Helping locals in crisis

  • I’ve been asking around, and have had several discussions with people in our area about “cold weather shelters” for people in dire straights. I’ve found there is nowhere for these people to go.
  • There are emergencies that arise that can displace people in our community, and we do not have many options to help these people.
  • Imagine a family in crises who has nowhere to go in the middle of the night. Law enforcement has few options, although they do handle it, it would be nice if they already knew where to take them. A safe, peaceful, genuine resource that can provide shelter and assist the family on the next steps needed to move forward.
  • There are numerous reasons people get displaced, but not many local resources that show the genuine love this community already has for its residence.
  • We live in a very genuinely caring community, and I would like to pool our resources and step up our ability to help those in need.
  • This year, Kellilynnes Spiritual Recovery Center would like to build an emergency shelter to accommodate our community in assisting people in crisis. I’ve already done the math and we are looking at an additional $20,000 to add this building to our facility. It won’t be the Ritz-Carlton by any means, but it will serve its intended purpose as a temporary crisis shelter.
  • What I’m in need of is someone who is looking to serve their community, and assist me with fundraising. This year we are looking beyond our own means and stepping up to the challenge of making a positive impact in our community.
  • There is a lot to do to make this happen. If you are able to help, or would like to get involved, please contact me on messenger or call me at 425-359-0028.
  • Financial donations can be made at Harvestvisionministries.org and under “purpose of gift” select “Kellilynnes Spiritual Recovery center.”
  • Thank you and may God continue to bless our community.

Getting control of your life

​One day I just got tired of all the problems. I was miserable about the way my life turned out and all the problems other people were causing me. I started reflecting on how things had become so miserable and what I could have done to change my circumstances. Then a harsh reality set in, an uncomfortable realization that 95% of all my problems had been self inflicted. The series of choices I had made, sugar coated with excuses, had caused a chain of events that eventually ate up more than half my life and polluted any chance of a happy or peaceful existence. 
Could it really be that my misery was my own fault? What about all those people that had said and done mean things to me? Surely they had some culpability in my failed attempt at life, or did they?
As it turned out, after some reflecting and brutal honesty with myself I realized that almost all of those mean things, and mean people, were a direct result of my own choices. 

I chose to respond and react to situations and circumstances in ways that in turn caused others to respond and react in their own ways that almost always caused me grief and misery. 

How did I get this way? Well, I learned it. I watched others all through my life react to situations and circumstances with emotion rather than basing their response on logic and rationale. No, I’m not talking about my parents as the main culprits here, it was everyone. Very few people in my life had that ability, my dad was one, my grandfather was the other one. 
If you ever get a chance to people watch, go do that for a day and watch how much emotion is put into every person as they go about their business. The airport used to be fun for that but because our entire country reacted to a serious situation out of emotions, we can’t go past security without an airline ticket now. However, the bus station or train station will give you your fill of an over emotional society that’s screaming “look at me, notice me, love me because I’m miserable.”
Sound harsh? Does that offend you? Well, how are you going to respond to me? Because your choice will determine the outcome of something this simple. You could choose to simply shake your head and scroll on past, or you can get pissed, say foul mouthed, hateful things out of spite and in turn you’ll get a few well chosen jabs about your weight, looks, or your mommy that have now stolen your peace and possibly ended a friendship or closed the door to a potentially life long friendship over a simple choice of acting on emotion. 
Now play out that scenario in a serious situation, and you can really cause some misery. Add a few people who’ll hear your whining and then spread their own version around the community and you have self inflicted misery and chaos my friend.
How we speak to people and how we choose to respond to circumstances can dramatically reduce our own misery. If we can all learn to start responding to one another better, maybe We can start speaking to and treating one another with a little more respect. I know it sounds backwards, but it has to start with someone and you can’t control the other persons tone or emotions, you can only control your response. It sounds simple, but it ain’t easy. I’m still a work in progress but I must say that life has become more manageable, not to mention that that list of people I know who have control of their own emotions has grown considerably.
I decided to change, so I made a plan to help myself. First, when making major decisions or decisions that will affect other people, I seek wise counsel from two or three people I respect and who I know won’t respond out of emotion. This forces me to take the time to consider other views I may have not considered. It also allows me to bring an issue or situation to a neutral party so I’m not emotional when discussing the circumstances.
Next, I pray about it and ask that the Lord to show me anything I may need to consider before or anything I’ve missed and to give me the wisdom and guidance to make a good decision.
Finally, on day three I reevaluate everything and make a choice or decision. Some things I’ve given a week to decide, and some I’ve waited as long as a couple months before making a choice that could make a whole lot of lives, including my own, very miserable. 
Now, I’m making decisions and choices that are leading me down a better path. People actually ask my opinion about things, and some even come to me for advice.
Every choice we make has the potential to change, alter, uplift, or destroy those around us, which in turn causes self inflicted misery.
Stop blaming others for your misery and do some soul searching, you may find a better life just around the bend.

John Seaman

Death of a child, living testimony

In memory of Kellie, her unborn baby, and Jeremy, I have been working on building a retreat for grieving parents and others suffering loss.
We are currently at a standstill, money and support is almost all gone. As we rush to start some fundraisers, I’m healing from neck surgery. It seems the Lord’s timing is always perfect.

Our facilities will not just help grieving loved ones but will also serve as a place for people who are struggling and need a hand up. We are going to open our doors to anyone God sends our way and help them with their basic needs to give them a fair chance at returning to a somewhat “normal” life again.

I believe that the way to change this world is to get involved in the lives of those in need and give them actual help, encouragement, and a decent shot at life. This is deeply involved process that includes changing diet, changing habits, lifestyle, finances, and much more. Some people need to start from scratch and learn EVERYTHING all over.

I believe this world wants to help these people but are afraid, intimidated, or they have been convinced that it’s a waste of time.
I believe it’s what Christ intended for us to do:

And Jesus answered; love the Lord thy God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. And the second is like the first, love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two things hang all the laws and all the prophets.
This is how we know the difference of those that serve God and those that are false teachers. We can test all these other so called prophets by these two things as well. Then you can make a decision who is the living God to follow. Jesus is the only one that lived and died an innocent man. He is also the only one who arose from the dead and was witnessed in the flesh by over 500 people for 30 days before ascending into heaven. Jesus did everything publicly, His teachings and his life were spread by the same public that witnessed these things. These other guys don’t hold a candle to the life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ. All the information is there, you choose to either believe or not. It is not our job as Christians to make you believe. Our job is to live like Jesus who loved his neighbors, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and cared for the least of these. Our lives should be a living testimony, but we fail because we are living in a stacked deck. We need Jesus for that very reason, Grace. He took the punishment for our sins, past, present, and future. When we choose to live for Christ, we strive to free ourselves from the bondage that makes us do bad things. So, If we die and find out their is no God, and we lived a life in service to mankind caring for the sick, elderly, widows and orphans, then what do we lose? Nothing, but we have lived our lives in service of our fellow man so our life has made a positive difference. Now if there is a God and we did all these things for and because of God’s love for us, then I say we have pleased our Father and the benefits I hear are great. Now you may do good things your whole life, but reject God, do you really expect Him to come running? Not only have you rejected him, but you have encouraged others to do the same, and you expect Him to stand in your defense? Sorry my friend, Jesus loves you and wants you to live for Him, but you trust the people who influence you instead of your creator. Who we put our trust in is the root of our character. Putting your trust in yourself or others, knowing people are self sefving, is reckless.
Who do you put your trust in when it comes to the subject matter of your soul? Where do you draw your hope from? Do you have hope? Do you trust man over a higher power?

We all die. When we die, something happens. Even if that something is nothing, something happens. Are you willing to put your trust in the hands of your own limited knowledge? Are putting your trust in men that have spent their ENTIRE lives directing others away from God? Knowing how flawed mankind is, are you willing to risk eternity on these men you’ve put your trust in?
It’s worth the time to investigate for yourself. You and you alone are responsible for the choices you make. Putting your trust in men is a dangerous risk and it has already influenced your bias.
To me, it is the most important and personal decision a person will make in their entire life.
Both sides take faith to believe, so who are you putting your faith in? Man, or a creator?

If you would like to know more about our retreat, our mission, or how you can start serving God, feel free to message me.

Thank you and God Bless,

John Seaman

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Fighting addiction in a world of selfishness

Addiction is one of the most selfish and self serving diseases we can allow in our lives. Yes, I said allow. Addiction is caused by a series of choices that revolve around self loathing and pity.

Something has happened in our lives to make us “feel” like we’ve been set up and wronged in this world and now everyone should feel sorry for us and understand that we have “special circumstances” that have made us this way.

Well, sorry to burst your bubble like mine was, but millions of people have horrible pasts, terrible circumstances, and horrifying family issues that they handle without running to dope, alcohol, gambling, sex, or anything else that is self destructive to help them forget or cover their issues.

If I sound a bit harsh about addiction, it’s because I was there and now realize just how destructive my selfish behavior was to everyone I loved. Looking back at my life as a criminal, I realize that everything I did was self serving. If it didn’t benefit me in some way, I didn’t get involved. The drug world is full of sharks like me, waiting to pounce on young, inexperienced, victims.

Now, my heart breaks when I see or hear of someone I know in that world because I know what happens there. Now that I’ve turned my life around it is my life’s mission to help others WHO ARE READY to change. there is a huge difference in someone who wants to change and someone who is ready.

Kellies Crises Center and Retreat is preparing to open its doors to anyone who is broken, tired, and looking for answers. Our original intent was to help grieving parents, which we will still do, but our ministry is God’s, not our own. God has gifted myself and a few others in our circle with the gift to help people kick addiction and gain their freedom back. Imagine no more addiction in your life. Our faith based crises center is waiting to help set you free. We welcome people of all walks of life and all backgrounds.

In Christ, old things pass away. Behold, all things become new.

 

If you would like to become a regular contributor, church member, or have someone who is in crises, feel free to contact me personally.

 

Thank you and may God Bless you all.

John D Seaman

If you would like to help us open and continue operating, please donate at the following link. We are a church and can give charitable receipts for donations received.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=T2ULDPBVQC3J8

 

Kellies Crises Center and Retreat

Here is the pre-built cabin we want to start with at our crises center (this is actually smaller than The one we will buy). The cost is approximately $9,300 plus delivery. The interior needs insulation, plumbing, electrical, paint, and flooring. I’ve already purchased most of those items and they are ready to be installed once we get the cabin in place. If you would like to help with the purchase of the cabin, or you would like to become a monthly contributor for our crises center, contact me via messenger, or call me at 425-359-0028. If you would like to purchase the building and have it dedicated to someone, we are happy to accommodate. Eventualy, we would like to have 4 cabins available to help victims of trauma, people fighting addiction, or people who need a hand up and a second chance. https://mobile.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_express-checkout-mobile&useraction=commit&token=EC-8KC61594LR3478318#m

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Thank you all for the continued support and prayers for our ministry.

 

“Like” our new page at facebook.com/kelliescrisescenter

John D Seaman

In memory of Kellie we will change the world

Everything that transpired over the course of the crash, Kellies vegetative state, the trial of Mathew Moore, and the craziness that followed including the death of Kellie and my step son John (he took his life a month before Kellie passed away) I’ve decided to start being the difference I want to see in our society. We can change the hearts and minds of people around us if we are willing to get out of our comfort zones and reach out to those that society rejects or ignores altogether.
Starting in May, we will open a sanctuary/retreat for people who are suffering the loss of a loved one. We will also help homeless people, addicts, and convicts turn their lives around and become contributors to their community instead of a burden on society.
The land has been purchased and I’m in the process of having power installed. Our next step is a septic system and well. Once those have been completed, we will need to build a couple bunk houses for our guests. Currently our budget is in the red and we need donations to complete our goals.
If you are interested in helping, please feel free to contact me or if you would like to donate money you can follow the link below.
If you would like to purchase a memorial building for a loved one, please contact me and I will give you the details. A building (bunk house) can cost as little as $3500 before plumbing, electrical, and insulation.
I am so blessed to have you all behind me on this much needed ministry that will transform our communities.

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https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=T2ULDPBVQC3J8

Our mission and vision is coming together

I have been looking into land to purchase in Eastern Washington state to build our faith based rehab center and animal rescue site. I have found numerous places that would be fantastic for our vision and mission.
Our vision is to bring people to a place where they are free from the pressure and temptations of the world and help them learn basic skills that will help them get their life back.
I would love to be able to provide free services, however it will cost about $600 per person per month.
I will be working as a local missionary of sorts to get funding directly from church’s and businesses to help us fund our ministry.
We will help families and church’s with members that want to be set free from addictions of all types. There will be no need to advertise other than through the church. So many families are struggling with someone close to them in their addiction. We want to bring hope to these people.
If you would like to be a part of this or would like to help fund this great ministry, feel free to message me or donate to the link below.
Thank you all and God bless.

John D Seaman

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=T2ULDPBVQC3J8

The story of my life changing event

This story I’m about to tell is very difficult to both speak and write about. Although it has been about 3 years now, the memories and heartache are still very fresh.

In May of 2012 I was in a very dark place in my life. I was struggling with drug addiction and trying to get myself clean. The addiction came from being cut off of my medications from my physician for missing 2 appointments. I hit the street to meet my basic needs to relieve the pain i was in. It led me down a very dark road that i wanted out of, but the pain was more than i could deal with at that time.
Every evening i would call and talk to my daughter Kellie in Dallas Texas, I lived north of Seattle Washington at the time. We would talk about her life, pregnancy and my struggle to get clean. I looked forward to our conversations every night, they brought light to my dark world.
On May 23rd, 2012 in the late evening hours i had tried to call Kellie several times but there was no answer. Soon after, my son Jonathan called me to tell me that Kellie was dead. I broke down, i was a wreck and my son, from 3000 miles away, tried to console me. He was so strong and was very mature, almost like he was my dad trying to console me. Jonathan was there at Kellies side, watching the carnage, yet he was being strong for his dad. I will never forget that.
Jonathan proceeded to explain that Kellie, who was 5 months pregnant, along with my 7 month old grandson Jeremiuh and another family friend had been struck by a drunk driver at nearly 100 miles an hour. Kellie had a severe brain injury, so did my grandson Jeremiuh who was only 7 months old. Jonathan went on to tell me that the family friend, Jeremy Price, had died at the scene of the crash from a brain injury and that Jeremiuh was on life support at Children’s hospital.
The staff at Parkland Hospital put my daughter on life support to try and save the baby she was carrying. Unfortunately the baby suffered a brain injury in the crash as well and died before they could do anything to save him. Kellie’s mother made the staff Keep Kellie on life support even though she had been deceased.
I flew to Dallas the next day thanks to a friends grandmother who bought me a ticket there. Being addicted, i was unsure of how things would work out for me but I didn’t even hesitate to go, that was my baby girl and grandson and nothing else mattered.
I arrived in Dallas with no money and $20 worth of heroin to get me by and keep me from detoxing for a couple of days. After seeing my daughter on life support, it was no question that my life was about to change in a major way.
Kellies mother Gina was there to make my life a living hell, she forged documents that made her and another woman the medical power of attorney and tried to block me from any and all meetings with the doctors and surgeons and kept me from voicing anything over Kellies care. This was her way of grieving.
No matter what, I wasn’t about to leave my daughters side, i lived at the hospital and prayed with her, read to her and played her iPod for her. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Every day i watch Kellie struggle to breath, fighting for her life. I did everything i could to try and make things okay. I did her hair, painted her finger and toe nails, helped the nurses with her care and i just kept seeking answers. There had to be a reason for all of this. I thought God was punishing Kellie for my sins, yeah, you get all kinds of thoughts like that during such horrible times. I beat myself up over and over for my failings and short comings.
Trying to make sense of it all led me to the bible. God showed me the answers through His word and in interactions with various people at the hospital. The answer was simple; so many people are making bad choices that no matter how good we are, our lives are going to collide with the consequences of their sins. We are all surrounded by this, no one is exempt.
Now i had the answer, and it was tough to swallow because i was one of those very people destroying our society. I was participating in the very thing that took my grandson and daughter from me. But, now having the answer helped me seek a solution. This was a big one, huge! How do we solve this issue of people making bad choices? How can we make society see and understand the consequences of their choices? It starts with me! Then i teach those around me to do the same, and so on!
I made a video of my daughter and made a plea with people to not drink and drive and put it on youtube. The video has gone viral with over 3 million views on youtube and millions more on other social media sites.
As the video was taking off, i was working on fixing me. I was clean now, had been since the end of June. Now i needed to be the change i wanted to see around me.
I began by reaching out to others who were suffering. There were 2 older homeless ladies that i met near the hospital. I took them to my empty apartment (in Dallas) that i had for showering and preparing food to take back to the hospital with me a couple times a week. I allowed them both to stay there and put their lives back together. “Lisa”, she had an addiction to Crack cocaine and tried but did not succeed. “Kathy”, had an addiction to prescription medications, and many health issues including Hepatitis C. (I’ve changed the names to protect their identies)
Kathy was able to get the help she needed and now has her own place in Dallas, she is almost 70 years old. Although i had a lot on my plate with my daughter in the hospital, i took the time to help direct them both toward the steps they needed to accomplish their goals.
I found great peace and joy helping them both, but mostly i found Gods purpose. We should all be willing to step out of our comfort zone and help those that society has cast aside. God intended for us to love one another as we love ourselves, it is His commandment to us all.
Getting back to my daughter, it was a horrible and eternally scarring situation we were all in. There was so much behind the scenes drama, heartache and unnecessary and intentional pain being caused that i had to start making plans of how to deal with each issue. The biggest issue was forgiving Mathew Moore, the man that killed my grandson and put my daughter in a vegetative state.
The anger and bitterness was overwhelming and all consuming. Waking up to the fact that i was no better than him, that i myself made many choices like he did, was the first step. How could i continue to hate someone that was just like me, he just drew the short straw that night, that was the only difference. God loves him just as much as me and God has forgiven me for things just as horrible. I could not move forward without that understanding and extending the same love, grace and mercy to Mr Moore that Christ had extended to me.
Once i was was able to let that go, i was able to start planning my next move, to change the world!
My daughters entire life was dedicated to her passion for animals and the poor. Now, her path and mission had become mine.
Almost 1 year after Kellies crash i got a call from home, my 26 year old step son John (JJ) was missing, not answering his phone or his door. I told his mother to please have the police make entrance to his home, i had a bad feeling something was wrong. A couple days earlier he had called me and had a long talk about our time together as he grew up. He thanked me for all the sacrifices i had made to give him a good life. The conversation was upbeat and JJ was against suicide and never showed any signs of depression so i didnt think anything bad about our talk. He was very intelligent had lots of friends and made big money.
Sure enough, the police found him inside his home, deceased. I was crushed, just shattered. I was more than 3,000 miles away and couldn’t do anything. Once again i felt hopeless and alone.
I was with a good Christian friend when i got the news, once again, God knew what i needed and provided. There was plenty of time to make the arrangements for his service and i was starting to plan on the funds to go home and bury John when i got the call that Kellie had passed away. That call was almost a relief. Anyone who has watched their child suffer the way Kellie did knows what i mean. My baby girl was finally at peace with God. It was now time to bury my kids and put my life together to honor their memory and to honor God for his love, grace, and mercy through the worst time of my life.

God took me down a path of clarity to righteous living and now it was time to step things up so i started making plans for an animal sanctuary. The problem was finding someone to take me in when i returned to Washington. All my belongings, everything i owned was stolen while i was in Texas with Kellie. Not one of my “friends” was willing to take me in and help me turn my life around.
Just when i was about to give up and accept that i was stuck in Dallas, i came across a guy on Facebook that i had met when i was addicted. He was a pastor of a church in Sedro-Woolley Washington that had offered me a place to stay and start over a couple years earlier. I took the chance and contacted him. Pastor Cliff Williams got back with me and i told him the story of what had happened and what i learned. I also told him my plans to serve God and help animals. Cliff and his family opened their home to me, a complete stranger, who he only knew as an addict with what could have very easily been empty words of a desire to change. I couldn’t believe they would open their home to me, but they had been helping people for years, it was a perfect fit for what i wanted to do. September 5th 2013 i returned to Washington and hit the ground running.
As soon as i arrived i got myself set and anchored in Gods word. I was already familiar with it, i used to be a productive member of society before the divorce and addiction. I spent many hours in several churches and had served as an assistant pastor and Sunday school teachers over the years but never quit got it. Now, i had a church that all served the poor, outcast and addicted. Pastor Cliff took me under his wing and taught me more than i had learned in my 46 years of life. Soon, i was bringing homeless people back to the ranch and helping them turn their lives around. Some were convicted drunk drivers, some were addicts, some were just homeless. I loved my new life, my new home and my new family.
Now it was time to start rescuing animals. I started a facebook page that supported other animal rescue sites around the US and Canada. I helped raise money to get critters the help they needed and got Vets to help fix critters at low or no cost for many people. Then i started bringing in the critters. A friend at another ranch in Monroe had more room so i was able to start sending horses, cows, pigs and other farm type animals there. This was a huge help due to my failing health and limited space at our Ranch.
Over the past year and a half i have turned my life around, helped several others do the same, started a church, rescued several critters and found homes for them, improved my character, and am now shooting for the stars.
I am now purchasing land where I will build a ministry to help those that have been tossed aside by society and for those who are suffering heartache and loss. I’ve decided to become the change I want to see around me.
Thank you all for learning our story and to those that have been supporting me through this.
bless you and thank you,
John Seaman.