I sing "Hosanna" once again, then I say "Crucify Him!"

God's been speaking to me how much He loves me...

... and how much I don't love Him.

I love Jesus, I gave my life to Him when He saved me. But He's been revealing parts of my heart to me that aren't pretty. 

I so often put myself and my desires before Jesus instead of giving them to Him, trusting He will guide my life and that He has a PERFECT plan for my life. 

Why is it so hard for me to trust Him sometimes? Don't I know my Savior? 

"The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love. 

The LORD is good to all; 

He has compassion on all He has made.

The LORD is faithful to ALL His promises

and loving toward all He has made. 

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry and saves them."

- Psalm 145

Truth.

Thank you, Jesus.

Almost time to go home.

My journey through the West Coast of America continues and is slowly coming to an end.

I spent 2 days in Turlock with a dear friend Debbie who I met in Slovenia this past summer. She's been to Slovenia a couple of times and she came to help with Performing Arts Camp this past summer. We connected right away, I was her coffee girl :)
It was so good to see her world, stay at her house, hang out with her daughter Chloe and just rest. Oh, it really was good to rest.
They made one of my dreams come true - they took me to San Francisco! I grew up watching Full House and it means so much to me to be able to see the city, all the roads and the Golden Gate Bridge! So much fun! God cleared the weather for us - there was no fog, almost no wind, it was warm... it was perfect! AND we had Mexican food for dinner!! What else can I ask for, really? :)

I stayed in Modesto with 2 other families who've been a really big part of Performing Arts Camp over the last couple of years. They took such good care of me! They took me to Monterey (they said my middle name should be Ray; Mana Ray in Monterey :). It was just so good to relax, explore and enjoy time with them.



Lin, one of the main ladies for Performing Arts Camp, hosted a dessert night. I shared my testimony and the work of God in Slovenia with about 30 people who are in different ways connected to Slovenia. Some of them had even been to Kocevje and it was great to hear their stories and experiences of Slovenia!

I flew to Portland on Saturday morning and got picked up by a very special friend, Anna. She was a missionary with Josiah Venture in Slovenia from 2004-2008 and she was one of the main people God used to reach out to me.
I was able to spend 4 days with Anna, her husband David and their precious daughter Sophia. I shared my story with their small group, and Anna and I had a chance to share about God's work in our lives at Canby Bethany church on Sunday.



Anna and I had time to talk about the past, she helped me understand how she felt when I was still living in the darkness and how she had hope that God will save me.
Her and I shared a journal for 4 years and I hadn't seen it since 2008. I was able to read it with her 2 days ago. So much darkness, pain, sin... but it's amazing to see that God was really pursuing me, trying to get my attention and He really loved me throughout all of those years! He didn't give up on me and when I was finally ready to give Him an opportunity, He grabbed it!! Oh, His loves for us... how in the world did I deserve to be His daughter?

I am currently in Spokane, Washington. It reminds me of Slovenia a lot :) it's really cold, snowy..
I was able to encourage people at one of the churches here last night and share about God's mighty work. God really is at work; not just in my life, Kocevje or Slovenia - He is working EVERYWHERE! He is amazing!

I will stay in Spokane until Monday when I go back to Oregon and will stay in Salem for 5 days with Andrea who will be coming to Slovenia as an extended intern in Kocevje in June! That's when my journey in America ends and I will return back to Slovenia and continue serving God there.

_______________________________________________________

I was very nervous about these 7 weeks in the States; I am not a public speaker, I like being in my own bubble and I like to stay in the background and observe. This trip was everything but that!
God really stretched me, helped me to step out into the unknown and do things for Him that were hard for me. But it's for His glory and He is worth it!
I learned so much about God and His character. He revealed Himself to me in new ways, special ways.
I learned so much about myself! I can do things in God that I would NEVER think I could! It's amazing to experience that!


Thank you for covering me with your prayers and being on this journey with me. I'm really starting to realize how big of a family in Christ I have - and I am thankful.
 

My journey in USA

It's been so much fun to be in the States!!


PHOENIX, AZ
I visited one of my best friends from College, Callie. Her and her family live in Phoenix, Arizona, and I spent 2 weeks with them. They are a big family so I took naps during the day (I am really not used to being around so many people all the time) but they adopted me in and it was so hard to say goodbye to them.

My Callisita :)

The best Christmas I've ever had! :)

LOVE this family!

I met a lady in Slovenia who lives in Phoenix as well, Kris, and I stayed with her and her family for 4 days as well. Such a lovely family! They took me to see bull riding, they introduced me to one of their Serbian friends and I was able to meet some of their close friend at a Christmas party they had in their house. Really, such a nice family!

NIPOMO, CA
I flew to Nipomo, CA on January 2, and spent 2 days with Liz and Dick, my good friend Anna's parents. The last time we saw each other was about 6 years ago, I was still living in the world. It was so nice to catch up with them! I was able to share with a small group of people at their house, people who had heard of me through the years and prayed for me. It was amazing to meet them and THANK them for their prayers!

With Dick, Liz and Lynn!

SANTA ANA, CA
My friend Lynn and Adalaide from Bible College picked me up at their house on January 4, and we drove down to Orange county and stayed there with Lynn's aunt and uncle. Because my birthday was coming up, they took me to the Pacific Ocean Aquarium in Long Beach (AMAZING!) - I touched a shark! - and then we went downtown Disney for dinner. A good friend Chris, who works for Disneyland, joined us.. and he took us to Disneyland for a VIP tour! It was more than I could EVER ask for!
I was also able to go to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on Sunday and we visited Calvary Chapel Bible College Murrieta for a day (they had a missions conference). I am so thankful I got to see all of those things and visit all of those places!

With my friend Lynn at the Newport Beach, CA!

That's not the shark I touched... ;)

This turtle is BIG!

My birthday cake! Lynn's mom, Sally, made it for me! :) (she made a delicious dinner, too!)

There's nothing better than finishing a birthday night with a round of Rummykub! :)

TULARE, CA
We drove up to the central valley on Wednesday, to Lynn's hometown Tulare. We are staying with her parents this week. I was able to share with youth from her church, Calvary Chapel Visalia. I shared my testimony and everything I struggled with in the past, and I was shocked that youth came to me afterwards and asked questions! That's never happened to me before! I never thought I would have Junior High kids on my heart, but I see how God's been changing my heart towards kids this age and how much He can do through me in their lives! Also, it made me miss Kočevje so much, and our youth group back home!

Sharing my testimony.

Talking to the girls afterwards.

A couple of church members were listening as well, I was able to talk to them afterwards.

I will be sharing with Calvary Chapel Visalia tomorrow. I am a little bit nervous since it's a pretty big church, but I am also excited to share all that God's been doing in Kočevje and Slovenia and encourage people with that!
Please be praying for this time tomorrow, that God would speak through me and use me in whichever way He wants to, and also that people's hearts will be open to receive His words.

TURLOCK + MODESTO, CA
I leave Tulare on Monday and I'll be headed up to Turlock and Modesto. I feel like this trip is just beginning, and I've been here for 3 weeks already.


God is good and amazing, and I'm so thankful I have an opportunity to be here, share about His wonderful works in Slovenia, and have beautiful fellowship with brothers and sisters on this side of the world.

PRAYER REQUEST
Every journey, good or bad, brings some struggles as well.
It's been hard to be moving to different places every couple of days, staying with different people. It's people I know + love but it's emotionally draining me. God is teaching me so much and He is right here with me the whole time. I do ask for your prayers in this area. I still have 3 weeks before I go back to Slovenia, and I am in need of God's peace, grace and comfort.

Please, remember my journey in your prayers and let me know how I can be praying for you!

With love,
Mana