Walking Together

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Ask and it will be given to you.

For several months leading to the opportunity to be a mentee with the “Together” program, I prayed that God would lead me to a woman who would continue guiding me in my walk with Christ since moving to York, PA from Waynesboro, PA.

Seek and you will find.

In January 2018, I attended the finance workshop with The Connection where I first heard about the mentoring program “Together”. Tammy Williford announced that if anyone was interested in hearing more details to seek her afterwards. I decided at that moment I’d pass up asking about the details as I figured how could I be part of this at a distance. But as we know… it’s not always what we decide but what God decides, and that day he had bigger plans in mind than just answering my prayer. Before I left the finance workshop the Spirit moved in me to think: What do I have to lose by asking about the mentoring program?

So, I sought out Tammy to ask details of how I could be a mentee. She was very helpful in discussing how I could be part of this even with me being at a distance. Then as we were talking about who I could possibly be paired up with a thought came to her mind…Betsy.

So, before I continue telling you about our six-month journey I must reveal some crucial information to you because God certainly had his hands in this mentor/mentee relationship from the beginning.

I moved to Waynesboro, PA in 2013 and began my relationship with Christ in January of 2015. Soon after that I began attending the women’s bible group at my church and for two years Betsy spoke many words of wisdom into my life. However I did not know, know Betsy like I know her today. In fact we lived right around the corner from one another without knowing it until a few months before I had announced I was moving to York, PA to women in the group. After announcing this Betsy approached me to let me know she too had plans on moving out to the same area within the next year. We exchanged numbers and agreed that when she arrived we would meet up. I moved out to York, PA in April 2017 and a few months later in November she followed. We made plans to meet for lunch after she got settled in. It was a wonderful time of getting to know each other and catching up on the details of our lives.

Okay, now with that information back to how Betsy became my mentor.  Tammy suggested that I reach out to her to see if she would be willing to participate in the program and be my mentor since we lived in the same town. So that I did.  Betsy took some time to pray about this and came back with the response, “I thought you would like to know that I will be happy to mentor you.” And that is how our mentoring relationship began.

Betsy and I were unable to attend the first informational session due to weather but Tammy emailed us details and explained: “The purpose of the info session was to inform you of the parameters of the program, fill out your profile cards for pairing, explain our mission and answer any questions that you might have about the program.” We read over some important information and filled out our profile cards and submitted. The next week after we then took the hour and 15-minute drive to where we meet for the second meeting called “training session.” At this meeting we spoke to our mentor about our goals and expectations as mentees and mentors. My goals were to find my identity in Christ and to build a deeper connection with God in prayer journaling.

A week and half after our training session Betsy and I meet up at her home for our first official mentor and mentee meeting. I brought along with me a huge bag of what I was up to. I thought for sure Betsy was going to think I was crazy. But, she kept her cool and listened as I talked away. She then provided me with a copy of the “I am statements” with scripture verses that I could look up and dig into along with reading me a bit from her personal prayer journal. I left her home that night feeling special because Betsy put in time and thought into the tailoring resources that would guide me in reaching my goals.

There did come a time when I thought I knew it all I told Betsy, “Ah I think I found my identity in Christ, so I don’t need to look into any more of the I am statements.” Instead of scolding me telling me I should keep doing them, she kept supporting me. Eventually I realized I needed to keep digging into them and when I emailed her my progress her response was: You did a great job and as a result you have gained insight into who you are in Christ. A firm foundation upon which to build your faith! Our mentor/mentee relationship grew deeper as we began messaging each other daily on Facebook, speaking on the phone, and then meeting up once a week instead of every other. Betsy, over the past six months has encouraged me, supported me, and been the hands and feet of Jesus for me.

Knock and the door will be open to you:

Betsy and I’s mentor/mentee relationship has never been conventional. Our Story is unique to how God designed it and too be honest I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t listened to that voice saying, “what do you got to lose by asking about the mentoring program?” I took a step of faith and knocked. The door opened to me not only having a mentor, but to me having someone who is much more like a mother, sister, and friend in one that I am “learning from and walking through life together” with.

If that wasn’t enough God also placed this woman in my life to be someone who would come along side me to start a women’s ministry in our area! Only God could do that! And so six months ago, little did I know…God was orchestrating a bigger plan of bringing two women from different walks and different seasons in life “Together”.

Lindsey is a stay at home wife, mother and newer follower of Christ. The desire has been placed in her to share her experiences of her growing relationship with God and to let others know that His love is unconditional. You can email her @ quitesimplylindsey@gmail.com