Letters From Home

Mischelle has a childhood that no one wants to have, but it is her story. In her most formative years, she was going to public school by day, and involved in a cult, by night, with her family. She walks us through her journey of faith...how her mom was led into this group...what the deception looked like...how she and her family were able to break free... and the freedom and healing she and her family have experienced since.
FREEDOM. Sweet freedom and healing, through the love of her savior, family and community.
You can hear more about @Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch and her ministry @Altered Stories, on Instagram, and on facebook. Also, in this episode, @Lisa O'Neill, a new listener, shares a poem she wrote, inspired by a loving friend and her journey. She has a variety blog on Facebook called @Poetry, Prose, and Assorted Ponderings.

Bearded young men trecking through Australia and Papa New Guinea, sharing Jesus, yep. That is a big part of Blake's story. He is 19, and has been through so much. At times, tender, at times, insensitive. At times, a bully, at times, bullied. At times, living his best life, at times, failing. At times, leaning in dependence on God, at times, feeling distant. His story is relatable and raw, and one that ultimately seeks to glorify God.
Currently, Blake serves with the youth ministry at Alderwood Community Church in Lynnwood, Washington.

Special needs. What thought or feeling does that evoke? For some, this term permeates the fabric of their lives and homes. It is a life changer...for all involved...many ups and many downs.
Ginni's son Alex has autism. In this episode she takes us on this faith journey with her family-through the discovery process, and the difficult and at times wonderful road. Autism up close. You see her and her loving family, laugh, cry, pray...and resolve ultimately, that their journey is in the hands of their loving God.
Ginni and her husband Kevin and family live in Everett, Washington and attend Alderwood Community Church, where they help serve families with special needs.

The road to motherhood sometimes takes unimaginable twists and turns, that continue through birth and beyond. In Elisabeth's story you will hear such a journey. You will hear her heart, as a young girl, longing to have more than 10 kids. You will hear her heart, as a young bride, sharing that desire with her husband. You will hear her heart, as a new mom, the joys and wonders. You will hear her heart, as she goes through miscarriages, and difficult trials, with her husband and family. You will hear her heart, today, as she reflects on how good God has been to her and how she has seen His love guiding and covering her family, and many miracles, through it all. Full of hope, full of reflection, a beautiful road.
Elisabeth and her husband Steve and their 4 young children plus another on the way, live in Marysville, Wa. They attend Marysville Community Church. In this episode Elisabeth says "'it takes a village to raise a family, and i think we found our village."

Have you had any near death experiences? Did they impact or rock your world...how did you make sense of it...? Brent had several such experiences. Combine that with the difficulty of losing a college football teammate to suicide...and his inability to make sense of it...or to move forward with his own life. His world was completely rocked...which lead to soul searching, and a crazy transformative encounter, on a bridge with blinding light.
Brent and his wife Becky love Jesus and live in Edmonds, Wa. They have been a huge part of the Shorecrest High School community for more than 20 years, where he is a beloved coach and teacher. As a changed man, he seeks daily to pay it forward, and be a light to those around him.

Have u ever come across an elderly person, whose very presence, makes u want to be a better person? Grace Nelson is this kind of lady. As a young girl, she had dreams of being a missionary in a far off land. Many told her she wasn’t good enough. Nonetheless, she stayed resolute, working toward seeing her deepest desires fulfilled and.....in time...off she went. To Gabon. As a single young woman. In her 40 years there, she helped translate the Bible into the Yipunu language. Her words ‘I had the dream of my life’. In her story u will hear about the beauty, the hardship, the miracles, the translation work and completion, and what it was like coming back to the US after...her most difficult chapter. She is currently 89 years young, and living in Everett, Wa. still blessing others with her life. ....and still leaning on the faithful God who has always been by her side.

Love is worth fighting for. Dee’s story is all about redeeming love. Sometimes we have a life story...which isn’t maybe the one we set out to have...but it is one that we embrace, from God...with all of its ups and downs. Dee has such a story...a beautiful one...super inspiring....full of bad choices....and redeeming choices...a truly transformed heart and mind. She and her family live in Snohomish, Washington and attend Alderwood Community Church. She works for a vibrant prison ministry, Prisoners for Christ, based out of Woodinville, Wa...and has gotten to share her story of hope with many women, in local and foreign prisons.

Have you ever left a funeral encouraged? For some this may seem like a paradox. When Tim Walton officiates, there is such a celebration of loved ones, and a looking forward to heaven, hope is sparked in the midst of grief and sadness. this perspective comes from his heart, and u will hear this and more, in his story. He will share what was on his heart as a young boy and young man, and how thinking about his welcome into heaven has gripped and shaped his life. Tim has officiated more than 170 funerals, many, of his beloved friends. He and his wife Merilee live in Snohomish, Wa. He is a part-time pastor at Snohomish Community Church, and an avid outdoorsman. (this episode was taped at Alderwood Community Church)

Her story is one of victory and hope through hardship. Judi Anne Charbonneau , her husband Vince and their two daughters live in Shoreline, Washington. After a hard but loving childhood in Kansas, affected by alcohol divorce and sadness, she married her high school sweetheart and they started their life together as teenagers in Seattle, Wa. Judi Anne shares some beautiful and hard moments from her life, including, the loss of their first child, giving her life
to the Lord at a restaurant, struggles with alcohol, forgiveness of others, and herself. She also shares the beautiful season her family is currently enjoying. She has written her own story titled “Judi Anne’s story for God’s Glory”. Amen!

Her story is one of working through feelings of inadequacy and misconceptions about God, to embracing and sharing God’s grace and love, all while managing the ups and downs of chronic health issues. Alycia Myers has been married for two years to her loving husband, Josh. She is a nanny, and a social media influencer, going back to school, and they live in Lynnwood, Wa. She is passionate about sharing her life lessons, thoughts and struggles, in person and through writing and live stories on Instagram. Her story and her heart are having an impact on many, of all ages and stages of life.

My beloved son and 1st podcast guest, shares his story, of a faithful God, family, and community advocating for him, when he was too sick to do so for himself. January 1st, 2016, he was away at college, with 46 days of misdiagnosis, doctor and hospital negligence, a ward of the state, in a mental institution, suffering the effects of intense anti-psychotic drugs, reaching a point of abject hopelessness. He shares this journey, as well as his rightful diagnosis, encephalitis, and his journey to complete recovery. He is passionate about helping college students, and engaging his community, grateful, healed and paying it forward.

CREDITS-This podcast was made possible by the love, help and encouragement of my family—confirming and shaping the vision for it, technical direction and input, art work, editing, taping, creating sound bites, creating the music, willingness to share your stories. Mike, Naomi (and your family), Hannah, Havilah (and your family), Josiah, Eden, Micah, Jordan and Elijah Glesener; you all are my daily joy and inspiration. To my Lord, for whom I live and breathe, and seek to honor with every fiber of my being, I am grateful.