To say it was cool, or sweet, or even awesome is an huge understatement. God has done so much in each of us since we left WA 138 days ago (sometimes it seems longer, sometimes I don’t believe we have been gone this long.)

Rome was amazing, we did many things in our two weeks there, from prayer mapping to piazza ministry, and Josh even got to work with refugees at a church.  There are more stories than can be told here on our blog, but we will start posting some so you can get a slight glimpse.

The biggest thing I wanted to share was our time in Acquaviva Della Fonti.  We spent 13 days there, but it felt so much longer!  The church there is so caring, and overwhelmingly generous.  They took in a group of seven of us and made us feel like family from day one.  Lunch and dinner were both spent with a group from the church, and every meal was prepared for us by someone who attends the church.  The most beautiful thing I saw was how much the church reached out their hand to the community.  The church there goes out to do evangelism all over the area, and takes time out of their days to love the people, whether it is handing out tracks and books about Jesus, or making balloon animals for young kids.  Our whole group was forever changed by the experience there!

We have now spent one week back, and we are settling in fairly well.  We are staying in Hunters Point, which is the area most known for gang activity.  The beautiful thing there is how kind people are, and though we are very obviously outsiders they treat us with care and respect.  I am working with a ministry called End Loneliness, which Josh worked with while in lecture phase.  We spend days connecting with different people in North Beach (aka Little Italy) trying to reach out to those who are lonely.  Josh is working with one of the Street Teams, going around the city and praying with people and making new friends.  God has been so good through this last week, and I can’t wait to see what he does with us throughout our time here.

Please be praying that all of us finish well and really invest our last month here in San Francisco.  Pray for openings to talk with people, and opportunities to share and show love.  We love and miss you all!

It’s been a LONG time since we’ve last blogged and a lot has happened that we want to catch you up on! But for fear of you falling asleep, there is one particular thing that happened in *Turkey* we wanted to share with you; the rest of what he’s been doing in that country wouldn’t fit into one blog post! In that though, we look forward to coming home and having many coffee dates with each of you to share all the details of what God has done and is doing!

As most of you know *Turkey* is a closed country, which means you can have a different religion/belief system than Islam, but you cannot share, evangelize or attempt to convert anyone in the country to your religion. If you’re caught doing any of the above you could be beaten, jailed and/or be kicked out of the country permanently. In saying that though, the Turkish people are patient, amazing and very hospitable. (Especially the workers we were able to meet and work with!) Every year, about 60,000+ Turkish people make a journey to one of the islands (Princess) off the coast of *Istanbul* for many different reasons; the two biggest being an emptiness or void they’re seeking to fill with something, and the want/need of obtaining favor or more luck in life through superstitions. So for the workers, this is the perfect opportunity to share the Love of Jesus with his people that are seeking something that only he can give.

Our team, along with workers from various cities within *Turkey*, and believers from other countries, headed out to Princess Island with many of the Turkish seekers. It’s hard to describe the feeling when you step foot off of the ferry. There were vendors everywhere selling anything from string and charms for good luck, to flowers, candles, and sugar cube vendors giving stuff away so they might be blessed more. Everyone was seeking to appease or gain the approval of something or someone but had no idea who that someone was. We Did! Our entire crew and fellow believers within *Turkey* and the surrounding countries were there with several areas set up along a long path up to the top of the island. We handed out tracts, “good luck” scripture cards, Bibles, and had a worship team on hand and an area for anyone who was seeking prayer for any and everything! I could spend hours telling you all the amazing ways God moved that day, but I think the thing that encouraged me the most was seeing 10,000 Bibles not just handed out, but taken off the tables before we even had a chance to refill it! When we finished up for the day, it was encouraging to see not one Bible left on the ground or thrown in the trash and to make it even better, while riding the ferry back to the mainland, people were reading the Bibles openly! God moved in amazing ways that day! I know left out so many details, but I want to get you caught up on what’s been going on in Italy without you falling asleep at the computer so… PLEASE let’s go have coffee together when we get back home!

On our final approach into Roma, I remember just sitting in awe of God and how good and faithful He is to wretched sinners like me. The city is so beautiful, and the weather… well I won’t talk about the weather because I think it’s still raining quite a bit back home in Washington State. The night we got in a few of us walked down to the Coliseum to check it out and it was truly stunning. I remember sitting there and thinking, “Wow God, man built this, but it was you who allowed it to be built and first put this passion and knowledge into someone to build something this large.” Then I felt God answer me and say, “In a city with so much rich history and structures that reach to the sky Josh, remember to remain in awe of me and not of man.” It was so true. Roma is as beautiful as I imagined and so are the Roman people, but it can be really easy to focus on the enormity of it all and the fashion, the glitz and the glamorous side of the city. It reminds me of Colossians 3:1-2 and it’s something I try to focus on daily.

Ministry times have been stretching but so good. We’re doing Prayer Walks and Prayer Mapping areas and points of interest all around Central Roma, and have been privileged to work with a local church and a refugees ministry. In the refugee ministry we’ve met so many amazing people; from Somali and Afghan refugees to 5 fellow workers from a Quebec base teaching English and basic math and reading to the refugees. We’ve also spent nights at some of the busiest piazzas here in Roma doing various types of ministry work from playing hacky-sack with locals, to talking to vendors selling trinkets from Bangladesh. It’s cool the way God works when you’re open to everything and you don’t limit him and what he can do! Growth Happens. The growth as individuals and as a couple has been amazing. It’s been such a privilege to stand along side Kassi and watch her grow in Christ and being able to watch as He starts revealing new bits and pieces of His future plans and ministry(ies) He is calling her to. To top it off, the growth God has brought to our marriage in such a short time cannot be expressed by simple words. God is Good…

I know i’ve compacted A LOT in just a small space, but hopefully we’ll be able to update regularly! We will try to blog again before this Tuesday as we leave Roma for Bari to live with an Italian Family for 2 weeks. Hopefully when we get there we’ll be able to access wi-fi to keep you all updated!

Love You All and God Bless,

Josh and Kassi

When Kassi and I started this new adventure in life we expected to see God show up but it’s been on a much larger scale than we could even imagine. I Love it when He does that! (And He does it quite often) God has brought so much healing and restoration these past few months and we’ve all grown so close together. Kassi and I have also grown closer together but not in the way we originally thought we would! When you are focused on pouring into God, he pours back into you, and then you are able to pour out to the ones you love. Not Vice Versa. We can’t pour into others and then pour into God. There is no true fulfillment or love in that. Love God, Love Yourself, and then you can Love Others! If I’m not pouring into and truly loving God and pursuing a relationship with Him, I can’t truly love others around me. If we love God we love ourselves. We are the mirrored image(s) of our Father in Heaven. On a good day it’s easy for me love God, love myself, and my neighbor, but it’s on those bad days when I have to choose to love, that is true love. It seems pretty easy when you see it on paper but to walk it our everyday, builds character, discipline, perseverance, and strengthens the relationships around us! It’s through that outpouring to God that Kassi and I are able to pour true love back into each other. I Love That! I spent way too much time doing things backwards!

Anyways… back to the countdown. We praise God and Thank You all for the support you have given us through your prayers and through giving financially and we are almost there! We wanted to give you all a quick update and let you know that God to this point, has raised $14,000 dollars which means our schooling is paid for but not our outreach costs! The only thing left that we need to raise money for are our plane tickets for outreach. We are $800 dollars away from being paid-in-full and it is an amazing feeling! God is so good and faithful! We just wanted to update you because we know we’re getting close to leaving and people have been asking us to update them on how much we still need.  Also, there are other students still short on money, so please pray and if God leads you to give, everything will go to paying school fees and airline flights for those short. Thank You again for sacrificing and supporting us in this new adventure. We look forward to sharing about the lives God has touched throughout the world through the support of our friends, our family, and our God!

Love You All!

I can’t believe how quickly the time here has gone.  The experiences gained so far are amazing, and the knowledge we are being given from our teachers is overwhelming.  Our weeks thus far have been:

week 1- Orientation/Teachings from our Leaders

week 2- The Character and Nature of God – Karri Manning

week 3- Hearing the Voice of God- Dow Saunders

week 4- Spiritual Warfare- Dawn Masucci

week 5- Bible Study- Art Collins

week 6- Plumbline- Jerry Praetzel

week 7- The Cross- Peter Iliyn

Every one of our teachers have given so much, and have really cared for each of us.  I can’t believe how much God has used them in this time!  I have already filled an entire notebook with notes…which is crazy for me!

The one week that really stands out for me is last week.  A plumb line, probably not a common or understood term, is a vertical guideline using earth’s gravitational pull.  Plumb line week here was about living in Christ’s balance, and walking through what we have told ourselves is truth, even when something isn’t really truth.  The biggest part of the week was walking through first forgiveness, and letting go the wrongs done to us which we have allowed to define ourselves.  The second, and equally as big part, was walking through confessing and asking forgiveness of wrongs we have done to others and ourselves.  Watching as each student was freed from some really painful things was amazing.  Getting up in front of everyone and ripping open my life was so scary, but wow, the healing that has come in is amazing.  God truly does want us to be free of things, he longs for us to be defined by Him and His Love, not our hurts and pain.

If you are still carrying your past, even if you feel you have ‘forgiven’ it, I encourage you to share with someone and walk through choosing forgiveness.  Giving something over to God doesn’t mean that you will be repaid, it means you let Christ’s blood cover the hurt.  It means you let go of the want for retribution and justice, and let go of holding that person to what happened.  I know its not an easy decision, I watched people this week who have been hurt so deeply, they gave it all to God, and their faces haven’t stopped glowing since! Its incredible what Jesus does.  Forgiveness isn’t about a feeling, its choosing.  Saying “God, I choose to forgive… for…” name the hurt though, let the other person agree with you in forgiveness.  And Get Prayer! So huge is allowing someone to stand in the gap and pray for you afterward.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world,t that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Jesus was sent to save us, to redeem us.  Not to take away freedom, but to bring true freedom.

I am still learning all of this, but it has impacted me in a way I can’t explain. Jesus is so good, and His presence in my life is so awe inspiring.

God’s Truths I Believe and Know (Gods letters to me)

Dearest Josh,

I am so proud of you for taking this leap of Faith. You worry too much about your past. You are forgiven. I paid the price. You have much growing to do but I am excited for you. I have built you for a specific purpose. Continue seeking whole-heartedly for me like a shepherd seeks one lost sheep. Be ok in the silence; I am still with you. Discipline you must practice everyday. Give yourself to me wholly everyday. I will be your strength, your support. Ask me questions. I will answer. Have faith and be obedient to what I ask. You are growing. It takes time. Be patient. Pray often. Listen for me. I will speak. You have been made whole through me. You are more powerful than you think. You will do great things in my name. Don’t lose focus. Throw down pride on a daily basis. Be humble. Love my people without boundaries. Be that LEADER I designed you to be giving God the glory forever.

Josh,

I chose your bride for you. You are the perfect bridegroom. Your past letdowns are not who you are. I have designed you for something special. Something you don’t understand right now. You can NEVER let me down. I will Love you no matter what. I am here; keep smiling. Don’t look at the lies of your past. REMEMBER the Cross; my blood. You are successful in me and what I’ve called you to.

Talk about Confirmation and Affirmation from God! I have a blameless Father in Heaven who Loves me/us right where we are at! The next letter is the last I will share with you today but it was a letter from my journal I wrote to God after a hard and trying week. I hope it blesses you as it has me!

God,

Thank You for the words you spoke though Dawn (one of our DTS Teachers) during worship this morning. God you ARE speaking through me! When you feel i’m ready LORD, please give me words, your words God for others. Help me to remain humble and give all the glory to you in Heaven. Without you I am weak. My flesh is weak, but through you I am strong. You are so gracious and your LOVE infathomable. I’ll never be able to fully understand it. I’m ok with that! I know that I am your beloved son. That you work through the mistakes we make. They glorify you in the end. Thank You for taking the lies the enemy has told me; for taking the burden from me. It hangs on the cross. Your blood covered it all. It’s not fair to you if I hold on to what you’ve already paid the price for. I won’t forget Matthew 11:28-30. Thank You for continuing to grow me. It hurts sometimes, but in that I know you are rebuilding and restructuring me from the inside out. Keep tilling the soil!

I apologize for the length of this entry but it’s been awhile since I shared what God has been doing! All in all, God is moving and doing Great Things in this school, in the students, and in Kassi and I. The refinement process is never easy, it doesn’t feel good all the time, but it is necessary. God NEVER wastes our pain. He will use it to glorify Him and His Kingdom! I am already seeing this as we grow closer and closer to him. In closing I would like to leave you with something that is near to my heart.

“God is the original initiator of LOVE. Before you ever began seeking Him, He was pursuing you.”

His Love is Pure and Perfect in Every Way. I Love all of you and promise… You will never see a blog this long ever again!! :)

That is about all I know to say right now. God has been working so much in Josh and I since arriving at DTS. He is showing me so many things I didn’t fully understand with my heart. The beauty of God is that He continues to reveal himself in new ways all the time.

Right now, God is teaching me that he is personal. He longs for relationship with us, to truly know us. He longs that we truly know him, that we pursue him with our whole selves. My mind is blown. The God of the universe wants to know me…to really know…not just surface things, but everything. He wants to hold all of my fears, he loves me enough to not count things against me, he just wants me to have communion with him. To walk with him, talk with him, be with him.

To truly understand this is still something I am trying to learn, but the teaching so far is amazing. He has spoken, and shown himself in ways I have never experienced before.

Thanks everyone for supporting us on this journey…it is more than I could have ever imagined…I thought I was coming just to learn missions…but God has brought me here to grow in him. This is the biggest blessing that I could have ever imagined.

“The man who would know God, must give time to him.”  -AW Tozer

“Reading without meditation is arid. Meditation without reading is erroneous. Prayer without meditation is tepid. Meditation without prayer is fruitless.”  -Guigo

God Bless,

Josh and Kassi

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of  death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:3-8

I am so excited to be serving God through missions.  This is something I have been interested in since I was very young.  Growing up I had the blessing of knowing a few missionaries.  The stories they would send back in letters always inspired me to follow Christ, and at many times excited me for the opportunity of helping people throughout the world.

Thank you again for your support!  We will be praying that God blesses each of you :)