Chapter 28 - Fresh Life (skipped chapter)

Into this gray winter wilderness life slowly begins to spring forth. First, I find out I am pregnant. In a few weeks with severe nausea I rest in bed frequently, lose weight. But the church continues to grow. Leota and her daughters capably take over the Sunday school, and visiting ministers encourage us. Ray and Petra Arno from Alaska drive in and preach, and Rev. Bereth the district superintendent, with his wife.

“We pastored in this area when we were starting out,” he declares cheerfully. “It brings back a lot of memories!”

Christmas and a nativity program, New Years…and more families come. We keep meeting for prayer at Leota’s house, asking God for a move of His Spirit. Leota receives the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaks in tongues! And we pray for the gifts of the Spirit to operate at Ebro Community Church. In time the Lord does move—some Sundays the worship is so long and fervent that Zach preaches short, once not at all. The Holy Spirit speaks in the service through tongues and interpretation, and in prophecy—even through me! I am amazed and encouraged.

The baby grows within me, I begin to feel movement. “Lord, use this little one for your glory,” I pray, laying hands on my swelling body. After buying maternity clothes and loose nursing uniforms I begin to waddle slightly as the pregnancy lengthens. Bonnie and I sometimes meet in Ebro to walk the railroad tracks for exercise, and pray.

Zachary keeps working on the parsonage…taping, painting, installing kitchen cupboards, and a large window nook with table and benches. “We’ll someday sit here over morning coffee and watch snow fall in the woods beyond,” I comment. “And our baby will be sleeping in another room. It’ll have blue eyes, like you.”

“Yes,” Zach responds, hugging me. “We’ll be a family, in this house. What names do you like?”

“Well, we talked about Nicholas, after your grandfather.”

“Nicholas has a good ring to it. What about a girl? I like the name Suzanne.”

I consider. “That sounds old to me. How about Tania? Tania Noelle!”

“Hmmm. Maybe. I’d better get back to work. I’d like to be here in this parsonage before the baby comes.”

The living and dining room Zach has opened into one great room. He lines one wall with rich stained boards against which I hang lacey white curtains. Then we buy a small wood stove for comfort and warmth, paint the adjoining bedroom light green. (The upstairs will be finished later.) The entry/laundry and the bathroom are nearly completed…we are going to be new parents and live in a newly finished parsonage!

We hear about a large conference Campus Crusade is sponsoring in Dallas: Explo ’72. Young people are gathering from all over the country, and each night there will be a huge meeting in the Cotton Bowl. I am excited. “Zach, do you think we could attend Explo ’72? I’d be seven months pregnant so we couldn’t ride the cycle—we’d have to take the car. Lets pray about it!”

“Well, that’d be special. It’d be good to get more spiritual input. I can ask someone to preach for me the Sunday we’re gone.”

We have peace to go, and enough money for registration, gas, and food. The big issue is where to sleep—there are limited funds for motels. After standing in long lines to register we make friends with Dave and Tony two hippy motorcycle guys, and all of us are given housing in an elegant suburban home for several nights. “How blessed we are,” I think as I climb into a comfortable bed with a thick coverlet. And with white carpet, too!

When our nights at the luxury home are complete another family welcomes us in…and through all the days we hear good teachings and amazing nights of worship with preaching at the Cotton Bowl—including Bill Bright and Billy Graham. “I like the preaching,” I tell Zachary, “but what most impresses me is the freedom in worship each evening. I’ve never been in a gathering where thousands of young people worship so wholeheartedly with hands raised. You feel God so much!”

Zach nods. “It is terrific. I had no idea it would be this great.”

As we hang out with Dave and Tony from California they share our burden, concern for the church. “Why don’t you come back with us, visit the service, pray for us!” Zach suggests.

The guys think about it. “That’s a good idea,” Dave finally responds. “But we’d need to rent a trailer to haul our cycles with.”

“We’ll see what it costs to rent one,” Tony decides.

On the last night after the closing song I was sad to leave the vast gathering. We descend the tiers of seats, and as I turn to go out one of the exits, the Lord speaks to me. “Turn around and look,” He says.

I turn. Many of the tiers are empty by now, but a cluster of young people up and across from me catch my eye. I observe for awhile. One young man with longer blond hair laughs, raises his hands over his head, and brings them down for emphasis. He stands out to me. I turn back, not comprehending any significance, and think, “I must have heard wrong.”

Years later the Lord reminds me of this incident, and I make the connection. Pastor Ted Haggard of New Life Church in Colorado Springs accepts Christ at Explo “72. The Lord knows I will someday be a part of that church…and He shows me Ted that night, a teenager.

Our ride home to Minnesota is filled with joking and songs. Especially from sandy-haired Dave. Tony is dark, quieter and more thoughtful. Dave will break out singing, then remonstrate us. “You guys need to loosen up and worship more!”

I agree with him. Driving north through miles of field and forest we begin to worship loudly, filled with joy.