“Joanna,” Mitch said, slightly above a whisper, “I know you know what happened with our friends, and how this has impacted our lives, and there is no doubt we are in need of help. The other day, you told Carolyn about yourself and your background, and of course she told me, but to tell you the truth, I’m still confused. So would you mind telling us a little more about how you’re able to help us? I guess I’m asking how you know these things.”

Joanna answered in a slow and methodical manner. “Perhaps I should tell you what I am not. I’m not a medium, but God sees fit to use me as an intercessor. So God allows me to use the gifts He has given me to intercede and pray for those in need, which is the focal point of who I am and how I help others. Sometimes I am permitted to do things that most earthly men or women wouldn’t understand. For example, I’ll be in the presence of someone living in heaven and they will speak to me, and I’ll hear their voice. And I will receive their message and their words and be able to share them with others. So the truth is that I am simply a messenger, and I will answer your questions if I am able.”

“Thank you, Joanna,” Carolyn replied. “Then I guess my first question would be about Rachel. I have felt her presence so many times, but it’s just so hard to believe it’s real, and so I don’t trust it and then I convince myself that I’m just imaging things.”

“Well, Carolyn, given that Rachel was such a big part of your life for so long, and that she left so abruptly, it’s only natural that you would feel a connection with her. Why would it be so hard to accept that her soul lives on and that your soul lives on and that they sometimes intersect? Don’t you still feel the same love for her that you always did?”

“Of course I do, but—”

“But like all of us you struggle with faith, and God understands that and forgives us for that—as He does all of our mistakes, much in the way a loving parent will forgive her child over and over. So, trust that this is true, and, if you do, it will become easier over time for the two of you to find each other.”

Carolyn took a leap of faith. “Joanna, when we met you said that Rachel had spoken with you. Did she? Do you know where she is? Is she at peace?”

“Yes, yes, and yes. The first time she spoke with me directly, you and I were in the same room with her.”