Hello, Moffits

Bethel Missouri. 

More specifically, Heartland Christian Community.  A Christian compound in the middle of a cornfield. In spite of the rural location, Google Maps brought Mar and I right to my uncle's doorstep.

Before I talk about the actual visit, if you know me even a little, then you know that I was researching and digging before the trip.  I am sure I am not the only one who might get a shiver or two at the thought of a Christian "community" or "compound".  Images reminiscent of Branch Davidians, or Heaven's Gate flirted with my imagination. Even memories of my own personal experience of a church steeped in misplaced emphasis on apostolic position were in the mix.
Don't get me wrong...I have always believed that a group of Jesus followers could successfully live in literal community...as long as they could successfully rid themselves of the negativities of the human condition, including things like pride, selfishness and arrogance.

So I researched and found no shortage of material.

Heartland Community (Oct 2014) (a 30 min report from KBIA Public Rado MO)

Heartland Home

Heartland - About Us (Heartland Website)

There were several other places that I researched, including a thread of comments which spotlighted both complaints and praise.  It seemed that the majority of the negative press came from the discipline side of the picture.  If some of the claims were true, then my eyebrows might be raised a little. However, I also know that after my years of ministering with a group in Orlando, I learned an awful lot about people struggling with a variety of issues.  You would find us in the jail, nursing homes, street ministry, a youth ranch (somewhat similar to Heartland in many ways). Addiction, respect, anger...people acting out based on what they had been dealt in life.  And there will always be the rebels who compound the issues at hand by being confrontational instead of respectfully challenging what is not right.  I did read many success stories of people who graduated the program and then willingly stayed on to work on the farm or various other positions.

So, I wasn't sure what to expect as we drove on to the property.

We found the house, and I took a few deep breaths.  I gathered up the remaining roses and the bouquet of flowers we had purchased to present to Aunt Yvonne.  Mar was ready with the camera, and I went to the door and knocked. Time seemed to crawl in those few moments, but finally the door opened, and there he stood.  Uncle Jerry...Judy's brother...my real flesh and blood relative!

I was not even sure where or how to start. My processor was on overload, and honestly I was so glad to have "never-meet-a-stranger" Marianne with me. We chatted, had dinner, and just dove in to getting to know each other.  I was thrilled to know that Jerry wrote poetry and dabbled in artistic outlets.  Scrimshaw was one medium, and I was fascinated by the detail!

Unc (as he lovingly came to be called) acted as our tour guide and showed us around the compound boasting the largest dairy farm in MO, with a huge milking carousel, a creamery shipping cheese all over, roughly 17,000 acres producing corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and raising dairy cows, beef cattle, goats and horses.

Back at the house, we had time to sit and talk, and they brought out some photos to go through.  In my ignorance I began snapping pictures of pictures. I say ignorance because I had no idea that Aunt Yvonne had been working tirelessly to put together an album for me to keep.  An album loaded with pictures of Judy, as well as some others of family. It was a fantastic treasure!!

Another treasure was when they presented me with Judy's wedding rings. It was a very beautiful set, but man did she have some little fingers, LOL! I am exploring some design ideas to see what options exist that would allow me to wear them.

There were also a few videos that we watched, and I got choked up to see Judy playing the piano and singing with my grandfather. There were many clips of old home movies that my grandfather had taken and put together on one video. There was also a unique wedding ceremony that I will talk about in the next post.

Sunday morning we all went to church together. It was a good service, and I was able to meet Charlie Sharpe, who founded Heartland.  One of the songs that grabbed me that morning was "Good Good Father", and I was reminded again that my identity first and foremost has always been defined by being loved by God. ("It's who I am") All of my life I was aware somehow of that love, no matter how crazy things were. Toward the end of the service Jerry and Yvonne asked me to go up with them for prayer. As we stepped out into the isle, Jerry leaned over and said to me "I can and will be your kinsman redeemer".  That was such a powerful statement in that moment, and it spoke healing to my orphaned heart.

Mar and I had to leave right away after the service because we had a 5 hour drive to get me back to the airport. Part of me did not want to say goodbye. The Moffits made me feel quite comfortable and welcomed me with open arms.

And of course I will be forever grateful to my chaufferette!

I had much to reflect on, so much to process...