This is our current farm
house! We live on 5 acres in town in
Colorado Springs. I found this location a year and half ago in October. We went
for it!!! I put our house up for rent and BAM!
3 days later a family rented it and we were planning to move within 21
days. The home is remodeled inside,
looks beautiful …dun dun dun! However, the home was built in 1904. For some
reason it didn’t bother me or concern me--it even added to the ambiance. I was
in love with the 4 bedroom 2 bath farm house. We also have this shabby
barn-like structure in the back off of one of the pastures! Off we went into
the home, ecstatic.
The
first year was a NIGHTMARE! We had no water at times and when we did, it was
ORANGE! We had no heat off and on throughout the winter; leaks in the roof, wet
carpets, and sewage in our tubs at times …I mean seriously! At the age of 32, I
had to ask my mother to do my laundry. I pretty much cried every other day.
Okay, then 13 months into it, the landlord finally (with a few threats of
suing) agreed to fix the water and put a whole new system in. He also fixed
some of the sewer problems. Things started to feel “normal” again! However, I
have recently been accepted in a masters program at Metro State in Denver. We
felt like this home and everything in it was too costly to stay here. I prayed
and prayed and finally was willing to leave. We tried to buy a “normal” home in
a “normal” neighborhood. (Just so you all know,
I’m not a “neighborhood” kind of girl. ) So……(you’ll get the end of the
story at the end! )
Over
the past three years my faith has grown tremendously. My heartbreak and
tumultuous divorce was an incredibly devastating experience. I had a great fear
of getting re-married and did not trust my decision making skills. My expulsion out of some of my closest
communities, gossip, and the loss of many meaningful friendships was painful
beyond words. At first I totally isolated myself. However, I began to find verses of encouragement
and grace and, of course, strength. My first step was practicing stepping out
of my front door. I began to live my
life, go for my dreams and focus on moving forward and taking off any pressures
that were on me that I put on myself or that I believed others put on me.
Amazingly, I found this house, someone gave me a horse, I found a RV that would
be perfect for the boys and me, and I got a job to help provide for my
needs. My mother began a praise journal
for me because prayers that I lifted up to God were being granted left and
right. Neal has stuck with me through it all. The joy of my three boys is
insurmountable. Isaiah, my youngest, is truly a gift from God. It’s been difficult at times no question, but
God has truly blessed me and has NEVER left my side. Not only has he not left,
but he is with me so closely sometimes I get afraid. (If that makes any
sense) So here we are! We tried to move
when our lease was up and buy a house. God immediately closed that door and I
was confused, but knew I could trust God. (AFTER I threw a fit. FYI--poor Neal,
he sees 9 million of my fits…you should see one of my fits, they are
incredible) Anyway, I believe one of the greatest blessings by God is when we
get to see “WHY” he closes doors.
So,
back to my story, I was accepted to complete my masters online. Through this
program I applied for an internship with a local agency that I have close ties
with from my last job. They were excited and agreed to let me do my internship
with them! I proposed to the agency and
to the University to start a horse therapy program, combining my horse
experience as well as my social work experience for my internship. They both accepted just last week. I also found a local agency (Boy Scouts of
America) that is willing to offer insurance. Holy moley, I say! I am starting a
horse therapy program! Then, another horse was given to me to use for FREE!
AGAIN
GOD HAS BLESSED ME. I named my program after my given name, Susanna, found in
Mark 8. It means lily of the valley, true beauty. “true
beauty” The program will be mainly for girls ages 15-18. I wrote my
own curriculum focused to work with girls whose futures may be at risk due to
their past. The curriculum was written from my heart, my experience as an
adolescent therapist/social worker and from my own experiences. I am passionate about them learning how to
break patterns, gain a new faith in God, and create plans to be successful
through creating education plans, health and spiritual awakening. Most of
all I hope to share the GRACE OF GOD. This
is truly God’s program because he has led me in this direction and opened doors
that I would have never expected to open three months ago. (The idea came to me
one day after going to a church service three months ago. The message was on
using your “gifts”. We are called to use our GOD GIVEN GIFTS! I felt motivated
and that day the idea came to me to present the idea of starting a horse
therapy program and combine it with my internship!) Like I said, HOLY Crap. He moves quickly when
it’s HIS plan.
I
am truly thankful for ALL of the experiences God has given me and the people he
has placed in my life to be able to start this program. I am forever grateful
to those who gave me a safe place to be and to ride while growing up (during
difficult times), which has given me the horse experience necessary to do this
program. I am thankful for my pain and substantial learning through my divorce
because my faith has grown so much as a result of it. (Recently Neal and I did
spiritual gift testing through our life group and one of my top three gifts is
FAITH) That was not the same gift I had
three years ago. My gifts have changed and fit me and I aim to use them! God is
so good! I am thankful for those who have accepted me where I am!
This letter is to ask for prayer. Recently
my mother met a woman with the gift of intercession/prayer. Her ministry is
teaching others about the importance of prayer and most of all the importance
of a prayer team behind every ministry. I have huge needs with starting a horse
therapy program. Funding needs: horse hay, shovels, trash service, helmets,
equipment to train girls to ride (saddles, pads, helmets, etc) including a
port-a-potty! We also need prayer for
protection for the girls, finding the right girls for the program, and of
course protection for my family. 2 Chronicles 20:15: Thus says the Lord to you,
‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is
not yours but God’s. Please let me know if you may be interested in being on a team
to pray for us as we embark on this journey of which I feel fear and
excitement!
True beauty Σουσάννα
