Revival Relaunch (Campfire Style)

[Nancy]

( @Mayflower It is all right. I edit post # 16 to fit what you had posted ;) I hope the addition is all right. I am sure parents would like to think teenage girls talk like this below. If not, maybe @Angelina can edit it to make it more realistic with her mod powers or she can give you mod powers and edit my post to making it more believable? Anyway, I like to imagine that scenario, but what do I know, right? )

"Does he have a cell phone or some sort?" Hope inquired, "he may have had the volume up on the speaker phone selection of whatever device he is using."

Casey stood straight up from collecting sticks and it suddenly donned on her what she was hearing in his bedroom from behind closed doors. "Why that little creep. That's probably it. Here I am, not allowed to have a simple cell phone and this kid comes into my home....." she paused to contain her colorful metaphors from speaking out of her mouth and instead said, "wait till I informed my father about this."

"You are not allowed to have a cellphone?" Hope inquired.

"Not since about a dozen boys have been calling me repeatedly all last summer," Casey replied shaking her head, "Dad worries too much. Just because I became some kind of bodacious petite blonde, suddenly, I am going to forget my christian upbringing and let boys have their ways with me. NOT!"

"It is too bad he doesn't trust you to be mindful when you are with a boy," Hope explained, "I certainly can attest to worrying about being alone with a boy without supervision around to discourage any unwanted advances..." she paused for a bit, and then continued, "it is kinda like keeping the boys honest or at the very least, from being tempted to be an animal on hormones anyway.... the supervision, I mean."

Casey laughed at that. "Yeah... I know what you mean. I probably even made the situation worse for myself in my junior year. I had brought a pair of pants to school last year and gave it to the football team that many of the girls were telling me they have been overhearing them wanting to get in my pants, and so I said, "Here are my pants. I doubt you guys can get into them, but go ahead and knock yourself out. Maybe then you all will stop talking about my pants," and they all just busted out laughing, leaving only a few of them red faced with embarrassment. So I probably did not embarrass them enough to knock it off since they have been calling the land lines still through the latter part of the junior year in wanting to talk to me. My parents pretty much had the answering machine to screen the calls from then on, and even went so far to have my personal cell phone taken from me and ending my service," she paused and said,"and he has a cellphone. Man..." and then she complained, "if my parents had checked, none of the boys had my cellphone number, otherwise, they would be calling my cellphone rather than the landline phone, but NOOooooooooooo..."

Hope holding a bundle large enough to make her stop collecting sticks, she said,"Well, it is not like it is impossible for them to get your cell phone number."

Casey thought for a bit and then said, "yeah... I know. An ounce of prevention is.." she looked at Hope and inquired, "a pound of cure?"

Hope laughed, "Something like that," and she headed towards the bonfire pile with her load, "more like.. my daughter don't need any more drama than what you all giving her at school."

"Course, more pressure on me in keeping my grades up since I have no excuse NOT to stay on top of my schoolwork at home," says Casey, as she ended with, "oh well..." and finally trailed after Hope with a load of sticks in her arms for the bonfire pile too.

Casey laughed at that. "Yeah... I know what you mean. I probably even made the situation worse for myself in my junior year. I had brought a pair of pants to school last year and gave it to the football team that many of the girls were telling me they have been overhearing them wanting to get in my pants, and so I said, "Here are my pants. I doubt you guys can get into them, but go ahead and knock yourself out. Maybe then you all will stop talking about my pants," and they all just busted out laughing, leaving only a few of them red faced with embarrassment. So I probably did not embarrass them enough to knock it off since they have been calling the land lines still through the latter part of the junior year in wanting to talk to me. My parents pretty much had the answering machine to screen the calls from then on, and even went so far to have my personal cell phone taken from me and ending my service," she paused and said,"and he has a cellphone. Man..." and then she complained, "if my parents had checked, none of the boys had my cellphone number, otherwise, they would be calling my cellphone rather than the landline phone, but NOOooooooooooo..."

Good post JIF-going to have to give me a few minutes!

 

[Nancy]

( @Mayflower It is all right. I edit post # 16 to fit what you had posted ;) I hope the addition is all right. I am sure parents would like to think teenage girls talk like this below. If not, maybe @Angelina can edit it to make it more realistic with her mod powers or she can give you mod powers and edit my post to making it more believable? Anyway, I like to imagine that scenario, but what do I know, right? )

"Does he have a cell phone or some sort?" Hope inquired, "he may have had the volume up on the speaker phone selection of whatever device he is using."

Casey stood straight up from collecting sticks and it suddenly donned on her what she was hearing in his bedroom from behind closed doors. "Why that little creep. That's probably it. Here I am, not allowed to have a simple cell phone and this kid comes into my home....." she paused to contain her colorful metaphors from speaking out of her mouth and instead said, "wait till I informed my father about this."

"You are not allowed to have a cellphone?" Hope inquired.

"Not since about a dozen boys have been calling me repeatedly all last summer," Casey replied shaking her head, "Dad worries too much. Just because I became some kind of bodacious petite blonde, suddenly, I am going to forget my christian upbringing and let boys have their ways with me. NOT!"

"It is too bad he doesn't trust you to be mindful when you are with a boy," Hope explained, "I certainly can attest to worrying about being alone with a boy without supervision around to discourage any unwanted advances..." she paused for a bit, and then continued, "it is kinda like keeping the boys honest or at the very least, from being tempted to be an animal on hormones anyway.... the supervision, I mean."

Casey laughed at that. "Yeah... I know what you mean. I probably even made the situation worse for myself in my junior year. I had brought a pair of pants to school last year and gave it to the football team that many of the girls were telling me they have been overhearing them wanting to get in my pants, and so I said, "Here are my pants. I doubt you guys can get into them, but go ahead and knock yourself out. Maybe then you all will stop talking about my pants," and they all just busted out laughing, leaving only a few of them red faced with embarrassment. So I probably did not embarrass them enough to knock it off since they have been calling the land lines still through the latter part of the junior year in wanting to talk to me. My parents pretty much had the answering machine to screen the calls from then on, and even went so far to have my personal cell phone taken from me and ending my service," she paused and said,"and he has a cellphone. Man..." and then she complained, "if my parents had checked, none of the boys had my cellphone number, otherwise, they would be calling my cellphone rather than the landline phone, but NOOooooooooooo..."

Hope holding a bundle large enough to make her stop collecting sticks, she said,"Well, it is not like it is impossible for them to get your cell phone number."

Casey thought for a bit and then said, "yeah... I know. An ounce of prevention is.." she looked at Hope and inquired, "a pound of cure?"

Hope laughed, "Something like that," and she headed towards the bonfire pile with her load, "more like.. my daughter don't need any more drama than what you all giving her at school."

"Course, more pressure on me in keeping my grades up since I have no excuse NOT to stay on top of my schoolwork at home," says Casey, as she ended with, "oh well..." and finally trailed after Hope with a load of sticks in her arms for the bonfire pile too.

Jacob and Hope almost collided as he broke through the treeline, arms loaded with large logs to keep the bonfire going good and hot. Oops! Sorry about that Hope, I was not watching! She laughed lightly and said, "You would not see a thing even if you were watching, those logs are up to your eyes! As she said this, the logs started to drop from his arms-they were very heavy-Hope hopped back so as not to get a big ole log dropped on her foot. Ellie was trotting over to them, she reached Hope first to make sure she was okay and then, went to help Jacob. As they walked back to the campfire, each with half a load of wood, they saw Hope and, as they discussed on their walk back, they were going to ask her right out if she knows Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Jacob failed to ask her when meeting her the first time around. He will get right on it now.

 

[Nancy]

Jacob and Hope almost collided as he broke through the treeline, arms loaded with large logs to keep the bonfire going good and hot. Oops! Sorry about that Hope, I was not watching! She laughed lightly and said, "You would not see a thing even if you were watching, those logs are up to your eyes! As she said this, the logs started to drop from his arms-they were very heavy-Hope hopped back so as not to get a big ole log dropped on her foot. Ellie was trotting over to them, she reached Hope first to make sure she was okay and then, went to help Jacob. As they walked back to the campfire, each with half a load of wood, they saw Hope and, as they discussed on their walk back, they were going to ask her right out if she knows Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Jacob failed to ask her when meeting her the first time around. He will get right on it now.

(I'm thinking I really have to build on the characters of well, the characters! Lol...like, I see Jacob as being totally un-self-conscience, bold but, not to the point of rudeness of course wearing a bandanna around his head to catch sweat, he is a very hard worker. I see Ellie as a sweet and gentle spirit with wisdom beyond her years...she can be as at home in jeans and t-shirt as she can in an evening gown.)

 

[Mayflower]

(See we this is great. Don't worry about it seeming life like. I tell you what, if we go to publish, hehe, then we can go back and edit. It has been a long time since we were teenagers. Lol. And Nancy, I know. I love character development. That is why that other thread could be good for plotting characters. Like I know a good bio format.Campfire is so much easier. And I love this style!!!!)

----------------

Sherwin went and sat by the fire next to Casey. "Is dad really going to make me play volleyball tonight?" He asked. "He has that look in his eye like he did with family devotion the other night."

Casey looked at Sherwin spitefully. "I know your secret about the cell phone." She said. "And I am telling dad. You are going to be out of the house for not following the rules."

"No Casey...don't." Sherwin pleaded, before shutting his mouth. "I will do anything... You don't know what it is like having to go to different foster homes."

Casey sighed. She wasn't fond of him, but knew some of his past from his dad. He had a rough life.

"Give me the phone." Casey said with a frown.

--------

Jacob's heart beat fast as it usually did when he was asking someone about their faith in Christ. But especially this girl. There was some truth about what Ellie was saying about him and a pretty girl. And Hope was pretty with her flowing brown hair and eyes as brown as a doe.

"So Hope, I was wondering if you wanted to talk about how you came to have a personal relationship with Christ. I overheard your dad was a pastor?"

"You overheard?" Hope snapped. "Just because you live in a small town doesn't give you the right to listen in on things."

Jacob stammered. "Ummm...I am sorry. Uh, I was just curious, because you are new and all. Your mother showed up earlier is all and was talking to Mr. Morrison for a little bit."

Hope frowned. Her mother knew Tom as long as her dad did. They had moved for a Native American Church ministry in Oklahoma when she was only a couple years old.

"I am sorry...just my dad passed." Hope said. "And he was a pastor...I just don't care to talk about it much."

Ellie and Jacob looked sympathetically at Hope.

Ellie spoke up. "Well...I know you are hurting Hope, but one of my favorite beatitudes is "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

"Yeh...I know." Hope said.

"Do you believe you will see him in Heaven, Hope?" Jacob asked.

This question had gone around in Hope's mind since the car wreck. What if she had died.

 

[Nancy]

(See we this is great. Don't worry about it seeming life like. I tell you what, if we go to publish, hehe, then we can go back and edit. It has been a long time since we were teenagers. Lol. And Nancy, I know. I love character development. That is why that other thread could be good for plotting characters. Like I know a good bio format.Campfire is so much easier. And I love this style!!!!)

----------------

Sherwin went and sat by the fire next to Casey. "Is dad really going to make me play volleyball tonight?" He asked. "He has that look in his eye like he did with family devotion the other night."

Casey looked at Sherwin spitefully. "I know your secret about the cell phone." She said. "And I am telling dad. You are going to be out of the house for not following the rules."

"No Casey...don't." Sherwin pleaded, before shutting his mouth. "I will do anything... You don't know what it is like having to go to different foster homes."

Casey sighed. She wasn't fond of him, but knew some of his past from his dad. He had a rough life.

"Give me the phone." Casey said with a frown.

--------

Jacob's heart beat fast as it usually did when he was asking someone about their faith in Christ. But especially this girl. There was some truth about what Ellie was saying about him and a pretty girl. And Hope was pretty with her flowing brown hair and eyes as brown as a doe.

"So Hope, I was wondering if you wanted to talk about how you came to have a personal relationship with Christ. I overheard your dad was a pastor?"

"You overheard?" Hope snapped. "Just because you live in a small town doesn't give you the right to listen in on things."

Jacob stammered. "Ummm...I am sorry. Uh, I was just curious, because you are new and all. Your mother showed up earlier is all and was talking to Mr. Morrison for a little bit."

Hope frowned. Her mother knew Tom as long as her dad did. They had moved for a Native American Church ministry in Oklahoma when she was only a couple years old.

"I am sorry...just my dad passed." Hope said. "And he was a pastor...I just don't care to talk about it much."

Ellie and Jacob looked sympathetically at Hope.

Ellie spoke up. "Well...I know you are hurting Hope, but one of my favorite beatitudes is "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

"Yeh...I know." Hope said.

"Do you believe you will see him in Heaven, Hope?" Jacob asked.

This question had gone around in Hope's mind since the car wreck. What if she had died.

Sherwin went and sat by the fire, ready to be set afire later next to Casey. "Is dad really going to make me play volleyball tonight?" He asked. "He has that look in his eye like he did with family devotion the other night."

Casey looked at Sherwin spitefully. "I know your secret about the cell phone." She said. "And I am telling dad. You are going to be out of the house for not following the rules."

"No Casey...don't." Sherwin pleaded, before shutting his mouth. "I will do anything... You don't know what it is like having to go to different foster homes."

Casey sighed. She wasn't fond of him, but knew some of his past from his dad. He had a rough life.

"Give me the phone." Casey said with a frown.

--------

Jacob's heart beat fast as it usually did when he was asking someone about their faith in Christ. But especially this girl. There was some truth about what Ellie was saying about him and a pretty girl. And Hope was pretty with her flowing brown hair and eyes as brown as a doe.

"So Hope, I was wondering if you wanted to talk about how you came to have a personal relationship with Christ. I overheard your dad was a pastor?"

"You overheard?" Hope snapped. "Just because you live in a small town doesn't give you the right to listen in on things."

Jacob stammered. "Ummm...I am sorry. Uh, I was just curious, because you are new and all. Your mother showed up earlier is all and was talking to Mr. Morrison for a little bit."Hope frowned. Her mother knew Tom as long as her dad did. They had moved for a Native American Church ministry in Oklahoma when she was only a couple years old.

"I am sorry...just my dad passed." Hope said. "And he was a pastor...I just don't care to talk about it much."

Ellie and Jacob looked sympathetically at Hope.

Ellie spoke up. "Well...I know you are hurting Hope, but one of my favorite beatitudes is "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted"
Matthew 5:4).
"Yeh...I know." Hope said.
"Do you believe you will see him in Heaven, Hope?" Jacob asked.
This question had gone around in Hope's mind since
the car wreck. What if she had died.

Jacob told Hope again that He was sorry if he intruded,and hoped they could converse later about her walk, then said; "okay, let's get this ball rolling; as he walked over to the huge tepee of a bonfire to put the last touches on it so it would be ready to light when darkness falls! They still had a few hours before sunset, and he saw Mr. Morrison setting up the volley ball teams. He looks one short for this game...
Ellie turned to Hope and gave her a hug, and asked if she would like to get supplies for s'mores and campfire pies together for later. As they left the tepee area, Jacob watched them walk to the supply tent and, he wondered where Hope was in her walk. He sensed that she is pulling away from God, but, most likely it is that she is still morning her dad.
Mr. Morrison and a few others were putting the volley ball net up and starting to gather teams.
Each team needed 6 players. He chose several of the taller players to be in the front line, and positioned the others as to where they might do best.
Casey seemed suddenly happier, huh! So, he asked her to stand in this game as they were short one player...she told him that she was having her time of month and had cramps (yes, she was convicted of lying to her dad) All she wanted to do was to get away with Sherwins cell phone to get in touch with her friends-and find out what Rick, from the neighborhood had been saying about her. He was not a Christian and that would not sit well with Dad so-she needed to keep it secret! She sauntered over to an empty tent, crawled in with her phone. Mr. Morrison turned his focus on Sherwin and called him over to him. Sherwin was a bit reluctant as he knew what was coming next...he was not into sports, he liked to draw all kinds of different characters...since living in the foster homes most of his life, he had retreated into his own little world.

 

[Mayflower]

Hope was happy Ellie and Jacob didn't push her to talk about her walk with God. She always felt it was sort of an act being the pastor's daughter, and wasn't sure exactly where she stood...she felt obligated to believe.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a volleyball being hit her way. Hope hit it with her head and sent it flying. All of those years on the soccer team did her some good.

"Hey Sherwin, headed your way!"

Sherwin frowned. His phone was gone and his foster dad just insisted he play volleyball. He put his arms up in a huddle position. "Ow." He said as it bounced off of him into the net.

Mr. Morrison sighed. "I tell you what, how about you go keep Casey company. She loves volleyball and is probably a bit disappointed not to play.

"Oh, I am sure." Sherwin said with a grin. "I would love to go keep her company." He said.

Mr. Morrison smiled big. "Well that is good! You go do that." He said, glad that Sherwin and Casey were getting along. Especially if he were to decide to adopt Sherwin in the future.

Sherwin crawled into the tent, to see Casey talking on the the phone.

"You brat, get out of here!" Casey said.

"Or what? You will tell dad? Well he sent me here to keep you company." He said. "I could tell dad YOU have the phone."

"You better not! He will find out you had it too and make you go."

Fear rose up in Sherwin. "Stop doing that." He said. "That is not fair."

"Okay, okay. Hold on. I will call you right back." Casey said with a smile, and hung up the phone.

"Doing what?" Casey said.

"Blackmailing me. I want to stay here. Look, I just like to call a couple friends of mine. It is the only way we can keep in touch out of state. Plus, do you think those phone minutes will last forever? I buy the phone card with my stipend allowance dad gives me. It is all I use it for."

Casey frowned. "Okay, okay. You can call your friends. But I want half the minutes to call who I want."

"Half?!!!!" Sherwin said. "That is crazy."

Casey gave him a look and Sherwin frowned.

"Fine." He said. "But dad did send me in here and I don't want to play volleyball."

Casey rolled her eyes. "Well fine. You can play on my game boy advance. Just stay out of my conversation." She said, starting to call her friend back.

Sherwin caught the game boy advance Casey tossed to him and he grinned ear to ear. "Deal." He said.

 

[Nancy]

Hope was happy Ellie and Jacob didn't push her to talk about her walk with God. She always felt it was sort of an act being the pastor's daughter, and wasn't sure exactly where she stood...she felt obligated to believe.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a volleyball being hit her way. Hope hit it with her head and sent it flying. All of those years on the soccer team did her some good.

"Hey Sherwin, headed your way!"

Sherwin frowned. His phone was gone and his foster dad just insisted he play volleyball. He put his arms up in a huddle position. "Ow." He said as it bounced off of him into the net.

Mr. Morrison sighed. "I tell you what, how about you go keep Casey company. She loves volleyball and is probably a bit disappointed not to play.

"Oh, I am sure." Sherwin said with a grin. "I would love to go keep her company." He said.

Mr. Morrison smiled big. "Well that is good! You go do that." He said, glad that Sherwin and Casey were getting along. Especially if he were to decide to adopt Sherwin in the future.

Sherwin crawled into the tent, to see Casey talking on the the phone.

"You brat, get out of here!" Casey said.

"Or what? You will tell dad? Well he sent me here to keep you company." He said. "I could tell dad YOU have the phone."

"You better not! He will find out you had it too and make you go."

Fear rose up in Sherwin. "Stop doing that." He said. "That is not fair."

"Okay, okay. Hold on. I will call you right back." Casey said with a smile, and hung up the phone.

"Doing what?" Casey said.

"Blackmailing me. I want to stay here. Look, I just like to call a couple friends of mine. It is the only way we can keep in touch out of state. Plus, do you think those phone minutes will last forever? I buy the phone card with my stipend allowance dad gives me. It is all I use it for."

Casey frowned. "Okay, okay. You can call your friends. But I want half the minutes to call who I want."

"Half?!!!!" Sherwin said. "That is crazy."

Casey gave him a look and Sherwin frowned.

"Fine." He said. "But dad did send me in here and I don't want to play volleyball."

Casey rolled her eyes. "Well fine. You can play on my game boy advance. Just stay out of my conversation." She said, starting to call her friend back.

Sherwin caught the game boy advance Casey tossed to him and he grinned ear to ear. "Deal." He said.

As the volleyball game got underway, with Mr. Morrison being the the person to fill in until Jacob and Ellie were finished setting up the preparations for punch and the rest of the goodies tonight.
He noticed that awesome head hit by Hope and thought, this girl knows how to play very well! Just like her dad-athletic and quick!
Jacob and Ellie had finally finished up getting the table of refreshments ready for later. Jacob had to remove his I ♥ Jesus bandanna as it was soaked from sweat...of course, he had another tied around his big western belt. Ellie handed him a bottle of water that he slugged down in a couple of gulps. He asked Ellie what she was thinking about Hope and her faith...or lack thereof. As Ellie mulled over his question, she remembered when she herself was where (she suspects) Hope is now. She did not lose a parent as Hope did but, she has a deep empathy for those who are hurting and stunted in their growth, due to un-belief. She could strongly sense that Hope was flailing spiritually. She answered Jacob saying; you and I need to pray in agreement for Hope before we ask her the serious questions, I believe.

 

[JesusIsFaithful]

"Julianna?" Casey inquired, "I'm back.." she paused as she positioned herself furthest away from Sherwin in the tent and spoke softly so that the noise outside the tent would cover her conversation to prevent Sherwin from eavesdropping, "so anything new?'

"Nope. Nary a nibble.." Julianna reported, "I think Rick has settled down a bit after his father told him to quit obsessing about you."

"Well, that's good news," Casey replied with a sigh of relief, "tired of him and his football friends putting the spotlight on me in whooping me up at school with all of their catcalls in the hallways. I am no prettier than you or any of the other pretty girls at school. Now the other boys are doing it too."

"From what I had picked up from his bragging about you, he and his friends do think you look really hot wearing red shorts and a white tank top baring your mid riff when you go running by his house," Julianna revealed, "and I think that is why they like crashing at your youth group at church whenever you guys play volleyball outside."

"Oh.."Casey replied,"now I'm thinking I'd better dress more conservatively for running and playing volleyball now."

"What for? You dress conservatively at school all the time," Julianna argued, "I'm not changing my attire just because a few boys are drooling!"

"But if I dress conservatively all the time, then I would not be feeding the wolves in them at any time," Casey replied, "I have to think about the world I live in and their sinful state, Julianna. I cannot be ignorant of those things if I want to get out of their spotlight in being their eye candy."

"We live in America is all I am saying," Julianna protested in defense of her choice in how she dresses any way she pleases.

"And in America there is molestation and rape and murder .... which is why God wants us to be sober... watching all the time because the devil is a roaming lion, seeking whom he may devour," Casey explained her decision, "so it is good that you had told me, Julianna. Thank you," and before Julianna could contend further, Casey said, "I got to go now. I don't want to get caught in this tent, using Sherwin's phone."

 

[Mayflower]

Sherwin did his best to eavesdrop and managed to get some of it. "Casey is a good person." he thought. "I might just get adopted this time if I don't mess it up."

"Here Sherwin." Casey said, as she tossed the phone to him. "Your turn." She paused. "This can just be our little secret for now...but maybe we can bring this to dad in the future about it when I can prove how responsible I am with it."

"Hey, what about me?" Sherwin said. "I am too." Casey frowned.

"You are a bit younger then me though. ALL my friends have phones. My dad should trust me. And plus...if I bring it up to dad later and he sees the positive changes I have made, you won't take the rap for it. Because I am going to monitor your calls.

"Hey." Sherwin whined. "I spend my allowance for this. And my time is cut in half already. Now I am monitored?"

Casey sighed. "Ill put in some of my allowance too. That way you can have some for yourself. But if you don't want to get into trouble, you better stop stealing and hiding things like this. You don't have to steal food anyway or pack it away anymore."

Sherwin breathed heavily through his nose. Hunger was a thing of the past. But it was hard to not pack food away anyway just in case...

"Okay..." Sherwin said. "How did you know about the food?"

"It is kind of hard to not notice at home." Casey said. "Have you taken any from stores around the area?" She said, holding her breath.

"Y-yes...the corner store down the road from here...a couple things. He pulled a couple candy bars from his pocket .

"Okay. Hide the phone...and I am going to ask dad if we can walk down to the store. You are going to confess to Bev what you did and pay her for them."

"B-but I could go to jail." He said.

"Look, Bev is fair. She may have you do some work around the store, but you are going to have to make some changes if you want to stay here. And stop isolating. Make some friends. You aren't that bad."

Casey smiled and Sherwin gave a small smile back. "Why are you doing this?" Sherwin asked. "Like helping me?"

------

Hope ran over and sat on the bench to break, breathing hard. She noticed the boy named Rick and some of his buddys coming over to join the youth group.

"Oh boy. I know this type..." Hope thought. "Hey Jacob, you know them?" She whispered.

 

[JesusIsFaithful]

Jacob leaned over to Hope and whispered, "They are "fans" of Casey, if you get my drift.."

Hope nodded that she did. Then she saw Casey and Sherwin coming out of one of the three small tents that they use for separate Bible studies when they break into small groups that Jacob had explained earlier about. She saw Casey with one hand on Sherwin's shoulder in leading him in a direction away from church, and then down the sidewalk down the street. Rick and his friends did not see Casey walking away, but instead, started to entertain themselves by watching the other girls playing volleyball.

~~~~~~~~~~

After some deliberation from Sherwin's confession to all of his thefts and returning the two candy bar that was stolen recently, Bev tallied the amount stolen, and Sherwin had enough to pay for it from his pocket since he was only with the Morrisons for about a month. He was hoping to use that money from his weekly allowance in saving it up to pay for his phone card, but he hopes Casey will come through with her word on paying for some of it.

Casey inquired about him working for Bev to learn some responsibility and accountability, but although it was a nice idea as Bev had said, she wasn't hiring right now. So Casey led Sherwin out of the store in leading him back to church up the street. "You are pretty darn sneaky, Sherwin, but you need ask the Lord to help you quit stealing food whenever hunger takes you. It's not like you are NOT getting three squares a day now."

"It is a habit..but you should know that I have stolen from other places before I had come to live with you guys," Sherwin stated. Then he saw an older teenage girl, about Casey's age, holding a baby in her arms as she was eyeing him and then Casey back and forth. She was about to say something to Sherwin, but he signaled her with his hand not to say anything without Casey seeing that. He mouthed that he got caught stealing the candy for her to have, because of her low blood sugar level. She was a diabetic. Sherwin saw the dismay on her face as she looked at her baby and wondered her fate.

He wasn't about to let Casey in on his secret about supporting some homeless runaways that were living in that abandoned theater on the other side of town. The phone was a way to keep contact with them as this girl was one of them. Then he spotted a five dollar bill on the curb of the street, picked it up, turned around and broke from Casey to run back to the girl with the baby just before she entered the store. "Here you go," Sherwin said, "you look like you need it," he said as he sees Casey catching up to him, "you have a nice day, Miss."

The girl tried to conceal her elation that she did not have to steal today in risking getting caught and her baby taken away from her by child social services

Casey saw that the girl was very pleased in having that five dollar bill. Casey saw her went into the store with the money and picked out the very same candy bars that Sherwin had stolen before she trailed after Sherwin as he walked away, satisfied that the Lord has provided another way to help her today. He prayed, "I'll be looking to you to provide from now on, Lord. I don't want to ever steal again.." and then he paused and prayed in silence again,"if you can help me get out of lying in keeping that secret in taking care of them kids at the old theater... that would be better."

When Casey walked back with Sherwin unto the area where the volley ball game was playing, it was then that Rick and the gang saw her and began chanting "Casey.. Casey.. Casey..." over and over again for her to play.

 

[Mayflower]

"Losers, losers, losers." Casey chanted back, before disappearing into her tent. Sherwin frowned at the guys and walked over to them.

"Stop treating these girls like they are pieces of meat." He said angrily. "And my sister."

"Or what shrimp?" Rick said, sizing him up. The other guys laughed.

Seeing there was trouble, Mr. Morrison walked over and put a hand on Sherwin's shoulder. Sherwin shrunk thinking he was in trouble.

"Sherwin is right. You guys are welcome to stay for devotions around the fire in a bit, but if I catch you chanting at these girls or saying anything to make them uncomfortable, I will ask you to leave."

Rick looked at Sherwin as if he could pulverize him if Mr. Morrison wasn't around.

"Well? What will it be?" Mr. Morrison said.

"I kinda want to stay, Rick." Colby stepped out of the gang. He was a little older then Sherwin and looked just like his older brother. "I want to hear what they are talking about here." Rick frowned.

"Fine. We will stay and won't make any trouble." He said, seeming to instruct the others. "Plus a smore sounds nice." He said, walking off towards the fire. The group followed, except for Colby.

"That was nice standing up for your sister, Sherwin. But I don't want you or Casey alone with any of these boys, alright?"

"Yes sir." Sherwin said. He saw Casey come out of the tent in a more modest outfit and went to sit down next to Hope and Jacob.

"Yeh, my brother acts tough, but he is alright when you get to know him." Colby said.

He looked closer at Sherwin and realize he recognized him from the abandoned theater. He had helped him out one day. His eyes got wide, hoping he wouldn't tell Mr. Morrison.

"Come on Colby, we have some time before my dad teaches. Can Colby go in the tent with me to play on Casey's game boy?"

"Okay. But be ready for the devotion after the volleyball game ends."

Sherwin nodded, and lead Colby into the tent.

"Please don't tell..." Colby started.

"Relax. Your secret is safe." Sherwin said, getting out Casey's game boy. "But I need your help with something."

 

[Mayflower]

(haha, yeh, I must have had Hope on my mind. Lol. Maybe Jacob or Ellie can ask her some more questions now to help her get into her walk with Christ.)

 

[JesusIsFaithful]

"As long as it does not make me stay longer than usual.." Colby stated out loud to Sherwin, and then he whispered,"I usually leave before prayer time at the end since it is a long way back "home"."

"Yeah.. I get that, "Sherwin replied, "has Jack, John, and Joe been keeping up with their paper routes still?"

"Yeah.." Colby hesitated in his reply somewhat, "but even with them doing it under your name that you had set up when you got your social security number in foster care, we are barely scraping by for food," Colby explained, "but two good meals a day is better than one by dumpster diving," then he amended, "more like one and a half."

"I have been able to keep that part a secret... having that P.O. Box at the beginning when I started getting those paper routes on the other side of town did allow me to collect that check from the paper to give Nellie the cash to manage in buying what you all need to get by on, and not just food."

"How did you get the power and heat back on at the theater anyway?" Colby inquired, "That had to take some doing."

"All I did was give an advance payment and a redirection of the bill to be sent to the theater was all it took,"Sherwin replied.

"Huh," Colby had replied while amused that the power company didn't think twice when it has not been open for two years now since it has been on.

"Anyway...here is what I need your help with..."Sherwin began, as he showed the ad for paper routes on the other side of town, "show this to the gang to see who else wants to take on a paper route...with that many routes, if all of our people get it, ..."

"Surely the paper will think you are taking too much on and start asking question.." Colby interjected, "they could come to your house and ask questions on how you can be doing all that when you are living on the other side of town now."

"When missionaries smuggles Bibles into China, they prayed that God will blind them to seeing the Bibles out in the open when the soldiers were searching the trunk of their vehicles and so that is what I have to do here..is pray that they are too busy to notice," Sherwin said, "as I have been."

Colby shrugged and said,"So far.. He has been protecting us and providing for us... been praying for Rick to stop being so ... forward towards people. It does look like he has a chip on his shoulder and all that. I would have thought being the son of the mayor would make him more laid back, but he is not. It seems like he is using his status as son of the mayor to get away with stuff like his whooping up Casey at high school. The police will not charge him for that nor the fights that he starts," Colby replied, "especially when other guys start a fight with him. He is all too eager to fight."

"Well, keep praying...He might even lead him to repent tonight... you never know," Sherwin replied, handing Colby the ad.

A few of the girls came into the tent and asked them to leave as they wanted to change out from their play clothes for volleyball to regular clothes to be ready for Bible Study next. Colby and Sherwin complied by leaving the tent with Casey's Game Boy.

 

[JesusIsFaithful]

"Lost my cool there," Casey said when she sat next to Hope whom was sitting next to Jacob,"I should not have called them losers ..."

"Don't worry about it,"Jacob leaned over past Hope to see Casey when he said that,"but at least they get the idea that you don't like that now."

"I could have said that without calling them losers though," Casey pointed out.

"Yeah.. I guess," Jacob replied sitting back up.

"So are you a christian, Hope?" Casey inquired, "I know people assume that of pastor's children that they are, but they really shouldn't."

Jacob was glad that Casey had said that as he was struggling with how to begin in asking her, but then Hope answered, "No," she paused as the silence was louder than all the commotion around them, "no... I am not a christian, Casey."

"Why don't you believe in Him, Hope? Any reason?" Casey inquired just before Jacob could formulate a question in his mind after being startled for an answer he did not expect as he tried to take in what Hope has said.

"My friend ...had died.."Hope replied softly, "and she was not a believer," she paused for a long time as a tear trickled down her cheek, "I find it hard to believe she is in hell. This had happened when I was eight years old. So.. that is how long I have been resisting believing in Him while growing up. With my Dad gone, my mother has pretty much taken over my "christian upbringing" but she still doesn't know that I had never believed in Him."

Silence filled the void for what seem like a long time, but it was only for about 4 seconds before she continued,"I say resisting because I keep feeling this calling to believe in Him and more... but...I can't get over that about my friend. I cannot believe in a God that would send my friend to hell for not believing in Him at such a young age."

"Nobody would be in hell if God knew they would have believed in Him if they had heard the gospel,"Jacob explained, "has your friend been around your folks?" Hope nodded. "Has your friend heard the gospel?"

Hope nodded and said "Lots of time when we were little at Sunday School."

"Did your friend ever said she never believed in Him?" Casey interjected.

"She implied it. Laughed about some of the things in the Bible. She even said that 'If Mommy and Daddy lied about Santa Claus so I would be good, they must be all fibbing about Him too," Hope explained.

"How did she die?" Casey inquired further.

Hope took a long pause in gathering her ability to answer that question, but she choked out a response with a sob,"She drowned in her pool and I wasn't there to be her water buddy.." she could not continue, and leaned on Jacob's shoulder to cry on, "she slipped ....and hit her head on the side of the pool when she fell in the deep end. She was..... unconscious when she drowned. No chance for calling out for help, let alone to call on God to save her."

There were no words to comfort her by. Hope wanted to believe that maybe her friend was gasping for air in praying to God to save her when it looked like she was not going to make it, but it seemed so unlikely. Hope gathered herself, drying her tears, and continued to sit there, looking up at the skies above as if praying to God, "Why would you let that happen?"

 

[Mayflower]

"Lost my cool there," Casey said when she sat next to Hope whom was sitting next to Jacob,"I should not have called them losers ..."

"Don't worry about it,"Jacob leaned over past Hope to see Casey when he said that,"but at least they get the idea that you don't like that now."

"I could have said that without calling them losers though," Casey pointed out.

"Yeah.. I guess," Jacob replied sitting back up.

"So are you a christian, Hope?" Casey inquired, "I know people assume that of pastor's children that they are, but they really shouldn't."

Jacob was glad that Casey had said that as he was struggling with how to begin in asking her, but then Hope answered, "No," she paused as the silence was louder than all the commotion around them, "no... I am not a christian, Casey."

"Why don't you believe in Him, Hope? Any reason?" Casey inquired just before Jacob could formulate a question in his mind after being startled for an answer he did not expect as he tried to take in what Hope has said.

"My friend ...had died.."Hope replied softly, "and she was not a believer," she paused for a long time as a tear trickled down her cheek, "I find it hard to believe she is in hell. This had happened when I was eight years old. So.. that is how long I have been resisting believing in Him while growing up. With my Dad gone, my mother has pretty much taken over my "christian upbringing" but she still doesn't know that I had never believed in Him."

Silence filled the void for what seem like a long time, but it was only for about 4 seconds before she continued,"I say resisting because I keep felling this calling to believe in Him and more... but...I can't get over that about my friend. I cannot believe in a God that would send my friend to hell for not believing in Him at such a young age."

"Nobody would be in hell if God knew they would have believed in Him if they had heard the gospel,"Jacob explained, "has your friend been around your folks?" Hope nodded. "Has your friend heard the gospel?"

Hope nodded and said "Lots of time when we were little at Sunday School."

"Did your friend ever said she never believed in Him?" Casey interjected.

"She implied it. Laughed about some of the things in the Bible. She even said that 'If Mommy and Daddy lied about Santa Claus so I would be good, they must be all fibbing about Him too," Hope explained.

"How did she die?" Casey inquired further.

Hope took a long pause in gathering her ability to answer that question, but she choked out a response with a sob,"She drowned in her pool and I wasn't there to be her water buddy.." she could not continue, and leaned on Jacob's shoulder to cry on, "she slipped ....and hit her head on the side of the pool when she fell in the deep end. She was..... unconscious when she drowned. No chance for calling out for help, let alone to call on God to save her."

There were no words to comfort her by. Hope wanted to believe that maybe her friend was gasping for air in praying to God to save her when it looked like she was not going to make it, but it seemed so unlikely. Hope gathered herself, drying her tears, and continued to sit there, looking up at the skies above as if praying to God, "Why would you let that happen?"

(Wow JIF...that was perfect. Once I start choking back tears I am going to come back and have Mr. Morrison do his bit of devotion. Reel her in. Lol. It may take a little while. Maybe a little later this afternoon. :) praise God! This is one question sooo many people have, is why there is so much pain in the world. But sin causes it. Not God. He loves us so much. :) )

 

[Nancy]

As Hope's tears were coming from her pretty brown eyes, Jacob felt a stirring in his heart for her. He wanted to help to share her pain but, knew he couldn't so, he sat next to her and handed her a clean bandanna to wipe her tears. Casey approached Hope with a cup of punch and asked of she would like to make a s'more. Hope shook her head and said, maybe a bit later; but thanks for the punch.
Ellie moved from her position and sat next to Hope, who was now between her and Jacob. Ellie and Jacob were silently praying for the Lord to put His words in their mouths before they asked anything further of Hope. Once she seemed settled down a bit, and took a deep breath. She thanked them for their comfort. Then she said, "why would God take my friend so young like that"? Ellie answered her by saying, "Hope, nobody can know the status of your friends heart at the time she died. And, God works ALL things out for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purposes. So, if you can, just try and rest in His goodness, simply ask for His wisdom to deal with your unbelief. Mourning those we love is natural and healthy to do. But, only God knows best for each of us, His plans are perfect. And His judgments are just. She went on to quote Genesis 18:25 ...

 

[Mayflower]

(Oh man this is good stuff! When my sister's friend died, she asked me if I believed her friend went to Hell as a nonbeliever. I didn't really know what to say. I told her that no one knows what someone is thinking about those last moments before they pass. But that Christ was the only way to be saved. My sister is Jewish now when she got married, but I pray she comes to know Christ some day. But I feel better equipped next time someone tells me this. I am trying to decide what Mr. Morrison will say, so if y'all want to story before then, feel free. Lol. But something to tie these points together. Thank y'all for this!!!! I love writing stories!!!! And this new way of writing is wonderful.)

 

[Nancy]

(Oh man this is good stuff! When my sister's friend died, she asked me if I believed her friend went to Hell as a nonbeliever. I didn't really know what to say. I told her that no one knows what someone is thinking about those last moments before they pass. But that Christ was the only way to be saved. My sister is Jewish now when she got married, but I pray she comes to know Christ some day. But I feel better equipped next time someone tells me this. I am trying to decide what Mr. Morrison will say, so if y'all want to story before then, feel free. Lol. But something to tie these points together. Thank y'all for this!!!! I love writing stories!!!! And this new way of writing is wonderful.)

I will pray that your sister finds Truth, that she will have an insatiable hunger and thirst for the Truth, and that she will SEE. Amen!
I cannot start a story right now...have to leave in about 20 or so minutes but, i will check in later tonight when I get home!

 

[Mayflower]

Our weekend is sort of ruined, lol. Probably staying home. So Ill try to write later. It will be great

 

[Mayflower]

Mr. Morrison said a soft prayer under his breath as he saw the youth. "Father...please let the message I picked out for tonight touch these youth. Let there be a revival for You Father, an insatiable hunger for Your Truth and Your love in Jesus name..."

"Attention guys and girls. Come gather round.

Hope quickly wiped her tears away before she could respond to Jacob and Ellie's words of comfort.

Casey went and sat with her friends, and Sherwin sat with Colby, sneaking Casey's game boy advance in his back pocket.

"Would anyone like to pray in before we start worship?"

Jacob raised his hand, and Mr. Morrison smiled.

Rick laughed and snickered and the others did the same. But Mr. Morrison gave them a look and they quieted down.

Sherwin elbowed Colby who was stuffing hotdogs in his mouth and in his pockets. He stopped and everyone quieted down for prayer.

"Father God, there are people all around us hurting. There are some that are trying to find their way and others who want to grow closer to You. Some don't know You and some blame You for things when the Enemy is really to blame. I pray, Jesus, that You teach us Your words through the Holy Spirit in us, in the areas each of us need Your help in, not just for ministering unto us, ourselves, but to others around us who do not know You yet. We pray Father, that you will reveal Your Son to the lost through our testimony of Your Son so that they may believe in Him & be saved. In Jesus name we pray, Amen."

Mr. Morrison and the others grew quiet from the prayer.

"Well then, let us start off with some campfire songs.