- Renee
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Lisa and her group managed to reach the last step and decended into what appeared to be a basement under the compound. It appeared to be empty as they raised their lanterns to look around. "Look" said Lisa. "There are so many doors down here all forming a circle just like the main room upstairs." She walked to the first door followed by her comrades and opened it up. Holding her lantern high she could see deep into what appeared to be some sort of storage room. It was very cool and dry. To the left of them they saw what appeared to be 5 generators covered under blankets on the bottom. The shelves above them held 4 laptop computers and 3 desktops on the top shelf. Lisa made the remark that the compound seemed very old but this stuff did'nt look old at all. One of the ladies said she was going back upstairs to get a few of the men to check this out to see if they even functioned before letting the Rabbi and Aaron know what they had found.
- Renee
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A few of the ladies emerged through the door from the basement and found their way back to the main room. They could see the rabbi and Aaron speaking to a man over in the corner of the room. The ladies moved through the people searching for a few strong men that could help them down in the basement. As they whispered to each one what they had found the men followed the ladies back to the basement door and descended downward. They were sure hoping those generators would still work and that someone had stored fuel down there for such a time as this. As for those computers they worried about maybe being tracked down by the outside world should they use them. But if they did indeed work they would bring that to the attention of Rabbi Abraham and Brother Aaron.
- Renee
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Lisa wondered off looking for other storage rooms. The next room had rows and rows of fold-up tables and chairs all the way to the ceiling, She knew those would be needed. Closing the door she moved on to another. The next room she entered she found shelves and shelves of canned goods, freeze dried foods, boxes and boxes of ready made meals, case after case of water, cases of bleach, paper products, sealed bags of rice. So much stuff she couldn't take it all in. "Who put all this here"? she wondered to herself.As she looked behind her at the other shelves she saw what she thought looked like a complete drug store, from aspirin to band-aides, to NyQuil. She silently praised God for knowing where to bring them. He had provided all of them with all their needs to survive.
- Renee
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Rabbi Abraham and Brother Aaron were so excited as the larger men hauled the 5 generators up to the main room. They had found enough fuel down there to last them for months. Soon many of the rooms were well lit and appliances were running smoothly after a few jerks and sputters. The men had found a room filled with blankets and sheets and all sorts of bedding. Grabbing the darker blankets and hammer and nails they had sealed all the windows so the chance of light being seen was eliminated. Still the Rabbi didn't want to take chances. He had assigned four men for the evening to stand guard on the four corners of the compound in case anyone or anything should approach the compound.
- Renee
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Lisa continues to wonder around down in the basement. She opened another door and found herself staring at shelf after shelf filled with bibles and song books. It made her think that at one time this could have been some kind of church although the outside didn't look anything like that. Standing alone in the room a sudden feeling of loneliness came over her. She missed Mark so much and her twin girls. She knew she would see them again but the sadness would not leave her.
- Renee
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Lisa sat huddled on the floor in the storage room in the basement of the compound. The loneliness had overwhelmed her today. She couldnt get Mark and the girls off her mind. How would the Lord use her now? She hadnt worked since the girls had been born, that was 7 years ago. She had been a reporter for a small local newspaper in her home town of Alton Illinois before she met Mark. She had been reporting on a church that had been vandalized and set on fire across the bridge in St. Louis Missouri when they had met. He had been the youth pastor there and had been on scene when she had arrived. She knew in her heart there was a connection between them when they met. She cried even harder as she remembered that day.
- Renee
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Dr Richard Nelson couldn't believe the size of the compound. He would have to go in search of medical supplies if he was going to be the compounds new doctor. Guess the best place to start would be the basement since he had been watching others bringing stuff up. Maybe who ever had stocked this place had also thought of medical needs. Opening the door he descended down the steep stairs. Walking the circular hallway he began to open each door to check the contents in each of the rooms. He didn't know who, but someone had certainly stocked this place well. Stopping at the next door he thought he heard someone crying. Quietly opening the door he saw a woman curled up against the back wall crying. He had never had much time for dating and could only relate to the times he had seen his mother cry. His Dad had always told him it broke his heart to see his mom cry about anything. He remembered his mom telling him the God had all her tears stored in bottles in Heaven. His mom cried over everything so this had made him imagine a warehouse full of this moms tears.
"Excuse me? Mam? Are you ok?" Lisa looked up startled that she had been found.
"Oh I'm sorry. I got so wrapped up in remembering my family that I lost track of time. I miss them so much and I guess I was feeling kinda lonesome thinking of them." He reached out a hand and helped her to her feet.
"You know they are in Heaven now." he told her.
"Yes I know, but they were everything to me and I still get sad knowing I could have been with them." She replied.
"And you will be with them again. But think about all you can do now to serve the Lord. It wont be as long as you think. Come on, lets get back up to the main floor and explore this place, ok? By the way my name is Dr Richard Nelson and I could use some help finding some medical supplies so I can set up shop. Wanna help me look?" he smiled at her. Smiling back she went back out in the hallway to help him look in the other rooms.
- Renee
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Hank and Anthony had continued on their trip towards Missouri.....Hank had never been so torn in two...horribly wounded at the rapture of his wife of many years but in such awe of his new found relationship with Jesus...so much to look forward to eternally ...so much terror staring him right ahead.."Ya know Anthony...if what my wife always warned me is true...we ain't got much to look forward to anytime soon" "Yeah I hear ya...I use to hear my parents talk about this time...about how horrible it was goin to be..I just never thought it would really happen....NEVER EVER dreamed Jesus would really come back...in fact I'd mock anyone who really believed it ya know...even told my dad that people been saying that for 2000 years...BUT here I am ...wow...still here" "Well let's not think about it for now" Hank suggested..."say why don't you tell me about this place we are headed in Missouri?..you say your parents had a farm?" "Yea....it's out in the middle of nowhere..15 miles to the nearest town...caves all over the property...my mom's sister lives.. or lived right down the road" LIVED? "well like I said back in Texas .. they don't make them more of a Jesus person than my mom or aunt Priscilla..so I know she's gone too" "she is or was..married to my uncle Dan...well anyway..both my mom and aunt...as I said were sister's (anthony lol at himself)..and inherited the farm and well anyway both got like 40 acres and just decided to stay right there and mom married my dad..and aunt Priscilla married uncle Dan ...they have a son too..his name is Daryl" but he and his dad were like me they didn't take too kindly to being preached at but we all had heard about Jesus plenty...but I hadn't heard my parents make any mention of them chaning their ways so I won't be surprised to see them still here..and I doubt they would say different about me...but no ...we live in the bible belt ya know..everyone knows who Jesus is in that sense" "there aint no excuse for saying you never heard about Jesus where I come from...if anything you heard about it so much you turned a deaf ear...which I am the prime example of that" "MEEEE TOO!" Hank agrees "My wife preached Jesus to me at every turn" "Jesus this..and Jesus that....pray ..read your bible...ya know the bible says?" "I just figured she had enough religion for the both of us and I was just fine" "DON'T YOU WISH WE"D LISTENED NOW?" Anthony chimes in "That would be a fact" they both laugh ..to not cry"So what did you say they call the place?" "Possum Hollow" "For Real?" "YEP" "I kid ya not" "and when I tell you it's out in the boonies..I mean it ..you'll see" "ya'll don't eat possum do ya?" Hank has to ask "not much....well sometimes in our stew" Anthony bust his gut ..."JUST JOSHIN" "but straight up..there are some who do!" "but let's just pray hard we don't have to resort to that" "AMEN!" .."how much further?" Well we are passing through Carthage Mo right now so we'll be there in less than an hour"....POSSUM HOLLOW HERE WE COME" Hank Hollers out "boy you have no idea how much life can change huh?" "I hear ya".....as they cruise on down I-44 .
- STA
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His heart was no longer heavy. The deadening weight of his parent's disappearance was replaced by a strange feeling...one that he had not known for some time now. A feeling of peace. Then, he heard the voice again.
"You need to listen carefully to ALL that I will tell you. There is little time, so listen to me..." Connor listened.
"My child, there are those in this world who do not yet know my word. Those who are still of this world, ho need to hear the precious words that will bring them life."
"But...I'm no preacher." Connor said, still dumbfounded at what was going on. "I...I never was-" The voice continued.
"Do not concern yourself with the ability to speak; at the right time, I will give you what to say. I have a purpose for you; one that you are uniquely suited for."
"Me??" Connor stuttered.
"Yes, you. Many whom have become my children, from Paul to those who labor for my name still have talents and gifts that they use in my service. Yours, like theirs, will be used. But in your weakness will you be of the greatest witness."
Connor's mind flashed back to 9th grade, when he had to read a paper in front of class, and he couldn't even get a fourth of the way through the paper before the whole class was laughing at him. He was never good at talking to others; his bike spoke for him when he rode.
"Lord, I-"
"Moses was also unable to speak as well as he thought a servant of mine should." The voice continued. "But where the flesh is weak, the power of the spirit shall overshadow you. You will bring my word, when the time is right." Connor was dumbstruck. "I shall explain more to you later. For now, you must travel while you can: soon, the time of the tribulation will start. Already, the forces of Satan are in motion. I will show you where you shall be safe." The voice had ended.
Connor gathered up the duffel bag, the bible and his helmet. He stopped by the kitchen to grab some things out of the pantry, and something to eat.
A few minutes later, he made his way to his cycle. Tying the bag to the bike as best he could, Connor took one look back at the house. Deep in his heart, he knew that he wouldn't be seeing this place again. But somehow, that didn't matter much. He had a job to do. Turning on the radio, Connor was preparing to get underway when he heard over it a newscast:
"..police and national guard units have now placed checkpoints at all major highways and roads in the area. Riots that have broken out in the cities are now spreading to suburban areas . Residents are advised to keep indoors until the Authorities give the all clear."
"Great." Connor thought to himself. "Now what?" At that point, he heard the voice again.
"North."
"Huh?" Connor said. "But they said -"
"North." the voice repeated. " I will be with you." Connor did as he was told. He headed north.
- Robert
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Dan and Daryl...walk back up towards the house after spending most of the day clearing out the caves ..."Dad...why does Pastor Tim think God will send people out here?" "well son..just look...it's out waaaaay out here for one..and two..you can hunt ...three ..when them wars break out he was talking about...there goin to be bad son...nuclear war will be horrific....this will be a perfect place to be UNLESS the bombs were to land smack dab in the middle of one..but I doubt they have them aimed in a place like this" Daryl trembling ask... "Dad..do you think we are goin to make it?" Dan ...stops in his tracks and turns toward his son..."THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE SON!" "Look at me ...you promise me this ...no matter what happens..you arm your mind that there is NO OTHER CHOICE!" "YA HEAR ME?" "yes sir" "we are going to endure..by grave or survival we will be with Jesus and now you KNOW your mom is sitting above rooting us on right along side Him!" Daryl looking up at his dad..tears streaming down his face.."I miss her bad dad..and I hear ya..BUT I'M SCARED DAD!".....Dan puts his hand on Daryl's shoulder and reassuringly offers..."somewhere in that bible of your mom's It says something like this...."Be strong and of good courage" "That's what we both gotta do son...that is what we HAVE to do!"
Daryl nods at his Dad then they both turn as a car is heading down there road..."who could that be?"........"HEY IT's ANTHONY!"
- STA
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