Prayer and Praise
At 10 tonight we met at the chapel for prayer and praise. I split off in a group of 5 girls, and none of them were really ready to pray I think. We prayed for the victim’s families. One student who is attending a summer project with my husband and I to North Africa this summer, Tony, came and told me that he had received a support check in the mail that day from one of the Cru students killed. Wow. We were all really… I don’t know it was just a “wow” moment. I stood outside with my husband and a student, Tim, and talked about how we were, and the student said something that I thought just summed up how I was feeling too. He said, “I mean, things were so great…” I just said, “Yeah they really were!” A lot of us are grieving the loss of the way it was, and unsure of what “normal” will be. Afterwards, I was talking with one of the girls in my Bible study, Jessica, and she was very grieved but unsure of why since she didn’t know any of the deceased very well. Two of the girls she leads have been greatly impacted, losing one member of their Bible study and another member being traumatized by finding two of the dead. She mourned for them, feeling completely clueless of how to minister to them. I can relate to that. I feel like that too. Two members of the Billy Graham rapid response team were here, and we all prayed for Jessica, which I really appreciated and I think she did too.
Oh, by the way, something I forgot to mention about our noon prayer time today. As we were finishing up our prayer time, Jeff, our director, says on the bullhorn, “now Franklin Graham is here with a message for anyone who wants to listen.” And there was Franklin Graham not 10 feet from me! To be honest, I was a little starstruck:) I thought to myself, “Heck yes i’ll listen to what Franklin Graham has to say!” He shared with us a little from scripture, specifically John 3:16 I remember, just telling us that God loved us and was in control, but he had no answer for why this happened. If I could see over the photographers that were standing between us and him, I’d probably have enjoyed it more, but all of us were really honored that he came to minister to us. I think that was when it really hit me how big of a thing this is internationally. I mean, its a big thing for us in Blacksburg, but I’m realizing its a big thing for everyone in America, and around the world. It’s strange to be somewhere where history is in the making. Well, it’s for the birds if you ask me. I’d give anything for life to be as it was a week ago.
Hello Cynthia and all the CCC staff and students at VT. We wanted to know that today on April 25th the World Wide day of Prayer 40 some Ugandan staff(including many Campus staff) and volunteers prayed through requests posted regarding this horrific tradgedy. We continue to remember you all in prayer and are suffering with you in these losses. Ugandan staff of CCC
Comment by Lynn Chapman — April 24, 2007 @ 5:24 pm
Cynthia,
This is Susanne (Holladay) Reeder. Your Mom emailed my Mom this link, and she forwarded it to me. I want you to know that I am praying for you and all the students involved and effected by your ministry. Your courage and strength are an inspiration, as you hold out the hope of Jesus Christ to those around you. I have put you guys on our prayer list at church, and I put a link to this blog on my website. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. God bless you all!
Love and Prayers,
Susanne
Comment by Susanne — April 20, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
We normally have a prayer hour Thursday evening where we pray together for healing, gratitude, ect. We are dedicating our entire prayer hour tonight for the victims, families and for all the people that have been affected by this painful tragedy. May God bring peace to all the students at Virginia Tech. In the name of Jesus we bind the spirit of fear that it be replaced with courage and the need to continue to pray as a nation, world.
Comment by Rev. Joe Cortinas — April 19, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Cynthia,
I am a fellow Clemson Tiger and was in Crusade with Barry. Certainly you remember we went out on Valentines day your senior year with Brooke Sherard. Anyway just wanted to let you know my husband and I are living in Blacksburg now, so please call me if you need anything!!!!
Andrea Barbian Pless
Comment by Andrea — April 19, 2007 @ 3:17 pm
If you like any of the poems i have sent please email me at dragonmaster24232@yahoo.com and I would Gladly put more on here we just wish you all the best and the families of the victims be in our prays.
Love and hope from:
Dustin and Nancy
Comment by Dustin and Nancy from florida — April 19, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Love and Time
Love is a precious feeling it runs through the human soul. Love lights the way for people to see things that never can be seen with out love.
With time love is sacred and fulfilling to the heart and body. For with out love time could not exsist and with out time love could not exsist. Through love comes happiness and rejoyfulness and the idea to succeed the moments of time to make everything go slower and quicker at the same time.When we are younger love is taught to us through our parents we see how they love and the spirit shows us the true meaning. Love is always there when hate is in the air love shall show through the thickness of the hate and despair.Through the hate and despair we all find the true calling of love in the darkness of it all.
Written By:
Dustin Paul Andrews
Family
Family is a common word sometimes use out of context and mis-used in others. No one really knows the power of the word family until they have lost the one closest to them. It makes you think about the things you have done to them and was never able to say sorry or tell them you truly loved them. Its hard to understand how it all happens till you fall in love and you have your first child then it hits you the true meaning of the word family when you look into they eyes of the little one in your arms and they look at you and it hits you. Thats when you know with out a dought that you created a family. In the eyes of your little one you realize your hopes and dreams have all come true to make you see it can happen to you..
Written By: Dustin Paul Andrews
Comment by Dustin and Nancy from florida — April 19, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
We are deeply sorry to hear what had happened and the families of the victims are in our prayers and pray that they find peace and sollitude in the comming we pray for everyone at Virginia Tech god bless
Comment by Dustin and Nancy from florida — April 19, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
Cynthia,
Thank you for sharing this. You are all loved and being prayed for across this nation. I am in Michigan and our hearts go out to you.
Comment by Sue — April 19, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
I am especially burdened to pray and raise prayer warriors to pray for you all. Press on with the Lord’s grace and strength. I cannot imagine how I will respond (I’m a Singapore Crusade staff), but I believe through prayers, God will grant us wisdom. I’m planning to share about how we ought to shine for Christ in our Campus at our Freshmen Welcome Tea next Thurs. I believe God has a purpose for all these to happen, may God challenge each of our freshmen & Crusaders to be that SOMEONE who truly follows Jesus and shine for Him everywhere! You guys are shining brightly for Him through all ur love, prayers and support for one another!
Comment by Winnie Joy — April 19, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
Cynthia, I appreciate your candidness and just saying it like it is and for letting us know how to spefically pray. I am a fellow Clemson grad on staff in Texas(went to Clemson with Barry B.)and I have always been impressed by the VT CRU through the years and the strength the students draw from the Lord. We are praying here in Texas.
Comment by Susan — April 19, 2007 @ 11:20 am
I will be praying today and for the days after for the broken hearts of the families and for the campus.
God’s peace to you.
Karen
Seattle
Comment by Karen — April 19, 2007 @ 10:04 am
I just want to say that I am from the Cru (Alpha and omega estudant moviment - I don’t know if there is called like this. excuse me at all) here in Brazil (Frotaleza-CEARÁ)
and my heart was moved so much by the notice of the tragedy there.
Here we’re praying for the victim’s family.
exceuse I don’t mean to comment this post, is that I wanted you to know
what here we’re feeling about the situation.
Forgive my english;
God be with everyone of you!
Hugs from us!
Comment by Vagner — April 19, 2007 @ 4:29 am
어려운 상황에서도 힘내시길 바랍니다…하나님의 위로가 함께 하시길
Comment by 한국 — April 19, 2007 @ 4:00 am