Andrew Chiappelli-a legacy of faith, love, truth and talent

Some people come into your life for just a short time, but leave an impression on your life that will leave a legacy for generations to come.

His name is Andrew Chiappelli.

My family met Andrew in 2007. He was a patron of our restaurant and we instantly connected with him. My children worked with us in the restaurant from time to time, and his love for children drew them into a blessed relationship of a man, who became family, a mentor, who always encouraged them in their faith and talents.

 My two boys were really rough and tumbling. Soccer, football, wrestling, trampoline, fort building type boys. Andrew was more of an artist, creative soul, who was full of mercy, peace and stillness. He gave my boys a gift of patiently waiting through the process for a creative masterpiece. They created everything from sculptures to paintings to planting things to decorating my house, including the boys, my daughter and me in the process. Yet, he would still go on the trampoline and jump with the kids, have water fights, build forts and tell these great adventure stories to them that delighted them.

Andrews’s relationship with my daughter was a sweet blessing. They had a special connection, as she is very artistic and creative. They would sing together and dance and do all kinds of fun projects together. He always encouraged her to pray and listen to God. He would do her hair and buy her cute outfits, even though, at the time, was struggling financially. His selfless love, still impacts my daughter today.

Andrew became a dear brother in Christ to my husband and I. Because he was single, he spent many nights at our house for dinner and board games, movies and walks and bike rides. He carved pumpkins with us, helped us decorate our Christmas tree, always helped me clean my house, as running a restaurant and home schooling three children always had me challenged in that department. He taught us about soaking in the LORD through worship and Andrew and our entire family would lie on the floor and “soak” in the words and songs and of God in stillness and peace.

When we were about to close our restaurant, he would work with us doing caterings and events to help us stay afloat and pay bills. Every time we gave him a paycheck, he would not cash it. When we closed the restaurant, he gave us an envelope with all the checks he didn’t cash, to help us pay others. He was there, praying with us and for us when we closed. Crying with us, helping us clean it out and sell the items to pay bills.

My husband became the general manager of Dai Bai Dang in Fresno, and we were able to start recovering from the hit of losing the restaurant. Andrew still spent time with us and ate dinner with us frequently. When that restaurant sold, my husband lost his job. We were about to lose everything we owned, but God gave us a ministry job in another city. We sold most of what we owned and then moved away in 2009.

We would call Andrew from time to time, but space and time got wider and wider. My husband got a General Manager job in Santa Barbara in 2010, so we moved even farther away from Fresno.

We moved to Easton in 2011, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so my life became consumed with taking care of her. My grandmother passed away and so did my mom, by the end of that year. In 2012 and 2013, we were trying to re-establish our lives, struggling to find jobs and dealing with grief. We talked about Andrew frequently, wondering where he was, and how he was doing. I put up curtains and matching pillows he gave me in my new home in Easton and always thought about him and prayed for him. My kids missed him too. When they would jump on the trampoline or when they would quote funny things he said or did. “I gots the tegrity” was one of the funny things he said, about having integrity. He said it with a country voice and had us rolling in laughter.

I often looked him up on facebook to see if he had one, so we could reconnect. I found him and friended him but quickly realized he was not a facebooker. My son graduated in 2014 and we became urban missionaries. More years passed and we did not see Andrew.

In April, 2016, my daughter and I were in Fresno doing a fun mama and me day. On the way home I noticed I needed gas, so stopped in Easton to get some, before heading home. My daughter stayed in the car and I went into the building to pay for my gas. As I was walking back to the car, I saw a man pumping gas that looked a lot like Andrew. I thought, Oh my goodness, is that Andrew? I am a very outgoing person, so I had no fear in going up to some random man and tapping him on the shoulder to see if it was Andrew or not. If it wasn’t, I knew I would meet someone new. I walked closer to him and said, “Andrew?” The man turned around and said, “Oh my gosh, Teresa, how are you?”

With that, he, my daughter and I stood in the parking lot for over an hour talking and reconnecting. We told him that we were urban missionaries and invited him to come to our Bible Study, just across the street from the gas station, where we were standing. We told him that the boys would be so excited to see him and that he had to come over for dinner. He shared with us that he was helping to care for a couple in Easton, and that he was getting his master gardeners certificate. We reminisced and laughed and he marveled at how tall Carah was. She is 5’8” and was taller than him. Then he shared this amazing story with my daughter and I about his recent trip to Israel. This, I believe is so beautiful for all who loved Andrew to hear, as it is exactly what he now gets to be in permanently.

Andrew painted a beautiful picture of what he saw:

“The last time I was in Israel, I had the most beautiful encounter. I was visited by an angel every morning in my hotel room at 5am. The angel literally woke me up and told me to expect amazing things. The angel would have conversations with me about my desires and told me what to look for when I was there in Jerusalem.

The day that changed my life was the day we went on a tour to the place of Jacob’s ladder. We got up early and went into an armored vehicle to the spot. We had to travel through an area that is prone to violence and so not very many people take this tour. We drove for hours and slipped through the violent areas, without any issues. We finally came to a place that was in the middle of nowhere. In the distance you could see some mountains and sheep in the valley.

 There was this small stone building that was off to the side. It was very old, but still standing. Then there was this stone foundation in the shape of a circle. We all laid down with our heads on the rocks that lined the foundation. In the distance you could see where Jacob saw the ladder from heaven to earth. The tour guide told us to close our eyes and ask God for a supernatural encounter. So we all did. I am not sure what everyone else there experienced, but here is what happened to me.

I was instantly caught up in the spirit and I saw the angel that had been visiting me every day. He motioned me to follow him to Jacob’s ladder. I saw many angels coming and going up and down the ladder. It looked more like a stair case and on one side there were angels coming down and on the other side. I stated walking towards the ladder and got to the base. Instantly I was at the top of the ladder.

I was in the throne room. It was huge. There were thousands of angels and beings that surrounded the room. It was glorious. In the distance you could see this bright light. It was covered by clouds, but was so brilliant it drew you in. As I was looking at this light, I was instantly transported to the space right below this light. I was standing on a bright, clear sapphire floor. Right in front of me was a clear river. You could see the brilliant blue sapphire on the bottom. On the other side of the river were thousands of people worshipping God, right in front of the throne of God.

 As I was looking at the throne, I was instantly transported to the base of the throne. The throne was huge. I could see God sitting on the throne. His feet were this beautiful golden bronze color, the size of cars. His hands were resting on the throne and had great strength and gentleness in them. His face was the light I had saw earlier, but was covered with clouds. The sound of voices worshipping God was majestic and calm. I took it all in and felt peace and love like I have never known before. I was looking up at his face, covered and clouds and wished I could see His face.

 Instantly I was transported on His lap. I was a child again, and He was holding me close, with my head on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat. I could feel His breath on my head. He pulled me in and I was home. I wanted to stay there forever. I breathed in let out a deep breath, I was full of joy.

Once I breathed out, I was instantly taken back to my body, lying there on the stone foundation. I opened my eyes and tears streamed down my face. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay there in His presence. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I can’t wait to go there again.”

After he told Carah and I the story, we were mesmerized. We asked him to share his experience with our Bible Study group and he said he would. We exchanged numbers and became friends on facebook and began to plan times where we could be in each other’s lives again. It was beautiful and sweet and we were so delighted that God brought Andrew back into our lives again.

Then, I saw on facebook, that he had been killed in a crash. It seemed like a dream, like it was not real.The first thing I thought about was the vision he had just shared with us not too long before. I couldn’t help but smile. And even though my heart grieves that we only got to spend two years with Andrew and will not get to make more memories with him, that were long overdue, I am delighted to know that he is exactly where he wants to be.

I think of all the dreams Andrew had, that were never fulfilled on this earth; all the hopes he had for building a place for the lost and wayward, having capital to help people succeed, and so much more. I wonder if those dreams were really just shadows that were never meant to come to pass, but only to keep him moving forward on the path he was on for healing, growth, love, service, joy, a full life.

I am sure, if Andrew could attend his own funeral, he would talk about how he wasn’t able to see those dreams come to pass… but in reality, Andrew was a Dream Supporter. He supported so many people in their dreams. He sacrificed his own ambitions and dreams so many times to help other people’s dreams come to pass. In reality, he was a part of many dreams coming to pass.

My husband and sons were so sad to hear of his passing and that they did not get to see him. But his legacy and gift’s that he gave to my children and us are ever present and will now become a part of our own legacy.

We all have a different perspective of our Lord, because of the legacy he left with us. For that we will carry it on to everyone God puts into our lives, to bless, love, encourage and bestow a gift to. Until we see you again friend.

Confessions of a Nobody #3 - Legacy of the ones taken too soon

His name is Marquis Sutton. I never met him. I never knew anything about him.

The sun was setting and the glow was dancing orange hues over the worn down stadium in Easton, Ca where my son was practicing football. I had come early to watch him practice with the new coach, and see how the team was doing.

To the left of me on the stadium stairs were a few of Elijah’s teammates sitting together, huddled close and talking quietly. One of the players put his hands in his face and another put his arm around him. I could sense the tension in the air, the sorrow, and continued to observe their actions. I scanned the field to see if I could make out the reason behind the sorrow, but could not pick up what was going on.

We had just started to settle into Easton. I was just started to get to know the players and the community. I knew these boys names, but don’t even think I had a conversation with them. I felt compelled to talk to them, as my mothering heart could not take the pain of these young people any longer.

“Is everything ok?” I asked intrusively.

The young man with his hands in his face, didn’t even look up at me. “I can’t believe he’s gone,” he said, “I just can’t believe it.” The other boys pulled in closer to the young man, as he began to cry.

“What happened?” I asked the friends standing near him, in the most compassionate tone I could acquire.

“Bruh, our boy was shot. They was playing Russian roulette or something. Like What The F@#k. Who does that?” There was a somber silence, then he continued, “That boy was gonna ball in the pros, man.” He shook his head in disappointment and then stopped talking.

“Is he from Washington Union?” I asked.

“Nah bruh, he from Edison.”

I did not know what to do. I had only heard of shootings on the news. The victims were just faces and names of an unfortunate situation, but had no bearing on my life. I had never been in a place where a shooting hit so close to home. I didn’t really know how to comfort them or what to say. I asked if I could pray for them, and they said yes. My prayer seemed feeble and ignorant, not able to grasp the pain they were overcome with.

I walked away and sat back down on the bleachers to wait for practice to end. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It covered me like a shadow. I could not escape the reality. These boys, these young men knew this boy from Edison. They were friends, grew up together, had relationship with him. He was not just some name and face on the news. He was a part of their life.

Having homeschooled my children, and participating in home church, we kept our children close to home. Most of our friends homeschooled and home churched too. So this new life, of being in community with people who did not share my way of life, was perplexing.

When practice was over, we drove home and I asked Elijah if he had heard about the incident. He said that some of the players were crying and couldn’t practice, but didn’t really know what happened. When I got home, I searched the internet for a young football player who was shot from Edison, to see if I could get more information. I saw a news report and read it. My heart ached. It pained deep. The LORD was giving me a burden to pray for the families and friends of this young man. I had never experienced this kind of intercession before, to pray for people I did not know personally, but the calling was deep and personal. I prayed for hours and days for this family. My heart grieved for a young man, I never even met, for his family, whose names I did not know. This grief felt personal and real and my heart ached with a deep intensity.

I looked him up on facebook to see if I could get some more information. I saw pictures and read stories about this young man, wondering what he was like. I was blessed by the words that people were writing, a living memorial, solidifying his legacy in words and blessings. I was overcome with emotion and there I was, writing on his wall too… I dont know what I said, but I remember promising you that I would do my best to reach young people, so that more lives would not be lost.

Marquis, I have fulfilled that proclamation. Actually, both my husband and I have. After that, my husband started a Bible Study for young men, to find a safe place to go, to laugh, cry, eat, play and get to know Jesus, that only one who can deliver us from the pain of the world. It grew and grew, the Bible Study, and the ministry. We started a Friday night Open Gym, to give young people a positive, safe place to go and hang out. The Bible Study now includes young woman as well.

I wish we could do more.

I often speak about you, and how your death was the inspiration for what we do today. It changed our lives and the lives of so many young men. Your light was not snuffed out when you died, it grew brighter. It is in every young man we minister to, help, encourage and inspire.

This past Friday, two young people I knew personally were shot and killed, Kayla DeBorde and William Harris. I knew them, had relationship with them, loved them, laughed with them, mentored them, did life with them. They were taken from this earth for no good reason. I have been in such pain, personally and also for the families that are let behind. My heart aches in the deep reaches of my soul.

At the Candlelight prayer vigil, you came to mind again. You inspired the words that came out of my mouth. You were remembered at their prayer vigil too, as I encouraged and challenged others to not snuff out the light that was in these two beautiful people, but to carry it on, let it grow brighter, go farther and last longer in the legacy of our lives and those after us. That is what we did for you, Marquis, me and my husband. We carried your legacy with us, even to the young people and families that were grieving William and Kayla.

I think back to the young boys who were grieving you that day that found out you were gone. Now, I know that pain. I feel it today, as I write this. My heart feels broken from the senseless violence that stole the legacy these young people were supposed to live out. Yet, in this pain and sorrow. I will continue to let their light shine in me as well. I will shine their lights too, for all the people I encounter. I will remember them, as I remembered you.

 I never met you, Marquis, but you left an everlasting impact on my soul.  You, William and Kayla will continue to live on in the ministry we do, in the lives we encounter, in the stories we tell.

I look forward to meeting you in heaven and seeing my sweet friends William and Kayla too. 

Marquis Sutton

Kayla DeBorde

William Harris