Hi everyone! It feels like forever since I last updated you all. I can assure you that I did not fall off the grid. I am alive and well and still serving the Lord till He returns! Thank you all for your prayers and support. I hope you all had a great Christmas and kept in mind Who we celebrate!

It’s been a pretty busy season with the holidays and so many different events happening here at CC Saving Grace but I’ve been so happy to be able to spend some time with my family and church family. With all this busyness, God has been teaching me quite a few things. I want to share two things with you all.

First, throughout this month I’ve had the opportunity to sit and talk with sisters and encourage each other in the Lord. One thing has become clear to me, we must depend on Him for all of our needs. I know that we constantly say that in the church, and it is a truth. We really must depend on God! But hearing different people’s circumstances and even taking into account my own, I’m seeing that people are depending on God in different ways than I am, and that is so cool. Generally we should depend on Him, but specifically, we should depend on Him in our finances, our relationships, our pain, and our worries. We can depend on Him in anything. The only way we learn how to depend on Him in different trials in life is by going through them so that we see how much we weren’t depending on Him before! This is why I know God is intentional, He knows what I lack and He is faithful to help me because He knows that I cannot do it by myself. God comes through, and I see that in the lives of my brothers and sisters around me.

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

Isaiah 41:13

I love this verse, because it reminds me that I have a God who walks with me. If I am holding His hand, then I will be okay. It’s easy to worry when so many things around us seem uncertain. Or in my case, when the future seems uncertain. I know one thing for sure, He loves me and I love Him, so I will serve the Lord no matter what. But when I put my focus only on the future, I get a bit worried. I have no fear in being honest! I have a heart for the lost everywhere and I want to live my life watching people get saved, but when I think about being sent in the long run, I have no idea where that is and I would really love to! But God has been reminding me through studying and through people, to not worry. He knows how things will play out and that’s all that matters. For now, He is preparing me and working in me. So I see that I shouldn’t be so focused on the future, I should remain in the present and see that God is doing a great work right now!

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

MTS! Throughout my time here in the Missions Training School, I have been able to learn so much, from the preaching classes, to our missions classes, and even being around my fellow students. I see that each of them are so willing to give up everything to go and follow what God has called them to do, and I am grateful for their sacrifice because it keeps me in that same mindset. One thing that has been on my mind throughout being here, is dying to self. In studying the book of Acts we see how Paul did not count his life as his own. He lived for Christ and was so willing to die for Him. With our teaching class I’ve had the opportunity to study more in the book of Philippians. I see how the Lord is growing me in the area of studying, applying, and then teaching. I rely HEAVILY on Him because I’m not very comfortable with public speaking, but it is necessary, so I keep on! I have enjoyed the studying part. God’s Word is so deep and has so much in it. I am soaking it all in. I love how He teaches me and shows me different things from His Word. Every time I study I am amazed at how good God is and how we can have joy in any circumstance because He provides it.

The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and deep enough for theologians to swim in without ever touching the bottom.

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I thank you all for your prayers and for always reaching out to me. I am so grateful to have such encouraging and loving brothers and sisters in Christ. I love you all and I am always here for you guys! I am always praying for you.

In His Love,

Alani

Prayer Requests

• For God’s strength and wisdom throughout my time here as a student.
• For His will to be done in my life.

Praise Reports

• I get to be home for a couple of weeks and fellowship with my family and church family!
• God has been teaching me so much!