Happy New Year
SON ALUMNI
2024

GOD IS AT WORK
Building a Connected Community to Support, Encourage, Educate, and Strengthen APU SON Alumni

There are so many stories about transformational experiences happening in our alumni commUNITY, but here is one as we move towards the close of another year.  

Barb has been a faithful member of our bi-weekly prayer team for over a year.  This summer, Barb attended the SON Alumni online women's bible study - She Who Dares: An 8-week study on learning to live dangerously for God, by Kristi Huseby.  In the devotional study, she was challenged in her walk with the Lord. She committed to continue to anchor her heart to God and fearlessly say YES to what God had in store for her.  

Barb had recently retired (wound care/ostomy specialty at Sutter Hospital) and moved from California to Washington to build the house of her dreams close to the mountains.  Her husband received a cancer diagnosis which put a wrinkle in their retirement dreams.  Barb has followed God all of her life but the study she did this summer prepared her for another YES to God that she did not anticipate.

Barb had traveled abroad in the past to use her skills as a nurse to provide care internationally.  She was introduced to Dr. Elaine Goehner (faculty emeritus) at an APU SON reunion in Washington last year.  Barbara, BSN '77 was in the first nursing class at APU and Elaine was the teacher.  They began to talk and realized they shared a passion for wound care.  Dr. Goehner had worked with an organization (REI) making multiple trips to Vietnam to teach nursing including wound care treatment.  She has made a profound impact on the country.  She has a desire to see others continue the work she has begun.  She and Barb met to discuss the possibility of Barb traveling with a team of APU nursing faculty (through REI) to Vietnam.  

Barb made a courageous step to say YES to God and committed to a trip to Vietnam.  This YES was not easy.  Her husband had multiple treatments requiring travel back to Sacramento.  Her husband had a significant fall weeks before she was ready to leave for Vietnam.  She voiced her worries about "timing."  Her family courageously stood behind her and encouraged her to continue to say YES.  Our prayer team heard Barb voice insecurities about her adequacy and how she might teach and share her knowledge with nurses who speak a different language.  SON Alumni Prayer Team members reminded Barb that God had equipped her and that she could do it!  At the midnight hour, a key faculty member had a family emergency and was not able to go.  Barb lost her travel partner.  So many reasons to postpone the trip or to back out but Barb continued to say YES to God.  

A faithful YES placed Barb front and center to fill in as a speaker for the absent faculty member.  This was no ordinary speech, this was at an International Nursing Conference in Vietnam.  Interpreter and all, Barb presented to a full crowd of eager learners.

It is not very often that we get a peek into the wonderous tapestry that God is laying out for us.  He weaves together people and circumstances using sicknesses, emergencies, and obstacles, to work out beautiful teachable moments for us and others in his kingdom.  What an important reminder of the power of prayer.  What an important reminder that we don't have to be a skilled public speaker.  God used Moses and God can use us.  He asks us to pray without ceasing.  By praying we support each other we build community - we are His church.  He asks for our open hearts to weave and work His will in our lives.

Thank you, Barb for saying YES.