Ministry to the Shepherds

by Annie Pelle

  “Again, to do what?”

  “I’ll have to see what her skills are.”

  “You are such a softie.”

  “Yep, ‘fraid so.” He said softly

  “That isn’t a bad thing in this case sweetheart.” Rachel said kindly “Just ask the right questions and be comfortable with your decision before you rush into anything.”

  Ethan was a little uncomfortable with this subject and decided to change it “Did you talk to your family about the dinner at my house?”

  “Yes, but their schedules were not open this weekend, but would next weekend work?”

  He agreed as he turned into the parking lot. The realtor had called earlier and told Ethan his bid had been accepted and that the escrow would close in sixty days at Ethan’s request. Ethan relayed that information to Rachel and she was as excited as he was. “We are a little early, do want to wait in the car or walk around?” Rachel wanted to wait in the car so he agreed and filled her in on more of the plans. She, as usual, was good at asking the right questions and helping him clear up is plans. Ethan thought to himself She is going to be a wonderful support to me.

  “Here they come.” Ethan announced as he opened the car door and went around to help Rachel.

  “Hi Malcolm. This must be your mother?”

  “I’m Mary.” She answered holding out her hand to Ethan

  “This is Rachel” Ethan introduced

  “Hello Mary, I’m really glad to meet you.”

  “I’m glad to meet you too.”

  “How was school, Malcolm?” Rachel asked

  “Okay, I guess.” He answered surprised.

  “So Malcolm, how would you feel about coming to work for me?”

  “Doing what?” Malcolm asked surprised. Ethan laid out his plan for the center and the help needed Malcolm to start gathering. He wanted Malcolm to hire some local kids to design flyers to advertise for workers to help with the remodel. They could be men, women or high school age to learn to do remodel work. He was to recruit a group of kids to work on the design of the building and they would meet with Ethan and the architect. Ethan told him how much he would be paid and how much he would pay the different jobs.

  Malcolm was stunned and kept looking at his mother for input. Ethan had already told her his plan so she had had time to think about it. Malcolm’s first question was “Why me?”

  “Why not you?” Rachel asked

  “Because I don’t know anything about this work.” He answered

  “You’ll learn.” Rachel returned

  “It is okay if you don’t want to do it.” Ethan stated “But I believe you’ll be great at it and will like it.”

  “Mom, what do you think?” Malcolm asked

  “It would be good for you. Do you want to do it?”

  “Yes, can my mom and dad help me?”

  “Sure, I was going to ask about that too. What does your father do?”

  “My husband is in construction.”

  “Wonderful, can you have him give me a call?”

  “Okay.” Malcolm answered after looking at his mother.

  “So, do you want the job?”

  “Yes” he answered shyly

  “Great.” Ethan cheered then turned to run to his car. He came back with a cell phone for Malcolm. “Here is your business phone. Call me anytime with questions, my number is already programmed in there and so is Rachel’s. Call me when you have the flyer’s design team ready. I’ll come and pick you all up and we can work at the church to design the flyers. Give yourself and them time to think up some ideas. Then at the same time be thinking if these are the same kids you want on the design team for the facility. You are going to be mostly responsible for them doing their jobs. I’ll help you and so will Rachel but we are relying on you to bring us the right kids for this project. Oh, and another thing, none of this interferes with your school work or theirs. Any questions from parents, have them call me. Any questions?”

  “Tons” he answered stunned “I’m …” he stalled

  “Malcolm, Ethan will be just a phone call away and you and he can meet whenever you need too. If you have an emergency, call me and I’ll try my best to help you. You’ll be fine, just keep the lines of communication open.”

  “She’s right. And your mom and dad can help you and then you tell me how much you want to pay them.”

  “My mom is a great artist.”

  “No, I’m not.” She disagreed

  “She is.” Malcolm countered

  “Good, then you draw me some sketches for some artwork for the inside of the facility. Do you have time to do that?”

  “Uh, yeah. What theme do you want?”

  “Just draw me something and I’ll decide.”

  “Mr. Hayes…”

  “Ethan, please.”

  Mary started again “Thank you for everything, we are a little overwhelmed by all of this.”

  “Me too” Ethan replied.

  “Why are you having Malcolm do all this?”

  “Someday I’ll tell you the whole story.”

  “Malcolm, I have one more thing for you.” Ethan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a credit card. “This is for your business expenses. Keep all your receipts and I’ll collect them weekly. I don’t believe you’ll have any trouble using it but you have my number in case you do. Also, the first few times, call me before you use it and tell me what you need it for.”

  “Sure” he said accepting the card from Ethan “What kind of expenses?”

  “Paper, pens, pencils, markers, paint, anything to organize your work, stuff for your mom to use to draw, items the design team may need to work on the flyers. No expenses for this project get paid by your family. None. Keep track of your time too.”

  “My mom is good at organizing, I’ll ask her too.”

  “Then you keep track of your time too.” He said to Mary and she nodded.

  “Any other questions?”

  Malcolm and Mary looked at each other and then he answered Ethan “I guess I’ll call you when we do.”

  “Good, then call me tomorrow and let me know your progress. Thank you for doing this for me.”

  Mary choked out her laughter “Don’t you have that backwards?”

  “Nope, I’m unorganized and she’s planning a wedding, we need the help badly.”

  “Is he always this crazy, Rachel?”

  “Yes, he is. But he is also right, I have to plan a wedding, two actually. My twin is getting married also.”

  “Good heavens, are you crazy?”

  “Yes, I’m beginning to think we are.” Rachel answered happily. Ethan hugged her with one arm and laughed along with Malcolm and Mary.

  “Any other questions, please call me. And if you would please have your husband call me?”

  “His name is Mark.”

  Rachel hid her smile in Ethan’s chest as he said he looked forward to hearing from him. “Can we give you a ride home?” Ethan asked

  “No, we just live across a couple of streets.” Mary answered “Thank you though.”

  “Malcolm, call me tomorrow and then we will schedule some time to meet.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “It was wonderful to meet you Mary.” Ethan said shaking her hand. “Call me anytime.”

  “Thank you Ethan.” Mary said happily as she and Malcolm turned to leave.

  Rachel and Ethan got back in the car and Ethan said a quick prayer of thanks. “Next time we meet with them, let’s do it inside at a table and chairs.”

  “Yes, but I didn’t want to worry either of them that we might be up to something.”

  “I know.”

  “I got the feeling he was stunned by this opportunity.” Rachel said laughing

  “His eyes got bigger and bigger with each assignment. But he looked thrilled too. He should do a good job with some coaching.”

  “And you are thrilled about this aren’t you?” she asked laughin
g with him

  “In more ways than one.” He answered laughing. “How about some dinner before I have to rush off to Bible Study?”

  “Do you have time?”

  “Sure, if we are sort of quick” he answered. Rachel agreed and they headed out to eat.

  On Friday, Rachel, Ethan, Robin and Tom went out to dinner then back to Rachel’s house to have their Bible study together. After the Bible Study, the four plotted on how to make the engagement announcements to the church.

  “Why don’t you just announce it Ethan?” asked Rachel

  “Ours or theirs?”

  “Both” Robin and Rachel said in unison.

  “Tom?” asked Ethan

  “Let’s have their dad do it.”

  “No” Robin stated firmly

  “Are we really going to have to announce anything? When you two show up with engagement rings on your fingers in Bible Study, won’t the news spread like wildfire and then all we have to do is confirm the story.”

  “We still need to have something to say. Do you want me to do it?” asked Rachel. There was stunned silence at her question. “Okay, I guess not.” She said standing to move from the table after no one talked for several minutes. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She said excusing herself.

  “Wait Rachel” Robin finally said but Rachel ignored her and walked out of the kitchen. She walked up the stairs to her room and shut the door behind her, thankfully there was a lock on it so no one could bother her for a while. Dear Lord, Help me to have confidence and courage. I put my trust in you and I want to know and do your will. In Jesus Name Amen. Rachel continued to think as she sat on her bed. Soon there was a knock on her door. “Rachel” Ethan called to her.

  “I’ll be down in a little while.”

  “Come back down now.” He encouraged

  “In a few minutes.” She answered again. “I just need a couple of minutes, please.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Ethan, I’m okay. Please give me a few minutes.”

  “Okay, I’ll be back in five minutes.” He hesitantly left her door and returned to the kitchen. Less than five minutes later they heard her cast on the stairs. She walked back into the kitchen and sat down again.

  “Rachel, we are sorry.” Robin apologized

  “No need for an apology. It’s not necessary.”

  “Yes it is.” Ethan stated next

  “No, it really isn’t.” Rachel returned quickly. “You were right, we are not going to have to say anything, just showing up with engagement rings on will be enough. I’m sure Beth will notice it then the whole church can find out from her.”

  Rachel heard two chairs move from the table and so she stood up too thinking their evening was over but Ethan caught her hand and stayed her departure. Robin and Tom walked out the kitchen door to give them privacy.

  “Rachel, we are sorry. We…”

  “I told you it isn’t necessary.” She interrupted.

  “You caught us off guard with volunteering to talk to the church.”

  “Ethan, I gathered that on my own thanks.” Rachel said sarcastically “It was a dumb idea anyway and like I said, you were right. Beth will spread the word for us. Dumb idea…” she trailed off

  “Knock it off.” He said “It wasn’t a dumb idea. It is actually a very good idea, you just took us by surprise. What are you going to say?”

  “Nothing” she answered “You’re right, I can’t get up in front of the church to talk.”

  “Knock it off, I mean it.” He said strongly “It is a great idea, I’ll introduce you just after the opening prayer and you can give your testimony.”

  “No” she said stubbornly.

  “It will be good practice for when you are a preacher’s wife.”

  Rachel sat quietly for a while as she hoped Ethan would give up on this idea. She knew she could do it but they didn’t seem to believe she could so now she was scared again. “Maybe another time.” She said softly as she turned her head away from him.

  “We made you doubt yourself and now you are scared.” Ethan stated confidently. She always looked away when she was doubting herself “I’m very sorry.” He said cupping his hand under her chin to turn her back towards him. Rachel took hold of his hand and brought it from her face before he could turn it.

  “Let it go Ethan.” She said quietly “Just please let it go.”

  “No, I’m not going too.”

  “Please! I’m begging you, please let it go.”

  “I can’t Rachel. I hurt you and I have to make it right.” He said gently but Rachel shook her head in rebuttal. “I screwed this up big time. I just set your confidence in yourself back months.”

  “It isn’t your issue Ethan, it’s mine.”

  “It is my issue and my fault. I do believe in you, you can do anything you want to do.”

  “Don’t please. Your response along with theirs said differently, I’m just asking you to please let this go.”

  “And where does my stupidity leave us?” he asked afraid of the answer

  “I’m not sure right now.” She answered honestly.

  “Are we still engaged?” he asked afraid again

  “Should we be engaged if you’ve lost confidence in me? That appears to be a big problem.”

  “I have not lost confidence in you. I made a big mistake, I believe that you can do anything you want to do. Anything God leads you to do. Please forgive me.”

  “I do forgive you.”

  “But?”

  “Nothing. I forgive you, everyone makes mistakes. My forgiveness is genuine.”

  “And your confidence in yourself?”

  “That is a little battered right now but it isn’t your problem.”

  “It is my problem, I’m the cause of it.”

  “It is because I didn’t get my confidence from God that it has taken a hit. I was relying on myself or you to give me confidence and maybe that is wrong. I shouldn’t have worked that way.”

  “Rach, you are partly right in that thought, but I’m also in the wrong here. I shouldn’t have done anything to cause you doubt. I’m to give you my unconditional love and support which leads to your confidence in us.”

  “And it probably will, but not right now. I just need a little time to think.”

  “Probably? That is too hard to take, I don’t want to lose you. I love you and I want to marry you and I believe in you.”

  “Ethan…”

  “No, listen to me. Not too long ago you were confident, why?”

  “Because your actions showed me your faith in me.”

  “What actions?”

  “You kept showing up time and again when I pushed you away. You never wavered in your persistence of believing there was an “us”. You believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

  “Well, I am still showing up, I have never wavered in believing in us. And I do believe in you, I made a big mistake with my reaction to your comment but I do believe in you. Please believe that I only made a mistake, I haven’t now nor will I ever change my opinion or beliefs about you. Can you believe in that?”

  “Don’t you think you should think about that for a couple of days and see if you change your mind?”

  “No, never.”

  “Ethan…”

  “Do you believe I love you?” he interrupted

  “Yes”

  “Do you believe that I made a mistake in my reactions to your volunteering?”

  “Uhh….”

  “You can say yes or no.”

  “Maybe.” She answered instead

  “Do you believe that I have not changed my opinion of you?”

  “Maybe”

  “Do you believe I make mistakes just like anyone else?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “The first day you went out to coffee with me. How did you describe yourself?”

  “Loner, shy, handicapped.”

  �
�Turn our roles around, I said that to you on our first date, then six months later I announce that I want to talk in church. Would you have reacted and made the same big mistake I did? I’m not justifying my actions, I’ll admit freely that I screwed up. I never heard your changed opinion on being shy.”

  “I haven’t changed that opinion.”

  “Okay, now I’m really confused.”

  “Let me rephrase that, I’m still shy but I know I need to work on that. I’m so happy to be engaged to you that I wanted to tell people.”

  Ethan thumped his head down on the table. He was muttering and she could only understand a few words. “Ethan, stop. What are you doing? I can’t see you remember.”

  “I’ve exasperated myself even.” He finally said

  “Why?”

  “Why? I, as the saying goes “shot myself in the foot” so to speak. I’ve been trying to encourage you to be less shy and when you tried, I blew it. I’m begging you please get up in front of the church and tell them whatever you wanted to.”

  “Ethan, you have turned into a basket case in the last two minutes.”

  “I’m desperate.”

  “Will you stand next to me?”

  “Is that what you want?”

  “Yes, I’ll stand up in front of the church but not at the podium and tell my story if you stand next to me.”

  “Hallelujah” he said relieved

  “Come here” she motioned with her hand and he knelt beside her chair. When she felt him take her hand she spoke again. “I love you Ethan Hayes, can I stay engaged to you?”

  “Absolutely, most definitely, yes, you have too. I need…” he was interrupted by her kissing him.

  Sunday morning, Rachel and Robin did not put their rings on until after Bible Study class which Ethan and Tom agreed with after reading and hearing Rachel’s talk. Ethan came to sit with her as the choir and Tom walked in. Tom led the church in singing the first song and then Ethan led the prayer. After his prayer, he picked up the microphone and went to lead Rachel to where the whole room could see her. He handed her the microphone and stood beside her.

  “Twenty-five years ago, I was blessed with an amazing gift; a gift of the most wonderful family and a gift of the most amazing sister. Except for the time I was away learning to be blind, Robin and I have lived in the same house. About a year ago, our relationship began to change and we were not even aware of it.” Rachel felt Robin come to stand beside her “I still have the most amazing sister but I almost blew it because I didn’t have confidence in myself and I didn’t listen to what God was telling me. I ran away from home and stupidly put my family through a horrible ordeal.”