encouraged.

Today has been a very encouraging day!
There is a beautiful girl that lives down the hall from me named Kayla.
She is such a sweet girl and a wonderful woman of God. She always knows how to brighten someones day and to really lift them up in prayer. She sent me a message today out of the blue.
This is part of it:

"Today, I was reading in Isaiah, and you came to mind as I read this:
"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, 'Your God REIGNS!'" --52:7." -She is so sweet and I just wanted to share that.

So there are some thoughts rolling around through my head : [My heart is so heavy in these days. I can't really explain what the Lord is doing in me, but I know he is planning for something big. I feel like he will reveal a lot to me over the next several months. It has been my prayer that he would use me for something really big, as big as he would want for me. I think so often he wants to use us for huge, unimaginable things, but we limit him. I have tried my best to break down my ideas and my imagination to allow his future to be painted before me. I have spent time thinking about how amazing it would be to work in an orphanage or safe house for women and girls that have been through sexual abuse/sex slavery/ etc. as I have a real burden for those women, but the Lord could have a completely different or even bigger, picture in mind. I think of how amazing and just "right" it would be to serve people in a tiny village, teaching them how to do hair so that they could run their own business' to provide for their families, but I think the Lord has a much bigger picture. I am so excited to see what he has in store for me, and for us. Zach and are are preparing to start our married life together. I am so blessed to have a man of God with such a willing heart. He is so supportive in all I do and dream of. He is very selfless as he has not talked of himself even though he will be here working this summer and not going to Africa as I know he would love to do. I believe God has so much in store for the two of us. No matter what we are capable of dreaming, I truly believe that it is when we erase the sketch we have come up with and blindly say, "I will go," is when he will use us. It's to separate ourselves from the things of the world we love and say I am solely here for you. I will be a tool, an instrument to further your kingdom, that is when the picture is beautifully sketched by the creator.]

"Be imitators of Christ, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2.

Love Always, Allyson.

Be praying for Saturday. We will have a garage sale at Bob Barhart's house. Pray for a garage sale you might ask? :) Yes, we need buyers, or even donations from people that come.
And thank you again, SO MUCH, to all of you that are keeping this cause in prayer, and for your generous donations. I cannot tell you how much you all mean to me, really!! You're all unbelievable! Thanks :)