful.
When graduation rolled around last spring I was dealing with the most potent mixture of sadness and joy as I looked back on the amazing three months I had spent in Italy and ahead to the uncertain chasm of time that lay between me and any possibility of seeing all of the Italian people I had fallen in love with. I had made a friendship that I didn’t want to move thousands of miles away from and the thought that I might not see Daniela again for who knows how many years made my heart feel like it was suffocating.
BUT, God has been so faithful and He allowed me another incredible three months in Italy (just one year later!!!) with all of the people I hold so dear, plus plenty of new friends who I now cherish and miss. About a week before graduation I was feeling that familiar sadness that kind of colors everything and makes you feel heavy (the kind that evokes long wistful sighs), but I just took it to the Lord and asked Him to turn my mourning into rejoicing.

The Final Countdown

Sun, 14 May 2017 17:19:06 +0000

I only have two weeks left in Italy and they are going to be jam packed!

Tomorrow our hermeneutics block class starts and will completely change the weekly schedule. Usually we have Mondays off, but tomorrow we will have 5 and a half hours of hermeneutics and then our usual classes will continue on Tuesday through Friday with the addition of a 2 and a half hour hermeneutics class everyday. The idea is that you get a semester’s worth of class time and learning in just two weeks so it’s nose to the grindstone, but only for a little while. Unfortunately my mom will be arriving right in the middle of this craziness because of a scheduling error which made it so that the class was moved to these next two weeks rather than last week and this coming week.

Difficulty, Dependence, and Diligence

Wed, 10 May 2017 23:36:25 +0000

There is a love that transcends feelings and emotions. It is steadfast and pursuing. It gets a hold of you and never lets you go. That is the love that God has for us and expressed to us through the cross. That is the love that I have experienced, and that is the love that I so often forget to extend to others.

This week has been the most difficult of the semester, hands down. I have experienced so much of what makes us human. From others alteration, injustice, bitterness, distrust, fickleness, infidelity, betrayal. From within anger, pain, sadness, confusion, doubt, unrest. Yet in the midst of it all, I was met from above with love, mercy, grace, patience, kindness, compassion, peace, and joy.

Greece!

Sun, 30 Apr 2017 23:32:48 +0000

Today we leave for Greece!

We will be exploring Athens and Corinth as part of our Footsteps of Paul class and I am SO EXCITED!!!
I can’t believe that I will be able to walk through the Acropolis and stand atop Mars Hill, that I will get to behold the Bema Seat in Corinth and gain a greater understanding of the Bible through these places.
All of the students (except for one girl who sprained her ankle badly on her outreach) and 6 staff members will be flying there today and I ask that you keep us in your prayers. Several of us have been battling colds and other physical infirmities, so please pray for health and safety for all of us as we travel today and while we are there.
We will arrive there at 11 pm (which is 2 pm California time) after 9 hours of traveling, so I am sure we will all be exhausted. Our hostel is a five-minute walk from Mars Hill, so I hope to take advantage of the sunrises and sunsets. Monday is a national holiday so most businesses will be closed, but we will be able to explore Athens and possibly (Lord willing) go to the beach. We also plan on seeing Mars Hill and the Temple of Zeus on Monday. Tuesday will be completely absorbed in our trip to Corinth where we will get to explore the ancient ruins of the city and see the Bema Seat which Paul references in his letters to the churches. On Wednesday we will go to the Agora and the Acropolis and then Thursday morning will be spent searching for souvenirs before we head back to Italy at 12 pm.
It is definitely going to be a whirlwind of a trip and I can’t wait to see all that the Lord has for us there!

Better Late Than Never

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 23:14:51 +0000

I know I’m late on this update, but better late than never! (Plus I have good reasons…sort of)

The Sunday I missed was April 16th, otherwise known as Resurrection Sunday. It was my second Easter away from home in my short 19 years of life, but it was oh so sweet. I awoke to a beautiful morning with blue skies and fluffy clouds, so for a day whose forecast promised rain, we were off to a great start. My roommate, Brooke, and I got up earlier than usual to spend time with the Lord and then go for a run before church. I am reading through the One Year Bible and when I finished my reading for the day, I decided to read through the resurrection accounts in all of the Gospels. It was so beautiful to see again all that Jesus went through on my behalf and yours, to read of His victory over sin and death, and His glorious ascension to heaven.

Verbania on the Brain

Sun, 09 Apr 2017 23:01:32 +0000

It seems like a lifetime has passed since I wrote my last update to tell you all that I was heading to Verbania in 24 hours and yet that was only 7 d a y s ago.

We had such a wonderful week with the Di Lecce family and the church that they pastor. We spent Monday traveling and getting settled in. The Di Lecce’s live in a small apartment down the street from their church building and they gave us the entire upstairs loft area of their home for the week while their own daughter slept on the couch (she was only there for two of the nights we were there, but still). The hospitality and love we were shown truly touched my heart. Never once did Antonietta expect us to help in the kitchen, and even when we offered she had very little for us to do because she simply took care of us. Donato, the pastor, and Davide and Daniele (his sons) drove us around Verbania wherever we needed to go during the week and were such a blessing.

Stepping Stones

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 22:46:07 +0000

There is so much to tell you!

First things first; Ireland was a success! Our flights there were smooth and we didn’t have any problems. While we were there the Lord protected us and led us around every corner, especially in Dublin which is riddled with pubs (and therefore drunk people, mostly men). We didn’t have any problems with the locals or finding our way around and we were able to enjoy some authentic Irish meals. Let me just say that boxty fries are amazing and you haven’t lived until you’ve tried them. It was worth the trip to Dublin for those alone.

Team Time

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:41:06 +0000

Hello my faithful friends!

Today’s update is short and sweet and has to do mainly with our OUTREACH WEEK!
(I’m early this week because I will be in Ireland this Sunday and won’t be able to write an update)

The outreach teams are out and I am so excited to announce that I will be heading to Verbania, Italy in the first week of April with a group of four other girls.

Mysterious Ways

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 22:25:50 +0000

Ciao once again on this fine Sunday!

God has continued to lead and guide in His mysterious ways this week and there have been quite a few exciting developments that I can’t wait to share with all of you!

First things first, the outreach to the Middle East. It seemed to be a wide open door, but apparently the Lord has other plans for me because the door has been pretty firmly closed. I was praying and planning until this past Tuesday evening when Savannah, my missionary friend and traveling companion to the outreach destination, broke the “bad news” to me. Her Italian visa expired this week and her renewal appointment (which is humanly impossible to expedite) is not until AFTER the week of the trip which means that she cannot leave Italy for any reason unless she doesn’t plan on coming back. This news was disappointing and exciting all at once because, obviously I was greatly looking forward to diving deeper into the Lord’s calling on my life and possibly making connections which would allow for future missions work in the region, but my joy for the trip was somewhat hampered by the fact that I would not be a part of the other student groups that were going on outreaches. Outreach week is a very special time when we come together as students and fellow laborers in Christ to seek God’s will in practical service side by side. The way things were shaping up, I would not be a part of any of that because I would be striking out on my own with only one other person and though I know that if I had gone, it would have been the best thing I could have done (because obedience to God is the best thing any of us can do), I was sorry to miss out on the fellowship and comradery which accompanies being a part of a team. Needless to say, when Savannah told me that the trip wasn’t going to happen I was somewhat relieved because I get to make the most of my time here in Italy with the students here and I know that God has a purpose in closing the door at this time. I trust Him completely to bring His will to pass and whether that means I get out onto the “mission field” now or in 10 years, I know that He has a plan for all of it. (I used quotation marks around mission field because the mission field for every Christian is wherever we find ourselves that day, not just some far off, exotic country).

Exceedingly, Abundantly More

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 17:39:43 +0000

March 12, 2017

It is hard for me to describe just how good God is, but for those of you who know Him, you have experienced that goodness firsthand and therefore understand my struggle in trying to relate it.

It’s best to give you a little bit of background. I know that the Lord has called me to be a missionary; when I was in high school He captured my heart and gave me a desire to serve Him with all that I am. That desire soon grew to a desire to serve as a full time missionary and the only thing that remained to be seen was where that service would take place. When I began Bible college a year and a half ago, I wanted to serve somewhere where they spoke English, such as England or Ireland, for a few years until I got married. At that point I wanted to settle down somewhere and raise my family while my husband continued to serve the Lord by pastoring a local church or something like that. My plan for my life and for my service unto the Lord truly was shaped and fashioned around the fears that I harbored in my heart. The things I didn’t want to let go of, the dreams that I didn’t want to surrender. My hopes for my future allowed me to stay “safe”, but then God began to call me deeper.

It's In God's Hands

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 22:20:00 +0000

“It’s in God’s hands” he said to me as he shrugged his shoulders in a carefree expression of faith.

It’s in God’s hands.

So easy to say, so easy to believe, so hard to live. I tell myself that I’m in God’s hands and I know that it’s true but I struggle with trying to take my life back into my own clumsy fingers. I grasp and I cling yet it all seems to slip away into the wind like sand in an hourglass, and I realize that is because I was never meant to hold it, it wasn’t made for my little hands to bear.

Leaving the REST Up to God

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 22:14:06 +0000

April 23, 2016

It has been a busy few months full of a wide variety of various trials, but through it
God has been teaching me to rest in His presence and in His power.

October 16, 2016

Fast forward 6 months and life hasn’t been following the speed limit. I am coming to the realization that life doesn’t slow down, it simply teaches you to run faster.

When I got home from Italy I was plunged back into a routine of work, family, service, and friends that I had missed, but wasn’t really ready to come back to. I wanted to be in Italy. Over the course of a few weeks I readjusted to life at “home,” but the rest I experienced was far from my mind.

Ponderings

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 17:52:04 +0000

July 24, 2016

Sometimes you just sit and ponder life.

Your life. Not your life as it has already occurred, but your life as it is yet to be.

There are many questions, many musings, many wonderings, and a few absolutes.

Today I have been sifting through questions like, will I ever get married, raise a family, and grow old? Musings as to what life will be like with another person by my side, what he will look like, what his story is, how we will meet. Wonderings that cause me to ask what our story will be like and how he could ever love me.

Lovely Musings

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:48:07 +0000

March 2, 2016

“Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds…”

William Shakespeare (Sonnet 116)

Chuck Smith quoted that line three times in the sermon I listened to last night.

It was far from the first time I’ve heard it, (Jane Austen also quotes it in Sense and Sensibility) but it was the first time I really stopped to allow the beauty to take root in my heart. As I sat on my bed and thought about love, I was reminded of what my missions teacher, David Downs, said earlier that morning, that “love is intentionally burdened.”

Italia

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 22:09:40 +0000

I am in Italy! The most prominent thought throughout any day is, “Wow, Lord. YOU BROUGHT ME HERE!”
I am constantly reminded every time I open my eyes that He is so, so good to me. The city is beautiful, my apartment is amazing and the Lord is magnificent.

My apartment is in the middle of town right in the midst of the downtown scene. There is a gelato shop directly underneath my apartment (literally the entrance to my building and the shop are right next to one another), and just a half block away is the Piazza which seems to be the heart of downtown. It has been rainy since I have been here and I find everything about this place to be completely enchanting. The people, the language, the natural and historic beauty, just everything is breathtaking.

And So It Begins

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:03:28 +0000

Time moves slowly until it’s gone.

It seems that I took a step of faith to follow Jesus into Italy so long ago and that the day would never arrive, but it has arrived and I hardly feel prepared. In three short days I leave for three months of studying God’s Word in the beautiful land of pizza and pasta. There will be adventure, joy, discomfort, and growth as I pursue all that God has for me in these upcoming three months, and I invite you to come along.