Our lives!

1/2/2012
                  A great reminder...
This morning, I'm reminded that God's mercy is new every morning, that this is the day He has made and I'm to rejoice and be glad in it.  I'm also reminded of the hope He has given me to be sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see.  I'm seeking, trusting and completely depending on God this year for what it is He wants and for His timing. 


As I've read back over previous posts about our lives, I'm reminded of how difficult and disappointing some of the past has been.  Yet at the same time, I can see how God has been at work through all of it.  If we hadn't taken the initial step of leaving what seemed most comfortable and even walking into something that completely fell apart, we would've have the growth we've experienced as individuals, as a couple and as a family in God.  He has been so amazing and what an incredible gift to see the way He has worked and moved in all of it.   We wouldn't be at Good Shepherd (our current church) that we really love and enjoy. Londyn has become part of the dance ministry there and Mario is teaching (his passion). God has brought new people into our lives that have become great friends and without the past we would have any of it.  So as hard as it has been and although we are still healing and getting back on track, we are grateful! 


Mario and I have many goals and desires we have set for the New Year however, they can only be met if God is behind them.  So with the beginning of this New Year, we are praying and asking God for some pretty big things, God sized things.  Happy New Year Everyone!


12/19/2011
                 Finally!.....
So this past weekend Mario Alejandre graduated with his MA in Christian Apologetics.  It was a joy to be there.  God had been so gracious to us and given us an incredible amount of strength over these past few years. Not just school but Mario has also worked to jobs the entire time as well as taught classes, and be outstanding dad & husband.  He has also given me strength to support  Mario in this and keep everything running here at home.  We are ready for a break and also just time as a family to rejoice in this great accomplishment.  I also need to add that he graduated with Highest Honors.  I'm a proud wife for sure!


12/3/2011
                 Anticipating the day...
In just a little less than two weeks, Mario will be graduating from the Masters Program of Apologetics at Biola.  We are very excited!  I has been for long days of studying as well as the everyday work stuff.  We are excited for the ways in which God will use this in the future.  Right now we just trust and pray!  Good Job Honey!!!


08/23/2011
                The season is changing once again...

It's that time of year once again when children as well as some adults J are heading back to school.  Summer is winding down and fall is right around the corner. Yay for cooler days, beautiful autumn colors and Utah football! I am anticipating what is ahead and have a sense of stirring in my soul.  I hate to keep going back to the hard year we’ve just gone through but it is part of our story and God is restoring so much in our lives because of it.

 

The past few weeks, Mario and I are much more hopeful than we have been the past 11+ months.  God is so gracious to bring us through seasons we thought we would've never survived. He brings out of very difficult situations very good and amazing things for His children.   As I continue through the process of healing, I’m able to see how very present He has been in my everyday, that He is faithful when others haven’t been and that I can put my complete hope and trust in Him.

This week our baby girl started 1^st grade and Mario will be starting his final semester for his Master’s Degree. Brayden will be starting 4 year old preschool right after Labor Day and I’m now babysitting full time.  It is going to be a very busy fall for us but that’s life. 

As a family we’ve grown in huge ways this last year.  We’ve been praying together more, sharing with one another and reading God’s Word together.  It has been neat to see what God has done in us.  We’ve been prayerfully looking for a church body to be part of for the past 3 months and have finally decided on Good Shepherd Lutheran.  Mario and I liked it right away and the kids were sold once they were part of VBS.  We hope and pray it will be a place we can all grow personally as well as be part in what is going on in the community of believers there. 

We will continue to walk by faith and not by what we see.  My  prayer is that as the season is changing may our lives continue to be changed and transformed as well.

07/08/2011

Not what I was expecting...

Ok well, we are just about half way through the year.  Unbelievable that it is already July.  With that, I was looking at my post right beneath this one called "A New Year..." Funny how much that we were doing just 6 months ago we are no longer doing.  And to go further back then that to my second post (posted a year ago) on this page called, "Our Journey-Life for the Alejandre's" we really aren't doing much of that anymore. But you know life is full of great surprises.  Some that are super and incredible and others that seem not so much. This past year and really even year and a half we have faced many disappointments, heart ache, ups and downs and some good in between.  We have met some amazing people, made new friends and rekindled with old friends.  We have been able to be part of life changing ministries and most of all we've learned so much about who our God is and who we are because of Him.  

God has been faithful through it all.  He truly does know what is best for us even when it looks differently than we had thought and planned for.  He works good (in all circumstances) for those who love Him.  He is Jehovah Jireh (our provider) and His grace is sufficient for  His children.  So here we are still on an adventure a completely different adventure than we had thought.  I'm learning that we all have talents, God bestows gifts as He sees fit and He has also placed passions in all of us but our calling really is to go where He goes and be obedient to what He is doing.  So as I said in "A New Year..." we walk by faith and not by sight.  We want what God has for us.  

Currently:

*Mario is finishing up him Ma in Christian Apologetics, working at the federal court as well as a night a week at Texas Roadhouse.   He is helping a ministry working with refugees in Utah.  He continues to help others who are searching for truth.  He is letting God use him where he is at.  I'm so grateful for that!

*I am staying home with my kids but I also am currently babysitting, tutoring (3 kids in reading) and cleaning my parents church.  I'm also devoting much of my time to reading and studying.  This definitely is a season of growth.

*In a few short months, Londyn will be starting 1st grade.  She is growing mentally, physically and spiritually.  She loves to learn and she has gifts of teaching and helping others.  She's taken after her daddy for sure.

*Brayden will be starting his second year of preschool in a few short months.  He also is growing and learning in so many ways.  He doesn't seem as excited about learning but that kids is a thinker.  Again taking after his dad.

*As a family we are growing closer and closer.  It is amazing what hard times can do to a family and in our case it has brought us together.  We are learning lessons on what matters and what doesn't.  I believe that God doesn't want to just use us as individuals but as a united family.  Right now we are searching for a church to call home.  It has taken some time but it's a decision that requires both prayer and time and that is how we will move forward with it.  

Just a few updates on our lives!  

1/17/2011

A New Year...

It's a new year and we are more than excited about that.  2010 was full of many great things but also it was a year of hardship, hurt and disappointment.  So with that we are looking forward to what has and wants for us.  With that, we continue to step out and walk by faith and not by sight.  Not an easy task to do but very important to do for our lives as believers.  Our primary goal for this year really is to seek, pray and trust.  I'm also very excited because Mario and I will be reading through books together this.  I believe this will be a great year of growth for us as a couple.  We have many dreams and desires that we want to see fulfilled this year.  So stay tuned....

10/26/2010

                                The past few months....

Much has happened the past few months.  Wow!  Where do I even start?  I guess I’ll start out by talking about Barstool.  When Mario first started his new job his first task was overseeing Barstool Seminary.  Barstool is a weekly get together to discuss faith, love, life, relationships, and EVERYTHING in between that might come up.  We meet in a local pub called the Piper Down in downtown Salt Lake.  There is anywhere on average 10-16 people each week.  Each week there are different faces than the last and people from many different walks of life and different beliefs.  It has been exciting to be part of this group.  Our prayer has been that through Barstool, people will see that JESUS is the  answer for our life questions.  That He is a loving God who gives life, freedom, healing and can truly make a person whole.  It has been amazing for me to see what God has been up to.  Even for the Christian this is a very good and challenging opportunity to be part of.  I’ve been challenged to really know what it is I believe and how to talk about it especially those who claim they don’t believe in God. And how to have good and hard discussion without being in attack mode.  I feel like this has been such an issue for the church.  We want to argue and attack, when what we need to do is share in boldness, grace and love.  Who better to see this in than Jesus himself. 

Much of the last few months have been spent on fundraising especially, for Mario.  Our first 3 months was supposed to have been taken care of as we started fundraising.  Unfortunately, that isn’t what happened.  Our first month was funded but the other two months we’ve been completely on our own with fundraising.  VERY HARD!  To be honest, it hasn’t been something we’ve enjoyed doing.  I’m so grateful however, for all our wonderful friends and family who have been more than generous to help us out.  We have found God to be absolutely faithful in all of this.  He has showed up for us in such a miraculous ways.   I can see how we are being stretched, growing (personally and as a family) and learning to trust completely in God.  VERY HARD season but also VERY GOOD.  My hope is that this season is coming to an end.  When Mario isn’t fundraising, he is usually working at the restaurant.  I’m ready to have my husband back.  We are really praying and asking God for continued direction with all of this.  We still feel like the initial stepping out was exactly what we were suppose to do. 

Besides ministry and the work stuff, we are doing good!  Our kids are growing and learning so much at school.  They are so precious and what a blessing.  To know more about our lives and see pictures of our cute kids, you can visit our website www.babyhomepages.net/alejandre

8/5/2010

                                 What are we doing?  What is ULI?

So Mario has almost completed his first week ULI, the new job.  He loves the team he will be working with and we enjoyed our first Sunday at New Song.  May are curious what it is Mario/we will actually be doing with this program.  So below, I posted the second letter Mario will be sending out to all of our family and friends.  Please read it, Please pray for us and please prayerfully consider supporting us.  It isn't going to be easy but we are super excited and know this is what God wants us doing.  Thanks!!!

August 4, 2010

Dear Friends,

At the Aeropagus in Athens, the Apostle Paul, in dialoguing with the people, made his objective clear:  “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23).  In uncertain times, the need to answer life’s most pressing questions becomes all the more important.  Like the people of Athens then, many today suspect that “the truth is out there,” yet, they are not quite sure where to look or who to ask.  We, as the church, should encourage others to engage in and ask hard questions.  My hope is that in following Paul’s example that will be the case.

I want to thank all of you who took the time to read letter explaining the next step Tera and I are taking in our lives together.  While I explained that we were transitioning, there was not much in terms of details.  I want to express what will be happening with my role as the Outreach Coordinator with the Utah Leadership Initiative (ULI). 

Outreach:

Beginning this month, we will be starting an outreach called “Barstool Seminary.”  The aim is simple, to get people from different walks of life and backgrounds to interact and talk with, instead of at, each other.  As we build credibility and trust, we will offer quarterly (or more frequent, if needed) classes where members of “Barstool” can come and learn in more detail about Christianity.  The hope is that this environment will be a safe place for those seeking to ask questions and eventually come to faith in Christ.  Some of the topics we will address include:  “Who is Jesus?” “Losing My Religion,” and “Why Church?”  In addition to these classes, the celebration of music, art, literature and other life expressions influenced by the gospel will be offered.  Establishing credibility in our community will go a long way in presenting a life-changing message that brings hope, restoration and renewal to our city and to our friends.

Missions:

A local church should be actively involved in its neighborhood.   The gospel is at its best when it is proclaimed in both word and action.  This will include mobilizing with other churches and ministries presently involved in this work.  These types of ministries (providing food, clothing and other goods to those who have no access to it) will be an extension of ULI’s focus, sharing the good news of Christ by ministering to the whole person. 

The Long Term Goal:

What Salt Lake City (as well as many cities in the West) needs is a point-of-reference that will allow seekers, skeptics and spiritually-minded persons (among others) to work out and wrestle with some of life’s biggest questions in ways that are safe, honest and fair.  With that in mind, the sincere belief I have is that Christianity offers the most satisfying answers to life’s most difficult questions.  By providing them access to answers for these difficult questions will provide an inroad to helping them transition into a faith community.  Many times, the resistance to conversion isn’t in the person of Jesus and his truth claims, it’s from competing factors that often swing a decision one way instead of another.  Preparing churches to practice the biblical notion of adoption will go along way to receiving those who, in many cases, are leaving their entire lives behind. 

I believe developing a multi-media site that will proclaim Christ in a way that promotes a common understanding of His message; mission, exclusivity and inclusiveness can do this.  As we partner with churches and individuals through outreach and mission, and those things flourish (as listed above), a person, seeking for answers and desiring know more, now knows where they can go to learn and meet their future family.  This idea excites me very much.

Partners:

This endeavor is bigger than me, Tera and the Utah Leadership Initiative.  We believe important things are happening and that requires taking some big risks to join God where we believe He’s at.  I often hear myself bargaining with the LORD like Peter did on the boat.  “If that’s really you, say so, and I’ll walk.” Well, we are walking and keeping eyes fixed on the King.  Would you prayerfully consider, now that you have an understanding what we are doing, joining us on this journey?   I sincerely look at this as a partnership.  I want assure you, if you feel led to do this, you will have access to what is happening and also have a growing understanding of how exciting this can truly be!  We are asking future partners to join this work by donating $25, $50 or $100 per month to help reach our goals.

I will be calling each of you personally in the weeks to come to see if I can set up an appointment to talk with you in person.  If you have any questions about ULI, outreach, missions or our long-term goal, please feel free to email me: Mario@newsong.org or call me, 801-597-4869.  I’d be happy to make myself available to you and your churches in anyway possible. 

I am looking forward to hearing from you as we love truth, celebrate community and initiate grace.

Sincerely,

Mario Alejandre

Outreach Coordinator, Utah Leadership Initiative

Please send any donations (all gifts are tax deductible) to:

New Song Presbyterian (write:  “ULI” in the memo line)

PO Box 58568

Salt Lake City, UT 84158

7/17/2010

                                                           A few quick updates!

Mario just got back from his summer course at Biola Christian University.  He was gone for two very long weeks.  Spent 100 hours listening to lectures during that time.  He said it made his head hurt...lol... The professor who oversees the Christian Apologetics Department he is studying in asked Mario if he would like to help him dialog with two Mormon leaders in front of the class.  Great opportunity for Mario!  He said it went really good and he was super excited about it.  Here on the home front the kids and I really missed him but praise God for skype and staying busy.  Glad he is home.  Next time he is gone that long we will probably go with him.  Not only did we miss him but it is so hard being a single mommy.  Super hard!

Since I posted "Our New Journey-Life for the Alejandre's", a month ago,  the Logan thing has fallen through.  Although we were a tiny bit bummed out about it,  God prepared us for it and so we are completely at peace with that.  We definitely don't want to close doors completely with that church.  Who knows what will happen in the future?  One thing we know for sure is that we want what God has for us.  There has been other opportunities that have been presented to us.  We are currently just asking for wisdom with those.

Mario's last day in the office at Salt Lake Christian Center was this past Thursday.  Ray gave him the rest of the month off to have some family time and also to prepare for the transition that starts at the first of August.  We are so grateful for that!  It will be really nice.  Tomorrow, Sunday June 18, will be our official last Sunday.  Our church family is going to be throwing a Party/Potluck after church.  It will be a very emotional day for us.  Our kids wont be there with us because they are gone for a family reunion with Papa and Grandma.  I wish they were but it just didn't work out that way.  Mario and I plan on bringing a huge box of tissue.

We have been quite busy doing other things as well.  To check that out you can visit our family website at www.babyhomepages.net/alejandre. It is updated with pictures and summer fun!

6/23/2010

                           Our New Journey- Life for the Alejandre's

For the past 9 months or so, Mario and I have been praying and asking what it is God has and wants for us. We have been feeling for quite sometime that God has been preparing us for new things. Mario is half way through his Masters program and God has given him many passions and a gifting to teach and challenge other believers as well as non-believers. And he was given many opportunities to do that. He spoke in Idaho, a local Christian School, led a Bible Study at my parents church as well as taught an adult Sunday school class at our church. This only fueled the flame for him and for us. So our question was, God what is it we do with all of this? Do we continue as normal or is it time for something new? Then we went through what seemed like a season of forever and prayed even more earnestly: “God what is it you want? We really want what you want God.” Both of us felt a sense of change coming. So what did we do? We prayed even more.

Fast forward to a few months ago. We got a call from a church in Logan and said they were looking for a teaching Pastor and they asked if Mario would be interested and if he could come speak. A good friend of Mario’s had told this church about Mario and said he would be great to fill this role. It is a college town and so the church there has many college students, as well as a few professors. Right up Mario’s alley. We took our trip to Disney Land right before Mario spoke. While driving, we would just pray about the entire situation still asking what it is God wanted. So Mario did speak there, and as his wife, I prayed he would nail it, and of course, when he was finished, I felt that he had. The people were so nice and were very appreciative and excited with the message Mario shared. We felt like this must be it. Then we heard nothing for about three weeks. That is another long story. It was hard, and we felt like “What in the world just happened?” I mean nothing. Not a yes and not even a no. We took it as a no.

We thought God must just want us to continue on what we are doing, and yet, the feeling that something new is coming became even stronger. God began to speak to us in some incredible ways. Nothing like I’ve experienced before. Then Mario’s pastor friend, Sam, started talking to him about a program called ULI, which stands for Utah Leadership Initiative. A program designed to train ministers from Utah, for Utah. ULI is a program that engages a community and culture in which only 2% of the population comes from an Evangelical Protestant tradition. There is a great need for a public expression of historic orthodox Christianity in Utah as well as equipping local churches to fulfill their role in their communities through church planting, evangelism and partnering with like-minded churches in proclaiming the Gospel.

Sam and his wife Kate invited us over to dinner so that they could share with me what this was all about. Still really bummed about Logan, I was quite excited to hear more about the ULI

Sam and Kate then began to explain what New Song (their church) is like and how they do ministry. Children play a vital role in the church. Families participate together in prayer time and communion, something that has always been near to our heart. We have loved doing the ministry where God has had us, but I can’t remember the last time Mario and I sat together through a worship service. The children’s involvement is incredible to me. After that, Sam did begin to explain to me what the program is that they run. It is a three-part program. First part: a person decides they want to go into full time ministry and right away they are put to work in the church finding what it is they are really passionate about. The second stage is intense theological training. Which includes a year of Hebrew, Greek and study. The third and final part is becoming ordained and really praying where it is God wants you. He then went on to explain that Mario is half way through the second stage. He already knows what it is he wants to do, and has done much of the training that through his current Masters program. Sam told Mario he would love for him to do the program and help out with a ministry called Bar Stool Seminary. A dream that he has had for a long time, which involves sitting around a table with other Christians, students & professors, and really anyone to talk about hard questions that have to do with the Lord. Definitely an evangelism outreach. Well, Mario was all over that for sure. We went away thinking, “Is this too good to be true?”

What did we do after? I’m sure you’ve guest by now, we prayed! And what happens right after that? Logan calls and wants to meet with Mario and do some more interviewing with him.Okay God, what are you doing? That was my question. I was really excited about New Song and ULI. With the church in Logan, I felt cautious because we had been so disappointed. The following day Mario called Sam to ask some questions that we had. Specifically, what is it a typical day in Mario’s life would look like? Sam told Mario in the beginning you will spend at least four hours a day studying. If only you had been there for the conversation Mario and I had about six months ago. It want something like this, Mario: “I would love a job where am able to write, research and study.” Me: “Honey there are no jobs out there like that”. Well was I wrong! I couldn’t believe it. Are you kidding me? And studying Hebrew and Greek for crying out loud. There were many other personal questions we had and all the answers seemed perfect for our family.

So Mario asked me what I wanted to do and I told him, “Let’s pray about it. It seems to good to be true and I just want to make sure it’s what God wants.” I got off the phone and I felt God tell me, “Tera you have been praying for what I want and for many things that you and Mario have desired. And now I’ve given you just that and your going to ask me this question?” I began to weep and weep and weep. Seriously it’s like we pray for things and then when it happens we ask God, “Is this you?” I sure learned my lesson. So from there we made our decision. Then what happens?

Logan calls again. Mario explains to them what we’ve decided and they still want to interview and continue the process. Mario decides, okay it won’t hurt. So he has lunch with him and they ask him how he believes on certain doctrinal issues and he was able to share what it is we will be doing. Great conversation & great food. One of the elders afterwards pulled Mario aside and told him that he has much wisdom for being such a young man. A very encouraging word! And that was that, or so we thought.

That night Logan calls us and asks if there is any way Mario might be able to come and help at their church as part of his ULI training? Mario needs to call Sam to see if that would be okay.Sam loves the idea! So it isn’t just New Song and ULI. It’s both! Wow! God is so BIG. We are overwhelmed with the way He has worked things out. So Mario will be speaking up in Logan every third and fourth Sunday of the month as well as helping out with some leadership training. The church there has gone through much hurt and has been without a Pastor for quite sometime. We are praying that this will be a time of healing for them and that God will use us how He sees fit. They in turn will help with supporting us. We are blown away by all of this and it only gets better.

At this point, we need to let Pastor Ray know what is going on. He knew about Logan but had been gone on vacation and knew nothing about ULI and the decision we had made. Mario wrote his resignation letter and took it in to him. Ray cried and I’m sure Mario did as well. But he is super-supportive and very excited for what is happening. Meanwhile, we have been thanking God for our time at Salt Lake Christian Center. He has taught us so much in our time there and has brought so many incredible people into our lives. Although we are extremely excited and nervous, we are also very sad to be leaving our church family. Many, many tears have been shed over the past week. We know this is a necessary step for us to take, but we believe that this is also a good thing for SLCC. God is doing new things there and new leadership for that is a necessary. Our last day will be July 25 and our new journey starts August 1.

Please be praying for us! We need your prayers. This is a completely new thing for us. We totally believe this is from the LORD. It has been so detailed and so big and amazing. It is a huge step of faith. Mario will be earning funds just like a missionary in the beginning. That for me is the hardest thing but we know if God is in it He will provide. Thank you all who have loved , prayed and have supported us. You will never know what and important part you have played in our journey. We will be sure to keep you updated as we step and go through this new journey. The biggest question we’ve gotten is if we are leaving Salt Lake City. The answer to that is NO! At least for now. We will continue to trust God with the future. I do know this, Mario has dreamed of traveling and speaking someday as well as writing and maybe even teaching on a collage level and Masters Degree as well as being an ordained pastor will be huge in that. Another big picture for another time. I guess =)

I just had to say one last thing. I haven’t only felt God doing this for Mario or for our family. I really do believe that God is starting to show me what it is He has for me. That He indeed has something specific that He is wanting me to do. I’m doing a Study called Captivating, it is a study for women and in it she talks about how God has and irreplaceable role for each one of us. He is beginning to unfold for me what that is. I’m so so excited and will be blogging about that as well. So you’ll have to check it out. Thanks!

6/11/2010

                                                                      Changes

So many changes taking place right now in my life and in our family. New steps being taken, new opportunities and new scenery. I believe God is definitely shaking things up and preparing us for what is ahead. Scary? A little! Exciting? Absolutely! It seems that over the last 9 months or so we have gone through many ups and downs. Feels like more downs when I really think about it however, I can look back and see how it has prepared our hearts for NOW! God has been growing us for the next step. He has been redefining how we see Him and has been teaching us to trust Him all the more. He has been faithful and very gracious in all of it!

Thank you Jesus for never leaving us and for helping us persevere threw this very rough and tough stretch! Thank you for your love! And thank you for each other! I'm so grateful for Mario and our beautiful kids. Thank you that I get to spend my life with them. Precious Gifts!!! Jesus, I love you and wouldn't want to live one moment with out you!