I immediately - like I jumped up and ran downstairs to where Mark was working - ran downstairs to tell Mark, we needed to get dressed and leave within 10 minutes to help search for this sweet young women, Melli Simpson.
We both dressed for the days weather, chilly with a breeze, and wet from the previous rain. I wore four layers on top, jeans and hiking boots.
Mark and I drove out to the Simpson's/ Sephton's home where we listened to the fire chief's instructions. We were asked to search Creasey Mahan (in the event that she went in that direction - no one had searched that area, yet). On the drive over there, I distinctly got the impression that we were going in the wrong direction, but we followed the chief's instructions.At Creasey Mahan, we talked to everyone we saw, showing her photo and asking if they had seen her. Mark searched the perimeter of the park, while I walked the inside windy trails in search of her. We both concluded she was not there, nor had been. While I was at Creasey Mahan, on a small trail towards the back of the reserve, I knelt down and said a prayer asking the Lord to help guide and direct us to this precious daughter of God. I pleaded and asked the Lord to help us find her before it got dark. Upon the end of my prayer, almost during my prayer, I received an answer, that we needed to search Liberty Elementary school and Liberty Lane. I texted the fire chief asking if anyone had searched there - he did not respond. Mark and I were on our way there, when we decided to check other landmarks on the way. We drove through Poplar Woods subdivision and then we combed the woods near St. Francis school on Buckeye Road. We were there when we received a phone call informing us that a hunter had seen her earlier in the day near route 1694.
WOW!!!! On our way to the Simpson's I had mentioned to Mark, that as we passed over Harrod's Creek, I thought she would travel along there. I had a super strong impression to stop then and look, but we thought it best to meet with the fire chief - so we drove there. YIKES - what if we had followed our first impression then...
Mark and I drove over to route 1694 turning into the Harrod's Creek subdivision. We drove to the very back and hiked along the ridge that overlooked Harrod's Creek and the valley it carved. Our visibility was only half a mile at best, but we both felt strongly that she had been there. We returned to the car, then I dropped Mark off at the creek bed - he will walk along the creek bed and I will hike the upper ridge on the other side. There are horse trails on the other side, and she is an equestrian rider.
While walking the trail I ran into another group that was looking for her, Matt and Jenn Mortenson and their son Ben. I walked a little faster, so I went ahead - soon Ben caught up to me. While we were walking, I again asked the Lord to guide and directs us (as a group) to find Melli before the sun set. I immediately received a revelation!! I immediately felt that we needed to send a party of volunteers way out to the east and have them walk along the river bed or this horse trail until we flushed her out. We were not going to catch up to her, by following behind (where we thought she had been). We kept walking, but texted the idea to the fire chief. We walked almost all the way to Liberty Lane, when we came across some people on horse back that were searching for Melli too. They said they had already searched the direction we were headed. At this point, I was determined to follow the prompting I received. I told Ben we had to hurry back to the road.
Ben separated from me for a brief moment, he went looking for his dad, but he caught back up to me. We were walking the trail - and then all the sudden, we did not know where we were. It's a good thing we are both trained in Boy Scouts. We knew the river was to the left and the road was perpendicular to the river. We walked to the right of the river - and somehow a 20 minute walk landed us at the road within 5 minutes. The Lord took us off the path so that we could arrive at the road in a shorter amount of time. At that moment Matt (Ben's dad) met us on the road, and I drove them up to their car.
I then drove down route 1694 to find Mark. By this time, he had walked the river's edge with Sandra (Melli's mother) and returned to the road. However, my search was in vain. I could not find Mark. He soon called and said to meet him at the Simpson's home. I told him we needed to go to 393 fast.
At the house I comforted Sandra, but felt we needed to leave immediately. The entire day I was driven at a pace beyond comprehension. Something was driving me to move, go and strive even harder to find Melli. Mark and I were on our way out to route 393, but detoured at Liberty Elementary - continuing down Liberty Lane. She had been spotted there, and I wanted to know a time frame.However, as we talked to the fire chief - he told us to go home. He said volunteers were asked to stop searching - WHAT!!!!!?????? Mark and I sorta disobeyed this request. We decided driving is not against the law and that we would look for her while driving. I turned on my hazards and slowly we went on. Route 393 is not that much further down the route 42. We turn right onto 393... I can feel the gravity of the situation. She is desperate to find sweet Melli. With the hazards on, driving 25 miles per hour we are looking near sheds and in wooded areas while driving to our destination where Harrod's creek intersects with Route 393. These are hilly back roads; as I (I'm driving) comes down the hill with the creek bed in sight, she also sees a red back pack attached to a young lady with Melli's description. It felt as is my soul jumped out of her body with joy. I slam on the breaks, hazards are already on, jump out of the car and run. There she is - she is safe - she is alive - she is okay!!!!!! Oh my gosh... She is safe, she is alive.
Melli was found by our dear friends the Gilberts. Abe and Jamie Gilbert do not live far from this spot and decided to go for a walk and look for her at the same time. They ran into her just minutes before and were walking her up to the road. I call Sandra immediately and tell her the wonderful news. The wonderful news that her daughter is found, safe and sound.
The police arrived and tucked Melli in one of their cruisers. Mark and I followed the police to the police station. Mark and I wait for Melli to come out of the police station. We have the opportunity to talk to her. I run up and wrap my arms around her.
I was able to talk to her, and not as Betsy Lowe (per say) but as an instrument for the Lord. I was prompted to say, "I know you didn't want to be found, but we are so glad we found you before it got dark. You have a bright future. We are so happy you are safe and sound." When She heard me say, you have a bright future, she looked at me with great interest. It turned out those were just the words she needed to hear.
Later - the next week - we went to lunch together to share and talk about her experience and the meaning behind what I wanted to get across to her. We talked about the difference between fate and choices. Boy, I love this girl. She has a bright future, if she will just believe.
