Anna

    “Anna let me get that for you,” said Chris has he lifted her black suitcase into the trunk of the Steven’s car. “Thanks Chris,” replied Anna.  The Meadow Creek Baptist Church youth group was in Spain. They were visiting their missionaries the Stevens.  The Stevens were a young couple with three little kids.  Sara, Savannah, Seth were the names of the Stevens kids.  About fourteen members of the youth group went to Spain.
  Heading to the Steven’s house the teens were looking out the car window at the buildings. They were to the church in about ten minutes later. The top floor of the church at rooms so that is were the group was going to stay. 
  Once every one got settled they headed back to the Stevens’ house to eat dinner. That is where they met Amy who helped cook the meal and were watching the Steven’s children. While the dinner was getting finished every one was talking and playing with the kids.  Anna was closest to the door when she heard a knock on the door. No one else heard it so she went and opened the door. There in the doorway was young man about twenty-one. He was tall, blond hair and blue eyes.  “Hi, you must be with the youth group from New York, my name is Matt,” said Matt. Yes, I’m Anna, nice to meet you. Mr. Stevens saw Matt by now. Come on in you are just in time to eat. Mr. Stevens introduced every one to Matt. “Matt is the youth leader at our church,” said Mr. Stevens. Anna and Matt didn’t have any more time to talk. They ate, then Todd, Mr. Stevens gave a little talk. At the last they sang some songs. Matt played is guitar.
  The girls were in their room that night and Heather brought up Matt.  Hey, Anna so what you think of Matt,” asked Heather.  “Matt is a hunk, Did you get a load of his arms,” exclaimed Terry. “He is ok I guess,” replied Anna as she rolled over and went to sleep.
  The next day was Sunday. The youth group went to hear Matt. They sang and Matt gave a talk.  After church the group was waiting in the lobby of the church with Matt for the Steven family. Seth came running down the hall. When he saw Matt, he called “Matt”! He said in a two-year-old way.  Matt sung Seth up in the air and twirled him around. Seth screamed with glee. Anna could tell Matt liked kids as Sarah and Savannah ran up to Matt and gave him a hug.
The next day everyone went site seeing around town. Anna happened to be caught at the back of the group with Matt. Anna was listening to Todd tell about things as they walked and didn’t’ catch Matt watching her.  She is bout 5’6, brown hair, and green eyes. She was pretty. Matt had seen lots of girls. But something was different about Anna.  Anna had bought every thing she wanted and was waiting out side for the rest of the group.  Matt went outside to talk with Anna.  “ So what do you think of Spain,” asked Matt. “It is a beautiful place,” answered Anna.  “ Todd told me you play the guitar, you should play for us some time,” said Matt. “ I’m not really that good and I only know how to play a few songs,” replied Anna.  “ I could teach you some songs if you like. We could even start tonight if you want,” asked Matt.  “ That would be fine but I don’t have a guitar,” replied Anna. “ Todd has one you can use.
  Later that day after dinner Matt was teaching Anna some songs of the guitar when Savannah came up to them. “ Matt is going to teach me guitar when I get a little older,” said Savannah.  Mrs. Stevens came up behind Savannah.  Sweetie, what if Matt gets married before you are old enough to play,” asked Mrs. Stevens?  “ He would still teach me because he would still be living here,” explained Savannah. “ O I will, will I,” said Matt as he started tickling Savannah.  “Yes, of course, I’m going to marry you,” said Savannah. This made Anna start to smile. So that is Savannah’s dream to marry the guy she looks up to. Hey, not bad. At least she picked a very nice, kind, handsome guy.  “ So you are planning to marry an old guy like me are you,” asked Matt. Yes, I don’t think you are old,” replied Savannah.  “ Well I’m older then you. I’m twenty one and you are five,” said Matt.  Savannah thought for a minute. “  I think I wait for someone my age to marry me cause you are old,” exclaimed Savannah. This made every one laugh.
  In two more days the group would be leaving Spain.  The group was out in the market place. Giving out tracts and telling bible stories to the kids.  Anna was telling a bible story to a group of kids. Some of the older guys were sitting off to the side. Matt saw them and went over to talk with them.  Matt sat down and said, “ What do you think?”  Meaning what they thought about the story.  One of the guys said. “ The girl is really pretty,” and the others thought so to.  “ That isn’t what I mean, she is pretty but I was talking about what she is saying,” replied Matt.  “ Is what she is saying really true? Did some guy really die in my place and pay for my sins?” asked one of the guys.  “ Yes, Jesus came to earth just to die for everyone and to do his father’s work,” answered Matt.  Matt led those guys to the Lord that day. 
    The teens were about to board the plane. Every one was saying good by to the Stevens and to every one that came to the airport.  Anna was hugging Mrs. Stevens and she saw Matt standing there looking at her. She went over to tell him good by.  There were a few other people talking to him so she was walking to the gate when she heard her name called.  Matt came jogging up to her. “You thought you could leave without saying good by to me. Well I don’t think so.”  It was nice to meet you and thanks for the lessons,” replied Anna.  “ No problem, it was so nice to meet you to. You take care and you are a very special lady in the sight of God,” said Matt.
Anna was sitting on the plane thinking what Matt had said to her when they were boarding.  He said I was special girl in the sight of God. But does he think I’m special. Will I ever see Matt again?” thought Anna.
When Anna got back home she started college. Her major was business. Anna went to school in her town. Besides going to school she worked too.  Anna kept busy. It had been almost a year since her church went to Spain.  As Anna was leaving school one day she saw a group of guys and one of them looked familiar. Then the guy looked up and saw Anna.  “ Anna?” Asked the guy.  Do you remember me?  Matt from Spain about a year ago.”  “ Yes, I remember what are you doing here?” asked Anna.  “ I’m visiting my aunt.  And I’m here to pick up my cousin.  How have you been doing?” asked Matt. “ Just going to school and working keeps me busy.” Replied Anna.  How long are you here for,” asked Anna. “ I’m going back in a couple a weeks.  I was good to see you again. I might see you Sunday ” Said Matt. The same here,” replied Anna.
    Matt, where in the world did you meet her,” asked Matt’s cousin Drew.  “ Her church group came to Spain last year. Why did you want to know,” asked Matt.  “ Her face was just so catching,” replied Drew. “ So you are saying that you got something for her,” asked Matt with a smile on his face.  “ Man, you mean the first time you saw her you didn’t think something of her,” said Drew.  “ Well I thought she was a nice, pretty Christian girl.” Answered Matt.
    The next Sunday Matt told the church how every thing was going in Spain. After church the pastor’s family, Anna’s family and Matt went out to eat. During the meal Matt looked over at Anna. Her face was joyful. Her smile was the prettiest smile he had ever seen. When he looked at her he couldn’t help but smile.
  While everyone was saying good by Matt pulled Mr. Dillard to the side. “ Mr. Dillard, could we meet for coffee in the morning for I can talk with you,” asked Matt. “ Sure, May I ask if one of the subjects is going to be my daughter,” asked Mr. Dillard. “ Yes sir, that is one of the main things.” Replied Matt.
    In the morning Mr. Dillard and Matt met for coffee.  Sir, I wanted to ask you if I could write your daughter? I haven’t said anything to Anna. I wanted to first talk with you,” said Matt. “ I’m glad you wanted to talk with me. Anna has brought your name up but she didn’t say much about you.  Why don’t you tell me about yourself.” Said Mr. Dillard. So Matt told his testimony and about his life. Mr. Dillard said “ you sound like a wonderful guy but I would like to get to know you a little better. We are having some people from the church over tomorrow night why don’t you come too,” said Mr. Dillard “ That sounds great,” replied Matt.
So the next night the Dillard’s home was full of fun, food, and fellowship. Mr. Dillard saw how well Anna and Matt got a long. And when Matt talked to Anna he lit up. Mr. Dillard walked Matt out to his car.  Matt you may write my daughter. She might have the desire to write you back or she might not. It’s up to her. But I give you the go a head,” said Mr. Dillard.
          The next few weeks Mr. Dillard was watching Anna. She was normal and joyful. One day the mail came and Anna’s brother brought it in. He was going to take Anna’s mail to her but when he got to her door he heard her praying. When Anna came out her brother told her she had gotten some mail. She was flipping through the mail and stopped when she saw the address was from Spain. When ever she got a letter Anna would go sit on the swing in the back yard.
 
Anna,
It was great to see you again on my last trip home. Every time I see you I see the joy of Jesus on your face. I’m glad I got to go to your church and meet the people that the Stevens told me highly about and you being one of the people. Even the guys here know there is something different about you besides being very pretty. And they want to know what makes you shine all the time. So thanks to you I get to tell them about Jesus.  I did get the thumbs up from your dad to write you. And he said it is your choice to write back or not. Well I have to get going. God bless. Matt

Anna did write to Matt and they kept in touch for a few months. Then for some reason Matt’s letters stopped. Anna had no idea why. Some times she would wonder did he meet someone else, has he moved, did some thing happen to him? All Anna could do was pray. 
      Anna picked up the guitar in her spare time. She was mainly teaching herself. When she did play she would think of Matt. Anna didn’t want to waste all her time thinking about this guy that she had only known for a couple of months.
  Summer was coming up and Anna would finish her sophomore year of college.  Anna had family up in Maine. They had asked if Anna could come and stay the summer with them. So Anna was excited about going up there.  When Anna had gotten off the plane and was looking for her Aunt and Uncle she saw some one she knew.  “ Matt,” Anna called.  Matt turned around and there was Anna just as he remembered her.
“ We meet again,” said Matt.  “ Yes, we do.  How has life been treating you,” asked Anna.  “ Busy, I have moved back here. And started teaching at a Christian school and being a part time pastor,” replied Matt.
“ Wow you have been busy. I can see moving back home took up a lot of your time,” said Anna.  “ I didn’t move back home. I moved here to Maine.  I work at Lighthouse Baptist church about fifteen minutes away from here,” answered Matt. “When did you move back from Spain,” asked Anna. “ Well I just got in just a few minutes ago from Spain,” replied Matt.  “ Well I bet you are tried and I’ll let you go,” said Anna.” “ I just called my friend who was suppose to pick me up but he said that he couldn’t make it so I have to find a ride,” said Matt  “Who needs a ride?” asked Anna’s Uncle as they walked up to Anna and Matt. “ Uncle Dale and Aunt Kelly it is nice to see you,” said Anna. Matt this is Dale and Kelly O’Neal my Aunt & Uncle,” introduced Anna. “ It is very good to meet you and I’m the one who needs a ride but I don’t want to make you go out of your way,” said Matt. “Where can we take you,” asked Dale?  “ The house is on North Drive,” answered Matt. “ I know where that is let’s get you bags and get going,” said Dale.
    They dropped Matt off and then headed home. Anna’s cousins were excited about Anna spending a whole summer with them.  Uncle Dale’s oldest daughter Haley was seventeen, then Mark was thirteen and Ginny was nine.
On Sunday morning Anna was getting ready to go to church but didn’t know the name of where Uncle Dale and his family went to church. Anna asked Haley “ What is the name of your church.”  Haley answer was “ Lighthouse.”

  Anna and Matt grew a little closer over the summer. She also found out the he was a wonderful preacher.  It was time for Ann to go home. She didn’t really want to go home. The weather in Maine was really nice.
Anna got home and started working at a shop of one of the ladies in the church. That kept her busy during the week and on Sundays Anna played the piano for church. Every so often she would get letters from Matt. Some of the young men had their eye on Anna. But Anna didn’t think any thing of men beside they were nice Godly men.
It was getting close to Anna’s birthday, which was the tenth of September. The weather was cool enough for a sweater. The leaves were starting to fall.  Anna’s family gave her a party on her birthday.  Anna was walking down a path in the woods behind her house when she heard someone come up behind her. She turned around and there was Matt. She ran and gave him a hug. “ I didn’t know you were coming,” said Anna. “ I wanted it to be surprise and I can see that it was,” replied Matt. They went walking for a while, then Matt stopped, took Ann’s hand and looked into her eyes said I have something to tell you.”  “Ever since I met you in Spain I knew the Lord wanted to me to marry you. I have been waiting on the Lord for the right time to ask you. So when the Lord told me it was time I came right away.  As Matt took a box out of his pocket he asked Anna, would you please become my wife?” “ I would love to be your wife,” replied Anna.
  Matt and Anna started courting. Matt would come down for holidays and Anna would spend the summer in Maine.  They had been courting for about five months they planned the wedding for May 11th. 
In March Matt went on a mission trip with his church to Canada.  While he was on the mission trip Anna was planning for the wedding.  The group had come back from Canada but Matt had not.  Two weeks before the wedding Matt called Anna. Before Matt could say anything Anna asked, “Where in the world are you?” “It is only two weeks away from the wedding and you aren’t here.” “ Matt replied, Anna it is fine. I have been doing the Lords’ work. Several revivals started and I preached at those. Then I went to different churches to preach and I also preached at a couple of retreats. I will be back in town shortly.” “ Anna asked when does shortly mean?” “Anna I have to go, I’ll see you when I do by,” said Matt. 
Anna was going to have a talk with Matt about staying away for so long without calling  and not telling her what time he would be home.
  About ten minutes later after she had talked to Matt, Anna heard the door bell ring.  When Anna opened the door there was Matt standing there smiling like a sly cat. Anna wanted to give him a punch but she couldn’t do it. Anna gave Matt a big hug and then the big talk.
The day finely came they both had been waiting for.  The church was full, the sun was streaming through the window and made a circle of light on the platform where Anna and Matt was suppose to stand.  Every one knew that the Lord was in this marriage and he was here now. Anna was the most beautiful woman on the planet that day to Matt. It was time for the kiss and it was both of theirs first kiss that they gave each other. 
For the honeymoon they went to Prince Edward Island for a couple of days.  When they got home Matt was still beaming because he had the best wife any one could every have.

    Matt  had a  friend  who was a missionary in Romania. Matt’s friend Shawn needed someone to come and help his family in Romania. Matt told Anna about the need that  Shawn’s family had. They both prayed about it. The Lord led them  to help Shawn by going to Romania. But first they had to get support. And during this time Anna was  having a child. Well they got their support and Steven Micah came into the world. Anna and Matt was excited about going to Romania but first they had learn the language.  Matt caught right on but Anna was having little trouble learning the language. While in school Steven got sick and had to be put in the hospital for a few days. He had just gotten over the sickness when  Matt fell and broke his arm. Anna’s dad had been having heart problems for a while,  Her dad had a hear attack  and passed a way. So they went and stayed with Ann’s mom for a while. Anna and Matt were both already discouraged and down.  But on top of that they got a letter saying that there was problems  with their paperwork for going to Romania. Matt was just about to give up and quit before Anna sat down and talked with him.
    “ Matt, I know we have bills to pay and problems to take care of. But we haven’t been trusting God. We have been trying to do things by ourselves.  We need to give everything to God and let him take it in his hands.  He will provide for us and everything will be alright.”

Matt let God have everything and things began to happen. Money was sent in  way over the amount that they needed. They got their paperwork all in order and was on their way to Romania.

  Shawn’s family was running a camp for kids. The kids got to have fun but also learn English. They had classes at the camp during the day. Matt and Anna got into the daily grind of things. And the Lord used them in the kid’s lives. There was an orphanage in the town. Anna went to the orphanage and did Bible classes for the kids. Matt went to the orphanage with Anna whenever he could and there was this little girl that caught his eye. She was about three years old, had black hair and brown eyes.  Her name was Ruth.  Ruth would pay close attention when Matt was teaching the class. Well Ruth or Ruthie which some called her won Matt and Ann’s heart. So they took her home to live with them.