Just thought I'd start off this blog with a good ol' throwback picture of mine and Whit's first year at camp and the summer that we truly became best friends.
There we were, friends at youth group, occasionally saying, "Hey," to each other in the halls at school, a Junior and a Sophomore in high school, and on different sides of the fence.
We were headed to a new camp, Village Creek Bible Camp. Matt & Emily hadn't even been our leaders for a year when we found out. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about this. For months, I faked excitement for them. VCBC is where they met as they worked summers. They were excited to take us there and experience VCBC for ourselves.
I didn't want to go.
I had them fooled though. I faked excitement on the bus ride there and all through the first day of camp. "God, what am I doing here? I just want to go home. I don't even want to be here."
Monday, God showed me why I was there.
We were all standing and singing during worship. There we were in the front row. Whit suddenly changed places so she could sit next to me. I noticed, but didn't pay too much attention. Eventually, I realized that she was crying. Really, she was BAWLING! For a minute I tried to calm her and figure out what was going on. Through the sobs I heard her ask me to help her accept Christ into her life.
ME!? Really? That started the waterworks. No lie. When Whit and I get to crying, we get to crying! I know many people can attest to that sight! I know I stumbled through some sort of prayer before Whit asked Christ to live in her and we went on with chapel. What a night!
Throughout the rest of the week, we had many talks and truly became best friends that week. Later, when sharing in church, I remember her saying that before camp, she always noticed that I had something that she was missing out on, but wanted to have. I don't consider my years before that summer to be a bright, burning flame for Christ, but somehow, He was shining through.
Since the prayer that started a new life in Whit, I have witnessed so much in her life. She has become an accountability partner for so many, changed the face of our youth group until graduation, continued to push me in my walk, worked at VCBC, worked in youth groups in Pella, gone to Africa on a missions trip, and so much more. This isn't to glorify all she's done, but what she has done because of this life change in her. She still has her downs (don't we all?), but she takes it to God in prayer.
It all begins with a prayer.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
-Proverbs 27:17
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