The New Amanda Story! ~Kelli

Okay, as many of you read in the Pink Stuff post by Steve there is a new Amanda story. So like he said, we did two shows in Ridgeland, WI this past Sunday. This involved me being insane as usual (and as many of you know and love me) getting up and being on the road by 4:30 a.m. The first show was in a little church where Jovanna did point out that we were a fire hazard. We then had some great lunch and fellowship time with each other and new friends and were also introduced to the now famous (to us) pink stuff. Some of us went to set up at the next show location and the two college students (Jovanna and I) did homework. Seems pretty normal right? That’s what I thought too.



Before Steve starts the show I’m walking around handing out ear plugs and come to a family that doesn’t want any. They said they go to many monster truck rallies and this should be fine. I thought nothing of it. Just before the show Pastor Sue walks up to Steve and I and asks my permission to have my story told because she thought it would be good for them to be able to put a face with the story. Once again I thought nothing of it. It comes time for the second guest drumming song and my former guest drummer picked the daughter of the family that I briefly talked to before the show. From the instant she said “Hi, my name is Amanda” all I could think through all of ‘Every Time We Touch’ was Amanda Maser, Amanda Maser, Amanda Maser. We got done with guest drumming and it comes time for Steve to tell the stories for the day. I am used to hearing and telling my own story, but I know when I’m not the one telling it I cannot make direct eye contact in the audience, I just can’t do it. I didn’t see with this Amanda right away.


After the show Amanda, her brother and her parents came to talk to Steve and I. Amanda and her mom told me how Amanda had problems in school because she was born with a learning disability, a physical disability, and was heavier set. They said she had really identified with my story, and the fact that she was my guest drummer helped her to connect that much more with me, and understand how I was able to change (at least a little bit). Her mom then went on to tell me how she shouldn’t be here right now because of an accident she had had a while back, and that Amanda had an extremely hard time getting through it without the help of her friends. The only reason she is here on this earth today was because of her saving grace the flute. Amanda found a way to express herself and found her only real friend in that flute. Her mom moved on to talk to Steve, and Amanda and I continued talking. She told me how she had finished with high school and was studying at some college in the area. I asked her what she was studying and she replied with music therapy. Right then my jaw dropped. What are the chances that she and I would connect on so many different levels including studying the same things in college?!?! I couldn’t believe it. That family ended up having to get going as Steve and I still had yet to tear down after the show, but as we were tearing down I told Steve all that I had learned about this family.

If you all thought Amanda Maser and I connected quickly, you wouldn’t believe how quickly this Amanda and I connected. She texted me my entire five hour drive back to school, has added me on Facebook, and texts me almost every day. God was definitely working through all of us that day. First of all that family had seen a sign driving home one day and decided to randomly show up to the show, secondly I decided to go against my mom’s wishes (which I don’t suggest anyone else doing!) of going to the show, and also Pastor Sue wanting to have my story told on a gut feeling. Obviously God has a plan for that family, for me, and for SR. Amanda and her brother plan on attending practice with Pastor Sue, and hopefully we could get a site going up there. God was working through each and every one of us at the Ridgeland shows that Sunday, and who would have ever thought that I would have TWO very special Amanda’s in my life???

Comment what you would like to about this story, but make sure to comment on the last two postings as well because they have all come within just a few short days! I hope it all makes sense to you because I'm still out of it with the "mysterious Ridgeland sickness" as Erica calls it. But I would love to hear your comments!!!