Sarah,
Thank you so much for what you are doing. We need someone focused on the positive. It is good that we have bits of time to laugh and cry and hug over the good because there are so many storm clouds on the horizon. I have not shared this story with many people. I am a born again bible believing Jesus loving Christian. When Barak Obama was elected I was overcome by disbelief. It didn’t seem possible that someone so radically opposed to a constitutional republic, someone we only knew through his scary, radical ties had been elected to the most powerful position in our country. When Rick Santelli made his now famous Tea Party rant, I connected with him. When I heard that there would be a tax day tea party rally at the Federal Building in Salt Lake City , the offices of Senator Bob Bennett I decided that as a family we should go. I spent days making posters and flyers. I was determined that the American people could speak up and our leaders would hear and change. I was in constant prayer, begging the Lord to intervene. On April 15, 2009 I made my way with 100’s if not 1000’s of other Utahan’s to those offices. I stood in the cold with my 3 children and my husband who had taken a long lunch to be with us. I don’t normally ask the Lord for a sign. I trust him and accept that he is in control, but I felt utter desperation that day. I felt a looming sense of urgency that my children, who I have sacrificed the best of my working years to stay home and homeschool, could grow up in a country that WAS NOT the one I had been teaching them about for the last 9 years. I asked the Lord on that day to clear away the clouds and shine down the sun on our event, as a sign that it would all get better. I was not anticipating what came next. As I stood in the rain, just a drizzle, the sky grew darker and it became very cold outside and the rain turned to snow, and then the wind started to blow and it became a sleet that cut our face, but we persisted. My children wanted to go home, my husband thought I was nuts to stay out in this weather waving my sign that was now drooping. We had prepared for the weather so we were not cold, but we had not considered snow or cold in those ranges. In a still, small voice I felt the whisper of the Holy Spirit that this sunshine I was looking for would only come after many storms had been weathered. I stood there crying because it was not the easy answer I had wanted, but it was the answer that I knew was true deep down in my spirit. I felt the peace of God, but I grew more determined that day to do ANYTHING within my power that was good, legal and upright to NOT let this country cease as a constitutional republic and NOT allow God to be forgotten ANYMORE.
Since that day I have become a familiar voice to my federal representatives with phone calls and letters, on sometimes a daily basis. I have called in to radio talk shows, I have gone to political trainings. I ran for and received a spot in my republican caucus in my neighborhood. The house and laundry have suffered, the children and husband are being driven crazy by my talking about politics and world events ALL THE TIME, but I am energized and informed and more and more articulate each passing day. I praise the God of the Bible for HE is good and he will prevail, and if this country will be called by HIS name, it to shall prevail over the darkness and evil that seeks to undo it. If you find this encouraging I would love to see you post it. I hope that is might help someone else who is struggling.
Patty
Salt Lake City
