Category Archive

Sometimes you just need a refill…

I remember what it was like for Friday’s ….after my college class was over I would jump in the car and travel from Clarion, PA all the way to Norfolk, VA just for the weekend. 8 hrs in the car, arrive late Friday night, spend all day Saturday with Aaron and then hop in the car after lunch on Sunday and drive all the way back. Ya, it sure was a lot of driving, but sometimes you just need a refill. My heart was always with Aaron, even when we were apart. I never could figure out why I felt so empty when I wasn’t with him. I know, now, that I was searching for a love that Aaron could not give me and still can’t. A joy that would replace any pain in my heart. The Grace and Mercy Jesus has shown me, even through my failures, cannot be measured.

When I think back… 16hrs in the car just to spend a little over 24 hrs with Aaron…wow! that’s only for the young! Although far from God @ that point in my life, He was doing a mighty work in me. I always say I don’t want to share my testimony because I feel like others testimonies are more relevant…but here goes.
I was lost, brought up in a house that didn’t know Jesus. Maybe heard stories or knew who God was but didn’t share how to seek Him, know Him or bring others to Him. I met Aaron long before we dated. In fact, I was better friends with his brother who was 4 years younger than me. When I was 16 (almost 17) Aaron and I started dating. He attended church, so I did too. Anything to spend more time together! One Sunday night at Youth Group, while we were singing praise and worship music to an acoustic guitar and praying… I realized my life would be empty without a few select people in my life; first person that came to my mind – Aaron. How could I live without him? Krissy was the next person that I could never imagine going on without (my best friend at the time). This moment in my life was so significant but I didn’t know it then. (BTW, I was wearing a white long sleeve shirt, jean overalls (from the GAP) and socks with green strap sandals and fish hair clip in my medium length brown hair.) Like I said, it was a pretty significant. As I’ve thought over this night so many times, it has become more and more apparent that those people that I thought I couldn’t live without was God’s way of showing me that it was Him that I couldn’t live without. He was showing me Himself through people and things that I loved so much I couldn’t imagine going on without them. Over 10 years later I’m still struggling with being sure all I need is Him.

A few weeks ago, our church had a weekend of prayer. We are in a huge transition time (our Pastor retired) and our church is seeking God’s direction in a mighty way. While I’m on board with seeking what God wants in the life of our church, I wasn’t on board with what God wants in my life; due to the fact that my prayer life, non-existent… my bible reading/study time with God, non-existent. So how could I know what God wanted for me. Since then I’ve made changes; changes that better me and better others around me. If I’m to be looked at as a Christ follower, I should have His answers, His Grace and Mercy. I’m a work in progress and I always will be.

So after reading this back to myself (over and over) I noticed that my testimony doesn’t really have an end. It doesn’t share of some great baptism or earth shattering revelation where Jesus grabbed me, shook me and turned me around with a huge push and said “Go and sin no more” …..so….why not? CUZ MY TESTIMONY IS NOT OVER… I’m going to continue down this path that My Father has for me seeking Him all the while and pleading with people along that way to choose Him! Choose Jesus and forever LIVE!

Thank you God for your Grace and Mercy. I don’t express enough how You have loved me unconditionally and rocked my world with ENORMOUS opportunity and renewed faith. Lord, I am forever Yours!
And all God’s people said…

AMEN!

So the mission trip began on July 31st and ended with a BANG on August 7th…. a long week of God filled AMAZINGNESS! (if that’s not a word, it should be!)
We traveled from Norfolk, VA to Youngsville, PA… 29 students, 7 adults (one was 7 months pregnant), 4 babies and a golden retriever!

Here is the Ranch we worked on… God is at work in the hearts of the people that make this ministry what it is and we were blessed to be apart of something so awesome!
Please visit their site to see how God is using them in a mighty way!

Restoration Youth Ranch

Pastor Rick welcomed us with open arms for the 2nd year in a row @ the church property in the middle of the Biggest Little Town on the Map! We camped in tents all week…showers were graciously provided by Aunt Cheri, Grandma and Buppa Dininny, Aunt Kelly and Grandma & Grandpa Bob Nearing…o! and the creek, many mid-day dips were key to cooling off after a sweaty soccer game. Our meals were prepared by Aunt Cheri. A few of the local church members chipped in also for a couple breakfasts and dinners. We were humbled by the serving hearts that surrounded us.

Sunday night, we pitched tents and slept in the cold; okay well it was in the 60′s… but that is cold in July even if you come from PA… I had my pants tucked into my socks COLD! Monday morning brought excitement and perspective as our leaders helped us dive into God’s word and work! We did some manual labor for a neighboring Youth Camp, Wesley Woods. Tuesday we worked our first day on the ranch; meeting the horses, stacking hay and cleaning out a nearby barn and sweeping the fields with our “Rock Star” skills and encouraging each other along the way. Wednesday was a “Free Day” and the kids and most leaders went on a 8 mile canoe trip down the very calm Allegheny River. Thursday, back at the Ranch we made even more “Rock Stars” appear and a few of the kids built a new horse stall in the barn. We saw the grounds where a water tank would soon be put in (the Ranch currently DOES NOT have running water) … we trust God will provide those funds for the Follets and their visitors soon! Friday we cleaned up our “campgrounds” and put in some much needed vamping to the property playground (free sand from the locate Concrete and Block-thanks to Whitmire Block), mulch for under the swing sets and setting up for a night of worship with neighbors and friends. Saturday was our last free day and we went hiking and climbing at Rimrock, a local attraction over looking the beautiful Kinzua Dam. Sunday, God hit a homerun as we worshipped with the congregation of our sponsoring church, Youngsville Free Methodist. The service was awesome and the response…overwhelming!

Thank you to all the parents, church members and family that supported us in God’s journey for us to Youngsville, we can’t wait to go back! Summer 2012, HERE WE COME!

Restoration Youth Ranch