Kristin has been having an emotional couple of weeks - to say the least. Kristin returned with 20 other team members from Costa Rica at 1am on Wednesday July 16th. Thursday and Friday we packed her office and hauled it to the house. Before we left the church she began to become overwhelmed with emotion for those whom she's tried to lead closer to Jesus and the hard work she put into the office that no longer bore a reminder of her presence there.
This past Sunday was a sweet time for Kristin as the youth, parents, church members, and staff gathered after the 11:00am service to give her their final farewell. Bob Thomas began the reception with an overall blessing from the church. He was on her hiring committee and is now sad to see her go. Rev. Bill gave a word about Kristin and how much he enjoyed the time he had working with her. Sharon Brookshire, who hosted the wonderful reception, began to talk about what Kristin had meant to her. Mrs. Brookshire began to talk about her daughter Katie, who had passed away several years ago. Katie was the main reason Kristin had become a follower of Christ. Mrs. Brookshire said that the last five years with Kristin has been as if she has been allowed to see her daughter grow up. She recognized Kristin's heart as that of Katie's. By the time Mrs. Brookshire was done speaking there was not a dry eye in the fellowship hall. It was a moment that brought a beautiful display of closure to Kristin's time at RHUMC.
Kristin has been allowed to write one last "Hill Topper" article, and this is what she wrote...
July 17, 2003 I moved into an office at RHUMC. July 17. 2008, tears rolling down my cheeks, I packed up my office. There’s not a column big enough to write about what those exact five years have held for me. There’s not enough room to thank every single person who has made a huge impact on my life and helped keep me standing during these five years. I am not the same person I was when I started here, and that’s a good thing. I was one year out of college when I started…now five years later….thirty is looming. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride to say the least. I am grateful to the Lord for the wisdom and revelation that He has revealed to me. I’m grateful for who He is and His faithfulness.
As Rev. Bill has already stated…I came because I heard His voice…I leave for the same reason…I hear His voice. I never knew how long I was to be here, but knew it was obvious when He wanted me here and I knew it would be obvious when it was time for me to leave. The time has come and I have heard His voice. He told me first that I was leaving before I knew where I was going. The time has come that He has a new season for not just me, but for the Youth of Richmond Hill. The Lord has great things in store for RHUMC…I believe that. He wants to take these youth deeper than I have been able to take them…and that is an exciting thing.
The word “bittersweet” is how I have wrapped things into one word for a couple of months now. It’s bitter because it is hard to leave the ones you love. It is sweet because it is from Jesus and there is nothing better or sweeter than walking in His will.
So the time has come to say goodbye. I love each and everyone of you with all that I have. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your lives for the past five years. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of the work of the Lord in your lives. Jesus has such beautiful things in store for each one of you. Know you have a prayer warrior in me and that I will always lift you up before the Throne of our beloved Jesus.
I love you,
Kristin