It was one of the first things I noticed.

I approached him and asked him about it. "Do you run?" Brian, the pastor, laughed and said I better talk to his wife when she got done packing up her stuff. He had been wearing a Garmin watch. Being first time guests at a church is never easy, but I recognized the watch and used it as my "in". It was my opportunity to make a connection. We all yearn for connection. When Sarah, Brian's wife, had her stuff backed up and came out from the service, I asked her about running. We talked for an hour before we all decided it was time to go home and eat. (What a picture for all my future conversations with Brian and Sarah. Now, they are some of our best friends!) On our way to lunch after church, I told Joe that this was it. This was our church home. (I'm sure you can imagine. Joe told me to hold my horses because we needed more time!) The next week, Brian and Sarah invited us out to lunch with them, and the rest is history. Three Trails became a safe haven for us. The way we got there was a little rocky, but I'm so thankful God works in the mess of our lives to place us where He has called us.

We all need it. That place to belong. The place that is home, filled with family (be it blood or chosen). A place that is safe, where we can grow and mature and strive toward who God created us to be. But sometimes finding that place is not easy. Like I've mentioned in previous blog posts, moving to Independence was hard. It felt like I left my home behind. But slowly and surely, it began to feel like home. Finding a church home played a huge role in that.

It all started after my move. Long story short, Joe and I attended a church at the time that seemed like it had some wonderful opportunities for me to work and serve in ministry. I was just finishing up my Master's degree, and was so excited. A few months, a lot of tears, and a shattered heart later, we were in search of a church home. Things didn't exactly go as planned... but then again, they never really do, do they? We started looking for ministry jobs for me, but by the time July rolled around, it seemed clear to both of us that we needed to find a church home that could pour into us and build us up as newlyweds. November was fast approaching, and we needed solid support as we began this journey of marriage. So I did what any millennial would do. I googled churches around us. The Church at Three Trails was one of the many websites I viewed, but something about the mission and vision of the church really stuck with me. It was the first church we visited after deciding to find a home, rather than a job. Little did we know, God would use that obedience and bless us with that ministry job for me later.

It's now been 3.5 years. I have been serving as the Director of Youth Ministry for 3 years, and serving as the Administrative Assistant for 2.5 years. There have been a lot of hard times over the last few years, but they have also been so full of blessings and so full of God's faithfulness. And I am still so thankful for this church, the people, and the opportunity to serve.