Baby steppng.... my specialty!

It was about 11:15 this morning when I finally plopped down in my chair, rolled up to my computer, slid out the keypad and clicked on the postage stamp icon.  New messages began popping up... one, two, three.  Suddenly, I realized I was holding my breath, nervously anticipating the promised decision from the editorial director at Upper Room Books. Four, five, six...and then I saw it and I froze afraid to read it.  So, I bowed my head, took a deep breath, and said a prayer before clicking it open.   It read....

"Hi Hilda,

I have reviewed your proposal and find it to be an interesting story. What I would like to do next is to allow the Emmaus director to review it and let me know if he thinks that this project would be of strong interest to Emmaus communities.

I think he may have left for the Christmas holidays, so I’m sure he will respond to me in early January.

In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas!"


Stunned, I didn't quite know how to reply.  Thrilled that the book had made it past another step and awestruck by how God seems to be working to accomplish His purposes.  You see I had met Victor, the Emmaus director, when he was in Houston in 2006 for a regional Emmaus Celebration.   We even talked briefly about my project.  Way back then he expressed real interest in what God was up to at the Cross Roads.  Praise God!


I can't wait to see what January brings!!!!


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...and the next step!

 I had not heard back from the Upper Room today, so I called the editor.  I was disappointed, though not surprised, to get her voice mail.  I had to settle for leaving a message.  To my chagrin, after I hung up I realized that I hadn't mentioned the name of the book!

Not wanting to leave a string of irritating voice mails, I decided to follow up with a short e-mail just enlightening her to the name of the book referred to in my voice mail.  I hit send and within thirty minutes I received a response from the editor at Upper Room Publishing.  

Stand at the Cross Roads is finally out of committee and is one of a few books that she intends to take a closer look at this week.  She said she would let me know whether they are interested in going forward or not by next week.  

Chris, my co-writer, cautioned me not to get my hopes up to high, but it's hard.   I know God is at work and that even if  the Upper Room passes  - HE does have a plan for getting this story published.     Keep those prayers flowing  ~ and watch here to see where God is going!

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The next step

God kept bugging me through friends, family and even campers who came to Cross Roads that I need to write down all the things He was doing through me to get the camp built.   I started a thousand times, kicking myself that I hadn't kept a journal, like so many had suggested I do.  Then one day my husband came home with several copies of a book that a friend of his had written.  Through that friend, God introduced me to Chris Rogers, a gifted and  published author, who patiently  led me step by step through the writing process.   And believe me it IS a process!

The next step was publication.  But few publishers accept manuscripts from unpublished authors. Go figure.   On top of that I was writing in an unusual genre.... true life Christian testimonials.      I was stymied again, like so many times before.   Then  I received a mass e-mail from Emmaus International,  an Upper Room Ministry of the United Methodist Church  General Board Of Discipleship.   It seems the focus for Emmaus in 2010 is going to be Fourth Day experiences and they were soliciting Fourth Day stories and boy do I have one!!!!

I called immediately and told them I have a story, but it's to big for their newsletter, it's a book.   They gave me the name of the Editor at Upper Room Publishing and told me to submit my book proposal to her.  That she would be looking for it.  Praise God!

It has been in their review committee for  126 days now.  I am told this is a good sign.  I am asking for your prayers that God's will be accomplished and this story, the story of what God can do even through the most unlikely and unworthy of people, will get out to a world needing to hear that hope.