Friends and Commitments

Life has changed drastically for me.

This past year, I've made friends with so many people at my new church, and I never thought that would happen. At my old church, small as it was, I knew pretty much all the kids that attended. All fifteen of them.

Now, when I first started going to BBC (Biltmore Baptist Church), I was in the middle of 5th grade, and had zero friends. It remained that way for about two years, when I became friends with Nicole, who is now my best friend. Life was great. Just me and my bestie.

Then one year later, I started getting more involved in the student ministry, just serving behind the scenes. No one knew me, and that was fine. In fact, I tried to avoid people. Because most of them seemed loud and annoying to me. Then, I went to a weekend conference at my church called DNow, and decided to recommit myself to God. It wasn't a walk-down-the-aisle and announce that I got saved or anything, because I already was saved... But it during one of the worship sessions, and I just made a commitment to God. I promised him that I was going to give everything I am to him.

And in that split second, my eyes were opened. I realized how much I loved all the people that were worshiping around me. Even the ones I didn't know. I suddenly had a heart for people.

Was I still mildly scared of people? Heck, yeah. Did I reach out to be friends with all of them? Heck, no.

The only thing that had changed that weekend was my commitment level to God. I gave it to him to decide who I would be friends with and who I wouldn't be. Life resumed normally for a while, serving behind the scenes and being ignored by people.

Then I went on a mission trip to Atlanta, Georgia, and made a few friends. I guess God decided to start small, which was probably a good thing.

I can't really describe what has happened since then, because I haven't really figured out myself. But five months since DNow, and now I know almost every student at my church, and they know me. And it's not that we just know each other... But I've started to form friendships with them.

In five months, I've gone from the girl that no one knows, to the girl that people want to hang out and be friends with. Which has definitely been strange for me. It's made life more complicated in a way, but so much more worth it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, people have never really been my favorite thing... But I've learned how to be less shy and a better friend. Sometimes, I just sit in my room wondering how lucky I am to have friends like mine.

I have more friends than I've ever dreamed I would, and they aren't just people anymore. They're legit Christ-followers who encourage. Amazing teens who serve harder than any I've ever seen. And I love each one of them.

Heroic Deeds

It's two in the morning, and I can't sleep.

Swell.

I'm writing this at my deck on a scrap of paper, hoping that writing will help me sleep.

My mind keeps going back to the time I skinned my knee in a church service...

Backing up.

See, I used to go to a little church with pews, hymn books, and blue carpets. Like most churches, during the beginning of the service, the pastor would ask everyone to stand and walk around and greet each other... Well, every Sunday since we graduated into big church (Yeah, that's what it's called), my friends and I would take this opportunity to run around the worship center to get some of the little-kid energy that comes from who-knows-where out of our systems and say a few hellos to people on the way.

This particular service, I was running down of the side aisles when some smart person decided to step out of his pew and right into my line of fire. Quick-witted as I was, I figured I would save the man's life, and dove onto the floor beside him.

And the reward for my heroic deed? A skinned knee.

I guess someone caught sight of my rescuing and somehow word got to the pastor...

We never had any more meet and greets.

Tuesday, July 24, Day Ten

Woke up again at 5:15 to go to the market to get food. This time, we brought not only the trailer, but also a UHaul truck. Jose's goal was the fill the UHaul truck.

What was my goal? Glad you asked. My goal was to fill both the UHaul truck and the trailer.

Not halfway until lunchtime and we already had the UHaul truck filled up. We filled the trailer up too, and ran out of crates. We were pretty much forced to stop, and had lunch.

Jose took the trailer back an Falstove took the UHaul with Clay and Nathan.

Ofelia led us to the public bus and we rode that back to our bus.

We then unloaded, sorted, and handed out all the food, which took twice as long as last time! We had so much, that Jose took quite a bit to other ministries in Zone 18.

Then we went back to the seminary and had dinner. After dinner, our leaders had planned a surprise campfire, and so we walked up the hill a little ways to where it was. The funny thing, though, is that they couldn't get the fire started. So we just sand worship songs in the dark. After worship, Levi gave us a few minutes for whoever wanted to share his/her testimony. Then we all started to make our way to bed.

Riding in the trailer.
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More trailer action.
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Working hard together.

          

                                                                               

BANANAS!!!!