About the same time the grant program I was working for over 9 years was experiencing some major cuts and rumor had it that the program would be cut completely in the next year. I was asked to change positions and knew I wouldn’t enjoy the new position so chose to work with my husband in the mortgage field. Beside providing a competitive income the mortgage field promised a very flexible schedule. I spent 5 months as a broker and really learned a lot and met many wonderful people. However, the market was really tough and the mortgage field just wasn’t in my heart. I did say from day one that I would give this profession 1 year before I would make a change. Throughout this time, I kept praying for God to use me – let me be your hands and feet. I shared with Brent that I was praying for God to direct me where I could work for God and make a difference in other’s lives. One evening I told my husband “be prepared because you never know what God will call me to do.”

I had continued to pray, but nothing. Then over the Labor Day weekend my family attended LifeLight Festival. This is a Christian music festival held in Sioux Falls. We camped along with my cousin Angie, her boys and some other friends. As it was it rained most the weekend. A few times we went to a large tent hosted by the Firehouse Underground which is a Christian coffee house in Sioux Falls. Their tent was a replication of their coffee house with bands performing. We really enjoyed sitting under the tent drinking our coffee and Italian soda and listening to the music. As Brent and I were leaving one afternoon I believe God directed me into what I was to do. It was like I got hit on the side of my head with a thud. I looked at Brent and said “I think we need to open a Coffee House with live music, a place for youth to come, a safe appropriate place to hang out in just like the Firehouse Underground.” He looked at me with the sure honey whatever you say-but I know it will never pan-out look in his eyes. I talked about this idea a lot over the weekend. I kept running through my mind what it would look like and how it would work-jotting down notes here and there. Of course the thinking was we would do something in a couple of years because I was going to be a mortgage broker for at least 1 year.

After we got home and over the next few weeks the thought of opening up a place for youth kept coming into my mind. I was coming up with name, searching for locations, and checking out other “Christian coffee houses” online; all with the plan of doing something in 2 years. One night during our date night dinner with tears in my eyes I told Brent that I wasn’t sure if he understood my feelings, but I felt God was calling me to do this and I needed to do this. I didn’t have a choice. Brent being my rock as he always has been said with tears in his eyes “ok we can look into this”. I made an appointment with the Small Business office to begin my business plan. My appointment was for October 31st.

I was pulled into looking at different locations downtown for rent and even called our realtor friend about a few locations. I knew downtown was the place to be. One day as I was driving on Main Street I noticed the Bible and Bookstore (which took up 3 storefronts) was going out of business. After 17 years it was closing. This was very disheartening as I enjoyed shopping there. At first I didn’t think to much of it and how it may relate to my thoughts of opening up a coffee house even though part of the Bible and Bookstore had a coffee shop in it. The store was set to close October 31st.

On October 30th, Brent called me and said Mark (owner) had an espresso machine he was selling. Brent told Mark we would come down to look at it. Ok I said, but thought what in the world are we going to do with a very expensive espresso machine? Put it in our garage for 2 years until we opened something up? And by the way, I hadn’t gotten paid in about 5 months and money was getting very tight.

So we went to look at the espresso machine. I told Mark my thoughts and he said “it’s still for sale. The guys are here to unhook the machines now. Shall I ask them to stop?” “Oh, no!!!!” I said. We won’t be doing anything for awhile. Well, we left that afternoon, talked about it, prayed about it and made an offer to purchase his equipment and recipes the next morning. He accepted within ½ hour. The whole time I kept thinking “What are we doing? I don’t even like coffee! How are we going to get the money?” Well it was out of our hands. Things started going and there was no stopping it. We did have a little hairy time with the money, but really only for 3 hours were we not sure if we could pay Mark.

We spent 20 days, painting, carpeting, and remodeling. We opened Alternative Fuel Coffee House on November 22nd! The first weekend was the Parade of Lights on Main Street a huge event for downtown and a great start. Since our first night business has been great. But more importantly it has become a place for people of all ages to come in and hang out at. We have a regular Bible study groups meeting, we have WiFi, and live music each Friday night. We sell coffee, specialty drinks, soups, sandwiches and desserts. I never dreamed this is where God would lead me or what I would be doing at 42 years of age, but I love it. Alternative Fuel Coffee House has been the answer to more prayers such as providing a place for Brent and I and our kids to continue to be together. Our son, Jeremy is working on a regular basis and our youngest Ian runs the cash register. It has become a true family affair. My mom volunteers, not to mention she is an average 3 times a day customer, my step-father, Dick works 2 days a week running our errands and getting our supplies, my sister, Melissa works part-time and her girls are great helpers, my cousin, Chris Martin has been a blessing helping us with so many different things besides doing our shopping.