A Brief Meeting - Adriane Howe

This is from a dream I had in July of 2010. I believe with all my heart that God allowed this vision to occur. There is no doubt in this testimony, God is so good, and he blesses us in so many ways. This is just one of my blessings God has granted me; I hope that it will be a blessing for those who read it as well. 

As I went to sleep that night my heart was so troubled, in fact my heart and soul had been troubled since a conversation had occurred between Shane’s sister Abbey and I back in May. Feelings were, and still are, very raw after Shane’s death. Many unanswered questions and speculations, accusations and anger lingered. I had always been close to Abbey and was very distraught over the conversation we had. I stated my side and left it at that because I loved her and didn’t want to cause her any more pain. But I was troubled over the whole thing.

On this night in July I went to bed very troubled and fell asleep quickly, which rarely happens for me. In my dream a man, a large man with dark features came to me and said that Shane was waiting for me, that he had something very important to tell me but we had to go quickly. The next thing I know we are standing in a trolley car style diner. Of course I thought to myself, "HELLO Shane is dead why would he be meeting me in this diner?" The large man told me not to ask questions because they didn’t matter, what matters was that Shane would be there waiting for me. I sat at a table near the kitchen while the man disappeared into the kitchen.

I looked around to observe where I was, a normal enough diner for being late at night, people eating, laughing and joking. Seemed to be a place many came after a night out on the town and a few too many drinks. I felt a little out of place. I wouldn’t say scared, but on guard.

Then when I looked back to my table he was there. Shane was sitting right in front of me with a smile so big, so loving, almost as if he was shining with happiness. He was wearing an army green t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. He looked amazing, like every sorrow I had once seen in his eyes was gone. I was immediately moved to tears. I asked Shane if it was ok if I hugged him, Shane looked over and the man that brought me nodded. I wrapped my arms around him so hard I felt I’d break my own arms off. I cried, Shane just laughed and told me it was ok, he was ok.

I told him how sorry I was how everything ended and that I never thought it would end like that. He said he knew and he said he was sorry for putting me through all of that. He said he had learned so much since making it to heaven. That heaven wasn’t all white robes and golden gates that in fact it was pretty normal, just pure and beautiful and nothing but love. A place where souls could learn the truth and be forgiven for the mistakes they made in life. He said the colors were so amazing and beautiful, not like the colors we are use to.

I asked him if he could forgive me for marrying so soon after he died, he laughed and said, “Well, he’s a good man, but did that really work out how you had planned?” I laughed too because nothing seems to ever work out exactly how you think. He also said something to me concerning a part of my future. (I feel lead not discuss this part so I won’t be sharing that portion of my testimony at this time.)

He told me how proud he was that I was raising Braden with the truth. and he told me Braden would be ok. He said that he sees Braden all the time and he watches us when he has the time, because he works in heaven. Everyone has a job to do. I told him that I was really upset about his sister that I feared she was drifting into the black that had once taken him away from me and there was nothing I could do to bring her back. He looked at me with such peace and reassurance and told me not to let that trouble me any longer, that Abbey would be fine, it would take awhile, but in the end she would be fine. She would see the truth. 

Then, in true Shane fashion, he asked me if I wanted to see him do a trick. Of course I laughed and said yes. He picked up a mountain dew pop bottle and balanced it on the tip of his finger and then walked it two tables down and back. To me this seemed like nothing and I just laughed at him for being silly. That’s when I realized that nobody else in the diner could actually see Shane except me so the bottle had “floated” back and forth. All the drunken party goers thought that was a cool trick and kept asking the waitress how she did it. She just smiled and said that strange stuff like that happened all the time at the diner.

Shane hugged me again and said it was time for him to go. He told me that all things happen for a reason and we never really know until we get to heaven why they happen the way they do, he had no regrets. He kissed the top of my head told me he loved me and was gone. 

I immediately woke covered in sweat with tears streaming down my face and my troubled heart felt more at peace than it ever had. I thank God for allowing me to speak with Shane for that brief moment; it has made such a difference in my life. 

*A few weeks after this dream my mom had mentioned to Susan (Mauck) my dream, Susan called me and asked me to tell her my experience. When I was done relaying the dream Susan took a deep breath and through tears she told me that the Holy Spirit had confirmed my testimony was a vision and that she felt that the large man in my dream was one of the Three Nephites guiding and protecting me. I was overwhelmed to hear her say this, and quickly in my head questioned why I of all people would be so fortunate to be blessed with the honor of being in the presence of one of the Three Nephites. I have found a simple answer, it was God’s will and even though I do not always understand or feel worthy of such blessings, I am grateful that God granted me such an amazing blessing. 

**Shane was right about Abbey as well. In November 2010 Abbey emailed me a short and to the point email. She said she was going to a group counseling session for survivors of suicide and felt like she needed to tell me. She came and spent Christmas at my house with my family and sat down with me that night and we shared many things. I was able to comfort her at that moment in a way that only God could have managed to arrange. She is in contact with me all the time now. Her spirit has changed and I no longer see or sense the darkness that once threatened to pull her away. God is so gracious and he truly does have a hand in every part of our lives, both the darkest times and the most joyous times.

I'm Coming to Take You Home - by Beulah Marshall

Many years ago, I was pregnant and insisting the baby was dead. The droctors did nothing about it. After months of this I told Joe that I was naming our baby 'Jody'.

"That's good." he said. "Jody works for either boy or girl."

"This is a girl," I said. And the tests came back and I was right.

Years later, I still grieved for her loss and now Joe was dying of cancer. When I came into the room, tears were streaming down his face.

"Are you in pain?" I asked.

"I heard her voice," he said. "She said, 'Hi Daddy, I'm Jody and I'm coming to take you home.'"

From that time til death, he waited for her coming and told everyone about his experience.

Testimony Tuesday - God sent a messenger to speak to Katie

Jason and I received this testimony right before the church retreat (September 2009). I had sold my car to Andrew Schmidt and we were currently looking for a new vehicle. I had found what I had thought was a perfect match. It was in the right price range, right year bracket and had everything that we had wanted. I called the man and we set up a time to meet him. Jason took off work and we met with him in the Tractor Supply parking lot in Independence.

Before we had left to go meet with him, I wanted to pray to God and ask his counsel regarding this matter, so I went to my closet, (the only quiet place in my house!) shut the door and got down on my knees and prayed. I specifically asked God to send his Holy Spirit to rest upon Jason and I and to tell us what to do.

When we got to the meeting place, both of us took turns driving the car. It seemed perfect. I really did not like the man who was selling it for some reason, but other than that there was nothing wrong with it. I still did not know what to do.

As we were standing by the car talking to the man, we heard a voice behind us. We turned and there was a homeless man with a dog asking for money. I usually do not feel comfortable around homeless people and do not really like giving money because I don't know how they are going to use it.

We stood and talked to the man for a good twenty minutes. The whole time I just felt a strong love and peace in his presence. I can't even describe the peace and safety I felt. He talked about God the entire time. At one point he looked straight at me and said that we just need to trust in God and leave everything in His hands. That God would take care of us. I felt so excited! This is what I had prayed for!

We gave him sixty dollars, and I wished that we could have given more, which is so unlike me. :) He gave Jason a hug and the car guy a hug and said "God bless" and left. We both turned to the car guy and said that we would think about it and call him and let him know.

Less than a thirty seconds had passed, we turned back around and could not see the homeless man anywhere! No cars had left, no one had gotten into any cars (believe me we checked) and there was no way he could have exited the parking lot and crossed 291 that fast without us seeing him. We even searched the Tractor Supply store for him! I truly think he was an angel from God, sent as an answer to my prayer.

He even seemed different. Even though he was "homeless" he was extremely clean, a clean that almost seemed to glow. Even Jason commented on it. As I look back on this experience, it amazes me how much we were blessed by it.

We never did buy the car. I still don't have a car. But now I realize that it was God protecting us, because if we had bought it, we would have never been able to afford the bills we currently have, even though it seemed like we could have then. I have been blessed by Mom, because she lets me use her car anytime I need to go anywhere. God has provided. He has provided us with just enough money to provide for what we need and provided me the use of a car whenever I need it. He also provided me with an angel to tell me an answer to my prayer. God is so amazing, all we have to do is trust in Him.