Skylar gazed at Mandy as though she was going crazy. "What do you mean, 'place of rest'? They died. Their bodies were cremated. We were all beside you at the funeral!" Skylar looked towards Ifes for affirmation.
Mandy brought out her handkerchief and sniffed into it. "Yes, we did all that. But what I meant to say is, they accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior before they left us."
"What! Are you sure of this Mandy? If so, why did God save Bradley from cancer, but did not save your Mother and Jason?"
"All things work together for good to those that love God and are called by his purpose," Mandy quoted. Skylar did not understand.
"Before now, we all claimed to be atheists. But there is heaven and hell, whether we believe it or not. I don't know why my mother and brother died, but one thing I am certain of is this: they are in their resting place. What about you, Skylar?"
Mandy's question struck Skylar's heart. Was there really heaven and hell? She thought it was all a myth to scare people. "Are you certain of this? Is there heaven and hell?"
"Yes, Skylar. I believe there is, and everyone in the world would go to either place at the end of their lives."
"So, I think I deserve to go to the dark side."
Mandy wanted to shake her friend. Didn't she hear what she said? Mandy pointed to the bottle Skylar shattered on the ground. "What you said about the shattered bottle is true. But for you, it is not!"
Skylar looked to her for more elaboration.
"Your life can be mended, but only by Jesus. Skylar, I want to tell you that he loves you so much. Even if your life is shattered more than this broken bottle here." Mandy darted her gaze from Skylar to the broken bottles. "He can take good care of you, and fix you even better than you could ever imagine!"
She returned her gaze to Skylar. "Just open up your heart. Open the door of your heart to him, give him a place, and you won't regret what you did."
After Mandy finished a brief sermon, Skylar found herself on the ground, her face to the earth as she cried. It was as though an invisible force had taken hold of her.
She found herself crying out. "Jesus have mercy on me! Have mercy on me! I know I'm not worth it, but please, have mercy on me! If you did it for three of my friends, you can do the same for me! Have mercy on me!"
"I am tired of life, tired of the life I'm living! Mandy said you can change me. She said you can reform me and turn me into a better person. Do it now. I'm ready. Help me, Oh, Jesus, help me! Have mercy on me!"
Mandy gazed at her friend dismally. She wanted to go give her a hug and tell her it was alright, but as she made to do so, Ifes held her hAnd jerking her back. "Leave her alone."
"But can't you see she's not alright?"
"No, she's perfectly okay. The Holy Spirit is working on her. Allow him to finish. After preaching to your friend, do not be the stumbling block to her encounter with the Lord."
Mandy drew back, surrendering her friend to the Holy Spirit.
Skylar kept pleading for mercy, and felt the blood of Jesus washing her sins away. She could hear a voice speaking to her.
"I have forgiven you and cleansed you from every unrighteousness. I am your righteousness. I am now your God and Savior. I will stand by you until your last day on earth. I will show you my love, I will care for you because you are my daughter. Welcome home, my child."
"I have taken you from your dark world and brought you into the light. From today, you abide in me and I in you. Cast all your cares upon me and take my yoke for it is light. I am the one that saves. I know the number of the hairs on your head. Before the foundation of the world, I have called you by my name. Even while you were in your mother's womb, I knew you beloved. Beloved, you are welcome into my loving and saving arms."
Skylar felt a strong presence, and began to speak with other tongues.
Mandy watched astonishingly. Ifes came closer and whispered into her ears. "I told you to leave her, that the Holy Spirit is working on her. Now you can see for yourself!" Ifes smiled.
"But everything is scaring me half to death. Are you sure she will be alright?"
"Yes of course, Mandy."
"But this did not happen to me, Bradley or Avery. I got baptised first before speaking with other tongues."
"Yeah, but isn't it amazing that God works in mysterious ways? She's a great person. It's a pity the devil tried tampering with God's property, but thank God, after these long years, she's back to him. Now, by his grace, she will stick with him forever."
Mandy's heart swelled with joy, but it still didn't make her forget the surprise that surged all over her body.
Skylar finished praying and raised up her face to her friends and smiled. "I'm not dying again. He touched me and I am made whole again! He says he's with me always and I shouldn't be afraid of anything!"
At this point, Mandy could not wait to hear everything as she quickly reached out to her friend, embracing her tightly. Ifes joined in and they all shed tears of joy. They all laughed and cried at the same time.
Mandy raised up her hands to the heavens in adoration. "Thank you Lord, thank you! Just three more to go."