What if rest isn’t a reward after burnout—but part of how God designed us to live and serve?

This month on the Velvet Ashes Legacy Podcast, Denise talks with Nathan and Tricia LaGrange of Oasis Rest International—a ministry offering safe spaces of renewal for global workers around the world. 🌍

They share how God gave them a vision for helping others find true rest—body, mind, and soul.

Tune in and be reminded: rest is not selfish. It’s sacred.

Also Denise and Sarah chat about the theme of Table for this month, airplane etiquette, and more.

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!

We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about Oasis Rest International

ServantCare

The Velvet Ashes Unplugged Retreat: Refuge in the Wilderness

The new Velvet Ashes book, Yet We Still Laugh, is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

This month we’re welcoming a new theme song and diving into stories of resilience, refuge, and calling. Denise and Sarah share favorite cross-cultural kitchen gadgets (yes, rice cookers and electric kettles make the list!) and talk about creating safe spaces when home doesn’t always feel safe. They highlight upcoming Velvet Ashes events—including the Equip Conference and the Unplugged Retreat—designed to support global women in the wilderness seasons of life.

Plus, Sarah sits down with author Rachel Pieh Jones to explore the remarkable, challenging life and legacy of Italian aid worker Annalena Tonelli, whose work fighting tuberculosis and empowering communities in Africa continues to inspire.

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Featured music is "Doxology of Mercy" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!

We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about Rachel Pieh Jones

Rachel's book about Annalena, Stronger Than Death

Rachel will be speaking at the Somali Kayd Festival in London, England about Annalena's life and work on October 20, especially focusing on her work with the deaf community. Learn more here.

Learn more about the Equip Conference and our other resources at https://grow.velvetashes.com/.

Denise and Sarah kick things off with something lighthearted—our recent Instagram poll on pen preference. Yes, pens! Because sometimes delighting in the little things—like whether you love a bold gel pen or a fine-tip ballpoint—really does matter.

Then we’ll turn to something deeper as we hear Dawn’s story from Italy. She shares how God has been at work in her life and how attending the Velvet Ashes In-Person Retreat opened the door for her to say yes to sabbatical. You won’t want to miss this beautiful reminder of God’s invitation to rest and renewal.

We want to share more of your stories this season on the Legacy podcast! Do you have a story of a way you have seen God work? A way he has brought comfort or joy in a hard season? A cool answer to prayer? Email us at info@velvetashes.com if you are interested in sharing your story on a future podcast!

Sign up for the VA Monthly Newsletter

Check out the ⁠Re-entry Retreat⁠

Find out more about this year's ⁠Equip Conference⁠

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Velvet Ashes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Velvet Ashes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Featured music is "Daughters and Sons" by Eine Blume. Check out more from them on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or wherever you get music!

We are grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnabas International⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for sponsoring this podcast! Barnabas is a member care organization that shepherds global workers and trains global shepherds. Learn more about them ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

List of people's favorite pens from our recent poll:

S-Gels

Zebra fine point

Sharpie fine tip

G2 .038

Pentel RSVP

BIC fine point ballpoint

Felt tip

Sharpie gel 0.38

Sharpie S-Gel 0.7

Papermate Ink Joy (many colors)

Bic Cristal Xtra Life ballpoint - blue

G2 (cheaper pens)

Lamy fountain pen

Pilot precise v5 RT 0.5

Sharpie gel pen

Zebra Z grip retractable

G2 gel pen

LePen

Clip Click Inc

Mr Pens

Bic click stick

Sharpie S-Gel .07 mm medium tip

Pentel black pens

Japanese Frixion pens

Papermate Profile