Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Day One - Practicing

We are in Sancturary Hills this week filming the FIC Marriage Course! 


Working on wardrobe and sets.

Everyone arrived!
From Florida, West Virginia, New York, South Carolina, Colorado, and Trinidad.


Some of our incredible FIC volunteers!
I feel like a queen the way they are all caring for us and serving us!

Prayer time together.


Day 1 was one of two practice days.  I began nervous but got into it very quickly.  I found I really enjoyed it and was excited for our turn to speak!  I loved seeing everyone improve, share their testimony and be natural.  It was powerful - this course is powerful!  And there were many emotional moments for the presenters and for the volunteers.  We were united and God was with us.  Everyone is excited about this marriage course! 
And, it was so fun!










We even had time to relax, enjoy one another's company and the peace and beauty at Santuary Hills.
What a great day!


From our Prayer Team led by Howard and Aileen this week:

Today, the Team begins the filming week of the FIC Marriage Course:

Praise: the team arrived safely yesterday & the setting here is lovely.

Steve Goss sent this greeting this morning: “We've been trying one way or another to get a new marriage resource done for the last 15 years and something or other has always thwarted our efforts. I can't tell you how exciting it is that you're all gathered and about to make it happen! We're praying for you and rooting for you. This is a hugely significant project. But don't let the weight of that stop you having lots of fun! God is going ahead of you and so many marriages around the world are going to be blessed because of what He does through you all this week.” 😎

After breakfast the team spent some time in prayer and worship.  The time began with Josh Shaarda’s reminder that endeavor is our reasonable worship to God (Romans 12:1). We sang “Oh Worship the King” and then the volunteers laid hands on the presenters and prayed over them.
The team now has begun practice sessions.  Please pray for calm hearts, clear communication and good practice.  Today and tomorrow are practice days. Filming occurs Wednesday-Friday.

The speakers are: 
Josh & Mandy Shaarda, Garvin & Lorraine, Henry & Adriana 

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Filming week for the FIC Marriage Course!


Hi! We're on the road driving to Tennessee! It has been a very busy week setting in, getting ready including getting our wardrobe, and helping our kids and their needs. I feel very sad leaving them partly because of all we're going through and partly because it's been a previous time being all together again as a family.

Monday at the doctor Luka has high blood pressure which is a major red flag with the HUS and kidney failure he had. He has heard a heart murmur. So Luka is referred now to a Kidney doctor and having a heart test. He started football this week. I can tell he is very nervous. We have talked with him and prayed with him. We're trusting this to God, but it's one more thing.

Pray for Lydia as she takes care of our kids this week. She is still adjusting after serving in Thailand and Ethiopia. A lot to process as she prepares to go back to Moody Bible Institute. Pray for a healing week. Pray for Grace too who is also adjusting and preparing for college again. She has a lot of body pain. We'd love to see healing for her. Grace will be joining us Tuesday in Tennessee to help with hair, make-up and photos.

Pray for health, safety and peace for everyone.

I want to be fully focused on this as special week! It's so exciting to be apart of!

Thanks for praying! It gives me strength knowing we're prayed for!

Mandy 

Thanks for praying! It strengthens me. ❤️

Here's our prayer request for this week.

Sunday everyone is traveling to the venue. (In total 17 people involved this week.)

Monday and Tuesday are rehearsal days.

Wednesday Thursday and Friday is the filming of the marriage course.

Saturday people are traveling home.

Pray for people's health that they'll be strong and energetic and pray for their family circumstances that people are able to not be distracted but can focus their minds on the task of filming the marriage course. 

 Pray that God will be glorified in every part of this process.

Thank you!

Josh 

Buying and getting wardrobe ready...






He's trying...😉

Makai too 😄


Stay in tune to the blog this week for more updates!