I was wide awake around 4 am on October 12, 2016, and experienced a vision. This was a single image and very vivid in detail. I fell asleep afterwards and woke around 6 am following a profound dream. I was actually in the dream.
The dream starts with me riding in a car and a man is driving. I do not know him or how I came to be in this vehicle. I am confused and alarmed. Have I been kidnapped? What is going on? I ask the man, “Who are you?” “How did I get in this car?” He looks at me still driving but does not answer. He seems menacing. I am uneasy. I ask again, “How did I get in this car?” We are driving along city streets. He never speaks. Then the car stops, and he looms over me in the seat, but it is out of proportion to the space of the interior of the car. He seems larger as he looms over me. He does not touch me, but thoughts of violence flashed in my mind. I am dreaming but I can feel these thoughts. I start yelling, “JESUS, Help Me, JESUS, JESUS!” Strangely, I felt no fear. I was in danger without fear. All of a sudden, the street looks different, and we are stopped at a red light. I get out of the car and run down the street asking people to help me, but they do not see me or look at me. I see strangers with dead eyes. No one responds. No one is concerned. I see a building that looks like a brownstone, with steps going down below the street level. I do not know this place. I go down the stairs outside the building. I see a well-lit hallway with doors on both sides. The doors are all closed. A woman appears. She is wearing a white tunic or robe with a short navy-blue cape across her shoulders and a large red cross embroidered on the cape. I start crying and ask if she is a priest. She asks if I need help. I feel relief and then I wake up.
I shared the dream with a special couple that I considered my spiritual parents. I met them in 2013 through the initial church I attended in Knoxville. They played an important role in my life during this season, and I was blessed by our relationship. The husband provided interpretation of my dreams and his wife received impressions from the Holy Spirit. They had served in many different ministries and on mission trips in the decades prior to our meeting, and their experiences and relationship with God provided encouragement, support, and prayerful protection during the few years we were connected in East Tennessee.
I shared this latest dream with them. He believed it was about my job, that God was sending someone in a low position or low place to help me. He explained that most of the time we would run up for help, but I went down in the dream, and that could signify a lower position, an unexpected place for help. The dream and his words would soon come to pass.
The Lord began to nudge me concerning employment change. I had worked as a medical transcriptionist for 37 years and I experienced uncertainty about my future. Daily life continued as I sought God for His instruction concerning the employment change. Doubts and fear would come intermittently that I had already missed or disobeyed God since that dream, and I would battle wrong thoughts and emotions repeatedly.
In February of 2017 I spent time in prayer concerning that dream. Pastor King at Redemption Church had made a comment during a recent sermon that in order to go up, you must go down. The picture of the woman came to mind from my dream back in October. I now understood that she was wearing a vintage nurse uniform. Then came the impression that I should apply for a job as a caregiver. I sat still, stunned, with some fear, while I processed this revelation.
Desiring to obey God, I began applying online at several sites over the next few weeks. I received one phone call that did not lead to an interview. There were no responses to the other applications, and I questioned if I was on the right path. I prayed again for interpretation and called my spiritual parents. I shared what had transpired since the dream with the wife. She talked about ministering to others and reminded me that fear is not in me; it is from outside. She counseled me to rebuke the spirit of fear. I then asked her if there is power or effect on surroundings with the presence of a saint. She confirmed, “Absolutely”. She prayed over me before we ended the call.
I continued to seek God’s direction about “going down to go up”. Dr. King taught on Sunday at church about increasing your faith; using faith at your current level and building faith as God develops you. Your authority/dominion increase with your faith. He explained that forgiveness keeps love in our hearts and fuels our faith. Unforgiveness prevents faith from working. He expanded on those teachings. I prayed for God to remove every root and seed of any unforgiveness remaining in my heart.
By mid-March, I had applied to every ad for a caregiver, still with no reply. I prayed again. The next morning, I received an email from a different company seeking a caregiver for a specific client. To my great surprise, I received a call in response to my application. Within a week I was interviewed, processed, and hired. God had answered my prayer.
March 31, 2017, was my first day of employment as a caregiver. I had no idea what to expect, and I was filled with uncertainty as I drove to the client’s home. The time at her home was different from what I had anticipated. This elderly widow had severe macular degeneration that treatment could not improve, and I would serve as her eyes so to speak. She gave instructions on housekeeping, laundry, cooking, her weekly schedule, etc. She then asked me to read her a story. This was a true story she had written that was published in the “Doll Reader” magazine in 1992.
Initially I worked four hours a day, five days a week, and I continued to work part-time for my previous employer. The days and weeks passed in a mostly routine pattern. I drove her to the hair salon on Wednesdays and then to the neighborhood grocery store. She rode the electric cart and knew where every item was located on her shopping list, the aisle and the shelf. I was somewhat amazed as I walked with her through the store. After a couple of months, she declared she would remain in the car while I did the shopping.
I drove her and her dog to the groomer every other week. She was a small dog with long while hair, and she had fresh bows in her hair when we left the groomer. She rode home in her owner’s lap, sitting prettily facing forward. Children in passing vehicles would wave or point. My client loved Elvis music. The car CD player was loaded with CDs she had recorded of his songs, and these played continuously while we were in the vehicle. She was in a doll club that met monthly, and we drove to a different member’s home for each meeting. She took the same pie every time, her favorite lemon meringue, and brought home the leftovers to finish. We glided across I-40 in her Lincoln Town Car with Elvis rocking on the radio to doctor appointments, to meetings, to Sonic on 50-cent corn dog days, to Wendy’s, to the post office, anywhere she desired.
One of her instructions regarded her plants in the sunroom at the back of her condo. She explained that there was an orchid given to her by her son, who had died two years prior, and she instructed me to put three ice cubes in the pot every week. I walked out in the sunroom to check her plants, looking for the orchid. This room was full of furniture and small items on tables. Large plants were in pots on the floor. I finally noticed a small, short round pot, about three inches in diameter, on a table. There was a plastic pot inside with two dried sticks coming out of the dirt, which had been secured with string to a small wooden support. The ends of the sticks were shriveled. This plant appeared completely dead. My heart sank as I picked it up and carried it to the client, to show her its condition. She said just give it ice cubes once a week. I asked her if it had bloomed since she received the plant and she did not answer. Sighing, I placed the orchid back on the table in the sunroom and placed the ice cubes in the pot every Tuesday.
My client had lived a fruitful life but was not a happy person. Her grandparents and parents had been well situated financially. She earned a Master’s Degree in teaching and taught high school students for more than 25 years. Her husband was a retired engineer and a veteran and had passed away several years ago from Parkinson’s. Her home was filled with antiques but her failing vision did not allow her to see them. She explained that she could see me but could not discern my features. She could not taste her food. She was disciplined to eat meals to maintain her health but no longer enjoyed dining in restaurants. She could not see well enough to view a movie at a theater or a concert. She suffered with IBS and this also impacted her social life. Most of her family had passed on by this time. I sensed loneliness and depression, as well as a distrust of people in general. She had a large closet stuffed full of clothes she no longer wore and boxes of shoes from past style trends. She had been strong and healthy most of her life, but losing her husband, her son, and the decline in her health had affected her physically as well. Her body weight was appropriate, but she had lower back issues and could not walk far even with her walker.
On rare days her countenance was bright, and she talked more than usual sharing stories from her years of teaching or fond memories from the past. These were always accompanied by laughter. She was charming on these days. Most days, however, she was quiet and reluctant to talk much beyond what was necessary. When I was hired, I was instructed to engage the client in conversation. I spent the first two days desperately trying small talk without success. She would only respond with “Yes” or “No” to questions and there was a sharp tone to her voice when she spoke. We spent the majority of time in her bedroom. She sat in a recliner on one side of the bed, and I sat in a chair by the window across the room. The third day as I sat in my chair looking out the window through the open blinds, I prayed and asked God for help. How could I start a conversation with this lady? In my spirit, I heard, “It is not necessary to talk; your presence is enough.” I received these words with thankful relief. From that point, I only asked questions that were in line with my duties and responded when she initiated conversation. The flow was much easier.
During the months of my employment, there were many days I spent in prayer, sitting in that chair, looking out the same window. I even prayed over the orchid. I asked God to spark life in that plant to bloom again for this lady. I believed it would cheer her heart to see the blossoms. She eventually shared the heartbreaking details of her son’s death. Additionally, I learned about the caregiver who had worked for her prior to my employment. This woman was a friend to the client. She had helped in the care of the client’s husband for several years prior to his death and then became my client’s caregiver. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and hospitalized. She was expected to recover and be discharged; however, she died unexpectedly on March 23. Her death prompted my client’s need for a caregiver. God had sent me to fill this need. I was overwhelmed with this realization as the client talked about the shock of her friend’s sudden death.
One day while driving in the car, the CD player suddenly stopped working. Ms. D immediately became agitated and insisted that I set it right. I tried every button but there was no response. I removed the CDs and then reinserted to no avail. Turning the player off and back on did not work. The radio would not play either. When we arrived home, she instructed me to take her car to the Lincoln dealership and have them make any necessary repairs.
I entered the dealership and went to the service area. I explained the situation to the man behind the desk and gave him the keys. I waited in a lounge area where a man was trying to sell some type of Life Flight insurance. A short time later a man approached to tell me the car was ready. I asked what the issue was with the CD player. He replied that it was working perfectly. They could find no problem. Every function of the CD player and radio was operational. I was surprised. I asked for the invoice to pay and he said there would be no charge! What? He said again there was no charge. I returned and explained all that had happened to Ms. D and she was astonished. She mentioned it several times through the rest of the day, and I repeated the same scenario. She just could not believe they did not charge her to check the CD player.
In July, my client asked me if I would be interested in working an extra two to three hours every day, a total of seven hours daily, five days a week. I began this new schedule on August 3. I discussed this change with my office employer. He was willing to allow me to continue to work for them around this schedule change. I worked a few hours every morning at the office, then left for my client’s home and worked there until 7:30, then returned to the office for a few hours in the evening. If needed, I worked at the office on Saturday. This did not turn out to be optimal, however, for the office. Records were needed during the day, and I was not there until evening to complete reports. I submitted my notice of resignation to the office administrator on September 15. I was very uneasy about the drastic decrease in income, but I believed that if I obeyed God, He would take care of my needs. I enjoyed the office job and was comfortable with those responsibilities, but I had to let go completely to pursue my new path. The caregiving assignment was from the Lord, and I wanted to honor that commitment.
It was during this time that the orchid began to bloom. I could hardly believe my eyes! First one bloom, then another, then another, until seven blooms appeared on what had appeared to be a dead stem. The day the seventh bloom opened, I carried the small pot into her bedroom to show Ms. D. She was speechless as she gazed at the beautiful blooms. The petals were white, and the edges were tinged with purple. I was delighted with God’s blessing and her happy reaction.
From our conversations, I learned that my client had grown up in church and continued into adulthood. Her husband’s failing health changed their routine and her physical limitations prevented her from attending church in person for several years. Occasionally we talked about God. One day in October she shared about “images in front of her eyes”. We talked about that, and I asked her if she prayed for healing of vision. She answered almost in a whisper, “Every night”. I told her I would pray, too. I continued to pray for peace in her mind and heart. A few days later I prayed with her before I left for the evening, following a prompt from the Holy Spirit, and there were tears in her eyes.
One night during quiet time with the Lord, I was seeking a word from Him. He had been silent but active in many ways connected to my life. I was grateful but wanted more of Him. Softly, I heard, “Love heals”, in my spirit.
On Wednesday in early November, after I arrived at her house, I discovered she had a flat tire. I called and rescheduled her salon appointment, then called her insurance company that provided roadside assistance. The tech, Andy, arrived in 20 minutes and quickly changed her tire. Ms. D instructed me to take her car to Matlock’s for the tire repair. Though they were very busy, I was only there about an hour. When the car was ready, they did not charge anything for the repair. I went to the grocery store for the few things she wanted, and then returned in time to take her to the hospital for a scheduled MRI in evaluation of her back. We arrived at 4:15, valet parking took the vehicle, and I helped her inside to get registered. We then moved to the outpatient waiting area. The MRI tech took her back just before 5. The waiting room was empty, and the desk staff had gone for the day. I was alone when an elderly woman pushing a young man in a wheelchair entered the room. He was holding registration paperwork for a test.
We started talking. She told me her name (which was same first name as my client) and explained the young man, “Travis”, was her grandson. He was diagnosed with MS at age 19 and was now 38 (appeared much younger). She was a widow in her 80s. Her husband had died eight years prior from cancer, and they had been married 55 years. She said Travis had been engaged when he received the MS diagnosis. His girlfriend wrote him a note and broke off the relationship. He had a 3-year-old dog that he loved, and he showed me photos and a video. I mentioned that my husband had a nephew with MS diagnosed in his 20s who lived in Bristol, Indiana. That led to talking about Scott, our love story, and the love of God. Travis was listening though not looking at me. The tech then arrived to take him for his scan.
His grandmother shared more about the girlfriend and Travis. I offered to pray with her and moved into the seat next to her. We held hands and prayed for Travis and his life and healing and other issues she shared. We talked about our churches and families. She had lost three sisters in a 14-month time period and was grieving over those losses as well.
Ms. D was not finished until 7:40. During the drive home, we talked about the events of the day. She was amazed that the tire shop did not charge for the repair. I reminded her that the Word says every good and perfect gift comes from above. Blessings come from Him! I said that I was thankful the flat happened in the garage and not while we were driving. She agreed, and she even mentioned she was thankful for a couple of things I was not aware of. Praise God! Later that night I thanked God for this blessed day, full of His goodness and presence, encouraging and strengthening for others and for me.
I was talking to my spiritual mother one evening, reviewing so many things that had happened and other dreams I had received during this time. I shared with her that I was in awe of God and how much He has done in my life already and I am still in the wilderness. I said, “I believe, trust, and declare in faith all of God’s promises to me and for me in His Word”. I then asked her if God does this much for everyone. She reminded me that my first and most important ministry is to Him. My relationship to Him comes first always. Ministry to others flows from that.
One day in December while sitting with Ms. D in a waiting room for an appointment, she began to share some painful history between her, her son, a grandson, and her husband while he was still alive. I listened in silent prayer while she aired her thoughts and memories.
The next day she was completely different. She was upset because the Elvis tape that she listened to every night would not play and was obsessed with recording a new one. This turned into an ordeal that lasted for hours. She did not talk while that tape played. When the recording was finished, she went back to her recliner and fell asleep. I needed a nap as well.
A week before Christmas her son was admitted to the hospital with a collapsed lung. She was beside herself with worry. He called her that afternoon and told her he would be having a CT scan and then surgery the next day. I offered to take her to the hospital, but she declined at that time. I prayed with her before I left for the day. I drove to the hospital, following a prompt from the Holy Spirit to go and pray over her son. I refused to engage any thoughts of doubt as I made my way to his room. He was certainly surprised to see me. I explained that I had come to pray for him and asked if he was agreeable. He nodded his head, and I held his hand as I prayed for healing and his situation. He wiped his eyes afterwards. The Holy Spirit was present. When I left the hospital, I thanked God for His courage. Conflicting thoughts had tried to discourage me, but peace came with obedience.
The next day Ms. D wanted to visit her son in the hospital. He had had surgery early in the morning and apparently this went well. He was trying to sleep and apparently in pain. She could not hear him when he spoke, and I repeated to her what he said after every sentence. She was beginning to weaken after the long walk from the parking lot and now extended standing. On the drive home, she told me she was unable to see her son clearly and that caused her great anxiety. I told her the room was dimly lit and the blinds were closed which probably contributed. She was exhausted by the time we got home and fell asleep as soon as she sat down in her chair. Her son improved and was discharged a week later. Prayers of gratitude were lifted.
In January of 2018 I recalled a vision from two years prior where Jesus was looking down over Goshen. I was standing in an empty loft upstairs in a building with light streaming in the windows. The people I had known previously from Goshen were standing together opposite of where I was standing. I started praying about this recall. I received an impression to sell the remainder of my stuff. My spiritual mother had shared with me previously that she believed I would be returning to Goshen for a period of time and that God would be with me. She did not know how long I would be there, but it would be temporary. She sensed unfinished business in Goshen. Now I was recalling the vision and her words with this impression. Is it time to move, Lord?
At this time Ms. D’s son was rehospitalized with a collapsed lung. Same side. He had this on the opposite side in the remote past. He was at a different hospital this time. There were some complications with treatment. CT scan and surgery were scheduled. I prayed with Ms. D that evening and then stopped at the hospital to visit her son. I sat beside the bed and talked with him. I held his hand and prayed for him. There was peace and calm. His recovery and healing took longer this time, but he was discharged home from the hospital on January 22. Glory to God. When I left her house Friday evening, she surprised me by saying, “If you have nothing better to do, give me a call tomorrow”.
One Sunday morning while I was with my spiritual parents, we were praying together. He led in prayer and while he was speaking, Goshen came to mind, the downtown view, and the garage at the house in Knoxville. I believed this was the next step. I would continue to seek God.
The next several weeks with Ms. D were challenging. Her mood swings brought sharp words of criticism and a lack of interaction. I had learned not to take this behavior personally, but it was unpleasant to be around seven hours a day. Much prayer continued while I was in her home. I talked to the staff at my employer’s office about her emotional and functional state. She was sleeping more, eating less, depressed, no interest in life around her. She seemed to be declining.
In the morning on March 13, I was reading the bible in Hebrews. “Serving God” was the message I kept seeing repeatedly in the Word. Suddenly, I received another vision concerning Goshen. I am standing in an upstairs room in Downtown Goshen and Sue is with me. I am standing across from her. She and others are helping me. God’s provision will come through helping hands. Receive it with gratitude to Him! Rejoice with those who help! Provision will come at time of need.
I composed a letter of resignation to be submitted on Friday, March 16. God had spoken to me about selling my stuff in the garage in Knoxville and returning to Goshen with those funds. He would guide my steps upon arrival and provision would be available. Whatever was next for me would be in Goshen. I prayed over the letter, the upcoming sale, and the travel. I prayed over my sister and for Ms. D and her issues, trusting God’s divine hand on everything connected to this move.
I drove to the office the next morning to hand in my letter of resignation. I talked to the staff about my next move and the leading of the Lord back to Goshen. They were surprised but supportive. I shared my story with them and how God had brought me to their company and this client. I thanked them for the opportunity to serve her during this past year.
Ms. D was in high spirits when I arrived that afternoon and I did not tell her about my leaving until later. She became angry and immediately called the office. She was demanding and stern the rest of the day. The atmosphere was tense. I had not expected her to react so strongly.
My last day was Friday, March 30. Her birthday was the following week, and I would not be with her, so I brought her a small chocolate cake to celebrate early. She did not cut it or eat any of it while I was there. Her demeanor changed in the afternoon, and she became negative and demanding. I stayed busy and refused to respond to her in the same manner. I explained to her why I was leaving. God was calling me to return to Goshen and I was following Him in obedience. I reminded her that He was the one who sent me to her a year ago. She could not believe I was going to move to Indiana in faith, without a job or shelter or any other plans in place. I told her about my faith journey with God since the death of Scott and how I had discovered God’s love for me through his move to heaven. God had carried me and directed me every step since that time, and I had learned I could trust Him. I believed His Word. The wind came out of her sails so to speak at that moment, and she sighed. She told me to keep in touch, and I told her I would. When I left her house that evening, I had a flashback to the day Scott and I drove to Goshen back in 2008. I knew when we left my driveway that morning I would not come that way again. The same feeling recurred now.
The yard sale the next day at the house I had shared with my sister was a success. All of the large items remaining in the garage were sold. God had provided the money to travel north. The next day, Easter Sunday, would be my last Sunday at Redemption Church. I met a special friend, Brenda, in Jacksboro for dinner with her and her family. This was a special time of good food, fellowship, and many prayers. Tears and hugs were exchanged when it was time to leave. This family would always hold a special place in my heart.
I visited with my spiritual parents who gave me an envelope to open. God had spoken to them at the end of February that I would be leaving in April and told them to give me a specific amount of money, which was in the envelope, with a card of scriptures for me to read later. He had instructed them to wait until I was ready to leave Tennessee before giving me the funds.
The next day I went to the office of my employer to return my badge and employee manual. I had a partial denture repair that was ready to pick up. Next was an oil change and car wash, then laundry. I loaded my vehicle, placed extra items in storage, and cleaned the room I had been staying in as a guest. I walked outside the house and prayed over their property. I thanked God for living in the mountains for the past five years and for all the steps that had brought me where I am with Him. I thanked Him for the blessings in my life of my family, my children, and my grandson, for Scott and the life we shared, and for my future with God. I was ready to move.
EXTRA: A special woman contacted me through Facebook about two years ago to inform me that Ms. D had died on July 4, 2019. We subsequently spoke on the phone, and she shared that Ms. D had spoken of me after I left. She was incredulous that I had followed God to Indiana in faith. I did mail Ms. D a Christmas card and a birthday card after I left Tennessee, and this woman shared that Ms. D had kept those cards. I was so touched by this woman’s kindness to share this information. I have kept Ms. D’s family in prayer.
1/22/2023
(photo courtesy of pexels.com)