Wow! To sum up the last few months in a few paragraphs seems pretty daunting. There’s so much that can happen during each conference; it’s as though they are self-contained worlds with beginnings and ends, ups and downs, sorrows and joys, growth and pain and growing pains…and then we go to the next and begin again. All the same idea, but distinct and memorable. Especially this year, since we have decided not to travel next year.
Yes, you read that right. We have decided not to travel another year. We are remaining with Life Action, but not on the road teams. Jimmy’s new position will be in Staff Care, meaning he will be working alongside and encouraging…well, everybody. Lori’s title is a little less self-explanatory: Impact Execution Director. This basically means she will be helping make sure all departments are on the same page and running efficiently. The time and prayer and questions and doubts and, finally, peace that went into making this decision are hard to quantify, but we do have peace and are looking forward to how God wants to work in and through us this last semester on the road, and during this coming season.
An Encouraging Story: Seizures are often brought on by loud or unexpected noises and changes of normal schedule, especially in children, and our Children’s Ministers doing a musical skit is definitely unexpected and out of the norm. Sure enough, 20 seconds into the intro song at a church in Tennessee, one of the Happy Heart City kids had a seizure. The CMs were all in the skit, so two of our helpers were able to sit with her until her mom was able to get there. Child and mother both handled it like a pro, because they are. This precious little girl has epilepsy, and her seizures come daily, so they are the norm. As a parent, it’s so hard to watch your children go through any kind of suffering, and this mom is no exception. She came into club and held her baby after the seizure was over, offering comfort and physical support as her daughter tiredly watched and laughed at the CMs’ antics. They tried to stay, she wanted to be there, but there were too many unexpected things and mom eventually took her daughter to the sanctuary with her. There, by the grace of God’s timing, mom was able to hear Steve talk about his lifelong struggle with epilepsy and how God has been faithful to him. So, as she cradled her exhausted 5 year old in her arms, she was able to find comfort and peace in knowing that she was not alone, and that God has a wonderful future plan for her daughter.
This May will be our 35th year with Life Action. Can you believe it? We spent the first four years on the road-two of those single, and two married-then 20 years at the Camp and then 11 years on the road. Each of those seasons has been absolutely wonderful and life-changing, so we fully expect the next one to be the same.
Cameron and Bradley are both traveling without us next year. We’re so proud of them and know they’ll do amazingly well, even if it is hard imagining us not on the road with them.
Cameron is doing two jobs this semester as he continues with the band AND teaches youth at any of our summits. We’ve had two this semester, and he has done so well! Next year, Cam will be off the band and focusing on youth and online college courses.
Bradley will continue with Happy Heart City next year. Despite having just turned 18, he has been involved with Happy Heart more than any of our other teachers, and the kids absolutely love him. Most of them call him “Mr. Broccoli” or “Mr. Breadstick”; don’t ask where the nicknames came from.
Prayer requests are simple, this time; we know God has called us in this direction, but we definitely need His wisdom for navigating the coming months, whether on the road or off.
The Herdklotz Family 
We are so excited for this next seas
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