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TRANSCRIPT
The Double Cure By Mel Esh
The song Rock of Ages describes a double cure that takes place in our lives
through the atoning work of the cross of Jesus Christ. It depicts this in the first
stanza when we sing, “All for sin could not atone, Thou must save and thou alone.”
What a blessing this double cure brings into our lives!
When the children of Israel went out of Egypt they experienced this double
cure. Before leaving Egypt there was both the Passover and the unleavened bread.
The Passover was where the children of Israel were spared death by the death angel
passing over them. Each household that had placed blood on the door post and
lintels were spared this death upon their firstborn. The unleavened bread was when
they escaped Egypt before their bread had time to leaven. Scripture brings out in
Exodus that they were thrust out of Egypt in haste.
The Old Testament example is very beautiful as we consider Christ and his
atoning work. The blood of Christ, as we know, saves and redeems us from sin. We
are cleansed and washed of our sins through his shed blood at the cross. We are
spared the judgment and sentence of death that was upon us. What a wonderful
salvation!
The Feast of Unleavened Bread that the children of Israel commemorated
yearly after escaping Egypt had to do with escaping the power of Egypt. After they
left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, Pharaoh and all his hosts had no more power
over the children of Israel. Likewise, we have not only escaped death through being
cleansed of our sins, but sin has no more dominion or control of us. We have es-
caped the power of “Egypt and Pharaoh”; the power of sin and Satan.
And thus the double cure. We have been saved and cleansed from both its
guilt and power. We have been cleansed as the Scriptures declare. In whom we
have redemption thru his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of
his grace (Ephesians 1:7). We have been delivered from the power of sin as Ro-
mans 6 brings out.
When we partake in communion, this double cure is beautifully commem-
orated in the New Testament. In the Old Testament they celebrated their escape
from death and Egypt through a yearly feast called the Passover and the Feast of
Unleavened Bread. We celebrate the victory of the cross in our lives through partak-
ing of the cup and the bread. The wine typifies the cleansing of our hearts from sin
and the bread typifies the power and victory that we as God’s children have over the
power of sin and our enemy the devil.
Oh what a Savior! Praise God for the redemptive work of the cross of Jesus
Christ! What a wonderful salvation! Truly there is a double cure! Both from the
guilt of sin and it’s power!
Summer 2018 Volume 6
Aquila Villa A discipleship ministry and loving home environment for hurting girls
Purpose and Vision
To bring girls who are struggling into
purpose and fulfillment in Jesus Christ
To help them work through and deal
with life dominating problems
To help them learn and value discipline
and focus through a structured home
setting
To give them vision and understanding
of the joy of blessing and serving others
Aquila Villa is structured to minister to girls from homes that believe and
adhere to the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.
We desire to see hurting girls brought into spiritual freedom and life in Jesus
Christ. Please pray for this ministry to our Anabaptist community.
Aquila Villa has an Advisory Board, and is operating under a
Board of Directors.
Craft projects
Discipleship time
“We are very much enjoying our family here at Aquila Villa.”
ADMINISTRATOR’S UPDATE BY BARB ESH
We are so blessed with all the Lord is doing
here. He is a big God, and He is changing all of us.
I enjoy being with the girls, counseling,
encouraging, and interacting with them on a day-
to-day basis. It’s rewarding to see them work
through their difficulties and become more
complete in Christ. I am a homebody and I love
being home here as a family. I’m kept very busy
shopping for groceries and for supplies for the
craft business, doing bookwork and lots of other
things and making sure everything goes smoothly.
We enjoy doing many things together as a family
here at Aquila Villa; like mulching, gardening and
flowers. Some highlights since our busy spring are
that we painted the pasture fence and bought
some goats. We also purchased a heifer to raise
for beef. She scaled the fence on her first night
here and we found her about a quarter mile away.
I thought at that point she might be better off in
jars than running around on the road. We put up
some electric fence after that. Everyone enjoys the
animals a lot.
In some ways it seems we live in an ever
changing household. There are many cheerful
hellos and many teary goodbyes, but God is still
good. We said goodbye to Naomi Grimshaw at
the end of April. We are grateful to her for being
so faithful and for her wonderful service here as
matron. Mary Esh arrived here from Ithaca,
Michigan the middle of April to take her place.
We are thoroughly enjoying her presence.
Recently two residents graduated and went home.
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We miss their smiles and blessings. We received
two new residents just recently and look forward
to getting to know them better. We also just said
goodbye to Sarah Lloyd who served as matron for
one year and was with us from the beginning. We
have been tremendously blessed by her dedication
and commitment to the work. Rosie Zimmerman
from Lititz, PA is replacing her.
In June we took a road trip to Ohio to visit
friends. That was special to travel together as a
family. We also enjoyed touring a glass factory.
We mentioned in the last newsletter that we
would tell you more about a small wholesale craft
business we were starting. It is a 50 Day Card in a
bottle. Each bottle contains 50 different scriptures
and poems rolled up inside capsules. Each bottle
has a unique label where you can fill out a
prescription for your friend. During afternoon
project time the girls roll all the papers that go
inside the capsules, put them in bottles, label,
lace, and decorate them. We have eight different
occasions: Get Well, Comfort, In His Service,
Victory, Birthday, Friend to Friend, Happy
Mothers, Sweetheart.
We have them at 20 different stores selling for
us now which is a great blessing to us and the girls
here. The girls really enjoy working together in
this and say they are edified in doing it since they
get to read inspirational verses as they roll.
Usually they do sixty bottles at a time of one
formula. So that means you will see the same
scripture sixty times. They all have their different
things to do and to look at the finished project is a
feeling of accomplishment. We hope that these
messages will encourage and comfort many
hearts.
We are fulfilled in the ministry God has called
us to. Pray for us, especially that God would
enable us to manage our time well. Sometimes
our schedule gets full with counseling, debriefing
the staff, giving direction to the home, etc. We
appreciate our board that so faithfully loves and
supports us. Through their help and the prayers of
those around us we continue to endeavor to labor
on in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tuition Benevolence Fund: Tuition
is intentionally lower than the cost of
service to increase accessibility, but,
there are many among us seeking help
that do not have the means or support
to afford the full tuition. If you desire
to help in this area please earmark your
contribution: “Tuition Benevolence
Fund”. May God bless you for sharing.
WELCOMES
Rosie Zimmerman as a
matron. She joins us from
her home in Pennsylvania.
Mary Esh as a matron. She
joins us from her home in
Michigan.
STAFF REPORT BY MARY ESH
Matron: 1. a woman in charge of domestic or medical arrangements at a boarding
school or similar institution. 2. an elderly lady, especially one who is staid and dignified.
How does this title fit my position?
As a matron at Aquila Villa I am responsible for my girls in how they do their work, how they
spend their free time, how they relate to each other, and how they interact with other people.
Thus, I am a woman in charge of the domestic arrangement of the lives of my girls while they
are at Aquila Villa.
There’s something unique about a matron’s work at Aquila Villa that is not included in the
definition of the word. Aquila Villa matrons, besides having domestic oversight, also engage in
spiritual warfare. We sit in on counseling sessions, we engage in prayer, we give admonition, we
encourage, we give correction, and we give instruction.
From time to time, as we carry out our responsibilities, and as we engage in these different
ways, we personally face attacks from the enemy… and we overcome him! We resist him; having
recognized his tactics (often with the help of a co-worker or an authority figure) we stand
against him in faith knowing our God has promised to deliver us!
When our minds are filled with the burden of the job, when the weight of responsibility is
heavy, and especially when we feel overwhelmed, we turn to the Lord. He, washing us from the
filth of the battle, heals us, strengthens us, refreshes us, and readies us for war again.
Sometimes we are wounded, sometimes confused by the noise of the battle; but always,
ALWAYS, when we fall on Him, we find Him perfectly faithful in receiving us, counseling us,
loving us, and restoring our strength. Therefore we give thanks to the Lord God Almighty,
which is, and was, and is to come!
Just a note on the second definition of the word matron: I find it to be quite an inspiration
since staid means sober; grave: steady; composed; regular; not wild, volatile, flighty or
fanciful; all of which I want to be!
God be with you all!
PRAYER REQUESTS
• As staff and residents
adjust to many recent
transitions
• Protection from the
enemy
• For grace and
discernment as we
minister and counsel
PRAISE REPORT
• Two girls recently
graduated
• For Sara Lloyd, a matron
who completed a year of
service successfully and
was a tremendous
blessing.
• For a blessed board of
directors and advisory
committee
NEEDS
• 12 passenger van
• Office laptop
FAREWELL
Project time and the resulting display rack
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RESIDENT’S CORNER BY BETHANY
Greetings in Jesus’ precious name! January 6th found me heading to
Aquilla Villa. I came not knowing which way to turn in my life; also very
depressed and hopeless. Since I’ve been here, I’ve found out how to become a
stronger Christian. With Mel and Barbie’s help, I found out who Jesus really is.
One day I was feeling rather lost and hopeless so Mel asked me to go spend
time alone with God to see what He brings to my attention. I opened up my
devotional book to the chapter of self-pity. I thought, “Okay God, I surrender it
all to you”.
Some of the highlights of my time here are helping with the firewood, our
heifer jumping the fence on her first night
here, and my family coming to visit and seeing
my little nephew! As well as just having family
time here with our
Aquila Villa folks.
And oh! By the way,
of course, receiving
mail!
May God bless
you all…
Matron Sarah Lloyd
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Leroy Smucker, Chairman
Old Order Amish 717.629.3915
Cleason Sensenig, Secretary
Mid-Atlantic Fellowship 717.278.0364
Nathaniel Gingrich
Mid-Atlantic Fellowship 717.572.7150
Adam Lattin
Charity Christian Fellowship 717.403.0028
Mark King
Bethel Christian Fellowship 717.278.9287
STAFF
Mel & Barbie Esh, Administrators
717.687.8057 | 717.471.9374
Mary Esh, Matron
Rosie Zimmerman, Matron
Sadie Smucker, Domestics
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Aquila Villa 6 Happy Hoof Lane
Ronks, PA 17572-9578
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Give anonymously. Send and make checks payable to:
Aquila Villa, 340 Rose Hill Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522
A tax-deductible receipt will be provided annually or upon request (e-mail
needed) when a name and address is provided. God bless you for sharing!
Learn more at www.AquilaVilla.org
“Bring Something, Buy Something” BENEFIT AUCTION August 17, 2018 5pm Bareville Fire Company, Leola, PA
All items are donated. Bring new and used items. Meet the staff of Aquila Villa. Questions? Donations? Contact Leroy Smucker 717.629.3915