Dear Church Family,
First of all, thank you so much for taking me in. When I first moved here, I had no friends or family to support me. The first two months of living here were very lonely. Sure, I started becoming friends with classmates, but no one really got the “family” title.
I was not open to letting anyone get that close. I was just here to get a degree and get out. When I walked through the doors of Apostolic Temple in South Bend on a cold Friday night in October of 2014, I went in with no intention of making friends. I just wanted a place to go for a few minutes. I stood in the back, trying to go unnoticed. It was a prayer night so everyone was up in front with their backs to the doors. “Yes!” I thought, “Surely no one will notice me back here if their backs are to me.”
Only a few minutes went by when suddenly, someone came back and introduced themselves. Before I knew it, there were three people around me, making intentional conversation with me. As time went on, they got more people to come back and get to know me. I am very shy when I first meet people and at the time I did not want to make friends, so I was pretty closed off. But it didn’t seem to matter. They just kept talking to me!
I was pretty overwhelmed but not scared, exactly. I quickly found out I went to the same school as someone who went to church there. This was all so cool! I came the next Sunday to the morning service and loved it! I was nervous about committing full time to going there, though. I had just met these people and my intention wasn’t to make close friends.
Kasey and I. Kasey was the first one to talk to me when I came to church.
Anyway, I want to let you all know how thankful I am for you. I do not have any blood-related family here in South Bend, but you all have been there for me so much. You have shown me the love of a family and been there when I needed you, in the good and the bad. I joke that I have tons of moms and dads and aunts and uncles and grandparents and little brothers and sisters, but it is so true.
Me and one of my "little brothers" Jagger. He's not so little when he jumps on your back!
I’ve been going to your church for almost two years, but it feels like it’s been a lifetime. You all have instilled wisdom and encouragement in my heart. In the times I was happy, you shared in my excitement. When I was sad, you sat and listened and prayed with me. You all are so special to me and I could not ask God for a better church family than the one I have at Apostolic Temple. I was the girl that was afraid to become close with anyone and wanted to just get a degree and leave, but now I feel like I am right where God wants me to be the rest of my life.
Thank you all so much for being obedient to God and helpful in my times of need. There are have been many inside jokes (gobble gobble) and many laughs shared, and there have also been friends made that have seen me through some of the hardest days of my life. It’s so comforting to know that I have a family supporting me always. I love you all so much from the bottom of my heart.
Me and my boys Andy and Kevin all had dinner together the night before Kevin left for the Navy. He's still good!
Sincerely,
A life that was changed by all of your lives,
Sarah (also known as ‘Gretchen’)
