The Mallaris - 2024

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? Psalm 13:1

For years, we have asked, even cried, "How long, O Lord?" echoing the words of Psalm 13. Throughout our journey, you have prayed with us, supported us, and encouraged us. And through it all, the Lord has upheld us with His unwavering faithfulness, amazing grace, and merciful love.

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God Psalm 13:5

This year, the Lord our God has considered and answered us. Bryan has been blessed to secure a position in a hospital laboratory once again. For years, he bore the heavy burden of being unable to provide for our family. When this door opened, we fell to our knees in humble praise and gratitude, though it marked a bittersweet conclusion to this chapter. We said goodbye to our loved ones, friends, and church. We packed up, and moved north, placing our full trust in the Lord's plan.

Leaving Oak Tree Community Church was tough. As Yael declared, we found our most favorite pastor there -- Pastor Matt Thompson. Pastor Matt, Ronae, their children, and the entire Oak Tree family were instrumental in Bryan's return to work. While we prayed for an opportunity in Sacramento near the church, the Lord had a different plan, bringing us more than 300 miles away to Alturas, CA. We miss you dearly, Oak Tree. We thank and praise our God in all our remembrance of you.

Looking for a new Christ-centered church proved to be even tougher. Our prayer and desire was to find a ministry opportunity for Bryan and for the whole family to serve. For weeks after our move, we held family worship services at home where Bryan led us in singing and preaching, and the older boys do the Bible reading and benediction. It was good training for the kids not only to sit and listen but also take part. But we missed the fellowship and the practice of "one another's" with brothers and sisters in Christ.

A month later, as we planned to visit the local churches, Ronae informed me about a family seeking a pastor to start a church plant here in Alturas. Blessed by the Lord's favor and amazed by His providence, our hearts and spirits were ignited. Grateful to God for the Skiles family (Kaleb, Lorraine, and their children, Deklan, Erik, Charlotte, and Melody) and Warner Mountain Bible Church, the answers to our prayer.

Since June, we have been meeting together every Sunday switching houses as our venue. After a few weeks, Bryan's colleague has joined us, and we have also begun our Fundamentals of the Faith Bible study. This December, we have started holding our services at the Niles Hotel. We are humbled by the Lord's work and grateful that He has blessed us with this ministry and the like-minded family along with it.

Pray with us that Bryan will soon be able to start his ordination process while working full time. Pray that we will be faithful servants of the Word, and be salt and light to souls who need to hear the good news in this part of the world. Pray that we will walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesian 4:1-3). 

Pray for our children, that they will grow in wisdom and in stature, and in favor of God and men. Bryan II is currently in 9th grade, pursuing University Prep through independent study. Rafael is in 6th grade, Yael in 4th, and Andrew, Nate, and Cali are in 2nd grade. They have adapted well during the transition period but naturally, they miss their old friends. We encourage them to transform their grumbling into gratitude and remind them that we don't deserve any of these blessings; it's all by God's grace.

Psalm 13 starts with a lament, repeating "how long" four times. We empathize with the Psalmist's anguish because we often find ourselves in the same situation. After the grievance comes the plea, "Consider and answer me, O Lord my God," reverberating our own prayers until we cry ourselves to sleep. As for the Psalmist, he didn't stop there. He radically shifts from despair to delight as his hope builds up to a sacred reliance on the Lord's unwavering love.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6

That is the power of prayer. It doesn't change God's will, but it changes us and aligns our desires to His will for His glory and for our good.

God knows what's best for our family and we cling to His promise that He will never abandon us. He will hold us fast through every trial as we learn to solely trust Him, and wait on Him no matter how long. This is our prayer for you as well.

We wish you good tidings of great joy, Merry Christmas and a blessed 2025!

We are always thankful to the Lord for your lives, and we hold you dear in our hearts. We would like to hear from you, so please let us know how we could pray for you. As you think of us, rejoice with us and sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with our family.

All glory be to Christ!

It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all His patience as an example for those who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17