A moment captured in time, a forever Glory, and yet can still be used Today in Hopeing to Light a Spark and keep a candel burning in ones Heart!
It was the year 2010 just going from summer into fall season on the East Coast in Connecticut were i came across a city on a hill called Norwich. In my teenage years i had passed through this city with bands i played in and friends i hung out with but never understood what this city was all about. so i seen it but did not know it! That is untill the day My old school from friend from High School brought me to her home town Norwich Connecticut and i actually became involved and have a life changing experience as well for Many others!
In the year 2008 after completleting over a year in prison State of Florida ( Located in perry florida known as taylor Correctional facility for the stae of Florida. which i was set up never did the crime i was acussed of, it all had to do with polotics and religion and them boys trying to run me away for preaching the Gospel and playing music for Jesus in a radical way, being true to Jesus. ( the whole story and truth about my testimony and what i went through can be found in the book i wrote called " IN MY DEFFENCE".
After my time was up first thing first headed back home to Connecticut to reconnect with my Family but most important to come home to my daughter Alexis was 6 going on 7 and just wanted to see a little peace of heaven. right before i saw my daughter I went to a Church behind Stafford Co oupt grochire store, believed to be of thy Franschican order, having something to do with monks and the catholic church. The good part of it the doors were always open for thy faithfull to come in a pray and meditate and thats exzactly what i did. I spent about 20 min in thy sanctuary before the alter then got up and headed over to see my daughter!
So as i was on my way i was rounding the corner of front of the store ( Stafford co oupt center when i saw a small peace of plastic floated in the air just above ground and of course i hate trash and polution of the earth so in my nature i bent over to pick it up as i did a young lady was actualy chaceing the wrapper to cause it came from her we just babout bumped into each other trying to pick up this little bag cause we both dont wnt; to polute the earth. Then right then we both look at each other shocked like dear in a head light we stubled with our words just both amazed she spoke out my name JAKE BABINEAU, i spoke out her name JOANNA BAXTER. both shocked as ever can be!
The fact is Joanna and I were realy good friends back in highschool were we met in windham Tech in willamantic Connecticut. we were both punk rockers loving the music life( year being 1999-2000) Fact of the matter I left out of my jr high year in the beginging to follow my dreams in music as a rockstar, so i left never looked back and lost intouch with my good friend Joanna! but as time will tell 2008 we bump into each other both amazed!
The first thing we did once we both reconized each other we grabbed each other and gave big huggs we both smiling and we held hands and we walked back over to the church i just came from. Come to find out she her self also came to visit the church to pray. now what are the chances of this happening but to say only can be the work of our Almighty God Jesus the Christ.
So we both before the alter holding each other and praying for each other and also very excited to have mett once again. After praying i told her i had to go see my daughter and she told me she had to go see her daughter, so we change numbers and addresses telling each other we would keep intouch.
after visiting with my daughter i like i said i would contacted Joanna and from that moment we became in seprable and having alot of fun, we made plans right away to go out on a picnic, in which i brought my acustic guitar and bible and we had some food, nature and weather was perfect and we caught up all the years we have missed from each other. I played some songs i wrote and told her of my tours out on the west coast in California and everything that was happening.
So for the next 2 years we would be hanging out alot together going to church mostly and she showed me her home town of Norwhich Connecticut were she grew up, and its how i was introuduced to this special little city known as the Rose of NEW England!
Joanna one morning introduced me to the local soup kitchen were she hung out at times at Saint Vincent Depauls place were it started at the old train station in the heart of Down town. There i was introduced to sister Jill who operated the missions and kitchen in serving the homless and people in need.
I was amazed how this place was operating and how well it was doing and Joanna knowing me going into ministry brought me here to take a look and thats what i just did. Both Joanna and I liked camping and up in Norwhich in a park called Mohegan park up in a corner on a hill behind a field out in the woods i built a well suited camp site to set camp any time i could get to. especialy when i come to visit Norwich!
There was something there pulling me to this city could not figure it out what it was but i cept it in my heart and visited time to time and having a few camps and keeping in prayer!
Then one morning as we roll into town Joanna for some reason wanted to stop at local soup kitchen ( Saint Vincent depauls place) to see what they were having for breakfeast. I stayed out in the van i wasnt hungry, she herself went in. After about 15 min she comes out and comes up to the van with a stranger that was hitch hikeing stopped in for food and was headed south. Joanna gave me the look asking if we can can help him in any way. Of course was my reaction we would do what Jesus would do! I told him he was welcome to get in the back and helped him with his gear and notice all was from the army. and asked and he did tell about being in the military being a vet and served a couple times in Irach. He sure had the bullet wounds and scars from war to prove it.
At first was just going to help him with a ride south like he asked for and give him a few dollars to help him on his way. But i started think about my Father Wayne Babineau who him self was a navy vet serving in the veitnam war and loved to meet other vets and helping people out, so i inviteted John B. this new friend we made to come home with me to my parents house and meet my dad and sty for a few nights, were he could shower clean all mhis clotahes and eat some good home cooked meals from my mother before he headed back on the road going were he was going.
The intresting part i had no clue what i was doing and how serious of a situation was taken place. I did not know this guys planes what he was up to but only knew he was from vermont and was headed south and just back home from military work in irauq.
Him and my dad got along real well we had good times made good memories he stayed with us for 3 days and 3 nights. I was woundering about this man and what was going on and knew the Lord sent; him my way for a reason so i cept in prayer trying to figure out what was going on. The Holy spirit lead me in what to do! so after the 3 days he spent with us he was ready excited to head south and something inside of me was saying hang out with him for one more night just the 2 of you, thinking of what to do i thought of my camp site i built in Norwich Connecticut. So i asked him if he would accompany for one night of camping with me then the following day i would take him south were he neaed to go he was headed for North Carolina! I told him i would take him there. he was all about it!
Camping with John was an experience and i could see there was much waying heavy on his heart and like he needed to talk so i asked him and he just opened up talking about his experience in the past to wars he fought in and how he became so confused and hurt bybwhat he dealth with and let me tell you it was big! I then asked him if i could tell him my story and struggles and what i was doing and why i choose to help him out.
I told him of my music backround and upbringing and my calling into the priesthood to the office of apostleship by Jesus Christ and gave him my testimony. I could see i got his attention. here we were outside on a beautiful night sharing stories and becoming friends it was realy beautiful. so i asked him do you know about Jesus and the Bible. to my shocked he said no and had no church experience!
So i explained the moral and reason for the Bible! very simple. with today with anything you buy the product which you purchus comes with a set of directions a owners manuel. well In life we as humans also come with a set of directions and a owners manuel its called the BIBLE! and i put it to him this way. B.I.B.L.E-- BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH! it is our compass, our charter map and blueprints to living a heathly and truthful life. everything to life is init!
I explained who Jesus Christ was, How God who created us became a man born of a virgin to lead and show us the way being the light in a dark place. the way the truth the Life! I also to him about the way to salvation! he was captivated and just wanted to read for him self and i left him alone to do so as i went away to pray for him. he stayed up through the whole night not going to sleep into the bible, nethire did i sleep. upon sun rise his joy turnned into sorrow and you could see he was troubled and he cried and i gave him comfort. He just came to the light and realised the wrong he had done! he just wanted to know how to be saved and i explained beliviving Jesus died on the cross for his sins and he rose from the grave asended into heaven to be alive for ever. to profess and bellieve having faith in the works of Jesus. Then i brought him to scripture about doctrine of water baptizm and what is asked of us to do following in the works of Jesus. he became very excited and was ready at the very moment.
So i talked with Joanna and we decided before we drive him south we will take him to a lake in stafford springs Connecticut and I
will baptize him and so we did and it took place being a beautiful day!
Such joy and happyness came over him he was like a little child nall over again! and then the news. He said now we must; stop i need to call my sister nack in vermont and tell her of this and so i gave him my phone and he did just so. to my shock i now start to understand this little mystery i was putting together. After he was done talking to his sister he gave the phone to me telling me his sister wants to say something to me. " She was very excited and said Mr Jake Babineau i can not tell you how thankful i am for you and what you just had done she said hold on to my brother we are on our way from vermont right now to pick him up please dont let him out of your sight. So i knew something was up. well as itcame to be Mr John B. was headed south for one reason to kill himself. he left behind notes saying goodbye to his wife and children and family and took off. he was so messed up from the war no longer could go on with confusison and guilt and betral he was done. but the Lord sent him my way and we took care of the devil and his demons and his sad life!. Next day he was reunited with his family and a beautiful turn around came to be!
This is were i learned my calling into Norwich Connecticut and the missionary zone feild i discovered that would become a revelution in Church history and the making of the testimony for Jesus Christ by his Apostle Sardis Jake Babineau