Seeds

by Emma F.W. Kittok
(Minneapolis)

"O God," he said loudly, looking up at the silhouette of Bobby's hammock. "God, this is black. It's dark; I can't see. We're lost."

He was quiet for a moment, then continued in a new, quieter voice. "God, there is a tree, a tall tree, with roots going very deeply into the ground. It's us. It's the ... people.

"We've tried to follow God, but we lost Him while we were trying to follow. We tried to follow our own paths, and they never took us to the place they were supposed to... They never took us beyond the horizon, where we would find You.

"Then (Emily) found Your path in Jesus Christ, and (she) walked it and showed us how to walk it. We were glad.

"But God! Where has it taken (her)? Why did that path lead to this place? God it can't be."

He stopped. There was absolute silence.
"The tree is beautiful," he said. "It is beautiful. It is covered with large, perfect blossoms that have opened and shine in the sun. Each of us is a flower.

"But there is one flower bigger and more beautiful than all the rest. It made the most perfect fruit. That is (Emily)... (She) showed us the path to walk with Jesus Christ, so that we have reasons for life, for living. We were all excited by this new life.

"But, O Lord, it's so black. A wind has blown, and the fruit, the most perfect fruit, has dried and withered and fallen to the ground. Its seeds have been kicked into the dark, dark ground. It has died -- (Emily) has died and left us.


"God, don't let the seed be wasted. Make our lives fertile soil so that this seed by grow in us. Make this death into a great tree growing in our soil, so that we can live as (she) did, to help each other and learn to love. Make this grow up in us because of (her) death. We ask this because we are all one this evening, born into Jesus Christ, Your only Son."

(adapted from Bruce Olson's book "Bruchko." Charisma House:Lake Mary,FL: 2006. Pg. 183)
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I had finished "Bruchko" the morning before I heard of Emily's death (the timing, a real Godsend!). Rereading it, Emily's name would not stop appearing where the name of this Motilone Columbian's was.

This was the prayer of a 14-year-old boy, after the untimely death of a man who had become like a father to him; having taken him under his wing though the boy was an orphan, outcast, and trouble-maker. This too, reminded me of Emily and the person she was.

She was the kind of person who would drive an hour and a half to see previous tutor-kids who had moved to a small town and were lonely and completely out of their comfort zone. Multiple times! She was the kind of person who could connect with a 13-year-old tutor-boy in a way that had this macho kid opening up and asking her questions about life and love and faith! The sorrow of loss and the truth of seeds spoken of in this prayer resonate with me, especially when I think of Emily.

She would have loved this book I wonder if she ever read it? It is the story of a very unconventional missionary to Columbian.
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I lived and tutored with Emily at Jeremiah's Porch in Minneapolis during 2005/06. I had first met her my freshman year at Bethel U. when she was swing dancing and I was just starting to put my feet into that crowd. I noticed even then what a sweetheart she was, but it wasn't until we lived together that I realized she was a true kindred spirit.

She was a year ahead of me in the nursing program and I admired every bit of her. She was so smart and really cared about people. And as we became friends that year we discovered a number of similarities: nursing, missions, loving kids and Muslims, wanting to live in the Middle East, having gone to the UAE. We would light candles and incense and talk about these passions until we forgot about the time!

Since meeting her, she has never ceased to be an inspiration to me. She was one of those people I could always pick up with right where we left off, we would laugh and cry and encourage each other all over a cup of coffee! She was one of the most affirming people I know.

I last saw Em at the Frontier's Banquet in November. It is a good way to remember her. She was excited about planning a prayer vigil for Somalis in Minneapolis and about new opportunities and friendships. She gave me a hug that said, Where have you been? I love you, crazy girl! I gave her a hug that said the same. And if I had forgotten it before, I knew by seeing her lively eyes; God is at work in big ways in her life and just as faithfully in my own.

That is how Emily Rudolph impacted my life. She was a living reminder of the person I want to be and of God's unconditional love for every living being. Thank you, Jesus, for her friendship! I'll see you both in Glory, meantime, watch how your seeds grow!



ps Mrs. Anderson, this was a wonderful idea.
Thank you.