Images and stories from New Hampshire
My travels last week to New Hampshire and into this week to Texas have been incredible. Once again God is doing what I have asked him to do bringing those who need to hear what I have to say into my audience. There was a message I write about in both my first and second book that if going public with my story can help just one person break their silence, find their voice, and begin to heal then I have accomplished what I wanted to do. I continue to be reminded over and over again of that. In New Hampshire a young college student worked very hard to make my appearance there possible. Her name is Mel and when she was 13 years old she read my first book “Stolen Innocence” she told me back then at 13 years old in an email I still have that my book changed her life. She is a survivor of child sexual abuse and since reading my first book she has wanted to meet me. Well after 6 years of corresponding in letters that wish came true. The excitement on her face waiting at the airport said it all. She kept saying in the car and while we walked the campus, “I can’t believe this is happening you are really here.” Later that day I met her roommate who has also read my first book and the first thing she says when meeting me is, “I can’t believe you are real!” We all burst out laughing. I said, “What did you expect me to be fake?” She went on to explain how incredible it is to be so captured by reading my book and then to have that person be standing in front of you. It just all seemed so surreal for both of them. The event was held in a really cool room on the college campus surrounded by windows. After speaking I had several people coming up to me including a professor who hugged me and thanked me for what I was doing and she whispered in my ear, “I’m a survivor too! Thank you for being a voice for so many of us.” I continued to hear more incredible stories and even had some people in the area and surrounding states who have been following me for awhile come hear me speak and get books signed. We wrapped up the night walking the streets in Keene, New Hampshire at night to the downtown where we had a candle light vigil. I could not have asked for two more beautiful days in New Hampshire. It was blue skies the entire time I was there.
Bed I stayed in at the Bed and Breakfast belonged to actress Joan Crawford (No More Wire Hangers)
Downtown Keene, New Hampshire
Saying goodbye
How the trip to New Hampshire ended. 8 hours it took me to get home because of delays in Chicago. Only to get up in the morning and go to an 8 hour training and then it was back in the Sky Sunday to Texas. Stories and images from my trip to Laredo, Texas coming.
