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

melbarbesh@comcast.net

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