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Volume 1 Letter 2
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Letter 2 Page 3
The Convicting
Work of the Holy Spirit
The first time God called out my name seems to be the beginning event
for what unfolded during the spring, summer and into the early fall of 2001.
What follows briefly
explains how the Holy Spirit worked to convict me of the need to come into a
right relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mayo House Burglary
Sometime during the third week in April
of 2001, burglars broke into the W. W. Mayo House. I discovered the burglary.
We were supposed to be protected by an alarm system, but the burglars
managed to disable the alarm.
I have been working with this state historic site since it opened to the public
in 1974, just completing my 30th season. I am the person who did
research, wrote, prepared and developed all of the interpretive programs
presently offered at the site.
Upon entering the home, I discovered five of the seven
rooms in the home almost completely stripped of artifacts, not including
furniture pieces.
When I started to come out of the shock of this discovery, my heart just
ached and I felt emptied. I felt emptied because the artifacts that provided an
1860 period setting and the ones I loved to use as interpretive tools to share
the story of the Mayo family, period lifestyle and technology were just gone.
This heart wrenching experience serves as a reminder of how good things
in this world are vulnerable to destructive forces of the evil things of this
world. It also reminds us of
how temporary things are in this world. What
you give your heart to can just be gone.
Could Not Deny
God Exists
As I was driving home from the Twin Cities one day in late July or
early August of 2001, my mind was wrestling with and questioning the existence
of God.
Nearing Jordan, as I approached the big bend in the road
where you see the wide expanse of trees along with the sky, clouds, sun and the
flatter lands of the valley all in one view, I looked up to the heavens and
acknowledged God through His creation. In
words similar to this I stated out loud, “I know God exists, all of creation
could not have just happened.”
I don’t know how to explain this, but I have a strong
sense this was a pivotal event.
Need
To Attend Church Once Again
In mid-August, I was wrestling with the nagging sense of a
need to go back to church. The year
before, I had put my granddaughter in Sunday School at First Lutheran Church.
But, with this nagging need, I could not bring myself to return to First
Lutheran Church. I will provide
reasons in a future letter.
Horrific
Events of 9/11
With the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, my mind drastically
turned to the thought that the end of this age is soon to come.
I knew I was not in a right relationship with Jesus. This event certainly
served as a wake up call.
Chose
to Check Out Word of Life Church
A good number of years ago, I attended a service at Word of Life Church. Also, I
knew of at least one family that had transferred from First Lutheran to this
church, so I decided to check it out.
In later September, I brought my granddaughter with me and put her into a
Sunday School class with the thought in mind that if I chose not to attend this
church, I could pull her back out. I sat in the back and observed the adult Sunday School class
and went on to attend the church service. My
intention was to check out the pastor. I wanted to feel assured that he truly
believed in and was walking with Jesus Christ. And, I desperately longed to hear
the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Being relatively satisfied, I
decided to start attending Word of Life Church.
Meaninglessness of Life
During the last two weeks of September the Holy Spirit working to convict me was
so pronounced. One day as I stood
in my kitchen, I deeply felt the emptiness of my life.
I said out loud “life sucks” (excuse this expression, please).
I reflected on my life and said “but why do I feel this way.” Raising
my children and working with the Mayo House has been a very worthwhile
experience. Yet, I felt empty inside. I came face to face with emptiness that
day.
Testimony of Dorothy von Lehe
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