Last Entry for now
I want to thank all of you for reading my blog and just for caring about us here at VT during this very difficult time. It’s amazing to me how it seems the rest of the world has really moved on, as I watch the news and see nothing about VT anymore. A lot of me is happy about that, because I think we all here feel tired of having the spotlight of the world on us. The reality of the situation for us here is that this is nowhere near over. We will deal with it in our own lives for years to come, and in ministry, at least for the next 3 years while students who experienced this time will still be here in school. So all of us here with Campus Crusade for Christ at Virginia Tech thank you for your prayers and encouragement. The students are done with school now, and graduation is only a few days away. This will probably be my last entry for a while. Expect more updates in the fall as the students return. We have no idea what to expect when students come back, but we’ll be here waiting for them. Thanks again for reading.
I just wanted to drop a note for you to have something to read when you get back into the blog. I just searched on CCC website for Lauren McCain because her parents just spoke at a convention they had. I just wanted to let you know that It Is Well With My Soul was sung at everything involved with Lauren from the day of prayer on April 17 before we found out for sure she was killed at her home church through all of her funeral services and even at her church she went to in Blacksburg after the graduation. Thank you for writing all you have and just know there are a lot of former Hokies (class of 01 myself) praying for you.
Comment by Chad — July 28, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
We will continue to pray for you and the entire staff at Tech.
Comment by Greta Hernandez — May 12, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
I wish to express my sincere and continued sorrow about what happened to your campus and your students there.
I taught 42 years before I retired with 39 of them in colleges and universities. I was a professor of French and Mathematics at Wingate College (now Wingate University)in Wingate, North Carolina, for eight years and at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, for 31 years.
I can only imagine how heart broken the professors were who lost their students and how heart broken the students were who lost their professors.
I greatly admire the professor who was 76 years old (I believe it was 76)who lost his life in defending his students against the intruder. I like to think I would have done the same thing. Many of us who teach for a long time think of our students as if they were our own children.
May the Grace of God be with you always.
Bob Morgan, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus of French and Mathematics, Gardner-Webb University
Comment by Dr. Bob Morgan — May 10, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Within days of the tragedy we had heard through our son and daughter-in-law who were recently accepted for full time staff with Campus Crusade at Chico State in Chico, CA that four of the students killed were memebers of Campus Crusade. Our hearts broke for the campus, the staff and the students of Virginia Tech. What a shock it was! Then we realized that this was an awesome opportunity for outreach. We pray that the Holy Spirit touches those that are seeking answers for this terrible tragedy. May He empower those who are members and staff who are on campus to have the answers to the questions that are being asked. May His hand be upon each and every one of you. May His mercy and grace and wisdom be with you.
In His Holy Name,
Steve and Sherry Payne
Comment by Steve Payne — May 9, 2007 @ 6:49 pm
I express Hoda’s comments to say “ditto.” We have not forgotten you. Please let us know what you need, and we will see if we can help you meet it.
Duke Nguyen
Phoenix, AZ
Comment by Duke Nguyen — May 7, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Hi Cynthia and others at VT,
No, you are not forgotten and I don’t think many of us will ever forget what happen to your school. I am from the Mississippi Gulf Coast where we lived through Hurricane Katrina. After the initial frenzy faded it seemed we might be forgotten by others who do not live here. As you stated it will take years and maybe never or at least until the people who lived through the events are no longer here on Earth for the memory to fade.
It seemed there was less on television and less people coming to help. But I have to tell you there are groups of people still coming to help our beautiful coast get some form of “normal” if you may call it that. It is wonderful that they do keep coming and we know they are supporting us even when they return home. It may not be the large group or support we had in the beginning but we are blessed and they are angels here on earth.
Cynthia and VT, know that we are supporting you even if we are not there on the campus. It is not easy for us to give you that reminder except in a comment. Maybe there will be a way sometime soon that we might show you and let you know you are on our minds, in our prayers, and will be there for a very long time.
My best to all of you while you go back to your homes and take a break from school. It is hoped that you will find that returning to VT after the break you will be able to see more of the positive side to being there. It will not be easy to block out the negative event that happened. It will, however, make you stronger as a community and individual. Know that we are here, I am not the only one, and that we are so very sorry you have had to endure such pain.
Have a blessed break,
Hoda
Comment by Hoda — May 7, 2007 @ 4:14 am