This summer semester our students at Foothills had the opportunity to study and travel to Israel and the surrounding Biblical lands.  Alison Dominguez recalls her journey and her  challenge to move forward boldly to “wherever He calls”:

Student Alison Dominguez recalls her journey to Israel

“I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land.  I knew before I went that it would be a truly life changing experience, but I could not have imagined the extent to which my relationship with the Lord and my study of His word would grow.

It started before we even arrived in Israel when the Lord showed us His favor by truly working miracles to get the 33 of us to the Holy Land.  He answered our prayers as we prayed boldly and with great faith, our public surroundings did not inhibit us and all around knew we were on a mission with God.  These first few moments reminded me of the importance of prayer in all circumstances and that He is in control of everything.  Throughout this trip we were bathed in prayer and I know He was watching over our every step.  To really know and believe that humbled me greatly.

I was moved by the amazing people whom He brought together from all different walks of life.  We truly did become a family and had some of the most wonderful dinner table conversations.  This opportunity helped me to learn to lovingly challenge and encourage those that are growing in their relationship with Christ.  I experienced how showing love and grace to others truly made a difference and this challenged me to show even more love and grace to all whom I encounter each and every day.  Jesus gave me the most amazing gift of grace and who am I to deny that to someone else.  In Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

So many other things were impressed upon me on this journey, but what I kept hearing over and over in my quiet time and sometimes out loud was how truly blessed I am.  I am blessed to be a child of God.   I am blessed to live in a country where I have freedom of religion.  I am blessed to have the financial means that He provides.  I am blessed to have a solid church home where the truth is taught and so much more.  Even as I type this I am so overwhelmed by how much He loves me.  I knew when I accepted Christ as my savior several years ago that He truly loved me.  What I did not grasp until this journey to Israel was how truly special He thinks I am.  He gave me this opportunity for a reason and each of us was chosen to go a little further with Him.  Just like Peter, James and John whom Jesus took a little further in to the Garden of Gethsemane, He took me a little further on this journey.  God really showed me and I finally believe that He truly is my bridegroom and loves me more than anything.

Now that I am so much closer to feeling and grasping how special He thinks I am I desire even more to serve Him.  He has rekindled a fire in me to get deeper in the word and in prayer.

He has reminded me how fragile and how short life is and to not just sit back and wait, but to move forward.  He is pushing me out of my comfort zone yet again and I am excited to see where we are going.  Israel was the first step, Foothills is next and then wherever He calls I will boldly go.”