Forgiving God (2022) Movie Script
Are you the spirit of a person?
Were you a boy or a girl?
Can you tell us how old you were?
Can you tell us how you died?
What's your name?
You're not my brother.
What's our dog's name?
You're a liar!
(scary music)
[Tommy] It's me, Jon.
It's really me.
It can't be!
[Tommy] We were heading
to the amusement park
and you wanted to stop for gifts.
No, you're not real.
[Tommy] I'm in hell now because of you.
I'm sorry, Tommy, it wasn't my fault.
[Tommy] Nothing's
ever your fault, Jonathan.
But look at me, I'm suffering forever,
burning up day and night constantly.
What am I supposed to do now?
[Tommy] Nothing.
Unless you're willing to trade me places.
What do you mean?
[Tommy] Figure it out.
Even you can't be that stupid.
What's wrong with you?
What do you mean?
Didn't you see that?
See what, you spazzing
out, talking to Tommy?
It was there in the candlelight.
I saw you talking to the air.
It was plain as day.
Have you been in my stuff?
Have you?
No.
I'll share it with you
anytime, you know that,
but don't steal.
You saw it spell out my dog's name
and then it flew across the room.
I don't know what I saw.
I'm a bit messed up, to be honest.
Speaking of that,
I need to go sneak out
and meet someone later.
Wait up for me?
No.
You sure?
Yeah, I'm sure.
Suit yourself, but leave
your window cracked
so I don't wake up the foster
units trying to get back home.
Is this what you want, Tommy?
Will this make you happy?
(knife slicing)
(siren wailing)
(slow music)
(rock music)
Is there a problem?
Jonathan?
I'm Dave and this is Theodora,
but you can call her Bunnie.
We're taking you home, son.
Lovely.
And it's Jon.
He'll be all right, he'll be all right.
Things will work out.
(rock music)
Welcome home.
Again.
(Jon sighs)
Hey, Jon.
Jon!
Did you settle in okay?
Yeah.
I'm going on a walk.
Yeah, well, don't go too far.
It's gonna get dark soon, all right?
(mysterious music)
Jon, pick a seat.
You know, Jon, we don't bite.
I wasn't aware there was
any seating arrangement.
He's just kidding.
You sit anywhere you want.
But you gotta take those
headphones sets off your ears
before you sit at this table.
This is true.
Uh-uh.
Jon, we didn't wanna throw too much culture
at ya last night, but in this house,
we pray before our meal.
All right?
Dear Lord,
we humbly thank you for this food
and for the beautiful
sunshine and for our health
and for the new member of our family.
Dear Lord, we ask that you watch over him
and you keep him safe
all the days of his life.
In your name we pray, amen.
Amen.
[Bunnie] Bless.
Jon, you all right?
I'm fine.
He's just not used to prayer, honey.
Not the first one I've heard.
Are you sure you're all right, my son?
I'm not your son!
And I said I'm fine.
Okay, Jonathan, you're new here
and I know life hasn't
treated you the best,
but we deserve respect.
Whatever.
Can we just eat?
Is it all right
if we ask you where
you went off to last night?
Just followed some trail into the woods.
Into the woods?
There's poison ivy in that woods.
There's this music and drums.
Probably seismic blast.
They're drawing for gas back yonder.
But there was music.
The woods, they could play tricks on you.
Kind of want to go back.
You know, Jon, we
could really use your help.
A still hand is the devil's workshop.
Wonderful.
Dave can do one more day on his own.
Jon, you can go.
Take a bag of apples.
Please just, just don't go too far.
Watch the poison ivy.
(girl laughing)
Not in the mood for the jokes!
I'm not scared of you, whatever you are.
I'm not afraid to die either.
Okay, I'm gonna give
you until the count of three
to get out.
One, two, three.
(girl laughs)
(suspenseful music)
(Jon grunts)
Get off.
Why'd you run?
Because you freaked me out.
I'm sorry.
Can I just get up, please?
Pretty strong for a girl.
You're pretty skittish for a man.
If you didn't hide behind
rocks and throw apples at me.
I didn't mean to.
Why are you in that
stupid Pocahontas outfit?
Halloween's not for a few more months.
Halloween?
Just never mind.
Make sure that you don't tell anyone
that you got the best of me.
Who's to tell?
Don't you live nearby?
More or less.
What about school?
Do you go to school?
Did you graduate?
My father taught me.
Oh, so like homeschooling.
That's cool, I guess.
I'm Isaka, by the way.
I'm Jon.
What about, do you have any friends?
Unless you'll be my friend.
So I live with the
Thompsons over the hill.
Their foster kid.
Well, if you need a friend, I'm here.
Want an apple?
Sure.
So how far do these trails actually go?
As far as you want them to.
What is that supposed to mean?
You take a path to get somewhere, right?
Duh.
And when the path ends, there you are.
Do you always talk in
stupid circles like that?
Are you always so angry?
Yeah.
You like my therapist or something now?
Sorry.
Don't worry about it.
Just don't sweat it.
Sweat it?
Yeah, it means like,
don't worry about it.
Okay, then I won't sweat it.
I gotta get home, so...
Will you come back?
Maybe.
Sometime.
'Cause there's a
wound here in my heart
Where something's missing
And they tell me that
it's gonna heal with time
But I know you're in a place
Where all your wounds have been erased
And knowing yours are
healed is healing mine
The only scars in heaven
They won't belong to me and you
There'll be no such thing as broken
And all the old will be made new
And the thought that
makes me smile now
Even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in heaven
Are on the hands that hold you now
[Isaka] I guess I wasn't that hungry.
I didn't know if you
would be here or not.
Do you like this better?
Well, the rawhide and fringes were cool,
but this just looks a little more normal.
Come on.
(upbeat music)
What's wrong, can't keep up?
[Jon] Very funny.
This is my tree.
So do your parents
like own the property line
or something?
So what does your dad do?
Oh gosh, I'm sorry, I didn't know.
I know, don't sweat it?
Hey, we're having steak tonight.
Do you want to come over?
I'm not much of a meat eater.
So you don't eat apples
and you don't eat steak.
So what do you eat?
Men cannot live by bread alone.
Okay, whatever.
Listen, I gotta go home, so...
Well, praise God for
the wonderful weather.
1 Peter 3:18 to 20.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins."
The righteous for the unrighteous
that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh,
but made alive in the spirit,
"in which he went and proclaimed
to the spirits in prison."
Now, many scholars have
interpreted these verses
to mean that Jesus
went to hell to save souls,
to pardon the condemned.
Now, while we aren't definitively sure
who those spirits were, we
can be absolutely certain
that only Jesus offers salvation.
Can souls of the deceased be saved?
A second chance?
It's a very interesting question.
And one I'd like for you to ponder
until I see you next Sunday.
God bless.
All right.
(congregation murmuring)
Jon, Jon.
Randy, Greg, this is Jon.
He'll be staying with us for the summer.
Oh, okay, hi, Jon.
Do you play any football?
Will you be in church all summer?
I don't got much of a choice.
Oh, it isn't that bad.
Well, we're having a
bonfire in a couple weeks.
You're more than welcome to join us.
I am so sorry, guys.
Oh, it's fine.
- We'll see you next week.
- See you next week.
(stick cracks)
Isaka?
(ominous music)
(bear growling)
God, please!
Please, God, get me out of this!
Isaka, run!
(dramatic music)
How did you do that?
We just had an agreement.
An agreement?
Wait, where did you even come from?
I heard you, so I came to help.
Okay.
So how was church?
How did you know I was at church?
It's Sunday, isn't everyone?
I guess.
Preacher just talked
about Jesus visiting
some spirits in their prison.
I don't know.
Yeah, he did that.
So, you a Bible thumper too?
No, I'm a soul for purpose like you.
Purpose of saving my butt.
[Isaka] That too.
Well, it's not the first
time I've faced death, so...
You know, I guess I do owe you that then.
You just did bail me.
I was nine and we were on
our way to an amusement park
and I begged my dad
to stop at this gift shop
to use the bathroom.
I knew he would buy us
some gifts or something.
But when I was in the crapper,
some lunatic came in and shot up the place.
And Tommy, my older
brother, his last words were,
"Why did you make us stop here?"
It's not your fault.
Yeah, but those, those last words,
that's all I remember of my family.
So that's how you
ended up in foster care?
Yeah.
I became a part of the system,
shuffled from one foster home to the next,
except for when I was in
juvie and a mental hospital.
Why so many foster homes and juvie?
Just foster parents who
wanted a paycheck, I guess.
So they weren't good people.
The worst.
There was this...
This one foster father.
He would shove my head in the
toilet and he would force-
I'm sorry, Jon.
It's okay.
I hid a bat underneath my bed.
The look in his eyes when I beat him down,
the rage I felt just felt too good.
He was a damaged soul.
And a damaged body too.
What God could forgive that?
It's not your fault.
That's why I just don't believe in God.
Neither you nor God is at blame.
Yeah.
I guess so.
Look, I gotta be going home.
Will you be okay?
[Jon] Yeah, I guess.
Hey, Jon.
You enjoying yourself tonight?
I guess.
Are you always this quiet?
Hardly.
I know what you mean.
So where are you from?
Over in Bucks County.
Oh, nice, nice.
Are you gonna go to
school here in the fall?
Just depends on how things go.
I'm Ally, by the way.
If you're gonna stick around,
I can introduce you to some nice girls.
(laughs)
So anyway, are you a Christian, Jon?
It's okay if you're
not, we won't judge you.
Well, haven't ever believed in much
or trusted in anything, so...
Well, when the Lord calls you,
he'll give you what you need to believe.
Well, then that's what I'll wait for.
Sometimes you're waiting
when God's already given the call.
I'm Jolene.
Hey, Jon, if you don't
mind, I'd like to pray for you.
Yeah.
I mean, whatever.
It's a free country.
We don't mean to preach.
We're just letting you
know we're here for you.
Yeah, we don't judge.
(mysterious music)
You okay, Jon?
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, what was that sermon
about a prison for the dead?
Do they get a second chance?
Good questions.
Maybe it means the
people who lived before Christ.
So Jesus can travel back in time?
Well, I mean, he could, yeah, sure.
But God isn't limited by time like we are.
He could visit those souls
simply by willing them to his presence.
This is interesting.
John 10:16, Jesus says,
"I have other sheep not of this world."
What does that mean?
It could mean anything.
Remote tribes, people from other planets.
If you're interested,
I'm sure Pastor Mark would be
happy to sit down with you.
He'd be like totally ecstatic.
You ain't gonna make Jon
work out in this rain, are you?
Nah, he can stay in with you.
Can I go visit Pastor Mark?
Why not?
I'll call him after we've eaten.
See when he can meet you.
Jonathan, come on in.
[Jon] Please, it's just Jon.
All right.
Okay, Jon, Jon it is.
Have a seat.
How's your summer going so far?
It's been interesting, I guess.
Met a lot of cool people though.
Well, that's great.
So what's on your mind, Jon?
This sermon on the first Sunday
about Jesus going into
a prison to talk to spirits?
Aren't prisons just for bad people?
Well, we're all bad, Jon,
in the sense that we're all sinners.
Think about Jesus as a bail bondsman,
you can either choose to
accept his free gift or not.
But what about children that die?
Do they go to hell?
Oh, well, let's see what
the Lord's word is on that.
But I would say absolutely not.
In Matthew 19:14,
"But Jesus said, let the
little children come to me.
Don't stop them because the
kingdom of heaven belongs
to people who are just
like these children."
I take that to mean
that Jesus certainly welcomes the children.
Okay, I guess.
Can we talk to dead people?
Can we...
Alright, I'm gonna
turn to God for this one,
to Leviticus 19:31.
"Do not go to mediums
or fortune tellers for advice,
or you will become unclean.
I am the Lord your God."
It's not the dead people,
then what is there to make us unclean?
Demons, unclean spirits.
But how can a demon know something
that only the person that died would know?
Demons are very good impersonators.
(mysterious music)
Can a demon appear
to us like a normal person
and touch us?
What's going on, Jon?
These are really specific questions.
Could a demon know the Bible?
Absolutely.
Satan and his demons
probably know the Bible
better than most Christians
so that they can twist
the words and deceive.
Would they bail you from a bad situation?
Well, that would be a new one on me,
but yeah, I suppose so.
Especially if they could use
that situation to gain trust.
Is there really any way to tell
if somebody is a demon or not?
Well, if I recall from seminary,
have them say three words.
Jesus is Lord.
Then what happens?
Well, they can't say that.
Well, they either become very violent
or they would just, you know, take off.
But they won't say those three words.
So if it is a demon,
then they'll either flip out or skip out.
Yeah, that's one way to put it, yeah.
Thank you.
Sure.
Jon, my door is always
open if you wanna talk.
That is very odd.
So I talked to the pastor today.
That's good.
Can you say...
Can you say Jesus is Lord?
Why?
Because I want to hear you say it.
And what if I don't?
Why wouldn't you?
They're just three simple words.
Okay, okay.
Jesus is my Lord.
That's good.
You just had to mess
with me though, didn't you?
I just enjoyed the
passion in which you asked.
So you're a Christian?
Jesus died in my place, our place.
But if he died in our place,
then why do we still die?
We're cursed because we choose sin.
But if we choose God,
we'll have eternal life.
So what about my brother and sister?
God is merciful.
You have much to learn, Jon.
And what if there's people
who haven't gotten a
chance to hear about it?
They have the chance
to choose and to learn.
How do you know?
I just know.
You just...
It's like you leave me with
more questions than answers.
You have this magical way
of getting me to open up,
I'll give you that.
But it's like every time I
try to ask you something
about yourself, it's always
riddles or old wise men sayings,
or it's just like you don't
want me to get to know you.
In time.
Right now, I'm just here to be a friend.
In case you can't tell, kinda like you.
Can you at least show me where you live?
It is nearby.
Then take me there.
Maybe one day.
Everything has a time and a place.
Should have figured.
At least you're not a demon.
A what?
Nothing.
I gotta go.
I'll just...
I hope you can come
back soon and stay longer.
So how'd your visit with the pastor go?
Went good, I guess.
I mean, I asked some
questions and got some answers.
You didn't say much when you got back,
you just ran off to the woods.
So what'd you do out there for hours?
I just kind of get
away and clear my head.
Well, that must be working,
but Jon, please be careful.
The poison ivy.
Remember, there's three-
I got it.
Hey, Dave, do I have to
work for you tomorrow?
Why, you got a hot date?
No, I just wanna get away.
I can manage, but just stay close.
What, finally awake?
Morning, Jon.
I told him to just let you sleep.
What, your voice box doesn't work?
Sorry.
Jon, take an umbrella.
They're calling for rain later.
Wake up, sleepyhead.
Didn't think you would be here.
Want to go on another adventure?
(upbeat music)
Could've stayed there all day.
So how have you been?
We just saw each other yesterday.
I mean, since you told me
what happened in your family.
You're actually the
first person I ever told.
I'm glad you opened up to me.
I'm glad you listen.
But sometimes I just wonder
if my brother and sister
are, you know, okay.
God doesn't send children away.
How do you know?
I've gotten to know God, so to say.
Here, just to remind you
that the fate of others is not your fault.
If it only was that simple.
Life is what you make of it.
Have you ever been
so disappointed in yourself
that you hate God?
You have no idea.
Cuz you never talk about yourself.
In time, I promise.
Come on.
(upbeat music)
[Jon] Where are we going?
We're almost there.
Wow.
Goes on forever.
You ready for another lesson in faith?
What?
(Jon sighs)
Be careful, the bark
gets slippery when it's wet.
You can do it.
Easy for you to say.
You probably do this every day.
Let go of the branches and walk normal,
like you were on the ground.
You're doing great.
Hey, I think I'm gonna make it.
Watch this.
Don't do that!
Give me your hand.
Lift your shirt up.
Let me see.
Nothing's broken.
I'll be back.
That was fast.
What's that?
Something to help you feel better.
Lift your shirt up.
(Jon grunting)
What is that stuff?
Ginger, rosemary, sumac,
and some other herbs.
Take some home, make a tea,
or else you'll be in pain tomorrow.
I'll warn you, it doesn't taste very good.
Where'd you get it?
It grows nearby.
Everything's nearby with you, isn't it?
Will you be okay to walk?
I think so.
Gotta get back.
Stacy, sorry it took so
long to get this scheduled.
Person that was supposed
to take the case quit,
so it's been a madhouse at the center.
You must be Jonathan Moore?
Please, it's just Jon.
How are things since the client arrived?
Jon.
Jon's been going to church
and he's met some new
friends at this youth group.
That's always good, I suppose.
Any concerns with the client?
Jon's been excellent.
What are you doing, reading
the script, Ms. Stacy?
Actually, I'm looking
through all the paperwork
to make sure all the proper
releases have been signed.
Politics.
Maybe somebody didn't
do the right paperwork.
No, I think it's all here.
Jonathan, do...
Jon, do you have any concerns?
No.
Everything's been pretty cool.
Looking through your
previous therapist's notes,
you have several infractions,
many of them punishable by law.
Be in your best interest not to downplay.
What on earth is that supposed to mean?
You should have all the info.
At age 11, he almost killed
a foster brother with an ax.
Last year, a foster father with a ball bat.
And just March of this year,
he verbally assaulted a teacher.
She was so afraid for
her safety, she had to-
Oh, afraid for her safety, please.
I spoke up so she could hear me.
And that pedo foster
father, he had it coming.
Have you ever been raped
or had your head shoved in a toilet?
Or you were very careful
to leave that part out, huh?
I'm not gonna waste my time
discussing the behaviors of others.
Let's focus on the things that
you and only you can control.
I can vouch that Jon has been great.
Am I to believe
that his delinquent criminal
behavior has abruptly stopped?
As a seasoned therapist,
I can tell when a child
is putting on an act
and he clearly is.
Are we to expect these
condescending rants
every time you visit?
I'm doing the intake today.
I'll observe Jonathan
in his everyday habitat,
record some data, finish my notes.
Probably take me about two hours.
Next visit will hopefully
only take an hour.
We'll schedule that before I leave,
so we're all on the
same page, Ms. Thompson.
Okay, then I'm outta here.
I'm going to the barn.
That's fine, Mr. Thompson.
I just need to observe my client.
I'm going to the
kitchen to prepare lunch.
It's okay.
So my new caseworker came over today.
Her name's Stacy.
She's a real winner.
Didn't go so well?
Bunnie kind of mentioned
that I was taking these walks in the woods
and Stacy flipped.
She said I shouldn't be unsupervised.
So you can't come back?
Now get this.
Just to spite her for being a jerk,
Dave said that I can actually
have more time to myself.
That's good.
I'm sorry about your caseworker though.
It's fine.
Just finally glad somebody
gets to see what I deal with.
How's your chest feeling?
Better, thanks to you.
Thanks to your faith.
It was that gunk you put on my chest
and God awful tea that I drank.
If you didn't have faith,
you wouldn't have drank it.
True.
Where do you learn this stuff from?
My father taught me.
Must have been a heck of a guy.
Can you show me where you live?
I was born by a town near
here, but I'm a creation of God.
He's my true origin.
His real name's Yahweh, or
in modern language, Jehovah.
So where does Jehovah come from?
He's the Alpha and Omega.
He always has been and always will be.
I heard a different story in school.
Something about a big
bang and an evolution.
Oh, from a bang?
Do you believe that?
I mean, I used to.
What do you believe?
I believe that Jehovah created the world
with just the power of his voice,
from the plants to the
animals to the angels above.
Lucifer was said to be
the most beautiful angel.
And I assume Lucifer is...
Satan, the devil.
He led a revolt in the heavens
after Jehovah had
finished creating the world.
He sent the angels to watch over it.
Angels watch over us?
Yeah, it's like Adam and Eve.
Lucifer appeared in the form of a serpent
and tempted Adam to
eat from the forbidden tree.
And with sin came death.
Well, did they die right away?
Not right away.
Adam lived to be 930 years
old, but eventually he did die.
You know a lot, like
you're 900 years old yourself.
We never stop learning,
no matter how old we are.
You're still wearing my necklace.
- Yeah.
- That's good.
It's cool.
Plus it was given to me by my best friend.
All right, before we get started,
if anybody's having
trouble paying for camp,
please come see me afterward
cuz we don't want anybody left
out for financial reasons.
All right.
Is God's name really Jehovah?
(girl laughing)
Hey, there are no silly questions.
Every question's a good one.
Well, the Old Testament they
say was written without vowels.
And so his name was written YHWH
and the common accepted
pronunciation of that was Yahweh,
until the 16th century scholars
translated later to Jehovah.
Did God create the devil?
Well, you know, the Bible
doesn't specifically say,
but if God didn't create the devil,
then they would be equal.
And there's only one God.
Has the devil always been a bad guy?
No, actually his name was Lucifer
and he was an angel
above all the other angels
until power went to his
head and he was cast down.
When he got Eve to eat
from the Knowledge of Good and Evil tree.
Absolutely.
Jon, good job.
You've been doing your research, I like it.
I hope the rest of you
have been doing a little bit
of research and studying, especially you.
Yes, yes, you.
All right.
How have things been?
They've been fine.
Has Jon had any problems?
Not at all.
I see.
Can I just say something?
Go ahead.
Ever since I've gotten
here, it's been great.
I've met a lot of cool kids my age at youth
and the Thompsons, they're...
They're cool.
And I've been working through my problems.
I'll make a note of that.
So can I finish my senior year here?
I'll suggest it next team meeting.
In light of your improvement,
there's a chance you could stay.
Well, if you could just take-
No promises.
So when will I know?
Team meets first Monday of the month.
So I'll know my next visit.
No, I'm here the last week of July.
That's the week I might go to camp.
Then we'll have to
reschedule for the week after
and I'll need a number for this camp.
A responsible adult in charge.
I'll get that for you.
So Jon, do you have a girlfriend?
What in tarnation has
that got to do with anything?
Just making sure his ventures
in the forest are under control.
(Bunnie sighs)
I almost didn't recognize you
without the jeans and black hoodie.
Bunnie got me new duds
for church camp, so don't laugh.
Why do you wear the same
shirt and pants all the time?
I could wear shorts like yours.
Unlike you, I have
to work for a tan, so...
Sitting on a rock all
day in the sun, work?
You know what I mean.
Stacy asked me if I had a girlfriend.
What'd you tell her?
I don't know.
You don't know if you
have a girlfriend or not?
Well, I was hoping maybe you
would wanna be my girlfriend.
If I was, would you expect
anything more outta me?
No, I mean, I-
Then I'll be your girlfriend.
Really?
I mean, cool.
Nice.
These socks are irritating my skin.
Let me see.
You have poison ivy.
What?
Bunnie and Dave are gonna kill me,
they warned me like 50 times.
Wait here, I'll be back.
Where are you going?
Put your foot up.
The itch is going away.
That's cool.
What is that stuff?
Jewelweed.
It always grows near poison ivy.
Well, won't you get it from touching me?
I'll be fine.
Wish I could learn that stuff.
You will one day, and much more.
What, can you see the future now?
No.
I just know you'll do great things one day.
Well, it's all sucked this far, so...
Everything happens for a reason.
So I was meant to grow up without parents
and having the guilt of my
brother blaming me for his death.
It's not all about the bad.
It's about what you learn from it.
So like where you live
and how you won't let me meet your family?
In time, I promise.
Promise?
Maybe then I'll believe in God.
You believe in him now and you blame him.
Yeah, blame him for what's happened.
Then you must forgive God.
Forgive God?
I thought God was perfect.
He is.
Forgiveness is letting go of the hate
for your own well being.
You're right.
I'm burning inside.
He'll work out all things for you.
Maybe then I won't be such a mess.
You're not a mess.
You're precious in his eyes.
Maybe that's why I didn't succeed.
In taking your life?
I knew you'd talk about
it when you were ready.
When I was 13, my foster sister, Sarah,
she made me play this Ouija board
and my brother
appeared in this ball of fire,
said he was in hell.
Said that if I trade places with him,
then he wouldn't hate me anymore.
That wasn't your brother.
Then how did he know
all the stuff about me?
Demons like to prey on our weaknesses.
Just trying to make
things right with my brother.
It would've made nothing right.
Hey, this is feeling better.
What'd you say that stuff was again?
Jewelweed.
So what would you do for
like, say, a rattlesnake bite?
Well, you chew up charcoal,
you put it on the bite or
the wound, find snake root.
You'll know it by the small
white flowers arranged
in upward cones.
And you have to eat the root
so that it helps with swelling.
Well, if it does happen,
I hope you're there.
You're just so easy to talk to.
This seat taken?
No, I...
So that's what you call fashion sense?
They match my Bible, don't they?
Do you like them?
Yeah.
Do you read a lot?
I take about a chapter a night.
Sometimes more if I can.
I wouldn't know where to start.
From the questions you're asking,
you have a lot of good places to start.
I can help if you want.
Maybe someday.
So, why are you in foster care?
It's just a long story.
Okay.
Do you have a girlfriend?
I mean, yeah, I'm kind
of going with someone.
Kind of?
Yeah.
You're not gonna tell my
foster parents, are you?
No, I'm cool.
Okay.
Well, we meet in the woods and...
It's not like that, okay?
It's...
It's like, she listens to me
and she just doesn't judge
me like my caseworker,
but at least she's trying to get me
to do my senior year here.
That would rock.
Yeah.
I just wish Isaka could
come to camp with us.
That's your sort of girlfriend?
Yeah.
She has a unique name.
Must not be from around
here or I would know her.
Yeah, she doesn't ever
tell me where she's from
and she never goes with me anywhere, so...
My dad would never let
me meet a guy in the woods,
especially if he didn't
come to the house first.
She doesn't even tell me her mom's name
and she told me that
her dad was gone, so...
What's her last name?
I don't know.
You don't know her last name?
No.
How long have you guys
been dating or whatever?
Like two-ish months.
You don't know her last
name, where she lives,
and you've never met her mom?
Phone number?
No.
Okay.
She's not imaginary.
I didn't say anything.
Whatever.
Hello, everyone, and
welcome to summer camp.
I see a lot of familiar faces here,
but also a good share of newcomers,
so how about all the veterans join me
in giving the new ones
a nice, warm welcome?
Welcome, welcome.
(audience applauding)
As all you all know, we have
competition happening all week.
The winning team gets to choose the meal
for Friday's dinner and dance.
The team with the least amount
of points has to clean up
and wash the dishes.
(kids booing)
I know, I know, nobody likes that, I know.
But it's all in good fun
and we're all here to
honor and glorify the Lord,
so don't let the competition
cloud your spiritual focus.
That being said, all of
you will pick teams tonight
and we'll all assign
you to different events
that you feel comfortable competing in.
Unfortunately, due to insurance issues,
there will be no go-kart racing.
You can be on my team
since you don't know anybody.
Okay.
(upbeat music)
A broken heart, no will to live
You came into me, Lord
Gave me your son so that
I could live eternally
I can't remember ever feeling so good
No, I never felt this way
Been so happy since
you came in my life
And that's why I'm here to say
A broken heart is no way to live
There's a much better way
A broken heart can be fixed again
Jesus is the way
No, a broken heart is no way to live
There's a much better way
A broken heart can be fixed again
Jesus is the way
(calm music)
Hey, I found the red ball!
(Jolene screams)
Oh, whoa, what's wrong?
What?
What's going on?
Rattlesnake.
(snake hissing)
(rock smacking)
My ankle, it burns.
Hey, we need help.
Come on, please, fast!
Isaka, what did you say?
Call the nurse and call an ambulance!
Tell her to bring charcoal too!
What's the charcoal for?
It's something that Isaka
told me to do for a snake bite.
I'll be right back.
Okay, go, I will stay with her.
So what would you do for
like, say, a rattlesnake bite?
You find snake root.
You'll know it by those small white flowers
arranged in a cone facing upwards.
You eat the root and it
helps with the swelling.
Do we have the charcoal?
Yeah, I brought it.
Okay.
I need you to eat this.
- What?
- Just do it, okay?
[Woman] Jon, I hope
you know what you're doing.
Okay, now, Jolene, we're
gonna eat this together, okay?
I need you to swallow it.
Hope it tastes better than charcoal.
[Jon] It's just, pretend
it's a carrot or something.
I hate carrots.
Well, the ambulance should
be here in a few minutes.
Hopefully it will take your mind off of it.
Jon, if I die, I'm gonna
come back and haunt you.
You're not gonna die.
Our heavenly father,
please be with Jolene this
time of her desperate need.
Lord, be with the medics
as well, and the doctors,
and that Jolene's health gets restored.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Hey, how are you feeling?
I'm fine.
I just have to keep it
bandaged and take antibiotics.
So I'm guessing they called your dad
to come pick you up, right?
Yeah, but the doctor said
that there was no venom,
just a nasty infection.
Plus I didn't wanna go home.
But dad said thank you for
saving his daughter's life.
Well, I'm just glad everything's okay.
What was that thing you did?
Like you were talking to your Isaka?
I just panicked
and I was trying to
remember what Isaka told me
about healing a rattlesnake bite.
That's freaky.
She has to be some like black magic voodoo.
You know, at first I
actually thought that.
Why'd you think that?
This has to be our secret, okay?
Promise.
Way back in June, I was
on the trail looking for her,
and then I heard these heavy
footsteps down the trail.
Turned out it was a grizzly bear.
What?
We don't even have those here.
Well, it was this huge
bear, but in a flash,
Isaka was standing in front of me
and she just kind of just stood
there and rose her hand up
and just stared the bear down
like she was communicating with it.
She has to be in some
witchcraft or something.
But she proclaimed Jesus is Lord.
Have you even kissed her?
No.
Ever dawned on you
that this chick might just
think of you as a friend?
She said she would be my girl.
Something seems off here.
(Jon sighs)
I wish we would've won.
Yeah, but winning isn't everything.
At least we weren't last.
True.
Wanna come to my house tonight?
I'll even give you my phone number
and you can meet my parents.
Funny.
You're gonna run off to the woods
as soon as you get home
to see her, aren't you?
Well, she probably does miss me.
Probably?
Are you two a couple yet?
What makes you think that?
Oh, I don't know.
I mean, he only risked his life
to save you from a rattler.
I mean, you were practically
inseparable all week.
And the way they
danced so close last night?
Okay, that was kind of cute actually.
It was cute.
See, Jon, I hang out with you in public.
You can even come to my house too.
Just don't understand.
Well, I understand,
but what are you gonna
do when winter comes?
Walk a mile in the snow
just to stand with her?
(Jon sighs)
Hey, stranger.
You would not believe
the week that I've had.
Tell me all about it.
I was in a tire throwing
competition and I almost won.
Then somebody beat me by like two feet.
I know you're so strong
that if you were there,
you'd just cream everybody.
Oh, and then there was this scavenger hunt
and my friend, she
got bit by a rattlesnake.
I tried my hardest to
remember what you said.
I got the plant and I
had a nurse get charcoal.
Was your friend okay then?
Oh yeah, she was fine.
Did you learn anything at camp?
It was just a bunch
of reading and prayers.
Have you considered to ask
them to help you take that step
to accept Jesus as your savior?
I'm not fit for God's perfect atmosphere.
None of us are fit.
It's by grace we are saved.
I just need to find peace first.
Only when we let the
Holy Spirit win in our hearts,
then we know peace.
What do I need to do?
Admit that you're a sinner.
Ask for forgiveness of your sin
and invite the Holy Spirit into your heart
to make you a new person.
I told you, I'm not fit for God.
None of us are, it's a free gift.
Look, I gotta get home.
I'm meeting my friend at her house.
I'll walk back with
you partway if you like.
Really?
You're not gonna melt or anything, are you?
I'll be fine.
I've really missed you.
I've really missed you too.
I've gotta go now.
So much for that.
So did you bring up my
placement in the meeting?
Yes.
You may remain with the Thompsons.
I will, however, be
monitoring your progress.
And there's one concern I have.
What's that?
I spoke to the Dean at
that camp, Mr. John Weaver.
He reported that he beat a snake to death.
Is that all he told you?
Is that all?
That's aggressive
behavior at the very least.
Did he not tell you
that it was a rattlesnake,
that it attacked another camper?
I did not ask him
what kind of snake it was
or what other children were involved.
They are not my responsibility.
Another camper's life was in danger
and Jon acted with courage.
Why didn't he just simply
move the snake to the side?
No need for cruelty to the wildlife.
Jon didn't have time to think.
He just did what he had to do.
Well, he sure had time
to think up some hocus pocus concoction
to treat the bite with.
I had to do something while
we waited for the ambulance.
So I suppose you're gonna
write him up for acting out?
No.
As long as we have no further issues,
we should be fine, Ms. Thompson.
So my therapist just left.
How'd that go?
Good, I guess.
Said I could stay here with the Thompsons
as long as I'm good.
Come up here.
Sit down, face me.
Take my hands.
Look deep into my eyes.
We're going on a journey
to when you lost your family.
(dramatic music)
(gun firing)
(screaming)
[Jon] I hear gunshots, I'm scared.
[Isaka] Jon, you're safe.
(slow music)
[Jon] There's Tommy.
[Isaka] Look at your brother and listen.
Why did you make us stop here?
[Jon] Tommy, I'm sorry.
I wouldn't have asked Dad to stop
if I knew this was gonna happen.
I've dealt with this
guilt for eight years now
because you blamed me.
[Isaka] Jon, listen carefully.
It's okay.
I know it's not your fault.
I love you.
I'll see you in eternity.
[Jon] Love you too, Tommy.
He's with God now.
He doesn't blame you.
Wait, I thought this was some trip
to help me deal with my guilt.
It was a message from Tommy.
How do you know?
You heard the words
come out of his mouth, right?
How did you do that?
I mean, how did you get?
Thanks for whatever you did.
You're welcome.
So, can I please go see your family now?
When the time is right.
Do you get why I'm
worried or why I keep asking?
Just, was it a mistake
falling in love with you?
Mistakes are decisions.
The heart is another matter.
I'm sorry, it's just after
you showed me my brother
and what you did.
Can you walk with me again?
Next time.
(calm music)
Thanks for walking with me.
Yeah.
Oh, by the way, you
didn't have to give this back.
It's for you.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
Thanks.
Yeah.
We've already came this far.
Maybe just a bit more?
I suppose, just a bit.
I have to turn back now.
Okay, well, I guess
we can call that progress.
So I've been researching something.
What's that?
Your so-called girlfriend.
If you don't believe me,
then just come to the woods with me.
Yeah, right, like my
parents would let me go alone
in the woods with a guy.
We wouldn't be alone.
Oh yeah, your girlfriend would be there.
No thanks.
It would settle your curiosities.
Why isn't she in school?
I don't know.
She is homeschooled or something, I guess.
You don't find that just a tad bit weird?
She said that she would
explain everything one day.
So what is she waiting for?
A ring?
It's not like that.
It's just that she's just different.
Different how?
Like she does tricks
or just talks to bears?
Not just that.
I mean, it's like...
It's like time flies when I'm with her
and like minutes become hours
and she just kind of
knows how to heal things.
How could I forget?
You practically prayed
to her when I got bit.
I panicked and you know that!
I got it.
Get me a picture of her.
And then you'll believe she exists?
Oh, I believe she exists.
Inside or outside of
your head's the question.
I don't have a camera.
I do.
And what if she doesn't
want her picture taken?
Do it anyway.
What's she gonna do?
What's this?
I was hoping that I
could get a picture with you
or of you.
You don't mind, do you?
Sure.
Why not?
(camera clicking)
See, now I got a picture of my girl.
What if I'm not really a girl?
Then you had me fooled.
Do you think this is a rock?
Yeah.
Hold out your hand.
(chipmunk chirping)
How did you do that?
It was always a chipmunk.
You just assumed it was a rock.
Well, if I would've looked closer,
then I would've knew it was a chipmunk.
But you didn't.
Well, I'm looking at you.
You're no chipmunk.
Do you really see me?
Or do you trust your heart over your eyes?
Well, this is my heart
that led me to love you.
Jon, listen to the others
and be who God created you to be.
All right, we're looking
through newspapers
for birth announcements from around here.
How old is your girl?
My age.
Give or take a few.
Okay.
So we'll look through newspapers
from, say, 1966 to 1970?
It's gonna take forever.
Not for me, I'm a speed reader.
We might even find her
parents' name and address.
Maybe we can go to her house too.
Something's telling me
this is gonna waste our time.
If this chick was born
around here, I'm gonna find her.
She said she was.
Maybe she wasn't born in a hospital.
That's why there's no birth announcement.
Nobody does that anymore.
I can't find anything.
Shoot, it's 3:30.
The pictures should be ready.
Hey, can we get our pictures?
Pictures, let me see.
Here they are.
There you go.
Where are the pictures you took?
I took them all, I swear.
I mean-
We had 24 on this.
I know.
Um, where are the last three?
Let me look at the negative.
It looks like there was too much light
and the image didn't take.
The lighting was fine when I took it,
so I don't know what happened.
Can we fix it and get the image?
Unfortunately, what's on
the negative is what you get.
In this case, a white page.
Jolene, why are you so mad?
It's my girlfriend.
If anything, I should be
mad over a fumbled photo.
Jon, something's
not right about that girl.
You need to choose between her and reality.
(Jon sighs)
(calm music)
This is the story of a runaway
With no way home and no way out
I threw the best of me away
I had my chance, it's too late now
Too far gone and too ashamed
To think that you'd still know my name
But love refused to let
my story end that way
You didn't wait for me
to find my way to you
I couldn't cross that
distance even if I wanted to
You came running after me
When anybody else would've
turned and left me at my worst
Love moved first
I got a number you
call with a credit card
and they search anybody
in the world for you.
And I did it.
Did what?
I did it.
There's nobody in the
country with the name Isaka.
I've even had them spell it
like several different ways.
It just goes through
some government census.
And it's not even that
accurate anyways, so...
But I did find out the name is legit.
It comes from Japan.
Okay, so?
So that means she's from somewhere else.
How much money did
you actually spend on this?
Don't worry about it.
I used my dad's credit card.
I told him it was for a school project.
You're losing it.
Yeah, I'm not the one who
had a summer fling with her.
(Jon sighs)
This is interesting.
The name was given to native
girls in the middle ages
to the 19th century.
After that, it just kind of disappeared.
She did give me this.
That's where you got that?
It doesn't go with like anything.
Can we just talk about something else?
Yeah.
There's a Christian concert
in the auditorium next Friday.
Wanna go?
You just insulted me and
now you're asking me out?
Well, the necklace is outta place,
but I still like the guy wearing it.
(audience applauding)
Oh
Oh
Oh
Here we go
So many things that I don't understand
But I'm trying just as hard as I can
How can broken hearts be part
of your plan if you're good
I've been living in
the cage of my shame
Pointing fingers at
the one I could blame
Even though I've been cursing
your name, you're the truth
[Jolene] Sometimes you're waiting
when God's already given the call.
[Mark] That we're all sinners.
You can choose to
accept his free gift or not.
[Isaka] You blame him.
[Jon] Yeah, I blame
him for what's happened.
[Isaka] Then you must forgive God.
I just know you'll do great things one day.
It's not all about the bad.
It's about what you learn from it.
None of us are fit, it's a free gift.
[Tommy] I love you.
I'll see you in eternity.
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
(audience applauding)
Hey, man, we love to
play for you, love the music.
But our real purpose is
to declare the message of God's love.
Somebody here tonight is struggling.
You know, maybe there's a terrible tragedy,
maybe a bum rap in life, I don't know.
But God's messengers
are calling out to you.
Answer the call.
What's your name, son?
I'm Jonathan.
Relax, Jon.
You're with friends.
Wait, how did you know I preferred Jon?
It just slipped out.
I don't like the way
I've been living my life.
I want what everyone else has.
Jon.
Jon, this is the most important
decision you're gonna make
in your entire life.
Are you ready to admit you're a sinner?
Yes.
[Singer] Do you believe
that Jesus died for your sins?
Yes.
You pray with me?
Oh, Lord, I know I'm a sinner.
Yeah, Lord, I know that I'm a sinner.
But I believe you died for my sins.
But I believe that you
died to save me from my sin.
[Singer] So that I
have eternal life in you.
So I can have eternal life in you.
Lord, tonight I choose you.
Lord, tonight I choose you.
[Singer] Make me a new creature.
Make me a new creature.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Jesus' name.
- Amen.
- Amen.
Amen!
Lord, you have your kingdom!
Praise be to God!
(audience applauding)
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
Thank you, Lord.
Jon, you look different today.
Well, I'm a new creature in Christ.
Wow!
That's the best news I
heard in a coon's age.
There's something I need to do.
Well, can't it wait till after breakfast?
What, you going in the woods?
You haven't been there in nearly a month.
Yeah, but I need to share my decision.
With someone in the woods?
She needs to know.
She?
What about Jolene?
Just tell her I went into the woods.
She'll know what you mean.
She knows he's meeting
someone in the woods, a girl?
Isaka.
I'm sorry I haven't been here in a while.
It's okay.
You're not mad?
No, I knew you were busy with
school, making new friends.
I did something.
This Christian concert?
Finally got it.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior.
Did I say something wrong?
No, you did something right.
Now I'll keep my promise.
Look into my eyes once more.
What will I see?
Everything you've wanted to know.
(dramatic music)
Where are we at?
Where we always meet.
But there are no trees.
You asked where I live.
Who are they?
That's my father and that's my mother.
I don't get it.
Look closely and you'll see.
In 1772, 200 Christian
Mohicans in Delaware,
also known as the Lenape,
followed what history would
call the Great Shamokin Path.
It ran from the native village of Shamokin
all the way west to the
settlement by the Allegheny River,
known today as Kittanning.
We were a small group
of Shawnee settled here,
just off the path.
The Christians were
spreading the news of Christ
along the trail,
praying that none would perish
before hearing the gospel.
(baby crying)
But something horrible happened.
(horses neighing)
Bands of renegades had
attacked settlers in the area.
An army of soldiers was
sent from Fort Augusta,
with orders to slaughter or capture them.
We were peaceful people,
but those bloodthirsty soldiers
with their evil horse wanted
to rid the earth of us all.
[Jon] Doesn't make any sense.
[Isaka] I'm showing you all those things
which you asked me.
[Jon] You lived 200 years ago?
[Isaka] We were
defenseless against the men,
armed with their swords and guns.
They killed most of us, only
taking the smallest children
to raise as slaves.
Among those were my brother and my sister.
But you can run faster than anyone.
No!
(gun fires)
(birds cawing)
(wings flapping)
(mysterious music)
I'm sorry that happened to you.
Jesus suffered more.
So are you like a ghost or something?
I'm a soul.
Remember the first sermon we shared?
Sometimes life gets cut short
before we can make a choice.
God is gracious.
Did Jesus come and see you when you died?
He walked with me
through the valley of death,
offering hope.
What's he like?
His face shines brighter than the sun
and peace and love surround him.
That's the way you make me feel.
His love abounds in me.
That's what you feel.
But you're here.
Sometimes we only come back for a season
to help those in need.
So you're like my guardian angel?
Let's just say we're two souls connected
by a similar fate.
You can't stay, can you?
My purpose is finished.
You accepted Christ.
Doesn't make sense.
You're my girlfriend.
Like I felt your hand
in mine and everything.
You felt what you expected
to feel when we touched.
Remember the chipmunk?
All this time I've been out here alone?
I was always with you,
even when you tried to take your life.
(slow music)
That was you?
I intervened.
Promise me that you will love
Jehovah with your whole heart?
Promise, but this can't end.
For what it's worth, if I
would've known you back then,
I would've loved you as you loved me.
Will I ever even see you again?
In the kingdom of heaven.
Is there anything that I
can do to keep you here?
Remember my tree.
Each spring, when the
first green leaves appear,
come visit and I'll pass
through from time to time.
I promise.
I'll miss you dearly.
I'll wait for you in eternity.
(wind blowing)
Jon, Jon?
Jolene.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
I'm fine.
No, you're not.
You didn't have to come here.
I've been calling the house all day.
Bunnie's worried about you too.
She's been looking everywhere for you.
She's gone.
[Jolene] Who's gone?
Isaka, she went back to heaven.
It's okay.
She had a purpose and it's been fulfilled.
(calm music)
And so it was.
A girl named Isaka
lived over 250 years ago,
her life cut short by hate
and what we now call systemic racism.
She changed my life forever.
And although I've come
to terms with that summer,
I won't fully comprehend it all
until I'm in the Lord's presence.
Each spring, when the
green leaves first appear,
I visit that tree as I promised I would.
I never saw Isaka again, but
I know she's watching over me.
So I leave you with this,
1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us
that no eye has seen, nor mind can see
what the Lord has prepared
for those who love him.
I was never able to
find the plentiful orchard
with a beautiful picturesque waterfall
Isaka showed me that day.
Perhaps it was just a
glimpse of what lies beyond.
You know, what happens
in this life is but a blink
in the eye of eternity
and only the decision to follow Christ has
any significant impact on the world beyond.
Oh
Oh
Go
So many things that I don't understand
But I'm trying just as hard as I can
How can broken hearts be part
of your plan if you're good
I've been living in
the cage of my shame
Pointing fingers at
the one I could blame
Even though I've been cursing
your name, you are truth
So much loss and so much pain
Bringing you, what will I gain
Seems I've got a lot to lose
So I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
Letting go what I think I deserve
Asking questions takes
a whole lot of nerve
I don't know what to do
when life throws me a curve
But you do
Yeah, you do
Scars remind me that
I've been in a fight
Finally ready to admit
that you're right
You're the one who turned
my darkness to light
And I'm through
Yeah, I'm through
Nothing that I could do to save me
I forgive 'cause you forgave me
Every time and every season
happens for a perfect reason
You're the one I need to lean into
So I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
Were you a boy or a girl?
Can you tell us how old you were?
Can you tell us how you died?
What's your name?
You're not my brother.
What's our dog's name?
You're a liar!
(scary music)
[Tommy] It's me, Jon.
It's really me.
It can't be!
[Tommy] We were heading
to the amusement park
and you wanted to stop for gifts.
No, you're not real.
[Tommy] I'm in hell now because of you.
I'm sorry, Tommy, it wasn't my fault.
[Tommy] Nothing's
ever your fault, Jonathan.
But look at me, I'm suffering forever,
burning up day and night constantly.
What am I supposed to do now?
[Tommy] Nothing.
Unless you're willing to trade me places.
What do you mean?
[Tommy] Figure it out.
Even you can't be that stupid.
What's wrong with you?
What do you mean?
Didn't you see that?
See what, you spazzing
out, talking to Tommy?
It was there in the candlelight.
I saw you talking to the air.
It was plain as day.
Have you been in my stuff?
Have you?
No.
I'll share it with you
anytime, you know that,
but don't steal.
You saw it spell out my dog's name
and then it flew across the room.
I don't know what I saw.
I'm a bit messed up, to be honest.
Speaking of that,
I need to go sneak out
and meet someone later.
Wait up for me?
No.
You sure?
Yeah, I'm sure.
Suit yourself, but leave
your window cracked
so I don't wake up the foster
units trying to get back home.
Is this what you want, Tommy?
Will this make you happy?
(knife slicing)
(siren wailing)
(slow music)
(rock music)
Is there a problem?
Jonathan?
I'm Dave and this is Theodora,
but you can call her Bunnie.
We're taking you home, son.
Lovely.
And it's Jon.
He'll be all right, he'll be all right.
Things will work out.
(rock music)
Welcome home.
Again.
(Jon sighs)
Hey, Jon.
Jon!
Did you settle in okay?
Yeah.
I'm going on a walk.
Yeah, well, don't go too far.
It's gonna get dark soon, all right?
(mysterious music)
Jon, pick a seat.
You know, Jon, we don't bite.
I wasn't aware there was
any seating arrangement.
He's just kidding.
You sit anywhere you want.
But you gotta take those
headphones sets off your ears
before you sit at this table.
This is true.
Uh-uh.
Jon, we didn't wanna throw too much culture
at ya last night, but in this house,
we pray before our meal.
All right?
Dear Lord,
we humbly thank you for this food
and for the beautiful
sunshine and for our health
and for the new member of our family.
Dear Lord, we ask that you watch over him
and you keep him safe
all the days of his life.
In your name we pray, amen.
Amen.
[Bunnie] Bless.
Jon, you all right?
I'm fine.
He's just not used to prayer, honey.
Not the first one I've heard.
Are you sure you're all right, my son?
I'm not your son!
And I said I'm fine.
Okay, Jonathan, you're new here
and I know life hasn't
treated you the best,
but we deserve respect.
Whatever.
Can we just eat?
Is it all right
if we ask you where
you went off to last night?
Just followed some trail into the woods.
Into the woods?
There's poison ivy in that woods.
There's this music and drums.
Probably seismic blast.
They're drawing for gas back yonder.
But there was music.
The woods, they could play tricks on you.
Kind of want to go back.
You know, Jon, we
could really use your help.
A still hand is the devil's workshop.
Wonderful.
Dave can do one more day on his own.
Jon, you can go.
Take a bag of apples.
Please just, just don't go too far.
Watch the poison ivy.
(girl laughing)
Not in the mood for the jokes!
I'm not scared of you, whatever you are.
I'm not afraid to die either.
Okay, I'm gonna give
you until the count of three
to get out.
One, two, three.
(girl laughs)
(suspenseful music)
(Jon grunts)
Get off.
Why'd you run?
Because you freaked me out.
I'm sorry.
Can I just get up, please?
Pretty strong for a girl.
You're pretty skittish for a man.
If you didn't hide behind
rocks and throw apples at me.
I didn't mean to.
Why are you in that
stupid Pocahontas outfit?
Halloween's not for a few more months.
Halloween?
Just never mind.
Make sure that you don't tell anyone
that you got the best of me.
Who's to tell?
Don't you live nearby?
More or less.
What about school?
Do you go to school?
Did you graduate?
My father taught me.
Oh, so like homeschooling.
That's cool, I guess.
I'm Isaka, by the way.
I'm Jon.
What about, do you have any friends?
Unless you'll be my friend.
So I live with the
Thompsons over the hill.
Their foster kid.
Well, if you need a friend, I'm here.
Want an apple?
Sure.
So how far do these trails actually go?
As far as you want them to.
What is that supposed to mean?
You take a path to get somewhere, right?
Duh.
And when the path ends, there you are.
Do you always talk in
stupid circles like that?
Are you always so angry?
Yeah.
You like my therapist or something now?
Sorry.
Don't worry about it.
Just don't sweat it.
Sweat it?
Yeah, it means like,
don't worry about it.
Okay, then I won't sweat it.
I gotta get home, so...
Will you come back?
Maybe.
Sometime.
'Cause there's a
wound here in my heart
Where something's missing
And they tell me that
it's gonna heal with time
But I know you're in a place
Where all your wounds have been erased
And knowing yours are
healed is healing mine
The only scars in heaven
They won't belong to me and you
There'll be no such thing as broken
And all the old will be made new
And the thought that
makes me smile now
Even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in heaven
Are on the hands that hold you now
[Isaka] I guess I wasn't that hungry.
I didn't know if you
would be here or not.
Do you like this better?
Well, the rawhide and fringes were cool,
but this just looks a little more normal.
Come on.
(upbeat music)
What's wrong, can't keep up?
[Jon] Very funny.
This is my tree.
So do your parents
like own the property line
or something?
So what does your dad do?
Oh gosh, I'm sorry, I didn't know.
I know, don't sweat it?
Hey, we're having steak tonight.
Do you want to come over?
I'm not much of a meat eater.
So you don't eat apples
and you don't eat steak.
So what do you eat?
Men cannot live by bread alone.
Okay, whatever.
Listen, I gotta go home, so...
Well, praise God for
the wonderful weather.
1 Peter 3:18 to 20.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins."
The righteous for the unrighteous
that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh,
but made alive in the spirit,
"in which he went and proclaimed
to the spirits in prison."
Now, many scholars have
interpreted these verses
to mean that Jesus
went to hell to save souls,
to pardon the condemned.
Now, while we aren't definitively sure
who those spirits were, we
can be absolutely certain
that only Jesus offers salvation.
Can souls of the deceased be saved?
A second chance?
It's a very interesting question.
And one I'd like for you to ponder
until I see you next Sunday.
God bless.
All right.
(congregation murmuring)
Jon, Jon.
Randy, Greg, this is Jon.
He'll be staying with us for the summer.
Oh, okay, hi, Jon.
Do you play any football?
Will you be in church all summer?
I don't got much of a choice.
Oh, it isn't that bad.
Well, we're having a
bonfire in a couple weeks.
You're more than welcome to join us.
I am so sorry, guys.
Oh, it's fine.
- We'll see you next week.
- See you next week.
(stick cracks)
Isaka?
(ominous music)
(bear growling)
God, please!
Please, God, get me out of this!
Isaka, run!
(dramatic music)
How did you do that?
We just had an agreement.
An agreement?
Wait, where did you even come from?
I heard you, so I came to help.
Okay.
So how was church?
How did you know I was at church?
It's Sunday, isn't everyone?
I guess.
Preacher just talked
about Jesus visiting
some spirits in their prison.
I don't know.
Yeah, he did that.
So, you a Bible thumper too?
No, I'm a soul for purpose like you.
Purpose of saving my butt.
[Isaka] That too.
Well, it's not the first
time I've faced death, so...
You know, I guess I do owe you that then.
You just did bail me.
I was nine and we were on
our way to an amusement park
and I begged my dad
to stop at this gift shop
to use the bathroom.
I knew he would buy us
some gifts or something.
But when I was in the crapper,
some lunatic came in and shot up the place.
And Tommy, my older
brother, his last words were,
"Why did you make us stop here?"
It's not your fault.
Yeah, but those, those last words,
that's all I remember of my family.
So that's how you
ended up in foster care?
Yeah.
I became a part of the system,
shuffled from one foster home to the next,
except for when I was in
juvie and a mental hospital.
Why so many foster homes and juvie?
Just foster parents who
wanted a paycheck, I guess.
So they weren't good people.
The worst.
There was this...
This one foster father.
He would shove my head in the
toilet and he would force-
I'm sorry, Jon.
It's okay.
I hid a bat underneath my bed.
The look in his eyes when I beat him down,
the rage I felt just felt too good.
He was a damaged soul.
And a damaged body too.
What God could forgive that?
It's not your fault.
That's why I just don't believe in God.
Neither you nor God is at blame.
Yeah.
I guess so.
Look, I gotta be going home.
Will you be okay?
[Jon] Yeah, I guess.
Hey, Jon.
You enjoying yourself tonight?
I guess.
Are you always this quiet?
Hardly.
I know what you mean.
So where are you from?
Over in Bucks County.
Oh, nice, nice.
Are you gonna go to
school here in the fall?
Just depends on how things go.
I'm Ally, by the way.
If you're gonna stick around,
I can introduce you to some nice girls.
(laughs)
So anyway, are you a Christian, Jon?
It's okay if you're
not, we won't judge you.
Well, haven't ever believed in much
or trusted in anything, so...
Well, when the Lord calls you,
he'll give you what you need to believe.
Well, then that's what I'll wait for.
Sometimes you're waiting
when God's already given the call.
I'm Jolene.
Hey, Jon, if you don't
mind, I'd like to pray for you.
Yeah.
I mean, whatever.
It's a free country.
We don't mean to preach.
We're just letting you
know we're here for you.
Yeah, we don't judge.
(mysterious music)
You okay, Jon?
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, what was that sermon
about a prison for the dead?
Do they get a second chance?
Good questions.
Maybe it means the
people who lived before Christ.
So Jesus can travel back in time?
Well, I mean, he could, yeah, sure.
But God isn't limited by time like we are.
He could visit those souls
simply by willing them to his presence.
This is interesting.
John 10:16, Jesus says,
"I have other sheep not of this world."
What does that mean?
It could mean anything.
Remote tribes, people from other planets.
If you're interested,
I'm sure Pastor Mark would be
happy to sit down with you.
He'd be like totally ecstatic.
You ain't gonna make Jon
work out in this rain, are you?
Nah, he can stay in with you.
Can I go visit Pastor Mark?
Why not?
I'll call him after we've eaten.
See when he can meet you.
Jonathan, come on in.
[Jon] Please, it's just Jon.
All right.
Okay, Jon, Jon it is.
Have a seat.
How's your summer going so far?
It's been interesting, I guess.
Met a lot of cool people though.
Well, that's great.
So what's on your mind, Jon?
This sermon on the first Sunday
about Jesus going into
a prison to talk to spirits?
Aren't prisons just for bad people?
Well, we're all bad, Jon,
in the sense that we're all sinners.
Think about Jesus as a bail bondsman,
you can either choose to
accept his free gift or not.
But what about children that die?
Do they go to hell?
Oh, well, let's see what
the Lord's word is on that.
But I would say absolutely not.
In Matthew 19:14,
"But Jesus said, let the
little children come to me.
Don't stop them because the
kingdom of heaven belongs
to people who are just
like these children."
I take that to mean
that Jesus certainly welcomes the children.
Okay, I guess.
Can we talk to dead people?
Can we...
Alright, I'm gonna
turn to God for this one,
to Leviticus 19:31.
"Do not go to mediums
or fortune tellers for advice,
or you will become unclean.
I am the Lord your God."
It's not the dead people,
then what is there to make us unclean?
Demons, unclean spirits.
But how can a demon know something
that only the person that died would know?
Demons are very good impersonators.
(mysterious music)
Can a demon appear
to us like a normal person
and touch us?
What's going on, Jon?
These are really specific questions.
Could a demon know the Bible?
Absolutely.
Satan and his demons
probably know the Bible
better than most Christians
so that they can twist
the words and deceive.
Would they bail you from a bad situation?
Well, that would be a new one on me,
but yeah, I suppose so.
Especially if they could use
that situation to gain trust.
Is there really any way to tell
if somebody is a demon or not?
Well, if I recall from seminary,
have them say three words.
Jesus is Lord.
Then what happens?
Well, they can't say that.
Well, they either become very violent
or they would just, you know, take off.
But they won't say those three words.
So if it is a demon,
then they'll either flip out or skip out.
Yeah, that's one way to put it, yeah.
Thank you.
Sure.
Jon, my door is always
open if you wanna talk.
That is very odd.
So I talked to the pastor today.
That's good.
Can you say...
Can you say Jesus is Lord?
Why?
Because I want to hear you say it.
And what if I don't?
Why wouldn't you?
They're just three simple words.
Okay, okay.
Jesus is my Lord.
That's good.
You just had to mess
with me though, didn't you?
I just enjoyed the
passion in which you asked.
So you're a Christian?
Jesus died in my place, our place.
But if he died in our place,
then why do we still die?
We're cursed because we choose sin.
But if we choose God,
we'll have eternal life.
So what about my brother and sister?
God is merciful.
You have much to learn, Jon.
And what if there's people
who haven't gotten a
chance to hear about it?
They have the chance
to choose and to learn.
How do you know?
I just know.
You just...
It's like you leave me with
more questions than answers.
You have this magical way
of getting me to open up,
I'll give you that.
But it's like every time I
try to ask you something
about yourself, it's always
riddles or old wise men sayings,
or it's just like you don't
want me to get to know you.
In time.
Right now, I'm just here to be a friend.
In case you can't tell, kinda like you.
Can you at least show me where you live?
It is nearby.
Then take me there.
Maybe one day.
Everything has a time and a place.
Should have figured.
At least you're not a demon.
A what?
Nothing.
I gotta go.
I'll just...
I hope you can come
back soon and stay longer.
So how'd your visit with the pastor go?
Went good, I guess.
I mean, I asked some
questions and got some answers.
You didn't say much when you got back,
you just ran off to the woods.
So what'd you do out there for hours?
I just kind of get
away and clear my head.
Well, that must be working,
but Jon, please be careful.
The poison ivy.
Remember, there's three-
I got it.
Hey, Dave, do I have to
work for you tomorrow?
Why, you got a hot date?
No, I just wanna get away.
I can manage, but just stay close.
What, finally awake?
Morning, Jon.
I told him to just let you sleep.
What, your voice box doesn't work?
Sorry.
Jon, take an umbrella.
They're calling for rain later.
Wake up, sleepyhead.
Didn't think you would be here.
Want to go on another adventure?
(upbeat music)
Could've stayed there all day.
So how have you been?
We just saw each other yesterday.
I mean, since you told me
what happened in your family.
You're actually the
first person I ever told.
I'm glad you opened up to me.
I'm glad you listen.
But sometimes I just wonder
if my brother and sister
are, you know, okay.
God doesn't send children away.
How do you know?
I've gotten to know God, so to say.
Here, just to remind you
that the fate of others is not your fault.
If it only was that simple.
Life is what you make of it.
Have you ever been
so disappointed in yourself
that you hate God?
You have no idea.
Cuz you never talk about yourself.
In time, I promise.
Come on.
(upbeat music)
[Jon] Where are we going?
We're almost there.
Wow.
Goes on forever.
You ready for another lesson in faith?
What?
(Jon sighs)
Be careful, the bark
gets slippery when it's wet.
You can do it.
Easy for you to say.
You probably do this every day.
Let go of the branches and walk normal,
like you were on the ground.
You're doing great.
Hey, I think I'm gonna make it.
Watch this.
Don't do that!
Give me your hand.
Lift your shirt up.
Let me see.
Nothing's broken.
I'll be back.
That was fast.
What's that?
Something to help you feel better.
Lift your shirt up.
(Jon grunting)
What is that stuff?
Ginger, rosemary, sumac,
and some other herbs.
Take some home, make a tea,
or else you'll be in pain tomorrow.
I'll warn you, it doesn't taste very good.
Where'd you get it?
It grows nearby.
Everything's nearby with you, isn't it?
Will you be okay to walk?
I think so.
Gotta get back.
Stacy, sorry it took so
long to get this scheduled.
Person that was supposed
to take the case quit,
so it's been a madhouse at the center.
You must be Jonathan Moore?
Please, it's just Jon.
How are things since the client arrived?
Jon.
Jon's been going to church
and he's met some new
friends at this youth group.
That's always good, I suppose.
Any concerns with the client?
Jon's been excellent.
What are you doing, reading
the script, Ms. Stacy?
Actually, I'm looking
through all the paperwork
to make sure all the proper
releases have been signed.
Politics.
Maybe somebody didn't
do the right paperwork.
No, I think it's all here.
Jonathan, do...
Jon, do you have any concerns?
No.
Everything's been pretty cool.
Looking through your
previous therapist's notes,
you have several infractions,
many of them punishable by law.
Be in your best interest not to downplay.
What on earth is that supposed to mean?
You should have all the info.
At age 11, he almost killed
a foster brother with an ax.
Last year, a foster father with a ball bat.
And just March of this year,
he verbally assaulted a teacher.
She was so afraid for
her safety, she had to-
Oh, afraid for her safety, please.
I spoke up so she could hear me.
And that pedo foster
father, he had it coming.
Have you ever been raped
or had your head shoved in a toilet?
Or you were very careful
to leave that part out, huh?
I'm not gonna waste my time
discussing the behaviors of others.
Let's focus on the things that
you and only you can control.
I can vouch that Jon has been great.
Am I to believe
that his delinquent criminal
behavior has abruptly stopped?
As a seasoned therapist,
I can tell when a child
is putting on an act
and he clearly is.
Are we to expect these
condescending rants
every time you visit?
I'm doing the intake today.
I'll observe Jonathan
in his everyday habitat,
record some data, finish my notes.
Probably take me about two hours.
Next visit will hopefully
only take an hour.
We'll schedule that before I leave,
so we're all on the
same page, Ms. Thompson.
Okay, then I'm outta here.
I'm going to the barn.
That's fine, Mr. Thompson.
I just need to observe my client.
I'm going to the
kitchen to prepare lunch.
It's okay.
So my new caseworker came over today.
Her name's Stacy.
She's a real winner.
Didn't go so well?
Bunnie kind of mentioned
that I was taking these walks in the woods
and Stacy flipped.
She said I shouldn't be unsupervised.
So you can't come back?
Now get this.
Just to spite her for being a jerk,
Dave said that I can actually
have more time to myself.
That's good.
I'm sorry about your caseworker though.
It's fine.
Just finally glad somebody
gets to see what I deal with.
How's your chest feeling?
Better, thanks to you.
Thanks to your faith.
It was that gunk you put on my chest
and God awful tea that I drank.
If you didn't have faith,
you wouldn't have drank it.
True.
Where do you learn this stuff from?
My father taught me.
Must have been a heck of a guy.
Can you show me where you live?
I was born by a town near
here, but I'm a creation of God.
He's my true origin.
His real name's Yahweh, or
in modern language, Jehovah.
So where does Jehovah come from?
He's the Alpha and Omega.
He always has been and always will be.
I heard a different story in school.
Something about a big
bang and an evolution.
Oh, from a bang?
Do you believe that?
I mean, I used to.
What do you believe?
I believe that Jehovah created the world
with just the power of his voice,
from the plants to the
animals to the angels above.
Lucifer was said to be
the most beautiful angel.
And I assume Lucifer is...
Satan, the devil.
He led a revolt in the heavens
after Jehovah had
finished creating the world.
He sent the angels to watch over it.
Angels watch over us?
Yeah, it's like Adam and Eve.
Lucifer appeared in the form of a serpent
and tempted Adam to
eat from the forbidden tree.
And with sin came death.
Well, did they die right away?
Not right away.
Adam lived to be 930 years
old, but eventually he did die.
You know a lot, like
you're 900 years old yourself.
We never stop learning,
no matter how old we are.
You're still wearing my necklace.
- Yeah.
- That's good.
It's cool.
Plus it was given to me by my best friend.
All right, before we get started,
if anybody's having
trouble paying for camp,
please come see me afterward
cuz we don't want anybody left
out for financial reasons.
All right.
Is God's name really Jehovah?
(girl laughing)
Hey, there are no silly questions.
Every question's a good one.
Well, the Old Testament they
say was written without vowels.
And so his name was written YHWH
and the common accepted
pronunciation of that was Yahweh,
until the 16th century scholars
translated later to Jehovah.
Did God create the devil?
Well, you know, the Bible
doesn't specifically say,
but if God didn't create the devil,
then they would be equal.
And there's only one God.
Has the devil always been a bad guy?
No, actually his name was Lucifer
and he was an angel
above all the other angels
until power went to his
head and he was cast down.
When he got Eve to eat
from the Knowledge of Good and Evil tree.
Absolutely.
Jon, good job.
You've been doing your research, I like it.
I hope the rest of you
have been doing a little bit
of research and studying, especially you.
Yes, yes, you.
All right.
How have things been?
They've been fine.
Has Jon had any problems?
Not at all.
I see.
Can I just say something?
Go ahead.
Ever since I've gotten
here, it's been great.
I've met a lot of cool kids my age at youth
and the Thompsons, they're...
They're cool.
And I've been working through my problems.
I'll make a note of that.
So can I finish my senior year here?
I'll suggest it next team meeting.
In light of your improvement,
there's a chance you could stay.
Well, if you could just take-
No promises.
So when will I know?
Team meets first Monday of the month.
So I'll know my next visit.
No, I'm here the last week of July.
That's the week I might go to camp.
Then we'll have to
reschedule for the week after
and I'll need a number for this camp.
A responsible adult in charge.
I'll get that for you.
So Jon, do you have a girlfriend?
What in tarnation has
that got to do with anything?
Just making sure his ventures
in the forest are under control.
(Bunnie sighs)
I almost didn't recognize you
without the jeans and black hoodie.
Bunnie got me new duds
for church camp, so don't laugh.
Why do you wear the same
shirt and pants all the time?
I could wear shorts like yours.
Unlike you, I have
to work for a tan, so...
Sitting on a rock all
day in the sun, work?
You know what I mean.
Stacy asked me if I had a girlfriend.
What'd you tell her?
I don't know.
You don't know if you
have a girlfriend or not?
Well, I was hoping maybe you
would wanna be my girlfriend.
If I was, would you expect
anything more outta me?
No, I mean, I-
Then I'll be your girlfriend.
Really?
I mean, cool.
Nice.
These socks are irritating my skin.
Let me see.
You have poison ivy.
What?
Bunnie and Dave are gonna kill me,
they warned me like 50 times.
Wait here, I'll be back.
Where are you going?
Put your foot up.
The itch is going away.
That's cool.
What is that stuff?
Jewelweed.
It always grows near poison ivy.
Well, won't you get it from touching me?
I'll be fine.
Wish I could learn that stuff.
You will one day, and much more.
What, can you see the future now?
No.
I just know you'll do great things one day.
Well, it's all sucked this far, so...
Everything happens for a reason.
So I was meant to grow up without parents
and having the guilt of my
brother blaming me for his death.
It's not all about the bad.
It's about what you learn from it.
So like where you live
and how you won't let me meet your family?
In time, I promise.
Promise?
Maybe then I'll believe in God.
You believe in him now and you blame him.
Yeah, blame him for what's happened.
Then you must forgive God.
Forgive God?
I thought God was perfect.
He is.
Forgiveness is letting go of the hate
for your own well being.
You're right.
I'm burning inside.
He'll work out all things for you.
Maybe then I won't be such a mess.
You're not a mess.
You're precious in his eyes.
Maybe that's why I didn't succeed.
In taking your life?
I knew you'd talk about
it when you were ready.
When I was 13, my foster sister, Sarah,
she made me play this Ouija board
and my brother
appeared in this ball of fire,
said he was in hell.
Said that if I trade places with him,
then he wouldn't hate me anymore.
That wasn't your brother.
Then how did he know
all the stuff about me?
Demons like to prey on our weaknesses.
Just trying to make
things right with my brother.
It would've made nothing right.
Hey, this is feeling better.
What'd you say that stuff was again?
Jewelweed.
So what would you do for
like, say, a rattlesnake bite?
Well, you chew up charcoal,
you put it on the bite or
the wound, find snake root.
You'll know it by the small
white flowers arranged
in upward cones.
And you have to eat the root
so that it helps with swelling.
Well, if it does happen,
I hope you're there.
You're just so easy to talk to.
This seat taken?
No, I...
So that's what you call fashion sense?
They match my Bible, don't they?
Do you like them?
Yeah.
Do you read a lot?
I take about a chapter a night.
Sometimes more if I can.
I wouldn't know where to start.
From the questions you're asking,
you have a lot of good places to start.
I can help if you want.
Maybe someday.
So, why are you in foster care?
It's just a long story.
Okay.
Do you have a girlfriend?
I mean, yeah, I'm kind
of going with someone.
Kind of?
Yeah.
You're not gonna tell my
foster parents, are you?
No, I'm cool.
Okay.
Well, we meet in the woods and...
It's not like that, okay?
It's...
It's like, she listens to me
and she just doesn't judge
me like my caseworker,
but at least she's trying to get me
to do my senior year here.
That would rock.
Yeah.
I just wish Isaka could
come to camp with us.
That's your sort of girlfriend?
Yeah.
She has a unique name.
Must not be from around
here or I would know her.
Yeah, she doesn't ever
tell me where she's from
and she never goes with me anywhere, so...
My dad would never let
me meet a guy in the woods,
especially if he didn't
come to the house first.
She doesn't even tell me her mom's name
and she told me that
her dad was gone, so...
What's her last name?
I don't know.
You don't know her last name?
No.
How long have you guys
been dating or whatever?
Like two-ish months.
You don't know her last
name, where she lives,
and you've never met her mom?
Phone number?
No.
Okay.
She's not imaginary.
I didn't say anything.
Whatever.
Hello, everyone, and
welcome to summer camp.
I see a lot of familiar faces here,
but also a good share of newcomers,
so how about all the veterans join me
in giving the new ones
a nice, warm welcome?
Welcome, welcome.
(audience applauding)
As all you all know, we have
competition happening all week.
The winning team gets to choose the meal
for Friday's dinner and dance.
The team with the least amount
of points has to clean up
and wash the dishes.
(kids booing)
I know, I know, nobody likes that, I know.
But it's all in good fun
and we're all here to
honor and glorify the Lord,
so don't let the competition
cloud your spiritual focus.
That being said, all of
you will pick teams tonight
and we'll all assign
you to different events
that you feel comfortable competing in.
Unfortunately, due to insurance issues,
there will be no go-kart racing.
You can be on my team
since you don't know anybody.
Okay.
(upbeat music)
A broken heart, no will to live
You came into me, Lord
Gave me your son so that
I could live eternally
I can't remember ever feeling so good
No, I never felt this way
Been so happy since
you came in my life
And that's why I'm here to say
A broken heart is no way to live
There's a much better way
A broken heart can be fixed again
Jesus is the way
No, a broken heart is no way to live
There's a much better way
A broken heart can be fixed again
Jesus is the way
(calm music)
Hey, I found the red ball!
(Jolene screams)
Oh, whoa, what's wrong?
What?
What's going on?
Rattlesnake.
(snake hissing)
(rock smacking)
My ankle, it burns.
Hey, we need help.
Come on, please, fast!
Isaka, what did you say?
Call the nurse and call an ambulance!
Tell her to bring charcoal too!
What's the charcoal for?
It's something that Isaka
told me to do for a snake bite.
I'll be right back.
Okay, go, I will stay with her.
So what would you do for
like, say, a rattlesnake bite?
You find snake root.
You'll know it by those small white flowers
arranged in a cone facing upwards.
You eat the root and it
helps with the swelling.
Do we have the charcoal?
Yeah, I brought it.
Okay.
I need you to eat this.
- What?
- Just do it, okay?
[Woman] Jon, I hope
you know what you're doing.
Okay, now, Jolene, we're
gonna eat this together, okay?
I need you to swallow it.
Hope it tastes better than charcoal.
[Jon] It's just, pretend
it's a carrot or something.
I hate carrots.
Well, the ambulance should
be here in a few minutes.
Hopefully it will take your mind off of it.
Jon, if I die, I'm gonna
come back and haunt you.
You're not gonna die.
Our heavenly father,
please be with Jolene this
time of her desperate need.
Lord, be with the medics
as well, and the doctors,
and that Jolene's health gets restored.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Hey, how are you feeling?
I'm fine.
I just have to keep it
bandaged and take antibiotics.
So I'm guessing they called your dad
to come pick you up, right?
Yeah, but the doctor said
that there was no venom,
just a nasty infection.
Plus I didn't wanna go home.
But dad said thank you for
saving his daughter's life.
Well, I'm just glad everything's okay.
What was that thing you did?
Like you were talking to your Isaka?
I just panicked
and I was trying to
remember what Isaka told me
about healing a rattlesnake bite.
That's freaky.
She has to be some like black magic voodoo.
You know, at first I
actually thought that.
Why'd you think that?
This has to be our secret, okay?
Promise.
Way back in June, I was
on the trail looking for her,
and then I heard these heavy
footsteps down the trail.
Turned out it was a grizzly bear.
What?
We don't even have those here.
Well, it was this huge
bear, but in a flash,
Isaka was standing in front of me
and she just kind of just stood
there and rose her hand up
and just stared the bear down
like she was communicating with it.
She has to be in some
witchcraft or something.
But she proclaimed Jesus is Lord.
Have you even kissed her?
No.
Ever dawned on you
that this chick might just
think of you as a friend?
She said she would be my girl.
Something seems off here.
(Jon sighs)
I wish we would've won.
Yeah, but winning isn't everything.
At least we weren't last.
True.
Wanna come to my house tonight?
I'll even give you my phone number
and you can meet my parents.
Funny.
You're gonna run off to the woods
as soon as you get home
to see her, aren't you?
Well, she probably does miss me.
Probably?
Are you two a couple yet?
What makes you think that?
Oh, I don't know.
I mean, he only risked his life
to save you from a rattler.
I mean, you were practically
inseparable all week.
And the way they
danced so close last night?
Okay, that was kind of cute actually.
It was cute.
See, Jon, I hang out with you in public.
You can even come to my house too.
Just don't understand.
Well, I understand,
but what are you gonna
do when winter comes?
Walk a mile in the snow
just to stand with her?
(Jon sighs)
Hey, stranger.
You would not believe
the week that I've had.
Tell me all about it.
I was in a tire throwing
competition and I almost won.
Then somebody beat me by like two feet.
I know you're so strong
that if you were there,
you'd just cream everybody.
Oh, and then there was this scavenger hunt
and my friend, she
got bit by a rattlesnake.
I tried my hardest to
remember what you said.
I got the plant and I
had a nurse get charcoal.
Was your friend okay then?
Oh yeah, she was fine.
Did you learn anything at camp?
It was just a bunch
of reading and prayers.
Have you considered to ask
them to help you take that step
to accept Jesus as your savior?
I'm not fit for God's perfect atmosphere.
None of us are fit.
It's by grace we are saved.
I just need to find peace first.
Only when we let the
Holy Spirit win in our hearts,
then we know peace.
What do I need to do?
Admit that you're a sinner.
Ask for forgiveness of your sin
and invite the Holy Spirit into your heart
to make you a new person.
I told you, I'm not fit for God.
None of us are, it's a free gift.
Look, I gotta get home.
I'm meeting my friend at her house.
I'll walk back with
you partway if you like.
Really?
You're not gonna melt or anything, are you?
I'll be fine.
I've really missed you.
I've really missed you too.
I've gotta go now.
So much for that.
So did you bring up my
placement in the meeting?
Yes.
You may remain with the Thompsons.
I will, however, be
monitoring your progress.
And there's one concern I have.
What's that?
I spoke to the Dean at
that camp, Mr. John Weaver.
He reported that he beat a snake to death.
Is that all he told you?
Is that all?
That's aggressive
behavior at the very least.
Did he not tell you
that it was a rattlesnake,
that it attacked another camper?
I did not ask him
what kind of snake it was
or what other children were involved.
They are not my responsibility.
Another camper's life was in danger
and Jon acted with courage.
Why didn't he just simply
move the snake to the side?
No need for cruelty to the wildlife.
Jon didn't have time to think.
He just did what he had to do.
Well, he sure had time
to think up some hocus pocus concoction
to treat the bite with.
I had to do something while
we waited for the ambulance.
So I suppose you're gonna
write him up for acting out?
No.
As long as we have no further issues,
we should be fine, Ms. Thompson.
So my therapist just left.
How'd that go?
Good, I guess.
Said I could stay here with the Thompsons
as long as I'm good.
Come up here.
Sit down, face me.
Take my hands.
Look deep into my eyes.
We're going on a journey
to when you lost your family.
(dramatic music)
(gun firing)
(screaming)
[Jon] I hear gunshots, I'm scared.
[Isaka] Jon, you're safe.
(slow music)
[Jon] There's Tommy.
[Isaka] Look at your brother and listen.
Why did you make us stop here?
[Jon] Tommy, I'm sorry.
I wouldn't have asked Dad to stop
if I knew this was gonna happen.
I've dealt with this
guilt for eight years now
because you blamed me.
[Isaka] Jon, listen carefully.
It's okay.
I know it's not your fault.
I love you.
I'll see you in eternity.
[Jon] Love you too, Tommy.
He's with God now.
He doesn't blame you.
Wait, I thought this was some trip
to help me deal with my guilt.
It was a message from Tommy.
How do you know?
You heard the words
come out of his mouth, right?
How did you do that?
I mean, how did you get?
Thanks for whatever you did.
You're welcome.
So, can I please go see your family now?
When the time is right.
Do you get why I'm
worried or why I keep asking?
Just, was it a mistake
falling in love with you?
Mistakes are decisions.
The heart is another matter.
I'm sorry, it's just after
you showed me my brother
and what you did.
Can you walk with me again?
Next time.
(calm music)
Thanks for walking with me.
Yeah.
Oh, by the way, you
didn't have to give this back.
It's for you.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
Thanks.
Yeah.
We've already came this far.
Maybe just a bit more?
I suppose, just a bit.
I have to turn back now.
Okay, well, I guess
we can call that progress.
So I've been researching something.
What's that?
Your so-called girlfriend.
If you don't believe me,
then just come to the woods with me.
Yeah, right, like my
parents would let me go alone
in the woods with a guy.
We wouldn't be alone.
Oh yeah, your girlfriend would be there.
No thanks.
It would settle your curiosities.
Why isn't she in school?
I don't know.
She is homeschooled or something, I guess.
You don't find that just a tad bit weird?
She said that she would
explain everything one day.
So what is she waiting for?
A ring?
It's not like that.
It's just that she's just different.
Different how?
Like she does tricks
or just talks to bears?
Not just that.
I mean, it's like...
It's like time flies when I'm with her
and like minutes become hours
and she just kind of
knows how to heal things.
How could I forget?
You practically prayed
to her when I got bit.
I panicked and you know that!
I got it.
Get me a picture of her.
And then you'll believe she exists?
Oh, I believe she exists.
Inside or outside of
your head's the question.
I don't have a camera.
I do.
And what if she doesn't
want her picture taken?
Do it anyway.
What's she gonna do?
What's this?
I was hoping that I
could get a picture with you
or of you.
You don't mind, do you?
Sure.
Why not?
(camera clicking)
See, now I got a picture of my girl.
What if I'm not really a girl?
Then you had me fooled.
Do you think this is a rock?
Yeah.
Hold out your hand.
(chipmunk chirping)
How did you do that?
It was always a chipmunk.
You just assumed it was a rock.
Well, if I would've looked closer,
then I would've knew it was a chipmunk.
But you didn't.
Well, I'm looking at you.
You're no chipmunk.
Do you really see me?
Or do you trust your heart over your eyes?
Well, this is my heart
that led me to love you.
Jon, listen to the others
and be who God created you to be.
All right, we're looking
through newspapers
for birth announcements from around here.
How old is your girl?
My age.
Give or take a few.
Okay.
So we'll look through newspapers
from, say, 1966 to 1970?
It's gonna take forever.
Not for me, I'm a speed reader.
We might even find her
parents' name and address.
Maybe we can go to her house too.
Something's telling me
this is gonna waste our time.
If this chick was born
around here, I'm gonna find her.
She said she was.
Maybe she wasn't born in a hospital.
That's why there's no birth announcement.
Nobody does that anymore.
I can't find anything.
Shoot, it's 3:30.
The pictures should be ready.
Hey, can we get our pictures?
Pictures, let me see.
Here they are.
There you go.
Where are the pictures you took?
I took them all, I swear.
I mean-
We had 24 on this.
I know.
Um, where are the last three?
Let me look at the negative.
It looks like there was too much light
and the image didn't take.
The lighting was fine when I took it,
so I don't know what happened.
Can we fix it and get the image?
Unfortunately, what's on
the negative is what you get.
In this case, a white page.
Jolene, why are you so mad?
It's my girlfriend.
If anything, I should be
mad over a fumbled photo.
Jon, something's
not right about that girl.
You need to choose between her and reality.
(Jon sighs)
(calm music)
This is the story of a runaway
With no way home and no way out
I threw the best of me away
I had my chance, it's too late now
Too far gone and too ashamed
To think that you'd still know my name
But love refused to let
my story end that way
You didn't wait for me
to find my way to you
I couldn't cross that
distance even if I wanted to
You came running after me
When anybody else would've
turned and left me at my worst
Love moved first
I got a number you
call with a credit card
and they search anybody
in the world for you.
And I did it.
Did what?
I did it.
There's nobody in the
country with the name Isaka.
I've even had them spell it
like several different ways.
It just goes through
some government census.
And it's not even that
accurate anyways, so...
But I did find out the name is legit.
It comes from Japan.
Okay, so?
So that means she's from somewhere else.
How much money did
you actually spend on this?
Don't worry about it.
I used my dad's credit card.
I told him it was for a school project.
You're losing it.
Yeah, I'm not the one who
had a summer fling with her.
(Jon sighs)
This is interesting.
The name was given to native
girls in the middle ages
to the 19th century.
After that, it just kind of disappeared.
She did give me this.
That's where you got that?
It doesn't go with like anything.
Can we just talk about something else?
Yeah.
There's a Christian concert
in the auditorium next Friday.
Wanna go?
You just insulted me and
now you're asking me out?
Well, the necklace is outta place,
but I still like the guy wearing it.
(audience applauding)
Oh
Oh
Oh
Here we go
So many things that I don't understand
But I'm trying just as hard as I can
How can broken hearts be part
of your plan if you're good
I've been living in
the cage of my shame
Pointing fingers at
the one I could blame
Even though I've been cursing
your name, you're the truth
[Jolene] Sometimes you're waiting
when God's already given the call.
[Mark] That we're all sinners.
You can choose to
accept his free gift or not.
[Isaka] You blame him.
[Jon] Yeah, I blame
him for what's happened.
[Isaka] Then you must forgive God.
I just know you'll do great things one day.
It's not all about the bad.
It's about what you learn from it.
None of us are fit, it's a free gift.
[Tommy] I love you.
I'll see you in eternity.
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
(audience applauding)
Hey, man, we love to
play for you, love the music.
But our real purpose is
to declare the message of God's love.
Somebody here tonight is struggling.
You know, maybe there's a terrible tragedy,
maybe a bum rap in life, I don't know.
But God's messengers
are calling out to you.
Answer the call.
What's your name, son?
I'm Jonathan.
Relax, Jon.
You're with friends.
Wait, how did you know I preferred Jon?
It just slipped out.
I don't like the way
I've been living my life.
I want what everyone else has.
Jon.
Jon, this is the most important
decision you're gonna make
in your entire life.
Are you ready to admit you're a sinner?
Yes.
[Singer] Do you believe
that Jesus died for your sins?
Yes.
You pray with me?
Oh, Lord, I know I'm a sinner.
Yeah, Lord, I know that I'm a sinner.
But I believe you died for my sins.
But I believe that you
died to save me from my sin.
[Singer] So that I
have eternal life in you.
So I can have eternal life in you.
Lord, tonight I choose you.
Lord, tonight I choose you.
[Singer] Make me a new creature.
Make me a new creature.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Jesus' name.
- Amen.
- Amen.
Amen!
Lord, you have your kingdom!
Praise be to God!
(audience applauding)
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
Thank you, Lord.
Jon, you look different today.
Well, I'm a new creature in Christ.
Wow!
That's the best news I
heard in a coon's age.
There's something I need to do.
Well, can't it wait till after breakfast?
What, you going in the woods?
You haven't been there in nearly a month.
Yeah, but I need to share my decision.
With someone in the woods?
She needs to know.
She?
What about Jolene?
Just tell her I went into the woods.
She'll know what you mean.
She knows he's meeting
someone in the woods, a girl?
Isaka.
I'm sorry I haven't been here in a while.
It's okay.
You're not mad?
No, I knew you were busy with
school, making new friends.
I did something.
This Christian concert?
Finally got it.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior.
Did I say something wrong?
No, you did something right.
Now I'll keep my promise.
Look into my eyes once more.
What will I see?
Everything you've wanted to know.
(dramatic music)
Where are we at?
Where we always meet.
But there are no trees.
You asked where I live.
Who are they?
That's my father and that's my mother.
I don't get it.
Look closely and you'll see.
In 1772, 200 Christian
Mohicans in Delaware,
also known as the Lenape,
followed what history would
call the Great Shamokin Path.
It ran from the native village of Shamokin
all the way west to the
settlement by the Allegheny River,
known today as Kittanning.
We were a small group
of Shawnee settled here,
just off the path.
The Christians were
spreading the news of Christ
along the trail,
praying that none would perish
before hearing the gospel.
(baby crying)
But something horrible happened.
(horses neighing)
Bands of renegades had
attacked settlers in the area.
An army of soldiers was
sent from Fort Augusta,
with orders to slaughter or capture them.
We were peaceful people,
but those bloodthirsty soldiers
with their evil horse wanted
to rid the earth of us all.
[Jon] Doesn't make any sense.
[Isaka] I'm showing you all those things
which you asked me.
[Jon] You lived 200 years ago?
[Isaka] We were
defenseless against the men,
armed with their swords and guns.
They killed most of us, only
taking the smallest children
to raise as slaves.
Among those were my brother and my sister.
But you can run faster than anyone.
No!
(gun fires)
(birds cawing)
(wings flapping)
(mysterious music)
I'm sorry that happened to you.
Jesus suffered more.
So are you like a ghost or something?
I'm a soul.
Remember the first sermon we shared?
Sometimes life gets cut short
before we can make a choice.
God is gracious.
Did Jesus come and see you when you died?
He walked with me
through the valley of death,
offering hope.
What's he like?
His face shines brighter than the sun
and peace and love surround him.
That's the way you make me feel.
His love abounds in me.
That's what you feel.
But you're here.
Sometimes we only come back for a season
to help those in need.
So you're like my guardian angel?
Let's just say we're two souls connected
by a similar fate.
You can't stay, can you?
My purpose is finished.
You accepted Christ.
Doesn't make sense.
You're my girlfriend.
Like I felt your hand
in mine and everything.
You felt what you expected
to feel when we touched.
Remember the chipmunk?
All this time I've been out here alone?
I was always with you,
even when you tried to take your life.
(slow music)
That was you?
I intervened.
Promise me that you will love
Jehovah with your whole heart?
Promise, but this can't end.
For what it's worth, if I
would've known you back then,
I would've loved you as you loved me.
Will I ever even see you again?
In the kingdom of heaven.
Is there anything that I
can do to keep you here?
Remember my tree.
Each spring, when the
first green leaves appear,
come visit and I'll pass
through from time to time.
I promise.
I'll miss you dearly.
I'll wait for you in eternity.
(wind blowing)
Jon, Jon?
Jolene.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
I'm fine.
No, you're not.
You didn't have to come here.
I've been calling the house all day.
Bunnie's worried about you too.
She's been looking everywhere for you.
She's gone.
[Jolene] Who's gone?
Isaka, she went back to heaven.
It's okay.
She had a purpose and it's been fulfilled.
(calm music)
And so it was.
A girl named Isaka
lived over 250 years ago,
her life cut short by hate
and what we now call systemic racism.
She changed my life forever.
And although I've come
to terms with that summer,
I won't fully comprehend it all
until I'm in the Lord's presence.
Each spring, when the
green leaves first appear,
I visit that tree as I promised I would.
I never saw Isaka again, but
I know she's watching over me.
So I leave you with this,
1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us
that no eye has seen, nor mind can see
what the Lord has prepared
for those who love him.
I was never able to
find the plentiful orchard
with a beautiful picturesque waterfall
Isaka showed me that day.
Perhaps it was just a
glimpse of what lies beyond.
You know, what happens
in this life is but a blink
in the eye of eternity
and only the decision to follow Christ has
any significant impact on the world beyond.
Oh
Oh
Go
So many things that I don't understand
But I'm trying just as hard as I can
How can broken hearts be part
of your plan if you're good
I've been living in
the cage of my shame
Pointing fingers at
the one I could blame
Even though I've been cursing
your name, you are truth
So much loss and so much pain
Bringing you, what will I gain
Seems I've got a lot to lose
So I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
Letting go what I think I deserve
Asking questions takes
a whole lot of nerve
I don't know what to do
when life throws me a curve
But you do
Yeah, you do
Scars remind me that
I've been in a fight
Finally ready to admit
that you're right
You're the one who turned
my darkness to light
And I'm through
Yeah, I'm through
Nothing that I could do to save me
I forgive 'cause you forgave me
Every time and every season
happens for a perfect reason
You're the one I need to lean into
So I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, I'm forgiving you
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God
I'm forgiving you, God