Lynchburg Post #2

Thursday night we attended the "Meet and Greet" for the YA Reunion. It was so wonderful to see all these "old" friends meet again for the first time in 30 years!

Lindsay was tickled to see all 4 of her Aunties arrive! She said, "take our picture, Mommy!" Aren't they all just Gorgeous!?! Sheesh!
(Stephanie-Barry's wife, Lisa-Brian's wife, Lindsay Leigh, Beckie-Brad's wife, and Laurie Leigh-the only girl!)

Friday morning we were fortunate enough to attend Convocation (chapel) on campus. There were over 10,000 people there. We heard an amazing speaker give his testimony ON THE ACTUAL ANNIVERSARY of the terrorist attacks on the US. He and his wife BOTH survived the September 11th attacks-they were each inside the twin towers (one in each!!)

I'll tell you what, Chapel was impressive! It made a real impact on Scott and me! We could picture Shae sitting in there 3 times a week soaking in all the awesome music and speakers!
{and I scoured the crowd to see if I could spot her potential mate!)

Gordon (my father-in-law) was recognized with an award along with Roscoe Brewer and Dave Adams. These men are true pioneers of youth work, it was awesome to see them recognized.
Gordon has been in youth work for over 50 years, he has never slowed down-ever! He is truly an amazing man, we are so thankful to have been in ministry with this wonderful servant for the last 20 years!!
The YA reunion attendees were asked to stand and recognized as pioneers of the school. They took a chance on going to a school that was just getting started!! They had to live in hotels and be bussed to campus each day..wow! Has the school grown and changed!

On the way out of chapel, I was telling Shae that she needed to call our friend Jack Doney. He is from Huntington Beach, Ca. and his Dad and Scott have been friends since they were babies. Their parents all went to Bob Jones together! As soon as I got the words out, Shae said, "Hey, There's Jack right there!" How weird is that? 10,000 people walking out of chapel and we run into Jack?!

{Shae, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Jack}

We brought him to the BBQ up at the Snowflex Lodge with us. Jerry Jr. and Becky Falwell hosted the event for the YA reunion.
What a cool place!

Beautiful view from the front yard of the Snowflex Lodge.

Unbelievable!

There were snowboarders doing tricks for us while we ate inside the lodge. Pretty impressive!

Shae is hoping that this place might get some of her California schoolmates to come to Virginia with her!

Brian, Barry, Dottie, Chris Tice, Scott, Cindy Turner, Brad and Laurie

Dottie and all the Luff kids with their two babysitters from way back-Chris Tice (Chris' daughter Misty worked at camp years ago, Shae was 3 and LOVED her!) and Cindy Turner. I have heard stories about these two precious ladies from Dottie. They really helped her out while Gordon was on the road.
(Sweet, sweet ladies. Cindy had just lost her husband after a long illness 2 weeks before so it was wonderful to see her, and I know she was so glad she came. )

{Gordon Luff in his element}
Later that afternoon there was a sing along at the old Thomas Road Baptist Church. Scott and his siblings LOVED this! They spent lots of time here and knew every inch of that place. It is where Jerry preached while I was at Liberty as well. What a beautiful sanctuary that holds many beautiful memories for me. (I would sit near the football team and stare at Scott during church before I met him!!)

To say that this part of the reunion was a blessing is not adequate. There are simply no words to describe it. Gordon would interject throughout the singing (which was deeply emotional for everyone) and remind everyone that it is okay if they have "messed up" in their lives, but now is the time to turn things around. Always the encourager. I have told Dottie that if I ever get arrested or something like that, Gordon would be my phone call because he would say "Don't worry, we're going to get this all worked out".
We are all broken people who need Christ's healing power to flood over us!

"What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD,

When they walk through the valley of weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.

The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings,

they will continue to grow stronger."

Psalm 84:5-7

Hearing all the old songs was precious. Scott, Shae and I all sat there and cried grateful tears. I am so happy that my daughter was able to experience a small "taste" of what her Papa was all about back then. Those people treated him like he was a rock star.

The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are all over His works.

Psalm 145:9