Canned Tomatoes

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
"Don't eat this." my Mom warned as I stood in the kitchen making lunch. I turn to find her pouring canned tomato sauce into a tupperware container.
"Why would I eat that?" I asked, genuinely curious to hear her answer.
"I don't know, but if you do all you will get is a spoon of canned tomatoes."
I laugh silently to myself and continue making sandwiches. Why I would ever want to eat a few spoonfuls of tomato paste beats me, I know it's gross and my mom knows it won't be good for me. Wait a second... I thought about how God must have felt giving the garden of Eden to Adam and Eve.
"Don't eat from the tree that will lead you astray from me." He warned kindly.
In a garden where there is so much good stuff why would they want to eat the only bad thing? It made me flash to myself, standing at the fridge eating spoons of tomato paste greedily while other delicious things my mom has provided sit inside the refrigerator. "Now I've done it, I have finally done it!" I would laugh maniacally as I slurped yet another spoon of cold, flavorless paste.

Why would I ever want to do that? And yet it happens time and time again. God warns to not do something that will permanently damage our souls and yet we do it out of pure adventure or disregard. When God gives us so many fantastic things in life and warns not settle for the nasty yuckiness that the world serves we sometimes rebel and ignore all of the wonders God has in store! It seems so silly when you put it into terms of tomato paste for a snack, but yet I do things much sillier in real terms! Choosing to sin instead of do the service God offers me is like choosing tomato paste instead of yogurt, cheese sticks, granola bars or ice cream. The better option is soooo much better!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse

My job

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I have a job! It is only part time, I get to hold a sign on the side of the road for two hours a day for two weeks. Exciting huh? As I stand there my options are very limited to what I can do, yet God can bless people in the least seemingly blessed places. I entertain myself by looking for familiar cars, one is a car with eyelashes, and finding out the most comfortable way to how to hold the sign. Also I do some other things, and now I will list all that has blessed me.
It is rather boring to stand on the side of the road, and yet I decided to smile the whole time. I prayed that people can somehow see my love of Christ through my smile instead of the usual "kill me now" look of others I have seen holding signs.
I pray a rosary everyday! This has blessed me soooo much because I love to pray the rosary and seldom set aside the time to do so during an average day.
I listen to music, and I try to make it all upbuilding and joyful to help in my "smile always" task.
Yesterday a lady came up to me and handed me a few dollars saying "Go get yourself something warm to drink after your shift is over. You are doing a great job." This lady blessed me so much! Especially considering yesterday I was sick and standing in the cold with a sign was even less enjoyable than it had been.
I guess what I want to say is that even when we don't feel like we could be blessed God finds ways to do so. If there is one thing I have learned from my job it is that. God bless!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse

Roots

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I had been praying a while ago that God would remind me of his presence in my life, I know that God is so present but sometimes I can't feel him. Even though I don't deserve to be answered, especially when I am doing something so absurd as assuring myself of God's love, he answered me. A few days later I got an email from a woman saying that my siblings and I blessed her three years ago. We met once, for a few hours and then she found us and told us that we blessed her so much!
After that I gave a talk at that confirmation retreat which was great. Now, a girl that was there got in touch with me asking me to talk to her high school Christian club. I feel like they're roots, sprouting out and growing. You know how some roots spread out and grow into other plants from the same roots. God was great enough to plant a seed that has spread and grown so much!
I feel so blessed and loved and I am reassured again about the truth and greatness of God and his love. Even when I fall short God never ever does, praise him!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse

Confirmation Retreat Talk

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I had been invited to speak at a confirmation retreat about missions a few months ago. On Sunday I went, it was super blessed. I shared a slideshow and spoke about what it is like to be a missionary and about the necessity of missions.
Each time I share about missions it is a little revelation to me, it make me realize how blessed I am. I am one of the select number of people who has been able to serve full time in foreign missions. I am so blessed to have experienced what I have experienced and to know what I know. There isn't anything special or spectacular about me but all that I have seen God do is special and spectacular, I am so happy to have been able to witness to that.
The talk went very well and I hope that I was able to bless all of those who were present. The word of God is so powerful and it blesses me so much to be able to share and put into a new light Jesus' word and calling. Remember to be a light on a lamp stand and to always give witness to God and his splendor!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse

Missionaries and Fried Chicken

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our friends the Eckstines just came to visit us and we had a great time. The Eckstines are a family of wonderful missionaries with ten kids (their blog is attached to mine). Last night we all went out to have some Popeyes fried chicken, one of my personal favorites! I was really blessed to see such a great community of people thoroughly enjoying a yummy fast food meal. I think of all of the people who go out to eat fast food everyday, this isn't a bad thing, but as for us and the Eckstines this is a seldom occurrence. We all sat around some pushed together tables and enjoyed each other's company very much. I was blessed to see the joy that such a simple meal shared with happy people could bring. It reminded me that all that you hear from the media is a lie. You don't have to have nice things, expensive food, luxurious cars and giant houses to be full of joy and happiness. The only necessary ingredient is Christ, he is what brings all joy! God bless!
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse

Little Chapels Everywhere

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I was really blessed on new years eve night to be able to go to a midnight mass. We went to a missionaries of charity convent for mass. When we arrived at the convent, we knocked on the door and my sister was playing around a little window, my grandma silently shushed her and told her that that was the chapel window. Beforehand we all had to slip off our shoes and then we walked into a small room and sat on folding chairs about six feet from the altar. There were five priests and a handful of seminarians along with six missionaries of charity and a few other people. I couldn't think of a better way to ring in the new year than with a beautiful mass with a wonderful group of people. Everything about the mass was so blessed and I could feel God's presence so strongly in that tiny chapel.
I just thought it was so wonderful that in such an unexpected place there was such a wonderful little chapel full of wonderful, faithful people. It opened my eyes to all of the little chapels everywhere that are faithful and bless our world so much! Happy new year everyone, have a fantastic, blessed year. God bless.
Peace and love in Christ,
Alyse