What. A. Journey. 🇺🇸 Part 2: When Things Get Real

Things started to feel very real when we left California and began travelling through Arizona and New Mexico, heading toward Texas.

When we reached the state border between New Mexico and Texas, we immediately noticed a difference. Security was much stricter—checkpoints, heavy monitoring—definitely not something we’re used to seeing between provinces in Canada. We kind of looked at each other like “Okay – this feels serious.”  It makes sense, though—Texas shares a long border with Mexico, so the area is watched much more closely.

We made it through and arrived in Texas, where we stayed with friends and visited a Deaf church.

And once again—God started connecting us with people.

We met individuals who had been praying for a long time for something we are deeply passionate about—a Deaf retreat. Not just camps, but a place for rest, healing, and real connection. Because across the U.S., those kinds of retreats are actually very hard to find.

That moment made us pause. It felt like God was confirming something deeper.

We also noticed something else in the southern states—churches.

Huge churches. Massive buildings. Large congregations. So many people.

We were honestly in shock.

Coming from Canada, where churches are often smaller, seeing that scale was incredible. And with that came resources—programs, accessibility, support.

But at the same time, we reminded ourselves that no matter how big a church is… Jesus is still the center.

Another major difference we noticed was accessibility. In the U.S., many churches automatically provide interpreters—it’s built in. In Canada, that’s not always the case. Resources are limited, and interpreters are harder to find. Many churches simply don’t have access.

But in the U.S., it was so much more available.

It really opened our eyes to the gap—and the need.

After Texas, we continued travelling through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama before arriving in Georgia, where we stayed with friends.

From there, we went to North Carolina and stayed with a couple we had met earlier at an event in Sacramento. They were incredibly supportive. We prayed together, encouraged one another, and experienced genuine fellowship. Their home felt warm and peaceful—like a place God had prepared ahead of time.

Eventually, we made our way back to Canada for Christmas, stopping along the way to visit friends. God was faithful every step of the journey north. Spending Christmas with family was special—a time to pause, rest, and reflect.

Then January 2026 came… and we headed back to the U.S. again. Because apparently, we weren’t done yet.

We continued travelling down the East Coast toward Florida. And during that time—we experienced something we will never forget.

We arrived in Savannah and visited the Riverwalk—a beautiful, peaceful area filled with shops, restaurants, and water views. It felt like one of those moments where you just sit down, relax, and enjoy lunch.

So we did.

We ordered food.
We waited.

And then… everything changed.

A shooting broke out outside—about 100–200 meters from where we were.

Within seconds, the manager locked the doors and told everyone to go to the kitchen and hide. People moved fast. You could feel the shift—from calm to fear—in an instant.

Police arrived, and later we learned that a young man refused to drop his weapon and was shooting at officers. The police had to respond, and he was killed.

We stayed hidden for almost an hour.

It was one of the most frightening moments we’ve ever experienced.

But even in that moment—we knew God was protecting us.

When we finally left, everything felt different. It gave us a deeper understanding of how quickly life can change—and how many people carry experiences like this every day.

For us, it took a couple of days to process.

But for many… moments like this stay much longer.

And it reminded us why what we do matters.

After that, we travelled to Florida. We met a long-time friend who used to live in Canada, and we had a chance to reconnect and share meaningful time together. We also connected with Deaf communities in Miami and spent time there.

We originally planned to stay in Florida for a month—but God had other plans that we didn’t see coming.

We prayed.
We listened.

And we felt clearly that God was not planning to multiply the ministry in Florida.

Instead, He was redirecting us.

Back to California.

That moment was strong. It felt like one door closing—and another opening.

So we packed up again—and drove all the way back to California. At this point, long drives just felt normal. And the moment we arrived—things started falling into place.

We stayed with friends for two months. And during that time, everything aligned.

We connected with multiple Deaf churches and communities, especially in Riverside and Los Angeles. The Deaf population there is large—and the need is even greater. We saw firsthand how God was moving.

 One church even began discussing supporting us—and we’re still in the process of working through that.

And then—another major moment.

We got approved by the Internal Revenue Service for Rest & Talk.

We just paused and said, “Wow… God, You’re really doing this.”

That wasn’t just timing.

That was confirmation.

Those two months flew by. Honestly, it felt like we blinked, and it was over.

We built friendships. We experienced community. We saw lives being touched.

Leaving California was hard. We didn’t want to go. But we knew it was time.

We’re still in touch with many people there—and they continue to need support through Rest & Talk. Seeing that ongoing connection is incredible.

Now we are back in Canada.

And we’ve started travelling across Canada—just like we did in the U.S.

Same mission.
Same heart.
Same calling.

Just a different place.

And we’re holding onto that.

Because if this journey has taught us anything, it’s this:

When God leads, it won’t always be easy.
It won’t always be predictable.
But it will always be purposeful.

And we’re just getting started.