Since I am in the States right now and haven’t received a whole lot of input from Haiti this week (I do have a few pictures I’ll share with you at the end though!), I decided to share a little bit about my early years with you and the love of my life then and now. Perhaps you’ll find yourself in there somewhere, too. (Just to clarify, when I get little input from Haiti, it’s because things are going well.)
A Long Long Time Ago
Me, Roz, Janet, Glenna and Jamie. (Yes, I’m the one bent over laughing and messing up our perfect chorus line!)
As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved music and singing. In second grade I woke up one morning to a guitar in my room. Talk about excitement!
In fifth grade I was so excited to be able to start lessons and join the Mansfield Middle School band. The only band instrument I actually owned was a clarinet. All the pads were leaking and it was impossible to get a decent note out of it. After a couple of months, I was so discouraged, I quit. I concentrated instead on chorus, madrigal singers, barber shop singers and a children’s opera about Noah’s Flood.
Lindsy Wallace, my band director back in the day
Noah’s Flood Opera 1978
In seventh grade my parents had the clarinet fixed and I joined the band. In eighth grade I picked up every instrument I could find in the band room and learned how to play them all. My very favorite was the trumpet. I joined the trumpet section of the band even though I wasn’t very good yet. I was determined though and improved quickly.
Love
When I started high school I just HAD to be in the band. I didn’t own a trumpet so I went back to playing the clarinet.
Performing
Our first band event was in November. The marching band played in Band Day at the University of Connecticut. During one of our rehearsals we learned that Peter Murphy (1st seat trumpet section) would not be available for Band Day. The band director, Mr. Wallace was rather distraught over this. Someone told him that I knew how to play the trumpet. I quickly discovered the school owned a trumpet and I immediately joined the trumpet section.
I envied many people in high school that I felt had natural musical ability. I had to work so hard to do well, but that hard work paid off. When I participated in my first band audition, I was given first seat in the trumpet section. I was shocked. I was also thrilled to feel like a real, integral part of the band and to be asked to join the jazz band. I even had many opportunities to play solos.
One of the highlights of my time playing the trumpet was when we performed along with three other high school jazz bands in the area. We performed the Chuck Mangione song “Feels So Good.” The focus of the song was really my trumpet part. At the end of the concert, one of the other band directors spoke to me about being so impressed by my trumpet playing. He asked me where I was taking lessons. I wasn’t, but that encouraged me to do so.
Pep Band 1979
The End and The Beginning
My trumpet was the love of my life, but that season of my life came to a sudden and painful end my senior year when I was emancipated from my parents. The only thing I requested from them was to have my trumpet back, but it was not to be.
No worries! The Lord had other plans and I entered a new season in my life – a season where HE became the center of my world. The transition was not pleasant, but it was definitely to my benefit!
Have you ever had this sort of experience? Have you worked really, really hard and enjoyed the fruits of your labor, but only for a seemingly short season? Sometimes we think we just can’t live without that activity or person or situation in our lives. But the Lord always has a plan for the next season of our lives. Don’t let the train wrecks or sudden changes in direction discourage you. The next season is even more critical than what you just gave up.
New Seasons
Today I realize that the Lord has used each circumstance in my life to grow me up and bring me to where I am today. I haven’t arrived, but I am blessed to know that I have been useful to Him and His Kingdom from time to time in my life. My love for the trumpet was my first love. My love for Jesus is an everlasting and eternal love. And it is a two-way relationship. There are moments of bliss and moments of despair, but I have every confidence that the overall movement is positive and the end is a face-to-face meeting and everlasting life.
My work at Mission of Hope International is in direct response to my relationship with Jesus. He shares His perspective with me and enables me to see beyond just what’s best for me. He opens my eyes to ways to help others. Not to keep them under MY control, but to help free them from the chains of poverty (spirit, soul and body) that have kept them bound.
Today I have many loves in my life (my husband, Alexis, AJay, our extended families, our Haitian staff and students, and good friends), but none can compare with the true love of my life: Jesus.
My loves on this earth!
How About You?
Who is the love of your life? Who/What are you in love with? How has this changed or developed over time? I’d love to hear about it. Click here to send me your story.
Cutie at Clinic in St Etienne
Medical Clinics
Sunday morning church celebration in Thozin
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
– Mother Teresa