July 4, 2011 (Day 46) Popsicle Perfection

After moving to the Austin area from Oregon in May 2010, we found ourselves looking for fun activities to do on the 4^th of July in our new city. We heard about something called Frontier Days at Old Settlers Park which was only a few minutes away from our apartment. They had activities planned all day, music, and movies in the park after dark. We headed over there with my sister Amy and her husband Addam. As we were walking through the tons of booths set up, we were approached energetically by a guy holding out a Pina colada flavored frozen ice pop. We struck up a conversation and soon learned that the people were part of Freedom Church which was a small start up church less than a year old. As we talked more, several other guys joined in and excitedly talked about how much they loved the church. They went and got the head pastor so we could meet him and we were handed a little information card with directions. We kept that card for another month and half before we looked at it again. I was still in place of bitterness after our miscarriage and the thought of trying out a small church body wasn’t what I wanted.

It was a month and a half later that we picked up the information card and finally decided we were ready to see what it was like. We walked into Freedom Church and from Day 1 I can honestly say that it was the most genuinely loving church body that I have even been to. We sat towards the back and immediately were floored at the message. It was like Pastor Benito knew that we were coming and knew everything about us. The message was directly in line with everything we were going through. We recognized the guy that handed us our popsicle and learned that his name was Johnathan. We met his wife Tanya and then just about everyone in the church. People were so warm, so genuine, so real. It was without a doubt, the best welcoming we have ever had into a church. We agreed that we would try it again and again until god either confirmed that it was the right place or showed us somewhere else.

Over the next few months we attended Freedom Church and every Sunday the message was right on with what we were struggling with and needed to hear. Little bit by little bit, my faith was coming back. I was being revived and the excitement for a walk with Jesus was returning. We started to spark friendships and joined a small group. We got involved and God met us exactly where we were at;  a couple struggling to make sense of the chaos of life.

We’ve been at Freedom Church a little less than a year now. Tomorrow, the 4^th of July Chris & I will be there to pass out Popsicles at Frontier Days. The excitement is building as I recognize the divine appointment of last year’s meeting and the small card we received. We were lost, we were lonely, and we were struggling. That one piece of paper brought us to a place where we were fed spiritually and reminded of how much our Savior loves us. As for that energetic guy with the Popsicle, Jonathan  & his wife Tanya are now some of our closest friends. They have become part of our family and have traveled this difficult journey with us since the day we found out. They have helped us with our house, with moving, with meals, and most of all with their unwavering friendship. They pray for us, they cry for us, and they rejoice with us when times are good.

It was no coincidence that we went to Frontier Days on July 4^th, 2010. It was no coincidence that God had Johnathan be the one to hand us the Popsicle. It was a divine appointment in which one card brought us to a place where God met us in a way that we have never experienced. A place where God has been growing us and preparing us for this very battle we are facing. God works through the smallest of details and you never know what things make the ultimate difference in someone’s life. For us, a melting popsicle on a triple digit day was the start of something awesome, the beginning of a rediscovered love for a God that so desperately wanted our hearts. I pray tomorrow that a popsicle would make that difference for someone else… 

 Johnathan, Tanya, & Hayden: We love you guys and are so thankful for you everyday! Thanks for living life with us!