Hello, everybody! Our names are Valerie and Christy and
we are students at SOULS West (Seventh-day Adventist Outreach Leadership
College), located in Prescott, Arizona, a Bible college specified in equipping young
adults in winning souls to hasten the second coming of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. During our second year at SOULS West, we, as students, are privileged
with the opportunity of working side by side with a pre-designated church. Our
main goal as SOULS students is to help equip church members with practical ways
to share their faith in their everyday lives, as well as giving them the tools they
need to give personal Bible studies to those who are searching for truth. At the
same time, we will also be knocking on doors in the community of Visalia,
California, searching for those who want to know more about the Bible and of the
true character of our loving God. We will eventually be inviting the friends that
we will have been studying with, and the entire community of Visalia, to an
evangelistic campaign where our friend, Yoane Sanchez, will be preaching about
the beautiful truths of the Bible. We are both really looking forward to
working with Pastor Justin Aguilar and the entire church family of the Visalia
Bilingual Seventh-day Adventist Church! It is our earnest hope and prayer that
many people will fall in love with God’s word and make the decision to leave
their old lives behind and consecrate their lives to the one and only Life
Giver, Jesus Christ.
My name is Valerie Nicole Lopez and I am from a
small town called Soledad in central California. I am currently 20 years of
age. At the age of 17, after some traumatic things occurred in my life, one of
my sisters had invited me to an evangelistic series 2 hours away from home that
was titled the “War in Heaven”. In desperation to get away from my life in Soledad
I accepted her offer. Here I learned, for the first time, what love really
meant. Here I learned that I truly did have a purpose for my life. I learned
that I was loved unconditionally and that though people here on earth would
fail me at times, we had Someone that NEVER would. For the very first time of
my 17 years of life, I learned about my Savior Jesus Christ. I gave my heart to
Christ January 8, 2011 and now all that I want to do is to serve Him and win
souls for His kingdom. I am now a second year student at a Bible college called
SOULS West and I intend to stay in ministry until the day we finally get to
meet our Savior face to face.
Favorite
Bible Verse: “Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the JOY that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.” Hebrews 12:2
A
Favorite Quote: “Christ says to man, “You are mine. I have
bought you. You are now only a rough stone, but if you will place yourself in
My hands, I will polish you, and the luster with which you shall shine will
bring honor to My name. No man shall pluck you out of My hand. I will make you My
peculiar treasure. On My coronation day, you will be a jewel in My crown of
rejoicing.” Ellen White, 4BC 1177.3
Favorite
Thing About Jesus: Obviously, everything about Jesus I
adore. However, one thing that is very personal to me about our Savior, is that
He is so personal and intimate with us. There is never one difficulty,
challenge, tear that He cannot relate with us on and—no matter what—there is
not one thing in the world that will change His unfailing love for us.
Favorite
Hymn: “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” SDA Hymnal #465
A
Few of My Favorite Things: I am an easily entertained girl. I love
reading, writing and I love annotating :-) I love writing
with my left hand. I love anything where there is the opportunity of being
innovative. I love DIY projects and playing with children and pets (especially
bigger dogs, reptiles, bunnies, horses and cows). I LOVE rocks and sea shells!
Bright colors are the best. I also love to laugh and to talk with people. To add
on to the list, I absolutely LOVE to hike (however, coming back down from the
hike is not my favorite thing at all, I have a fear of falling and rolling off
of the mountain). I love the word “cute” and I really enjoy saying, “Oh My!”. I
absolutely love the theme of “JOY” over happiness (any questions about this
feel free to ask) :-) I enjoy studying the Minor Prophets in
the Bible. I’m fascinated by the book of Hosea. I also have a huge burden for
the Country of Mexico :-) AND, one of my favorites, is my very
own Bible work partner, Christine Geovanna Aguirre :-)
My name is Christy and I am currently a happy, 21 year
old Track 2 student at SOULS West. I was born and raised in Modesto, CA and at
the age of 17 gave my heart unreservedly to Jesus after an experience that led
me to see that His love is the one that truly satisfies! Through the mentorship
of my youth pastor and through the working of the Holy Spirit upon my heart, I
gained a passion for ministry and decided to commit my life to serving the Lord
and leading others to Jesus in whatever capacity and sphere that I am in. I
love helping others and find great joy in service and helping wherever a hand
is needed. Especially in the kitchen! :-) I’m a quiet observer, have a bit of a sweet
tooth, and I absolutely love my Bible Work partner, Valerie (not because she
wrote about me in her About Me section… It’s just the truth ^_^)!
After graduating from SOULS West I plan on serving as a CROSS Trainer in the
Central California Conference at the end of this upcoming year. I am so excited
to be experiencing my first taste of Bible work (and to practice my Spanish!)
here in the beautiful city of Visalia!
Favorite
Bible Verse: “But you, Israel, are My
servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. 9 You
whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest
regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have
not cast you away: 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be
not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help
you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 42:10
A
Favorite Quote: A beautiful quote on having faith in God’s
unfailing promises: “We need look
for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may
go about our work assured that what God has promised He is able to perform, and
that the gift, which we already possess, will be realized when we need it most.”
-Ellen White, Education 258.2.
If
God has promised it, the gift is already ours! What blessed peace comes when we
trust and know that He will come
through with what He has promised at the time He knows is best. :-)
Favorite
Thing About Jesus: There are so many things that I love about
Jesus, but one of my favorite things is His ability to forgive a great sinner
like myself. Imagine hurting someone who loves you SO much and then having them
take you back anyway? This is what Jesus has done for me, continues to do for me, and I love Him so very
much for it!
Favorite
Hymn: “I Will Follow Thee” SDA Hymnal #623
A
Few of My Favorite Things: Cooking & baking. Early
morning devotions. Meaningful quotes. Gifts. Coconut! Acts of service. Prayer
meetings. Surprises. The color pink. The book Steps to Christ -- especially chapters 6 &8! Jamba Juice. Long car drives. Audio
sermons & stories. Granola. Epic
instrumental music. Nature walks. Yummy breakfasts. Thai food. Thoughtfulness.
Camping. Health food stores. Sitting in the sunshine. Sabbath treats. New notebooks.
Color-coordination. Going on spontaneous adventures. Cozy blankets. Door-to-door
ministry.
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A Few Last Thoughts:
Keep in contact with us! Please feel free to leave comments, call, text or email us. Valerie can be reached at valerianicole7@yahoo.com; Christy at christyaguirre33@gmail.com.
Please keep us in prayer and follow our story as we continue our adventure here in Visalia, California!
