“I Want What She Has” - The Conversion of Lynne Yacobellis

A New York Roman Catholic

Good Morning, my name is Lynne Yacobellis and I grew up in New York. I was raised Roman Catholic and every Sunday my Dad and I would walk to church. I remember our priest saying each Sunday “we are now going to read from the Gospel of Luke, John or Matthew this morning,” but I had no idea who these individuals were—let alone understand the message that was read by the priest. Feeling empty inside and having so many unanswered questions I left the church when I was 15 years old, and for the next almost 2 decades I followed the way of the world.

A neighborhood greeting?

In March of 2005 my husband, Tom our two sons, one daughter-in-law and two fabulous grandsons moved to North Carolina. On the first night in our new home there was a knock at our door. I looked out the window and I saw what appeared to be the entire neighborhood at our door! It turned out to be the Barnes family coming to greet us with a plate of cookies. Little did we know what a blessing they would be to us throughout the years. They invited us to their church and when we entered these doors we were greeted with such love and kindness. We enjoyed going to church, even though I still did not understand the sermons or understand the messages that I tried to read in the Bible.

Caregiver to widow to lost

In 2006 Tom became very ill and I became his caregiver that lasted for six years. Our church family never stopped praying for us and Gail and Ken never gave up on us. I would pray to God to keep me calm especially when we started doing dialysis at home and most of all to stop Tom’s constant pain. Every time Tom went to the hospital I prayed that God would please bring him home to me. In September of 2012 Tom was back in the hospital. On Wednesday September 19, I prayed again. Oh, how I prayed to God again to bring Tom home to me!

On Thursday September 20 at 5:01pm, God took Tom home. The next day I wasn’t praying to God I was just talking to Him. I told him that when I asked for Tom to come home I guess I should have been more specific and given you our address [deleted]. As I repeated that over and over I realized that God did get the right address. When I looked back on that day I also realized that while Tom was in the hospital he didn’t have one day of pain he had five days’ pain free. I was not mad at God’s decision; I started laughing and thanked God for taking Tom to his home.

Following Tom’s death my life as I knew it ended. At least, that is how I felt. I closed my self off from everyone. For over three years I was constantly reliving the past. A tape recorder played over and over in my head and I could not shut it off or didn’t want to shut it off.

A miraculous change

Also during that time, I found more and more comfort in alcohol. I had some rules: do not drink before noon, and I set a limit of how many beers I would drink each day. I broke that second rule right away. Finally, I called out to God for help, since I knew I could not stop on my own. Years passed by and then one morning in May 2014, I woke up and felt different. I did not know why I had this feeling, but when twelve noon came and went, and the next day twelve noon came and went, I realized that God answered my prayer. I no longer had the urge or desire to drink. It was done—forever. Glory to God in the Highest!

"I want what she has"

On May 27, 2015 Gail’s Dad and Lovisa’s husband of over 60 years joined his Savior in Heaven. On that day my son Brian and I went over to their house. When I walked into their home the first person I saw sitting in a chair was Miss Lovisa and she was glowing. That is the only way I can describe to you what I saw. I don’t remember how long I stood there looking at her, but I remember turning to Brian and saying, “I want what she has.” 

That Sunday I returned to church. I was welcomed as if I was never gone. What a beautiful feeling. Just as God never deserted me, as I did Him. I know that he was just waiting for me to find my way home.

One year and 2 months later I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was baptized. Glory to God.

I want to thank you my brothers and sisters, for your prayers and most of all your fellowship. What I have learned during this past year is:

• Read your Bible
• Hear God's Word
• Go to Him when you are in need or just to talk to Him as a child would talk to their Father
• Fellowship, I lost that but now I cannot imagine living without my church family in my life.
• Oh! One more thing, Sing! Sing out loud and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

"Fear not for I am always with you." I hear those words over and over. Praise and Glory to God. “Oh Lord How We Need You.”

Thank you

Lynne