Author: dianegclark

We were so blessed to have Joel join the worship team for a Sunday. My heart is filled with joy. although reluctant, Hannah and Kent came and watched rehearsal Saturday and stayed for the whole thing. It is a blessing to be able to share what means so much to us with them. Leah and the boys went to a rehearsal a few weeks ago. This weekend, Josh was needed on the Westview team and Joel agreed to play bass. We were all impressed at how easily he jumped in having never even heard the songs before! And to top it off, Chad was here this weekend and we got to sing Be Still! So Joel not only joined the worship team for a day, he got to play with Midwest Meets Manhattan! Such a blessing.

We got all the kids home this Christmas but not all on Christmas Day. Joel got in at midnight Christmas Eve so Scott and I spent a quiet evening at home waiting. It was so good to see him! He has a different haircut than ever (funny story, he went to a barber shop called Fade Up then got surprised when they gave him a fade). We stayed up and chatted with him and then slept in late Christmas Day. Hannah and Kent wanted to stay with Garrett, Kent’s twin on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day then they drove here and arrived Christmas evening. Leah and Dave spent Christmas Eve and day at home with their kids to start new traditions. They arrived mid afternoon the 26th.

How we love having the mad, messy chaos of having all the kids home! We did a big puzzle, played games, made meals, and ate, ate, ate. Emmet loves his aunts and uncles but particularly Uncle Kent. Emmet requested songs and Kent was more than happy to play them. Joel played quite a bit with the boys too. This morning Emmet tried everything to get Joel to wake up and play with him. Henry seemed most attached to Hannah.

I think pictures do a better job of telling the story of Christmas 2018.

placeholder://placeholder://placeholder://

I went with 6 TRU church members to minister to the inmates at Ellsworth Correctional facility today.

We woke up super early to arrive at 7am. I though I’d be more nervous than i was going in, like I was visiting my friend in Lansing. But the check in process felt more like an airport check and the guards were kind. And only one door slid shut behind us.

We walked several buildings over to a chapel and listened to an awesome worship band. There were three singers and two guitar players. The bass player and key boards were awesome! They scatted and improvised. Very enjoyable. Later, the keyboardist told me he did music before he went to prison and had a recording. Great guy.

We spoke at the church service. All week I prayed about what to say and God said just to tell them what He has been up to with me lately, how when I’m having my coffee with Him every day, I tell Him all I’m grateful for then lay down all my struggles. He knows me and He speaks to me deep into my hurts and doubts and insecurities. So I told the guys that God knows them too, and He sees them there, and He loves them and He longs to spend time with them. I encouraged them to let Him into their deep spaces where He can minister to their pain and loneliness.

Chad’s message was really good too. He told more of his story of being in and out of prison and how he finally figured out how to make it, by pouring into others. He gave and invitation and three guys came up to us on our side immediately. One guy said he wanted to know Christ, a first timer. So I prayed with him and told him all he has to do is surrender his heart. One of the other guys asked for a blessing so I prayed with him and then asked him and the third guy to pour into the first timer and they said they would. Another guy came up to me and Erin and asked if we were moms. He asked for prayer as his 21 year old daughter wants nothing to do with him. We encouraged him not to give up praying and trying. Another guy asked me how to get close to God like I shared so I talked with him and prayed with him. The other TRU members prayed for several guys also.

Then we handed out gifts and shook hands. The guys lined up and came through our line like an assembly line in an organized fashion. We first went into a day room and guys came out of large bunk rooms that hold 88 guys each. They were in gray sweats and shorts and looked like they just crawled out of bed. They were so appreciative of the gifts boxes that we handed out. (These were supplied by others and were heavy and filled with shampoo and food treats). Many told us Merry Christmas or God Bless you and all shook our hands. Only a few didn’t look us in the eyes. Most had tattoos, guns, names, tears on their faces (meaning they have murdered). They were old, young, all different races, a huge variety of people.

Several inmates had dogs with them. Apparently they are the trainers for Cares, Inc. that trains dogs for disabled people. I asked one guy, as I was petting his gorgeous lab, if they get attached to the dogs then have to give them up. He said they get to meet the people and that makes it worth it. He said they have a graduation ceremony every 4 months. The guys also refurbish bikes for kids. They work on leather and learn other trades. Some have jobs within the walls that train them to work when they get out.

We also went to the minimum camp where the guys live in mobile homes and apartments. There are 95 guys who live there but only about 10 were at church. We did another little church service and spoke. Their worship was one song on a TV set. I recognized one young man whom I’ve known since he was a little boy in Manhattan. He was pleased to see me.

We also went to the cell blocks where the guys were locked down and released one floor at a time. Their cells with two inmates each were so tiny. Some did have TV’s and fans. But all the guys were very excited about the gifts. In these houses, more of the guys didn’t look at us and some seemed really down. All were respectful and said thank you or Merry Christmas.

As the day wore on, I got sad. I know that most of the guys are in there on drug charges or committed robbery or other lesser crimes for drugs. They would have been better served through treatment of some kind, or quality therapy. But as I shook hands, I couldn’t help thinking that some of these guys murdered, or raped, or hurt children. There are 915 men in Ellsworth. I think he said 15% or so are life without parole. 50% have no one to visit them. Right around 10,000 men and women are incarcerated in Kansas alone right now. Most of the men we talked to, including our friend Chad, have been in and out several times. This system is very, very broken. That is no life, sitting in tiny cells with another human. Sitting around on hard tables watching one tv. Showering in an open shower. Eating and doing sleeping what you are told on someone else’s schedule. The guys in segregation are locked up 23 out of 24 hours. There were some guys in red jump suits at the church service, Chad said they were fro segregation. It is awesome that they get to have church in there. And there are Native American and other religious services. All looked poorly attended overall. And how many profess Christ while in there and then don’t follow him when they get out?

We were fed a sandwich and snack foods for lunch and handed out more gifts. We shook over 600 hands by the end of the day.

I truly hope we were a blessing to these men. If I’m invited, I will go again. I will continue to pray for them and I hope you will too.

Later: I keep reflecting and processing and returning to this blog to add more. I keep seeing the faces of the guys as we spoke, looking up to us, soaking up what we were saying, listening so intently and almost desperately to hear a message of hope. And the guys that ran up to us after, eager, open, reaching. I can’t really put it into words, but I keep seeing their faces. Erin had such good thoughts that she posted. I’ll copy it here:

A full day, a perspective changing day, a great day.

The morning and early afternoon hours of this day was spent with church friends at Ellsworth Correctional Facility. We attended 2 church services, spoke and handed out Christmas gifts to men who will spend Christmas behind bars.

As I looked at each of the 600+ men in the eye, the realization hit me that these are sons, brothers, fathers, grandpas, and husbands. These are living breathing human beings who God created and sent Christ for.

The experience of the day was brought full circle as I came home this afternoon to walk my dog, make dinner for my friends and family and spend time washing and lotion-ing their feet. We did our nightly devotion and my sweet husband and I tucked our kids into bed.

May we never take for granted our lives with those we love. May we never stop praying and lifting up those who search for hope.

Dave got us a gig on the road to lead worship at an outreach church in Garden City so yesterday he, Scott, and I headed out in the flat Kansas back roads for the four hour drive. We always have fun together but these two were in rare form. I wish you could have heard Dave’s reaction to driving behind a truck full of cows. First wet drops began hitting the windshield and Dave asked what it was. Then the smell happened. And the drops got larger. Dave figured out what it was ( cow pee) and started coming unglued and Scott could not stop giggling. By the time we got to Garden City the entire front of Dave’s car was covered in yellowish brown slime. He was just about unhinged. And later the smell of cow poo in the air. Even the flat barren landscape and the tiny towns had Dave exclaiming “How in the world could people live here!”. Over and over. And Scott giggling the entire time.

The singing itself was fun and the pie was delicious. We sang for a very small crowd there for “pie and praise”. We even did a song in Spanish. The missionaries talk went in a little long, ok, a lot long (1 1/2 hours) which just provided for lots of good teasing for how each other got through it after. At dinner the missionary asked me why I thought young people are leaving the church. I’m pretty sure I’m on his prayer list now.

After the concert a girl asked Scott if what we did was country music. He said , “we do both kinds of music, country and Western.”. He didn’t actually say that to her but I thought it was pretty funny.

We sang a lot in the car, of course. We sang the Bee Gees and the Eagles. And laughed. Dave and Scott did impressions. And every five minutes Dave said something about cow pee or how barren it was or how could people live out there.

I will attempt to put into words and pictures the experience I just had last night and over the last 6 weeks or so being a part of Midwest Meets Manhattan. My heart is so full right now.

History:

10 years ago, Dave and Chad had their last concert as CO3. They were a nationally recognized Christian band with songs high on the Christian charts. They were on TV, toured and played huge venues. Their band broke up for a variety of personal reasons as God worked in their hearts. Dave continued to sing and Chad continued to write music and both continued to dream and grow in their faith. Dave became a Pastor of TRU church. Chad Pastored a church also and grew his leather business and creative team. Two years ago, the two started talking again and Midwest Meets Manhattan was born. Earlier this year, Dave and Chad went to Nashville and recorded two original songs, Restored, and The Place. Their producer has 7 Grammies and produces for some really big names. We were so excited for them. In September, they pulled their band together and played a small concert in Arkansas. We made the trip and loved every minute. Dave scheduled the concert here in Manhattan at the Wareham.

Meanwhile, Scott and I continued to lead worship with Dave and grow even closer in friendship to him and to the TRU band whom we love so much. We are so honored to be a part of this group of people. Then Dave started talking about me singing back up. Dave is a dreamer and a talker (we love him) so about the 3rd time he said it, and when he said he had confirmed with Chad, it started to sink in. Then his original band backed out and he hired the TRU band to play with him.

Garage Band:

Dave started working with me on vocals and sent the playlist and I downloaded the songs and started working on my own. I always rehearse in the car where I can hear really well and also set up in the living room with my music stand and little beat box. It was hard work to hear the harmonies.

Rehearsing in the garage was such a blast. The band practiced in Travis’ garage. It was cold and dusty and loud. The guys drank beer with hot sauce in it and neighbors would stop by. We all laughed a lot and cussed a little ( I love Jesus but I cuss a little:) and sang and played and worked. It was gritty and real and so much fun.

The band set up a group in messenger for communication and joking around. Everyone has nick names and I found out last night my nickname all along has been “Dirty Diane”. Not sure exactly what it means but somehow it fits so well! Dave and I got quite a bit of teasing for being divas.

Josh, Bobby, Darryl, Travis

The Weekend:

The weekend itself had so much anticipation and excitement and it finally arrived. Friday I went down to the mall and got my nails done and had a chair massage. Friday night we went to KC for Dad’s 90th birthday celebration and got to see the grandkids and Leah and Dave, the nephews including Tim and meet Jon’s baby. When we arrived home, we officially met Chad for the first time. We already felt like we knew him from FaceTime conversations and all that Dave has said. To meet him in person was awesome. Scott was taking mom home and Chad was strumming Scott’s guitar when I came in. Dave knew how anxious I was feeling about singing with Chad so I hadn’t been in the house for 5 minutes when he had us start singing. He started with Be Still which is my favorite. Chad leads it so I get to sing the high harmony by myself. I gotta say it myself; we sounded so great together! His assistant recorded it. Chad said it was good!

Chad’s assistant, Bobbye stayed with us. We loved getting to know her, also. Such a special person.

Rehearsal:

Saturday’s rehearsal had been scheduled for evening but was moved to morning. I was so grateful as my anxiety was off the charts. I was really worried about singing harmonies with Chad. The band sounded so amazing. Rehearsal went well. Yes, I was doubling up on harmonies on a lot of songs, but both Chad and Dave reassured me. With Rehearsal out of the way, excitement replaced anxiety.

Day on the Town:

Saturday was fun and special, getting to know Chad and Bobbye, showing them around Manhattan, hanging out with Dave and Mel. Chad’s cinematographer, Cody, also a great person, joined us. We ate at Bluestem and shopped at Acme gifts and walked to the corner of campus for pics then drove them out by the stadium. Then Dave and Chad did a live segment in front of the Wareham. Then back home for rest.

Party at the Clarks

Saturday evening we had Dave’s family and the band over for BBQ. We had such a great time. Scott’s friends Jon and Anna joined us. We laughed and sang and ate and bonded. At one point we were all gathered around the kitchen island, Chad strumming Scott’s little beginner’s guitar and singing old ridiculous country songs. Scott knew every word. Chad and Scott’s grins are forever stuck in my head.

Sunday morning

The TRU service is a blur. I love worshipping with these guys and this morning we added Chad up there. It was special to have Scott’s friends Jon and Anna there for the first time. We did the worship songs from the concert set.

Attack of the Bad Attitude

I hate to include this but whenever I’ve had a really great God experience, Satan loves to attack my joy. When we went to the Wareham for our early afternoon sound check (which we waited around for and it never happened but it was cool to watch them setting up the sound system and stage), Dave told Scott he was going to be up there and sing back ups. I was filled with resentment that I had worked all this time and had to share the spotlite. I hate to even admit that I could be like this. I almost ruined the day for Scott. I gave it to God which is why I am including it in here as I will never put on a mask or pretend I’m not real. God ended up changing my heart as He always does and having Scott up there ended up being one of the most special parts of this experience. It was such a nifty trick. Dave was worried about his voice giving out. So when he struggled, he glanced back at Scott and Scott sang along. He sounds so much like Dave that no one knew. We got introduced as a couple.

Preparations and Primping

I was so excited to finally put on the dress I bought for the performance. I work hard to look good and it paid off. Bobbye did my makeup and Amy did my hair. We all ran around the Wareham and did sound checks and encouraged each other and took pics and just let the excitement build. As our friends came, we got to interact with them. It meant so much to me to have our close friends and family there to be a part of this. Dave and Chad got their hair done and I got to tell Scott that Amy was also going to do his hair. So funny.

The Performance

I got to hang out back stage with Dave and Chad while the opening act played. By God’s grace, I wasn’t even slightly nervous. Just ready. Excited but also sort of a surreal feeling. I waited side stage and Scott prayed for us. Jason was right there on the sound board. Then it was time. The video played and we stepped up and the band started. Huge sound and lights. Boom! Dreamer was the first song. Earlier this week I woke up singing Dreamer. I texted Dave and he had too. The lines of the song say, “Dreamer keep on dreaming, Singer keep on singing”. The sound was amazing. My voice joined the others and billowed out over the whole place. It was dark in the audience but I could see the faces all looking at us with joy and anticipation. My Homestead girls were in the front giving me signals and smiles and encouragement. I can’t even put into words what a blast it was. My all time favorite songs to sing were “Be Still” and “Love Will Keep Us Alive” because I feel the most confident on them and I get to sing my own harmony part and the harmonies are killer. I also really love the message of Be Still. I sing it every day on the way to work.

Go to the Midwest Meets Manhattan facebook page to hear more recordings of the concert.

Hearing the girls from Homestead give their testimonies and watching them hear the songs “She’s on Her Own” and “Restored” was really special. They did such a great job. It can’t be easy to get up in front of people and be so real. I feel like the concert was really affirming for them. Proceeds from the concert went to Homestead. It made the concert so much more special.

As the concert went on, I started to feel sad that it was going to end. And it was cold up there! I knew it would be over so quickly and it was. Then going out to the audience afterward and hugging everyone was awesome.

The Night Doesn’t End

We ended the night at IHOP eating and fellowshipping with the band. We listened to some of the recordings and laughed and chatted more. I don’t know when I’ve felt such a belonging. This is what TRU strives for and what God calls us to and creates us for. This, being a part of this band with these people, this is what made this whole experience so incredibly special for me. Knowing it doesn’t end, that I get to continue to sing with them each Sunday and that there could be future concerts and road trips, makes me so very happy. And all with Scott. My heart is full.

Leah and the boys spent 4 days here with us! It was filled with so many special moments. I don’t want a single one to slip away.

Like Emmet asking to have Gramma read his bedtime stories and throwing his little arms around my neck.

Like Henry watching me then giggling every time I looked at him.

Like Emmet playing nearby as I lay on the floor then suddenly he was lying right up next to me with his head in the crook of my arm and he laid there quite awhile.

Emmet singing “Rocket Man” into the mic at TRU rehearsal.

Leah and I getting some great clothes shopping in!

Emmet watching grandpa sing with wonder in his eyes.

Henry’s picnic in the park, me feeling him banana and applesauce while Leah and Emmet ran around.

Like Emmet getting a back ride from Gramma at the Pumpkin Patch.

Throwing coins in the fountains at the butterfly garden.

Emmet expertly dribbling the soccer ball all over the huge soccer field with Papa and scoring goals and we could hear his little voice saying, “GOOOOOOal!”

Emmet saying there’s Rex over and over in his sweet little voice.

Emmet randomly kissing me twice!

Beautiful weather all 4 days!

Henry not fussing really, just sitting and grinning and giggling and watching.

Emmet sitting down to eat saying, “Rocket man eats Mac and cheese” then changing it to “Rocket man eats yogurt” cause that’s what he wanted instead.

Scott watching Henry while we went to pumpkin patch and putting his diaper on backward. And his impression of Henry’s face eating broccoli for the first time.

Emmet at Bible study referring to everyone as “gramma’s friends”.

Emmet throwing coins in the fountain at the KState butterfly farm.

Good bye snuggles and hugs.

Scott and I got up early on Saturday and drove to Newton to watch the boys so Leah could set up a Lavender and Clover booth at Fall Fest. When we arrived, Emmet was so glad to see us. Dave and Scott sat and chatted soccer and apps while I got the boys changed and dressed. Emmet put on his big boy underpants and got out every one of his items of clothes and showed them to Papa before insisting on putting back on his jammies. Oh well! Henry at six months knows me now so he smiles at me. This was probably the first time I was as excited to see Henry as I was Emmet. Henry has his own sweet little personality now.

I got to give Henry a bottle and tried to get him to take a nap but snuggling him to sleep is more like a wrestling match so we gave up.

Dave wanted to go over and check in with his brother and see what Leah was up to so we got Emmet to put on his clothes and go potty then headed out the back door. On the way over, Emmet tried to get us both to hold his hands so he could play one two three swing but when Dave said no, instead, he ran ahead and yelled, “Emmet fast!” And “run, run, run!” He looked so cute in his little gap jeans that looked like they ought to be sagging. Leah and Emmet were glad to see each other so we got Scott some food then headed back. When we got back, Scott and Henry were fine. He’s a good grandpa.

Scott likes to spontaneously break into song (if you know Scott, you know this) and Saturday the song was Rocket Man by Elton John. Emmet loved it. So Papa had to teach him to sing “rocket man!” At top volume. It was absolutely adorable. The rest of the day, he would randomly sing out “rocket man!” With feeling spontaneously, just like Papa.

I gave Emmet his lunch then bundled up Henry and took him over for Leah to nurse. We wrapped him up in the baby wrap grandparent style. Leah laughed. I took a sleeping Henry back to the house and put him down then attempted to put Emmet down for a nap. Leah said he would most likely play quietly in his room. So we read books and got his room ready but I forgot that Leah picks up his toys first. He got upset that I wouldn’t keep reading books so I crawled into his bed and took my own nap. Emmet proceeded to clean his room and put all his toys away. While cleaning, he crawled into then out of bed with me a couple of times and put all his stuffed animals and baby dolls in bed with me. Then while cleaning, he quietly continued to sing rocket man. So so so cute.

When we got up, Scott was asleep in the living room. I went into the kitchen to make coffee and when I returned, I found this:

When Henry got up, I got to feed him some rice cereal. He loved it.

The rest of the time, Emmet played and Henry was super content to be held by one of us or play on the floor. At one point, I was holding Henry on the couch and Emmet had a toy next to me. Henry kept reaching for the toy and Emmet said, “Emmet give baby” and shared his toy without being asked! Another time, Henry kept dropping his pacifier on Emmet and Emmet put it back in his mouth over and over. They were playing together! Later Leah had put Henry in the rock a roo and his pacifier dropped out. Emmet got it and put in Henry’s mouth then gave Henry a big hug. Henry is always delighted to watch Emmet play. And Henry is working on sitting up and he reaches. At one point Henry grabbed both sides of my face and pulled me to him and opened his mouth like he was giving me a big kiss.

Leah said it would be hard to take them both out to eat and turns out she was right. We went to Applebee’s and we got to see Emmet being a handful. Leah just drank a hard cider and smiled knowingly while we all three tried to wrestle, entertain the boys and eat all at the same time.

When we got ready to leave for Manhattan, Emmet got fussy. He sat right next to us between us on the couch cuddling and fussing. Leah asked him, “Emmet, are you sad that Papa and Gramma are leaving? He snuggled in closer, stoped crying and reassured himself, “Its ok.” I told him I was sad too.

But in two weeks, Leah is bringing the boys to our house for a big, long weekend! I’m so excited!

What a joy and honor to get to participate in Praisefest again this year!

Last weekend, I got slammed with a respiratory infection. Scott had battled it and was feeling better Sunday morning just in time to lead worship for his first time ever! I woke up with very little voice. But God is so good and we were able to pull off the worship without Dave. It wasn’t vocally stellar but as God continues to teach us, that isn’t what matters! It was testimony Sunday and we felt an intimacy with the congregation as they were all pulling for us. They sang really loud! And Scott shared his testimony of what a miracle it is for him to be up there singing! For both of us!

Sunday after singing, like a nut, we went to Arkansas to see Dave’s Midwest Meets Manhattan concert. I was sooooo sick! I slept most of the way there in the way back of Fred’s van, rested in the hotel, went to the concert and for food, slept over in the hotel and then rested all the way back. It was a long week trying to get well and see clients but by Thursday, I cancelled everything and went to the doctor. He put me on antibiotics and prednisone so I could get well to sing!

Alll week as I was sick, I trusted God to make my voice better. I had very little voice and coughed pretty much every time I took a breath. God is so much bigger than any small issue like a voice. He is healer and He knows my heart.

I slept Thursday and Friday then we got up and dumbly decided to go to the Billy Joel concert at Royals Stadium that we had bought tickets for. I slept while Scott drove. We hit a huge traffic jam and then had to park and walk from the boonies. We were 45 minutes late into the concert. When we got to our seats, we couldn’t see anything! If I sat down, which I needed to do, I couldn’t even see the big screens! I think I saw Billy Joel’s tiny bald head once. We listened for about half an hour and I kept falling asleep. Everyone was drunkly loudly conversing around us so we couldn’t even hear the music. Scott said, let’s take you home. I rest all the way home and then all the way til getting ready on Saturday.

Every year I make Praisefest so much bigger in my mind that it is. The band works hard and I had missed vocal practice on Thursday. But I just had peace. Mom and Scott had a few little freak out moments on the way walking in. But I just knew.

The crowd size was better than last year but a tiny part of me was disappointed that most of the people I had invited didn’t come. Oh well.

What a beautiful day for Praising God in the park! I will try to describe what it is like to stand on the stage with your great friends and worship God openly in a public park. First of all, my sweet Homestead girls walked right up and put out their sheet to sit right in front of us. They love God so much and their worship is so inspiring to me. I just grabbed that mic and let it all go. Dave and I smiled at each other on and off throughout. I’d look over and see Scott, eyes closed, singing his heart out. The Holy Spirit just flowed. My voice was really straining and it didn’t matter at all! I was just singing to Him! When we sang the line “like a rushing wind, Jesus breathe again…” the wind picked up and blew straight into our faces. It was an amazing feeling.

After singing, Mom and I joined the Homestead girls on their sheet now in the shade. Veronica joined us and brought her jewelry which we bought tons of and left blinged out.

Scott and I took a nap then headed back to see the giant, impressive crowd and hear the big acts. We sat on the hill on a blanket and it was so fun.

I cannot wait for Praisefest next year. Thank you, Father, for this privilege!

Little face looking out the window so excited to see grandma

Have me a sweet hug

I’m now g’papa. Tried hard to say grandma

Looked out the window and said there’s g’papa’s car, there’s Mama’s car

Put his new beads on and said,”you look good”

Told me he’s “be b back” when he left the room

Said he was in Emmet’s tent, also called it moose’s tent

G’papa’s water, Mama’s water, Emmet’s water

And food. And it’s good

Hugs and kisses for baby Henry

Wants baby Henry in bed with him

sat in a box together with torn up paper. Giggling. Held Henry in the too

Ate wheat thins like a lizard and he giggles almost uncontrollably

Hug tracked me over and over

Let Henry play naked. Asked what his penis was then called it push to

Played outside, Henry giggled every time moose’s ran back with the ball.

Emmet covered in mosquitos

Leah put me to work

I can’t believe its been 5 years now. I’ve been involved with Homestead from the start and we’ve had over 45 women come through the program! Each of them are so special, so brave, so amazing. It really is an honor and a blessing to be involved and to be a tiny part of each of their journeys. Some don’t make it all the way through, but that’s ok. They learn that they are loved. They learn there is another way. They learn what is possible. Not all the graduates are able to sustain changes in substance use or in healthy relationships, but almost all of them stay out of the sex industry. We are learning so much. We are screening better and can better recognize those who are ready for next steps. Our referral sources have a better idea of what girls can be successful here. Now more and more of the girls are making it all the way through and are graduating. They leave with their debts paid, a support system built, coping skills, having worked through any trauma and issues, job skills or an education, and most importantly, a closer relationship with God.

When Andrea mentioned her upcoming graduation, I offered the use of our home. Several years ago, Heather had her party here. We love using our house for God. So Sunday afternoon, we hurried home from church and put some pop on ice and laid out the plates and other supplies Andrea and Deb had gotten. Scott got started grilling the meat even though it was raining! He stayed out there and grilled in miserable conditions for an hour and a half!

There were so many people!

and so much food! (I did zero food prep–Deb supplied most of it, Andrea a ton, and then people brought food).

After awhile, Dave came with his guitar and we set up in the corner of the living room and sang some worship songs. Everyone sang at the top of their lungs!

Andrea loves to sing so for the last song, we had her join us.

What an honor to know Andrea and to have her celebration here and to be a part of her journey.