January 2010
Well, we finished 2009 blessed to be able to serve the Lord and be apart an awesome group of young women, the Journey of Sisters. The last six months of 2009 was a tough year for all as we struggled to understand why our sweet friend and leader, Amy, was taken from us. Thankfully, we can find comfort in knowing and believing she was in God’s hands from the start and ready to be with Him according to His plan for her. So we move on trusting God to direct and guide us wherever He would have us to go... doing whatever He would have us to do.
As we look back over the year, Lisa had several opportunities to be with some pretty awesome people. Our cruise with Kathy Troccoli was just incredible. Meeting and performing with Mark Harris, Mark Lowery was so fun…seeing and laughing with old friends from WOF (Chonda Pierce)…and time with Avalon and of course, Kathy couldn’t be beat…. Meeting and making new friends was just a gift on top of it all!!
A special highlight of the year was getting to meet and perform with Charice, YouTube singing sensation discovered by David Foster. Charice and Lisa performed at the Best Buddies Gala in Dallas. When David Foster saw a video of the two, he asked Lisa to join them at three of his ten David Foster & Friends concert tour stops. We went to Chicago, Ft Lauderdale and Los Angeles. What a blast!! Charice and Lisa claimed to be the diva-sisters and were arm and arm the whole time. They did autographs, photos, and TV interviews together. We were blessed to meet new friends Deborah Cox, Kathy Sledge, Ruben Studdard (American Idol), the Four Canadian Tenors, and Peter Cetera….not to mention David Foster himself…the legend…the “hit-man”. In LA, we were able to see and talk with Dr. Phil and wife Robin again who were sitting on the front row as Lisa and Charice performed. We caught up with them later at David Foster’s party. It was an awesome experience and one we’ll never forget. Many thanks go to Jan Miller and American Airlines for making it all possible.
The year finished out with one more special meeting for Lisa. One of Amy’s goals was to get Lisa and Joni Erickson Tada together. Lisa was asked to perform for a special course being taught at Dallas Theological Seminary involving ministry to those with special needs within the church. Lisa performed at one of the early semester classes. When the final class came up, Joni had been invited to teach and Lisa was asked to perform again. What a thrill to see Amy’s dream realized. I know she was smiling from heaven!! What a special lady Joni is…I could have sat all afternoon listening to her. When Lisa performed, Joni cried. She described Lisa’s performance as being just pure worship…you couldn’t help but cry as Lisa brought us into His presence. Lisa hugged Joni so tight at the end of the program that she pulled Joni forward in her wheelchair and then let go. Joni so graciously told Lisa that was a great hug but now she had to push her back up in her chair. We all chuckled, but poor Lisa felt terrible, apologizing to Joni. Joni reassured her that she was OK. With pen in mouth, Joni autographed Lisa’s book for her and we were done for another year.
We look forward to a new year, leaving behind the things of the past and moving forward with joyful anticipation of what the Lord has planned for Lisa (Jer. 29:11)…always remembering He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Have a happy and blessed new year!
October 2009
So much has happened since my last update on Lisa and the journey she is on. Some of you may have noticed how light Lisa’s schedule has been. Lisa has had to face one of the biggest challenges in her life…. the death of her best friend, Amy Jones… the founder, leader, and mentor of Journey of Sisters. Amy and Lisa met at a Women of Faith Conference and remained the best of friends ever since. Amy saw the potential in Lisa to be an inspiration to those hurting and those with family members who were intellectually challenged. However, Amy would never place Lisa in that category as she always said it was the rest of the world who were intellectually challenged… NOT Lisa!
This past March, at a Get Motivated Seminar in Lubbock, TX… while on stage, Amy was accidentally kicked and flipped up into the air. Amy laughed as she told us she was in a skirt and all she could think of was protecting herself as a lady… so like Amy. However, she came down hard on her side and for several days later, felt like she had a very bad bruise. She went to the doctors and following a series of tests, it was discovered Amy was not bruised but in fact had a tumor the size of a grapefruit. She underwent surgery … only to learn she was in stage 4 cancer. Kidney cancer, a very rare and aggressive form of cancer which also took the life of her Dad ten years earlier. Cancer, a word none of us wanted to believe or accept, especially Lisa. For the next three months, Amy, her family, JOS family, and friends prayed for Amy’s “radical miracle”. Amy’s life verse was Jeremiah 29:11 and she demonstrated daily her deep, deep faith in God and her belief she WAS in His hands.
Lisa prayed so faithfully for her best friend, never believing Amy would not be healed. But Amy’s work on this side of heaven was destined to be finished. We received a phone call that Amy wanted to see all the JOS ladies. Amy’s mother shared how Amy was soon to be heavily medicated to relieve the suffering and allow her to die peacefully. As we surrounded her hospital bed, Amy, with such love and compassion for her “sisters” spoke to each one, reminding them how and why they were brought into the JOS ministry and how they had each grown professionally and in serving Christ. She left them with a challenge to continue on in the ministry, not being sad at her leaving. She was so full of courage…words energetically flowing from that huge heart of hers. Lisa sat on Amy’s bed sobbing in disbelief… not wanting to lose or say good-bye to her friend. Amy first addressed Lisa, looking at her as she told everyone that when she got to heaven, she felt that Jesus was going to tell her that Lisa didn’t get an extra chromosome … it was the rest of us who lacked that chromosome… that Lisa was the “normal” one and the rest of us were intended to be like Lisa! Everyone laughed… but that was Amy, always trying to encourage and make others feel joy in the midst of tragedy. She reminded me of Jesus as He shared with His disciples that last night how He would be leaving them soon but challenging them to continue on. Amy, even during her last hours, never thought of herself and what she was going through… but only how she could help and encourage others. It was never about Amy… always about others. The morning of June 19th, we lost our precious friend. Gone for now … but forever in our hearts. (In the Journey of Sisters Gallery, Amy is the one putting all the birthday princess paraphernalia on Lisa... each year wanting to make Lisa's birthday better than the year before... that was so Amy.)
The evening of Amy’s passing, the JOS was scheduled for a missions event. We kept that ministry event just as Amy would have expected. I have to say it was one of the most powerful performances of each sister as they remembered their beloved friend and continued on as Amy had charged them. It was beautiful and lives were touched as those who were being ministered to saw the love of Jesus being poured out for each of them through the Journey of Sisters.
Four days later, Lisa was scheduled to speak and perform at Denton Bible Church’s Women’s Ministry event. I wondered how Lisa would be able to speak during such a time of mourning and heartbreak but the Lord was faithful in giving Lisa the strength and courage to shared what God had done in her life and then ministered in song not only for those attending… but to herself … with ”Bring the Rain”.
Three days later, we celebrated Amy’s life during a Celebrate Life Memorial at Dallas Baptist University. The auditorium was filled with people whose lives were touched by this one remarkable young woman, Amy Jones. Testimonies were shared and Lisa paid tribute to her friend with a song by Kathy Troccoli called “Good-Bye For Now”.
In July, the JOS were scheduled for a Women’s Ministry event at Prestonwood Baptist Church. It was an opportunity to share with other women ministries. God blessed as He continued to renew each of these young women with the strength and courage to persevere, with loss of Amy still heavy on their hearts.
Also in July, Lisa had the awesome privilege to share her testimony and song at an event called “Girlfriend’s Night Out”. It’s a wonderful time of fellowship and entertainment with women from all denominations hosted by Trinity Church of Cedar Hill. Girlfriend’s is a quarterly event founded by the pastor’s wife of Trinity Church, Becky Hennesy.
In August, Prestonwood Baptist Church Women’s Ministry asked Lisa back to kickoff their fall ministry. Lisa spoke and performed three songs bringing the audience to their feet! We love Prestonwood and they love Lisa! Speaker and author, Pam Kanaly from Arise Ministry was the keynote speaker. If you’ve not heard Pam speak before, you are really missing something! She’s knowledgeable, exciting, funny, challenging… full of energy and love for the Lord. If she doesn’t inspire you to be in God’s Word everyday… you better check your heart! She’s awesome! Check Pam out at www.ariseministries.net Arise Ministry, out of Edmond, OK.
Following Prestonwood, Lisa was off to Gainesville, TX and the Crosspoint Baptist Church. Lisa spoke and performed 11 songs!! It was a fun-filled Saturday evening of praise and worship! Lots of new friendships made and old WOF ones renewed.
In September, the JOS headed for Louisiana, being invited back to an area Baptist Women’s event. The JOS, hosted by the E. Leesville First Baptist Church, put on a full day conference, complete with teaching, testimonies, breakout sessions, and of course, inspiring music.
Following Louisiana, Lisa was back in Gainesville. This time, to Calvary Baptist Church. The Pastor requested that Lisa speak and share in song for their Sunday morning Service…. the entire service… no Pastor preaching… just Lisa! At first I thought they were joking … but not so. The Pastor requested it! Lisa was very excited… but a little nervous too. This was her third time back to Calvary and she was so welcomed by a loving congregation! It was a new experience for Lisa… doing a Sunday morning service, but the people of Calvary made it very easy for Lisa… hugs galore… and Lisa accepting every one of them!
Well, as many of you may know by now, Lisa was scheduled to perform at the Best Buddies Gala, “A World of Love”, hosted by Jan Miller and Jeff Rich of Dallas. (Jan is Lisa’s best buddy, thus her connection to BB.) Scott Murray, an award-winning TV sportscaster and current CEO of Murray Media, emceed the evening gala. Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Founder of Best Buddies, thanked those in attendance for their support of BB. Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for meaningful, lasting on-to-one friendships with their non-disabled peers. On the concert agenda were Grammy Award winners BeBe & CeCe Winans, classical pop piano virtuoso, William Joseph and international singing sensation, Charice Pempengco. Last year Lisa performed with BeBe but this year she was asked to perform with Charice. Lisa had an opportunity to meet Charice at rehearsal that afternoon. WOW… what a sensation Charice really is! Hearing her on a CD or on YouTube is nothing compared to hearing her in person! What a strong, powerful voice pouring out of this petite, young 17 year old girl! She and Lisa clicked immediately. Charice is so sweet, fun and genuine… very talented… what a doll... you can't help but love her!!!! Both the rehearsal and gala were so much fun! I think Lisa had one of the best times of her life… she was totally in her element! If you haven’t already, you’ll need to check out their performance. Charice put it on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rNywpnXeiA
We continue to look forward to what the Lord has in His plan for Lisa. In the meantime, be blessed and encouraged … be sure to take advantage of and appreciate the time you’ve been given with those you love... you never know what tomorrow brings. Like Lisa, freely and unconditionally, give your love and hugs away!!!
May 2009
I can’t believe nearly half this year has gone by!! What a year this has been for Lisa! In January she joined Sandi Patty while Sandi was doing a concert in Lancaster, TX. That couldn’t have been a better way to start off the new year for Lisa! She was in her glory performing with Sandi again. One of the 4 numbers they did was Operator. Lisa loves to tell people how they “hammed” it up! And they really did!! Lisa’s Mom sat in the audience just shaking her head in disbelief…with Mama T (Thelma Wells) telling her “it’s OK”! Lisa loves performing with Sandi!!!
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