Loved Twice Thrift Boutique is more than just a thrift store. Yes, it is a place where donated items get new life in a new home. But, it is also an opportunity for volunteers from our churches to share the love of Jesus with our community. And each week, we get a chance to see God’s greatness revealed.

From sales minister, Colin:

We first met Rita in late September 2020. When she visited Loved Twice, she put a big dent in our Halloween décor including the purchase of a five-foot tall scarecrow witch. As she shopped, she shared how much she loved to decorate. As Rita continued to shop, I helped her husband Wayne load the witch in the back of their truck. Wayne took the time to share some pictures on their tablet of their farm decorated for Thanksgiving, as well as last year’s Halloween and Christmas. You see they are pretty well known around the community of Alpena, Michigan for their decorations. People would drive out to the farm just to see how Rita and Wayne had set things up.

This is when we discovered the reason Wayne and Rita were visiting our area. Rita was getting treatments at the Cancer Treatment Center of America (CTCA) in Zion. She had been treated in Michigan for about 5 months and was referred down here by her doctor. Before they left to head home, we took some time to pray with them for healing and safety in travel. After that first visit, they would come to the store during every visit to CTCA. At first, that was every other week. As winter weather kicked in and travel was more difficult, visits were down to once a month. In the spring, it was every 3 months. Each time we would take some time to pray with Rita and Wayne. During the summer, they were able to find a place closer to home for treatments and we would keep in contact through text to learn how Rita was doing.

Earlier this week Rita texted that she and Wayne would be visiting CTCA this week for some follow-up and they planned to visit the store Thursday. Everyone who had met them was happy to hear that they would be back. When she arrived, it was hard to recognize Rita with her facemask but when she said hello it was smiles all around. Before she began to shop, Rita took time to update us on her condition. She pointed out that she had been battling for 5 months before she came to the store. When she first visited and we took time to pray she felt so much better, and explained that after her visit her cancer never spread. Three months ago at a visit with the local clinic in Alpena a scan showed her cancer had “calcified”. From her description, it seems to be stable. But Tuesday of this week a scan at CTCA showed that her cancer had actually begun to shrink. Praise God!

She thanked us all for our prayers and being faithful to hold her up. She is “absolutely convinced her visit to the store and our prayers were a big part of the treatment”. Then, with a big smile, she got right into her shopping. After loading four boxes in the truck and spending time talking to Wayne, he and Rita headed back to their hotel to rest before a trip home on Friday. Before they left we prayed out by the truck for continued healing and safe travel home. We thanked the Lord for the testimony of their faithfulness through this trial and God’s healing hands. They promised to be back on their next visit to Zion.

So what a blessing! Loved Twice has given us a front row view of a true testimony of God’s greatness. Of course, we will continue to pray for Rita and Wayne. But right now we will exhale and say “Thank you, Lord”.