Sarah Harmening
Sarah Harmening
Photo of Sarah with her sisters and her parents
Sarah Harmening (December 20, 1999-June 8, 2017) was a 17-year-old girl from Madison County, Alabama. She was known by friends and family for her caring nature, willingness to help others, and her love of the lord, Jesus Christ the Father. [undefined]
Personal Life
Sarah Harmening lived with her parents Karen and Scott Harmening in Madison County, Alabama. The family was part of the congregation at the Mount Zion Baptist church in Huntsville, Alabama. Sarah was a member of the church's youth group. Sarah was close to her sisters, Katelyn, Kristen, and Sophie. She also loved her family's dog, Sassy. [undefined] Sarah enjoyed fictional stories of bygone eras, with her very favorite being Little Women ** by Louisa Mae Alcott. [undefined]
Last Trip
Sarah Harmening's last journal entry before her death
Photo of Sarah Harmening in a white dress [undefined]
Sarah Harmening had saved up for her youth missionary trip to Botswana to help the less fortunate and share the love of Christ. Sarah had looked especially looking forward to helping the children. The trip on June 7, 2017 had 40 high school students and chaperones were on the trip which first went from Madison County, Alabama to the Atlanta airport where the students flew to Botswana. [undefined] [undefined]
While having lunch with her family the day before the trip, Sarah spoke about the plight of persecuted fellow Christians in Egypt.
She also recalled reading the entirety of Jesus Freaks and how the book profoundly that impacted her, inspiring her to have the courage ot stand for Christ and go on the missionary trip to Botswana. [undefined]
Her mother, Karen had said:
“They were on the mission trip to Botswana,” she said.
“And she was so excited.
She earned all the money to go and share Christ with children of Botswana.”
During the drive to Sarah wrote her last journal entry before her death:
Sarah Harmening's last journal entry before her death "I was just sitting here (on) the bus feeling a little sad.
I guess because I'm going to be gone so long and I was a little uncomfortable.
Then I decided to read my Bible.
I prayed and opened up to 1 Peter 5 and 2 Peter 1.
Pretty much everything I read applies to me now," "It talked about watching over the flock entrusted to you, which would be my little buddies in Botswana.
Humbling yourself, which I will need to do also (and that also means being a little uncomfortable).
It talked about the devil prowling about like a lion seeking whom he may devour, which he will especially be doing on this mission trip, and how we need to be alert and of a sober mind.
"And lastly how we get to participate in his divine nature!
I mean, how awesome is that?
So mostly, I was reminded of why I am here and why God has called me here...
So I know He's going to do incredible things."
Sarah also sent one last text message to her family members, Katelyn, Kristen, and Sophie.Katelyn
said she received the scripture 1 Peter 5:23-25 followed by Sarah’s thoughts:
“‘This is such a great reminder.
We are like a wisp of smoke.
We are only here for a moment and this not about us, life is not about us, it’s about God who is eternal.
So, I want to dedicate the one moment I am here, completely and entirely to Him,’” Katelyn read.
Funeral Arrangements
Memorial photo of Sarah
Sarah shared with her sisters that should she not come back from her missionary trip, that her funeral was to be nothing less than a celebration. She wants everyone to wear their favorite colors, and clarified that black is unacceptable. [undefined]
The visitation will be held on Monday, June 12, 2017 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Mt.
Zion Baptist Church located at 228 Mt.
Zion Road in Hunstville, Alabama. The funeral service will follow with Dr. Jimmy Jackson and Dr. Kevin Moore officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery. [undefined]
Death
On June 8, 2017 was killed during a bus crash heading from a church in northwest Madison County to the Atlanta airport.
wreck happened around 2:30 p.m. central time along Camp Creek Parkway in south Fulton County, just outside Atlanta.
The church’s bus had crashed into two other vehicles, causing it to overturn.
Sarah is survived by her parents, Scott and Karen, three sisters, Katelyn, Kristen and Sophie, her grandparents, Frank & Carolyn Cunningham (Huntsville), Jerry and Jane Harmening (Hazel Green), great-grandfather, David Moyers (Fayetteville, TN), step great-grandmother, Effie Harmening (Flintville, TN) and several aunts, uncles and cousins who also loved her dearly.
South Fulton, Georgia Mayor Bill Edwards thanked was the Atlanta Chapter of the Red Cross which set up shop at the church, offering free meals to the families of the victims, working to return luggage, and helping families get to the five different hospitals where the 35 other people aboard the bus were taken after the crash. [undefined]