Update on Life

Sorry everyone that I haven't posted in almost over a year!! If I were to say that life has been crazy, that would be an understatement. Let me get everyone up to speed with what's happening in my little world. 

Last fall after returning home from Russia, I was still having a hard time finding a job in the "real world", even with my college degree, finding a job was not easy in my small home town. So, while I was working for my family's business, I also started volunteering at a local crisis pregnancy center. For several years now, I have felt the need to volunteer there, but because of my transient lifestyle, I wasn't able to make that commitment. Last fall it was finally the right season of life for me to volunteer. I went to the center, filled out an application, had my interview, and started volunteering. A few months after volunteering, I was offered a job with the center! How amazing is our God?! I am now the Client Services Director and I work with our clients and manage our volunteers. I love my job and it is great experience for me. 

After thinking about what I want to do in life, I decided that I needed to start pursuing my graduate degree. Then came the overwhelming task of answering the following questions: where I would obtain this degree, what type of grad degree do I want/need, and how am I going to pay for it? Thankfully, I found Liberty University based out of Virginia and they have an amazing online program. They have 8 week semesters, so I am able to get this degree knocked out in a little more than a year. Getting this degree was not always that I wanted, but after searching for a job for more than 6 months, I realized that I needed one. Again, God provided me with the perfect job and the perfect degree. I am so excited to eventually use the degree I'm currently pursing. When all is said and done, I'll have a Master's in Human Services with concentration on Military Resilience. 

Hopefully, by the middle/end of next summer, I'll be able to work with our military and their families, helping them adjust and handle problems within their families. 

So this is just a little summary of life over the past year. Sorry for not posting regularly, I'll try to do better! 

Everlasting

Pablo Ortiz and Frank De Martini. Who are these men and why in the world am I writing about them?

Before last night I had never heard of them, yet their stories greatly moved me.

Last night I was channel surfing and came across a television special on 9/11. This particular one was called Heroes of the 88th Floor. It had survivors sharing their horrific stories, how they were trapped on a floor or in an elevator. They gave up hope of being rescued. Then two men came, pried the doors open and helped people find their ways to the stairwell. The show had survivor after survivor telling how Frank and Pablo helped them. "If it wasn't for Frank and Pablo, I wouldn't be here," was something I heard often from their lips. At the end of the show, one man said, they gave their life for me, and I am willing to give my life for others like they did.

Pablo Ortiz and Frank De Martini were simply two average men. They didn't possess supernatural strength. They weren't body builders who could bench hundreds of pounds. They were fathers, husbands. They saved over 70 people. Many of those 70 people then turned around and helped others escape.

At the very end of the program, a chorus was played in the background while they continued to show footage and survivors recounted their stories. Not many people would recognize the song by the music alone. Here are the lyrics:

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Elisha A. Hoffman 1887
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"


I will never forget what happened on 9/11/01. I will never forget the stories I heard how God used two simple men and how their actions of courage, valor, and honor brought peace, hope and comfort to those they saved, and to all of us who have heard those stories.

Out of this truly horrific evil event, people found peace, comfort, and safety-all these things that only come from an everlasting Father.

Do you want to have this peace?

Frank De Martini

Pablo Ortiz

Looking Up

Lately, I've been wondering why God is leading me to go home. Don't get me wrong, I want to go home, and I miss my family and friends, but I don't know why I'm supposed to go home. I have vague ideas of why, but no real path set before me.

It's weird to not know what is next in life. I know what I want to do, but God isn't telling me to do what I want!

So what's next?

Tonight, I was reading my Bible and came across this devotional about the Israelites in the desert, and how God showed them His will by the cloud during the day and the fire at night. (Numbers 8:15-23) All they had to do is look up and see God's will!

How amazing would it be if God did that for me!?! How easy would it be, to just follow God faithfully, and to know that He is leading you each step of the way.

It's not so easy for this modern day girl. I'm not an Israelite and I'm not living in the desert. I've never seen a cloud that looks like fire at night. So, how am I supposed to know God's next step for me?

I guess it comes from reading the Word each day, and spending time with Him, which by the way, is something that I've been neglecting! :(

So, what to do when you don't know what to do next? Do what God told you to do the last time you were sure He was speaking to you...and KEEP LOOKING UP!

Even though my heart is telling me to stay here, my brain is reminding my heart, it's time to go home. It's time to return to my roots and to see what's in store for me next. I'm praying and hoping that it's something great, because it's sure going to be hard to leave here, only something truly great can refill the Russia size

d part of my heart that I'll be leaving here.

Bigger Than I Can Imagine

Today, on the way home from church, I was with one of my dear Russian friends and she shared that her parents had recently been in the states for a conference. At the conference, they found out that the church had been praying for my brother, John, and me. Somehow, this church knew of our struggles that we are dealing with in our current living/working situation. I have no idea how they found out, but I am so grateful for their prayers!

I think that's just like God to not only reassure us that people are praying for us, but to also put us in our place and to show us how big HE is.

Sure, I have friends in California, but I haven't really shared with any of them the struggles that we are experiencing, and I know that my brother and John as well haven't shared with anyone. We have no idea how this church knows, but just knowing makes it much better! People are standing with us, and seeking God for us! Wow! I am amazed at how God works for us!

What an amazing God we serve!!

And to the people out there praying for me, my brother, and John....THANK YOU!!! Just knowing that others are praying for us, helps so much!!!

Getting to Know Me :)

I haven't done one of these survey in years, so I thought I'd put one on here!!

What woke you up this morning?
Some weird sound near my fridge! Yikes!!!

Where are you?
In my apartment in Vladivostok

Is tomorrow going to be a good day?
Hopefully a good day!!

What’s on your mind RIGHT NOW?
This upcoming week and all the things I have to do for it!! AAHHHH!!!!

What kind of home would you like?
a comfortable one

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
still traveling the world!

Do you listen to music every day?
Oh yeah! Music is such a huge part of my life!!

Do you still go trick or treating?
ha! no!

What was the last thing you ate?
frozen grapes

Are you a fast typer?
yeah

What's your favorite color?
It depends on my mood.

Whats your favorite type of soda?
DR PEPPER

Have you ever moved?
Many times

Have you ever won an award?
yeah

Are you listening to music right now?
yeah, Hillsong-Ты мой Господь

Who makes you mad?
Mean and rude people!

Have you ever heard a song written about you?
yeah, my brother wrote one for me.

What do you do when you’re mad?
call my mom

When was the last time you actually cried?
last week

Ever cried yourself to sleep?
oh yeah, of course. i'm a girl!

Do certain songs make you cry?
not usually

What usually makes you cry?
something very moving or sad

Are you usually a happy person?
yep

What makes you the happiest?
several things make me happy, but being with my friends and family makes me the happiest!

Hope

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

Wow! This verse was what I needed to hear today! Life has not been easy the past three months. There has been almost something each day to deal with, and I'm not going to lie, it's been tough. Lately, it's been to the point that I just want to go home. Then God always comes to the rescue and reminds me that my time here in Russia is short and to tread on through all the daily muck and mire.

I often wonder, when another issue/problem arises, why there is so much spiritual opposition? It's not like I am Mother Teresa or Corrie Ten Boom. The work I do here, isn't something that is out of this world amazing. It's simple. I'm a teacher. So, why on earth am I facing so much opposition?

The only answer I've come up with, is that God is using all of these trials to make me seek Him. When I seek Him, I grow as a person and in my walk with Him. I know so far, that He has taught me from people I've come across, to watch out for certain characteristics and behaviors in my own life, to purge of them while I am young and not to let them take root and grow.

I am grateful for what I have learned, but sometimes I just need a break, and today was one of those days.

But God you are ever faithful and You have reminded me yet again that, "we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Prayer

Over the past few years, I've felt like God was telling me to write a book for young ladies. It would be a "how to book" that helped them figure out how to be godly young ladies.

I've started writing this book several times, and each time I get lost in what I want my message to be, and I eventually quit writing.

The other night, I was talking with a friend and he reminded me that the best way to start anything is with prayer.

I know that, yet I forgot to do that each time in the past.

So, this time, I'm bathing this thing in prayer!

Who knows what will happen with it this time around, hopefully I'll finish it, but I know that this time it will be something God has directed, not Alexa directed.