A Little Girl's Dream

There once was a little girl who had a dream.  She loved animals and she dreamed of being a veterinarian someday.  But more than anything, this little girl loved Jesus.  When she was 12 years old, she had the opportunity to go on a mission trip with her mom to Guatemala.  While in Guatemala, she fell in love with the people.  Her heart broke for the scrawny dogs she saw in the street, but her heart broke even more for the people who were living in poverty and far away from any available medical care.  As she was leaving the country, she stated with full confidence to her mother, “I don’t want to be a veterinarian anymore, I want to be a Doctor and I want to come back and help the people in Guatemala.”

The next several summers the little girl returned to Guatemala with her mom, dad and brother.  Her love for the people of Guatemala continued to grow and she continued to express her desire to be a Doctor.  During this time, her mom and dad were praying and seeking God’s will on whether He wanted their family to go serve full-time.  They didn’t know whether this desire of their little girl to be a Doctor was a wild dream of a little girl or a calling from the Lord, but they knew they didn’t feel led to home school her, which is what being on the mission field would require.  So they decided that they would stay in the States at least until their kids graduated from High School so that they could be educated there. 

Throughout High School and College, this little girl, now beautiful young woman, returned to Guatemala many summers and helped out with a medical ministry.

Fast forward to today.  This little girl is now 29 years old.  In June of this year she will graduate from a 3 year family practice residency program.  Her final step in becoming a full-fledged, out on her own, Doctor.  Turns out her wanting to be a Doctor was a calling from the Lord after all.  During med school, God also brought into her life a young man who has the same calling, to be a Doctor and serve the Lord by helping others.  They married right after med-school graduation and will be graduating from residency together.  After much prayer, they have accepted an offer from a small town in Iowa to work at a clinic/hospital there.  But here is where God’s mighty hand and plan comes in play.   This clinic has partnered with the medical ministry in Guatemala where this young lady has been serving for years.  The Doctors in this clinic each take a 3 month rotation to go to Guatemala and serve at this ministry while the others stay back and hold down the fort.  It has been a long journey, but God has brought to fruition the dream and calling He placed in the heart of a 12 year old.  She is now a doctor and for 3 months each year she will be going back to Guatemala to help the people

The day before she began medical school, her parents left for Guatemala to serve at the Children’s Home they had gone to when they first went, which is 20 minutes away from the medical ministry she will be serving at.  God is such a good and mighty God!

Most of you know that this story was about our family, specifically our daughter, Heather.  We as parents have had the awesome privilege to watch God work in her life throughout the years to carry out His calling He placed in her heart as a 12 year old.  We are so thankful that Heather has chosen to follow the Lord with all her heart.  It has been a tough journey and has not been easy.  Only through the power of God has she made it this far.  God is faithful!

Grandpa Ray: A Legend Leaves a Legacy

Ray Sutton at Honor Flight in Washington DC

Thursday morning, March 10th, we received news that Norman's dad, my father-in-law, had suddenly passed away at 8 am that morning.  It was a shock and after some chaotic planning and scurrying, we headed to Guatemala City and then flew to the States Friday morning.  

My father-in-law, Ray Sutton, was quite a man.  All his family already knew that, but these last few days confirmed it and revealed to us how far his reach went.  This past Friday night and Saturday morning, over 300 people came and gave their condolences and shared how Ray had impacted their lives.  How he was like a father to them.  He may have raised 6 boys of his own, but he "fathered" many more.  Maybe some he didn't even realize.

1991 or so - Uncle Don, the six brothers in reverse order (Norman, Eugene, Lyall, Phil, David, Roger) and Ray

Three of his six boys shared words at the memorial service.  Below is a piece that Eugene, #5 son, wrote in honor of Ray.

The Legend

Many claim that to be a legend, you need to be legendary.  You need to have accomplished something great or persevered through extraordinary circumstances.  But Webster's gives another definition tucked near the end of their explanation.  It states:  It is the story of a saint.

Today we are honoring the life of Ray Sutton, a legend.  In his life he accomplished many great feats displayed around the Quad Cities in various forms of construction.  He took raw materials, cut, shaped, formed, nailed, fastened and assembled them into beautiful homes, offices, and buildings.  Over the years he helped take raw young men and help shape, guide, encourage, correct and lead them to become men who rose to leadership and became talented, capable foremen, husbands and productive citizens in society.

We honor a man who persevered tremendously over his lifetime.  He was consistent, hardworking, loyal, loving, encouraging, fun loving and extremely generous with his gifts and talents.  He used his God given abilities to minister in many facets around the world.  He touched many lives in many ways.  Many that may not seem obvious, but time and eternity will someday bring them to light.

Today, we honor a legend, because it is the story of a saint; A man who gave his life to Christ.  He was willing to follow Christ's example.  He became a carpenter.  He helped to care for the needy and the poor.  He was kind and gentle.  He put other's needs before his own.  He demonstrated Christ's love to others wherever he went.  He was involved in building the kingdom of God through whatever opportunities God presented.  Thursday, March 10th, God told him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Some of Ray's legacy - Thanksgiving 2015

As I sat at the Memorial Service and listened to Eugene, Roger and Lyall, honor their father, I thought about the legacy Ray was leaving behind.  Legacy - Def. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.  I realized that I have been married to one of Ray's legacies for almost 33 years and I was filled with gratitude.  As they were talking of Ray's life and characteristics it was almost as if they were describing my husband.  My husband is who he is today because of his wonderful parents, and his Dad's strong influence in his life.  Ray exemplified loyalty, consistency, sacrificial love, a strong work ethic, and most importantly a heart for God.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg.  I see these same traits in my husband and I know where they came from. In the Memorial Service, Lyall shared that Ray always said that if Lyall (#4 son) had been a girl, they would have stopped at 4.    Well, I am here to say that I am sure glad that Lyall wasn't a girl, because I am married to #6 son.  I am so thankful for the example, time and effort Ray poured into his sons (and later his daughter-in-laws and grandchildren).  Because of that, I have a husband who is loving, caring, a great provider, a great father and loves his family very much.  Just like his dad, Grandpa Ray.

April 2015 - More of Ray's legacy

This post doesn't even begin to touch on Ray's greatness and the influence he has had in my life and the lives of so many others.  He did whatever it took to be a part of his children's and grandchildren's lives and to support them in whatever way he could.  And he was so proud of each and everyone of them!  He loved me like his own daughter and I never doubted that.  He was a gentle giant and pillar in his church and community.  You couldn't go anywhere without him and Marilyn knowing somebody.  (Another trait my husband inherited from his parents.)  We love you Ray: husband, dad, father-in-law, grandpa, great grandpa.  And we will miss you greatly here on earth, but we are so thankful to the Lord that we are blessed to be in your family and to love and be loved by you.  You lived a good life and your legacy goes on in your children and grand-children.   Thank you!