10 months Flies by! Good bye Bradenton!

To all my Beautiful and Precious Bradenton Friends and Students,



10 months ago I arrived here in Tampa off the plane stepping into a thick layer of humidity on a rainy day in the so called "Sunshine State" in the summer month of August. I remember it didnt stop raining for three weeks when I arrived. I thought hmm 'Some Sunshine State you got here Florida' ha! Not knowing a single person in this town. I now come to the end of my mission knowing so many and already missing you all.



I remember arriving to Overflo my first Sunday, jumping right in and meeting people and gathering great vision for what this place could look like. And here the day has come where I step on the plane to leave this beautiful state full of beautiful hearts and souls that I had the privilidge and honor to serve and get to know and speak with and pray with! I write this to you all because each one of you tagged in this note has touched my life in a divine way whether big or small that only God could explain. You all have brought so many smiles to my face, laughter in my heart, tears to my eyes, and hope that God is still alive and He is still saving souls and changing hearts and lives in the same ways He did when Jesus walked the beautiful dirt roads of Israel preaching,teaching, healing,praying, hanging out with the worst of sinners and forgiving them and most of all LOVING in a way that sacrifices and is willing to lay down His own life that we might gain eternal life with our sweet Lord. Oh how I long to have a heart like that and live a life as Jesus did.



For every story I've heard, every heart break and heart ache I've listened to, for every trial and troubles, for every bad choice, every bad word, every attitude and sassyness I've dealt with or talked through with you all, for every heart wrenching story that brought you and I to tears b/c of the pain it brought your life, for every student that I saw walk through those Overflo doors on Sundays and Wednesdays, for every student I passed by and smiled at or taught or talked to at the schools, for every night I lacked sleep from prayer for you or a late night phone call that took more sleep away from my nights, for every crazy game I organized each week just to make you laugh even though some almost killed people lol. For every person and student I got to dance around and worship Jesus with every week, and so much more. All of this, I deeply cherish and everyone of your hearts and smiles and lives are so near and dear to me.



Oh If only time didn't have to keep moving and we could have more time to spend together and more nights to share our lives with each other if only time didn't fly so fast.



As for these past 10 months here, every second, every minute, every hour,every heart ache, every tear, every prayer was WORTH it all. I thank God for sending me here to Bradenton and placing me in each of your lives and for giving me the chance to get to know each of you! I am brought to tears as I write this to you and remember so many good and hard times over this past year and how much I will miss seeing your precious faces every week.



I leave in peace knowing that God has called me to a new mission next year traveling the country and raising up great leaders to continue to reach out in this Great Nation. Matt 9:38! All I am to do is to be faithful and obedient to the call on my life. I trust God that He is taking good care of each of you and will see it through to the end that you all come into a right, loving and trusting relationship with Him. I pray and hope that you don't miss that sweet opportunity. For no one is promised tomorrow. What are the choices you're choosing today? Is it a Christ like choice or is it one that will stand in between your walk with Him? Be cautious my friends, and know that to live for God is an abundant life! John 10:10 Full of mysteries and adventures! Don't let the devil distract you with the things of this world for all of this world is fading but the one thing that remains is Gods word.1 Peter 1:24-25. Will you choose that which lasts? Please hold tight to Jesus. Remember, He is always speaking to you, just pick up your bible and seek out who He really is. His characteristics, His heart is written all over in the big black book. Open it up and let Him speak to you and grow in Him!



I love you all so very much! You will always hold a special irreplaceable spot in my heart! I will always lift up my prayers for Bradenton and all you students that God so graciously allowed me to cross paths with!



Never hesitate to contact me if you ever need to talk, or prayer for anything or just some encouragement. I may be absent in the Physical but I will always forever be your Sister in Christ. And that is a bond no one can break.



I love you all! God is going to do GREAT and MIGHTY things through each of you if only you'll surrender your life to Him. I can't wait to see all that God has in store for each of you!



It has been an honor and a Joy serving you and getting to know you all! You students mean the world to me!



Love your youth leader,

Rachel Sherrill