says my little boy, Joel. On October 10, 2023, just after hiking to Blood Lake near Park City, Utah, my son chose to join his family in giving his life to Jesus Christ. If you know Joel, you know he is as genuine and literal as they come. And incredibly vocal. About everything. He has wanted to become a Christian for a few years now – always asking questions and wanting to do what we all had done. But these last few months, he has really been intent on making his desires known, but when we would get to the point for him to pray, he would ask to wait. Not this time.

We have been blessed since the moment we met Joel Nathaniel on July 26, 2016, at St. Mary’s Hospital NICU. Since that sweet day when we unexpectedly brought home a one-week-old baby with 26 hours’ notice from the Lord. That first day when you needed us for love beyond compare and to hold you tight as you faced your unknown challenges. To check out the full story of Mr. Joel, see this link: https://wordpress.com/post/heather-haley.com/726.

This story of salvation is one that has been a short while coming. Joel has always asked the deep and thought-provoking questions of life and faith. He always wants to understand every angle of a situation. He is incredibly passionate about everything he does, but very sensitive and gentle about all things related to the Lord. Our family has experienced many losses of loved ones in his short little life and I think that also has given him a deeper understanding and desire to marvel at the things about Heaven and God. His journey and short little life seems so unfair at times as he has experienced so many things taken from him – in a very short time period.

His drive, passion and purpose are magnified in many ways. His intelligence is unique (at least to me 🙂 ). He has a big mission on his life to accomplish anything the Lord directs him towards. My prayer is that we can direct his passion towards his God-given path so that he can run full speed with the mission the Lord has for him. On December 17th, 2023, at Fairview Baptist Church he followed in believer’s baptism. Much like what you saw in the New Testament after believer’s gave their lives to following Christ. 

Both of my children have accepted Jesus as their Saviour on hikes in the mountains. Georgia in the Smoky Mountains and Joel in the Rocky Mountains. I know the Lord has a story in that for me – I just don’t know it yet! Soon, I am sure. 

In the sweet words of Joel’s salvation prayer, I leave you with this – “If I see You, I will be happy. Jesus, You are the Saviour of everyone. No one can go to Heaven except through You. So many people have gone there, and I would like to go there too. I lay down my life as your servant in Christ. Amen.”