Carissa is Safe - Thank you Jesus!

by Jodi

Carissa's mom shot this image and then made this card - check out her work at https://www.facebook.com/GinaPetersenPhotography

Dear Friends, thank you for all your love, support and concern about Carissa.  We want you to know a few things.

Carissa at the Expo on Sunday

1. Carissa, her two roommates, and their family members who were in Boston to spectate are all safe.  Praise Jesus!  They are rattled emotionally and can't make outgoing phone calls, but are safe and not alone.  I'm so glad they have each other.
2. Carissa finished the race in 3 hours, 24 minutes and 58 seconds - a personal record (PR).  We are so proud of her!  Her roommates finished in 3:48 and 3:57 and were off the course before the explosions.  If there's ever a time to be thankful for being a fast runner, today is the day.  
3. Please pray that the girls make it home safely to their families.  Also please pray that their minds, bodies, and emotions heal quickly from this tragedy.  
4. Please also pray for the victims and families who don't have good news this afternoon.  

Our Enemy plays dirty.  He comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He leaves a wake of destruction in his path.  

But we can NOT grow weary and lose hope.  

Our Savior - Jesus Christ - stands in the middle of the brokenness and devastation of our world.  

He drives a victory flag right through the middle of the mess.  

He shows his hands, his feet, his side.  

His scars scream out, "Death has been defeated!  The grave couldn't hold me down.  I have come to bring abundant life."  

He is already at work building His kingdom on earth - rebuilding, renewing, restoring.  He will come back again and finish the work He started and death will be no more.  Thank you Jesus for this hope!

This morning I had a bad feeling about the race.  I slept terrible and was fretting and nervous and praying and worried.  I put together this story portrait and posted it on Instagram.  I also bombarded Carissa with pre-race texts.  I had no idea how much she would need our prayers.

This is my friend Carissa.  We met when we were both new to the Portland area.  Then bonded a year or so later on our first run together - an 18 miler!  It's been all beauty from that point on.  We have shared some incredible race experiences togeterh and have spent hours pouring out our hearts and praying together while we run.  She is a naturally talented and super fast runner.  In less than an hour she'll tackle the Boston Marathon.  She's trained hard and fast and is read to rock!  Let's pray her across the finish line.  Run fast and furious Sole Sister.  I love you!

 Carissa get your booty home so we can squeeze and squeeze and squeeze you.  Thank you Sole Sisters for all your love and support you have poured all over us today.  We love this community of Sisterhood.