My Love Story

After college -- I got a degree in Elem. Education from WVU -- Go, Mountaineeers!!  -- I taught school for a year.  It was the summer of 1971 and just like every summer, I went back to work at church camp for a couple weeks. While I was there with my dear friend, Sheila, we met another counselor/medical student who invited us to go on a mission trip to the little mountain town of Richwood.  He said we would work in Bible School, a Youth for Christ Rally, and maybe have a coffeehouse.  Sounded good to me, so after a couple weeks, we drove over to Richwood to meet up with the :New Life Team" -- a group of mostly young professionals and college students.  Our lodging was rustic, to say the least.  Camp Splinter had beds without mattresses -- just a piece of cardboard to cover the wire. We bathed in the ice-cold Cranberry River, and got water from the pump.  There was no electricity -- we were really roughing it, but loved the people we were with, so we just made the best of it. During the day we went into town and held Bible school.  In the evening we set up a "coffeehouse" in the basement of the Methodist church. One evening a guy walked in and I met him at the door to welcome him,  We sat down in the circle on the floor and started talking -- he was a helicopter pilot in the Army, home on leave before going back to Viet Nam for the second tour. This just happened to be his home church where is parents were members.  We talked a LOT -- about being a Christain -- and I gave him a "Four Spiritual Laws" booklet to read.  He came back the next evening -- and said, "I read your book." Before the evening was over, I prayed with him for salvation -- it was kind of scary to have an altar call with no pastor or "Just as I Am" but he prayed with me and received Christ.  The rest of the week he spent a lot of time with us at the camp, but when it was time to leave, he asked me to write to him in Vietnam.  Of course I said yes.  So we wrote while he was gone and I was teaching school. He came to see me when he got back -- I was at camp again, as usual.  This time, the chemistry was there -- and we started dating -- long distance.  He drove up from Ft. Bragg every few weeks -- and eventually popped the question -- he must have been pretty confident, because he already bought the ring. After I could catch my breath, I said YES! I finished teaching that year, and applied for a job near Fort Bragg. We got married in June, 1974 and I moved to NC.

   This story is full of coincidences that God used to bring us together. I had always thought I'd like to teach on a base overseas. and had filled out the paperwork in triplicate that summer,  If I got a job overseas, I never would have seen Sam again. My friend Sheila  sent me a letter urging me to wait until Sam came home before I made that decision. Glad I listened.!  If I ever have doubts, this is a reminder of how my life was changed by God! It was like He looked down from heaven and winked at me -- "Your life is in my hands, and have I got a plan for you!" That was over 40 years ago, and what a plan it was!!