| Author | Message | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13848 Registered: 12-2003  |
We are finally here! As I write we are approaching the Battle Creek Heritage Village where we'll see Elle White's house and the church where she gave the Great Controversy vision for the first time. Cheryl and Woody Granger are with us. I'll post updates as the time goes on throughout the weekend. We're here; more later Colleen | ||
| Foofighter Registered user Username: Foofighter Post Number: 247 Registered: 7-2005 |
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Heritage Village and all the other happenings in the SDA Mecca! | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 557 Registered: 2-2011  |
Colleen~ I am thanking GOD for your safe arrival at your destination! I look forward to your updates during your time there! I appreciate your care & concern for the "FAF" Family!  ~*~mj~*~ | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9810 Registered: 3-2004  |
Thanks Colleen. I always like your updates. I am praying that God be with you and He is honored and glorified this weekend in the sda mecca. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13849 Registered: 12-2003 |
Well, we're back at Carolyn Macomber's house enjoying fresh-picked blueberries with vanilla frozen yogurt, debriefing. The Heritage Village is surprising in its starkness. For all the public build-up, it is very minimalist and poorly displayed and organized. We have been trying to find words to describe the experience: "Is that it??" "Dead..." "It has the atmosphere of a trailer park..." Before we started on our tour of the houses, we were shown through the Kellogg museum there where we were able to try out some of the electronic oddities Kellogg used in his sanitarium. There was a vibrating chair, foot vibrators, etc. Our guide was a young girl who will be a freshman at Andrews next year. She has been home schooled and is working at the Heritage Village on their scholarship program this summer. She was well-versed in her script and we all had the same impression: she had a sort-of flat affect that was a bit robotic, or brainwashed. When we asked questions or made comments, they just rode right over her head. When we got to the house where EGW and James White lived, the last stop was in her upstairs bedroom where she had her "angelic" visitations. The guide said they always have prayer in that room and invited one of the guests to pray. I looked to Richard who, he confessed later, was having such a strong visceral negative reaction to being in that room that he couldn't pray out loud although he was praying quietly through the whole thing. So I prayed and thanked God for His sovereignty in appointing all of us to be where we are at this time, etc., and thanked Him for Jesus' blood which cleanses us from all sin when we believe. That prayer ended the tour, and as we left and walked back to the office where we started, the guide seemed to me to be a bit uncomfortable. I'm not always sure I am perceiving these subjective reactions exactly right, but she really did seem to be suddenly withdrawn. Her sort-of "unaware" chattiness was suddenly stopped, and she seemed to avoid eye contact which was a different reaction than she had previously had. Throughout the tour she would frequently lock her eyes onto mine as she talked, but she just seemed awkward. We also went to Oakhill Cemetery where the James and Ellen White and company are buried in their family burial plot marked by a dark granite obelisk. We stopped for coffee in a great local coffee shop on the way home. As we sat and talked over our iced pick-me-ups, someone in the group commented that drinking our coffee was cleansing us from the day. The four of us had a great day together, and we're continuing it now as we ponder with Carolyn the things we've seen and heard. I'll write more as we go along. It's great share this experience with you as I process the day! Colleen | ||
| Free2dance Registered user Username: Free2dance Post Number: 566 Registered: 2-2010 |
Thanks for the update, Colleen! We are praying for you guys each time we think of you-- which is often. Any finalized plans for recording/streaming the conference? Love, Nikki | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 558 Registered: 2-2011 |
Dear Colleen~ I find your afternoon trip to the old "stomping grounds" of the "Whites" fascinating, to say the least! Your writing of the experiences made me feel as if I was along side you & Richard! I, for one, will be looking for your latest remarks and impressions~ I will continue to pray for you and all connected with this trip and the meetings~ Also, I will say again, a HUGE THANK-YOU for your commitment of time and talent to bring the FAF Fanily on the Forum the latest and best! Praying GOD's Blessing~ ~*~mj~*~ (Message edited by mjcmcook on July 26, 2012) | ||
| Lifeanew Registered user Username: Lifeanew Post Number: 257 Registered: 10-2007 |
Here are some of the Kellogg contraptions Colleen is talking about. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/23683 | ||
| Sabbatismos Registered user Username: Sabbatismos Post Number: 43 Registered: 7-2010 |
Colleen, thank you for sharing! After I read your post here, I told Joe that you were in Battle Creek (where he grew up and his mom still lives--she's a member at the "Tab")and he commented on how much he wishes we could have attended the FAF Weekend in St. Joseph. We are with you in spirit. Thank you for making this trip to encourage other formers! Love, Jennifer | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13850 Registered: 12-2003 |
Hi, all! We're at The Chapel in St. Joseph getting last-minute stuff done. We've just assembled folders, and Richard is lettering the Welcome signs as we speak. We had planned to go to Lake Michigan and have a walk and a beach picnic before the meeting today, but we may not get all that done. It's a thunderstormy day. Very humid, very warm, and cloudy. So being in the workroom where it's air conditioned is not a bad thing! The meetings will not be streamed. We are hoping to have them audio recorded. We'll know more when we meet the tech person this evening. Delina McPaull will be reporting on Twitter Saturday and Sunday. More updates as things happen! Colleen | ||
| Mainexile Registered user Username: Mainexile Post Number: 101 Registered: 6-2008  |
Disappointed about the streaming but that's a big tech thing so I'm not surprised. Hope the audio works out. Praying for everyone there this weekend! Wonder how many from Andrews will wander over...? I | ||
| Foofighter Registered user Username: Foofighter Post Number: 249 Registered: 7-2005 |
Colleen, Praying for the meetings, and hoping for the truth to reach through the lies of Adventism to as many as possible. And perhaps it will have a huge ripple effect, as well. Thanks for the updates. Can't wait to hear more! Carol | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13851 Registered: 12-2003 |
We're on our way to the church to get everything in place. The meeting starts at 6:30. Thanks, everyone, for praying. Colleen | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13852 Registered: 12-2003 |
Meetings have started! Phil Bubar is speaking, and several peple we know are already here: Edther Aust, Kelsie and Aaron Peterson, Dana and Scott Kendall. And several others who aren't on the forum. It's exciting and emotional to meet these people whom we have only known online. Ar the last minute Richard suggested we needed flowers on the tables, so Cheryl (Nowisee) Granger and I took scissors and cut flowers and greenery from the church yard and made petunia bouquets in plastic food storage cartons covered with foil. Such fun! Some people will arrive tomorrow. More as things unfold. Colleen | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13853 Registered: 12-2003 |
We had a great first meeting with Phil Bubar speaking on "It's how you view the blood". There was a lot of laughing and excitement and story- sharing as people who had previously only known each other online or hadn't met in a long time connected witheach other. I don't have much time now, but I will ask for prayer for one attendee who is "out" but not "unpacked". We're not sure this person knows the Lord. Please pray this person will meet Jesus and leave here a new person. More later. I am ao grateful for you all! Colleen | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 561 Registered: 2-2011 |
Colleen~ Praying that this particular "attendee" will begin the "UN-packing" process starting now! As all of us know it is a process; The Holy Spirit leads us into what is Truth~ ~*~mj~*~ | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2728 Registered: 7-2007 |
I'm praying for everybody at the meetings and that lots of people from Andrews come to them too... | ||
| Paulcross Registered user Username: Paulcross Post Number: 228 Registered: 4-2005 |
Praying for the meetings and the attendees, praying for "out-but=not-unpacked". The Spirit blows unobserved, unexpected, and unequaled as a change agent. Lord Your kingdom come, Spirit have Your way, Jesus thank-you for your blood. Will continue praying. Paul Cross | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13854 Registered: 12-2003 |
We're in a break before dinner. The church here has a group of People whose ministry is to provide food for ministry groups. They are preparing lasagna and garlic bread; the halls amell delicious! The main teaching is done for the day; after dinner we will have communion and sharing. Subjects included the inerrancy of Scripture, how to study the Bible, Sabbath, the great controversy worldview, the natutre of man/rebirth. After the last meeting carolyn prayed with one woman (not the one I mentioned before) to receievw Jesus. She almost left this morning. God's timing!! More later! Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9811 Registered: 3-2004 |
Praying for all that attend, especially those mentioned above. Thank you Awesome God for these souls you have brought to us to pray for them. Diana |
