In 2013, on Thanksgiving Day, we encountered God like never before. Our family was driving through Sedalia. It was lunch time, so we stopped at the Golden Corral. We waited in line to fill our plates and had no idea what would happen next. We each had our own experience of God putting time into slow motion as our gaze scanned the room. From face to face, soul to soul, we each were overwhelmed with a sense of love for the people. Our hearts began to break for the hurt, the pain, the disappointment, and the struggles these faces represented. Each of us, unknown to the other, found ourselves weeping and being filled with great compassion. As our tear-stained eyes met, we discovered God was doing this supernatural thing in each of us separately but simultaneously. We left that day, not knowing exactly what it all meant, but trusting that God would show us.

We returned to Branson and continued working in our thriving business. Every year or two, we would return to Sedalia and drive and pray and inquire of the Lord. Year after year, we heard nothing.  Finally, after the sale of our business, an auction and a vacation trip to the East Coast, Paul felt in his heart it was time to move to Sedalia.