Today, er... tonight (the day really flew past), I have an interview for y'all! The other day I stumbled upon a blog called Romans 5:3-5, there I read Sara's story. And WOW. Guys, I just HAD to interview her, and let me say, I was NOT disappointed with her answers! I'm in purple y'all! Who are you? Introduce yourself! Hi! My name is Sara (yes without an 'h' ;) ) Willoughby, I'm seventeen-years-old, and I have Lyme disease, mold poisoning, and multiple chemical sensitivity. I currently live in Arizona with my parents and two awesome younger siblings. I love to write, read, and have adventures! I'm also a third culture kid and ex-MK. What's your favorite Bible verse? Well, of course, this changes every so often, but currently, my favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9, which say: 'But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ's power may rest on me.' I love that verse! It is such a source of strength in times of weakness. What's your favorite book of the Bible? Oh dear, I should have been expected some hard questions. I really don't know! Although lately, I've been enjoying 1 Corinthians. It's amazing how you can learn new things everytime you reread a part of the Bible. A few other favorite books are Isaiah and Psalms. Why did you start blogging? A group of friends and I were learning about ministry when I was around twelve, and brainstorming things we could do to reach out to others. One of my friends suggested we start an online free magazine... at first, we were just emailing word documents to our family members, but eventually, we started posting it on a blog-type thing, and eventually after I got sick I realized I had a very specific message I wanted to share that didn't quite fit into the magazine... which is when I started my own blog. And things have just gone from there! How has your relationship with God changed since getting sick? Ooo, good question! Before I got sick, I was the "good little Christian girl". I knew where I stood on many topics, I was sheltered from the more difficult topics, and I thought I knew what I was doing. But when I got sick I suddenly had to face things I'd never considered and decided where I fit into all that. Some of the biggest lessons God has taught me through illness is learning to try to be humble and understanding to those around me and to not be so quick to judge. I'm way more sinful and prideful and ignorant than I ever realized before. And glimpsing those things helps me to understand and ask for God's mercy and grace all the more. Most of all, sickness has taught me to rely on God, not myself. To bring everything to Him and not to hold back. To ask the questions that I can't find answers for. What is your opinion of...Ice Cream? (answer veeeery carefully now - my dragon is watching) *wonders if since dragons breathe fire they like ice cream or not* Ice cream is one of the best desserts in my opinion. Seriously, it's amazing. It's one of the things I've missed the most being on diet restrictions... coconut and almond milk ice cream are good, but they're just not the same. My favorite flavor is Ben & Jerry's Half-Baked or Coldstone's dark chocolate. You forever have my allegiance. ;) Ice cream is THE BEST! And yes, dragons LOVE ice cream, or at least my dragon does. What is something good that has come from you getting sick? Hands down, the people that I've been able to connect with that I would never have otherwise. My spies have reported a upcoming book release... do you perhaps know anything of this? (basically tell us all about your book and if we can do anything to help promote it!) *coughs* I might know something... ;) Well, the title of the book is He's Making Diamonds: A Teen's Thoughts on Faith Through Chronic Illness. It's set to come out in just weeks, on July 23rd! Here's the blurb: Are you a teenager trying to navigate faith through chronic illness? I’m here to tell you, you are not alone. When sickness takes over your life, it’s a never-ending battle to make it through each day. How do you cope? How do you keep fighting? Most of all though, how do you find God in the midst of the suffering? Through my own journey of sickness, I’ve struggled with the same questions—questions we all think but are afraid to ask. My name is Sara, and I’ve been sick with Lyme disease and more since I was fourteen. Those questions you’re afraid to ask? I’ve asked them too—as have many others. This book addresses topics and questions such as:
The journey of illness is not an easy one, but hope remains. God hasn’t left us. He hasn’t forgotten us. On the contrary, He’s making diamonds out of us. As for promoting it, thanks for asking! I'm actually in the process of putting together a launch team as we speak, including a blog tour, YouTube tour, advance readers, and more! If anyone is interested you can find all the info HERE What is your FAVORITE book to read and why? Besides the Bible? *sighs* Another impossible question. :) One of my all-time favorite books is God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew. I've lost track of the time I've read it. It such an encouraging and amazing testimony of what God can do. Andrew's faith and trust in God are both convicting and inspiring. *Gasps* that is MY. FAVORITE. BOOK. TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is your main goal/dream for your life. In general, to delight in God and bring Him glory. But some specific personal dreams are to be an author, an overseas missionary, a wife, and a mother. :) What is your top life advice for fellow sisters in Christ? I think this is one of the most difficult questions I've ever been asked. I guess it would be to throw yourself on Jesus. Keep seeking Him. When things are good or when things are hard, seek Him! Trust Him. Rely on Him. Talk to Him. Fall into His arms. He loves us more than we can ever imagine and He will never, ever abandon us. His grace is sufficient when we make mistakes or when we are weak, and we can trust that our Father has good gifts in store for our life and future. Don't let trials, or apathy, or busy-ness steal away your intimacy with God. Throw yourself on Him! And lastly, where can we stalk - er, I mean, where can we find you? Thanks for having me! You ask hard questions! Stalking is fine. As long as it's not creepy. Wait, can stalking not be creepy? Hmm... XD My blog: https://romans535blog.wordpress.com/ (you can also find me at https://foundwhoiam.com/ and https://mythinkmag.wordpress.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r535blog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/R535Blog Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40694143-he-s-making-diamonds?ac=1&from_search=true YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8hgqjRGSGD_yWZmBxEvsnA Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/romans535blog/ Alright y'all! Jump on over to those links and support Sara! And don't forget to check out her awesome sounding book!
9 Comments
Abby
7/9/2018 08:11:25 pm
Awesome interview! Great job!!
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Julia
7/9/2018 08:18:59 pm
Thanks Abby, I really enjoyed it.
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Beka
7/9/2018 08:30:37 pm
This is a great interview:)
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Julia
7/9/2018 08:32:04 pm
Thanks, Sara's answers are awesome!
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Julia
7/10/2018 11:38:17 am
My pleasure, thank you for doing the interview with me!
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Hailey
7/10/2018 04:14:20 pm
I love God's Smuggler!
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Julia
7/10/2018 04:18:15 pm
Me too! It is such a powerful story that shows our God's greatness!
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Mary
7/11/2018 03:39:23 pm
Lovely interview! I enjoyed it! Sara, I always forget you were an MK since that's not the focus of your blog. My mom was an MK and third culture kid too. :) I can relate to your favorite verse and the lessons you've learned being sick.
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A daughter of the KING, an ambassador of Truth, a soldier of the Cross.
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