Personal Narrative

I wrote this for my English class:

I never really understood the true meaning of happiness until about 5 years ago. All my life I had been searching for the meaning. I no longer had to search for it…
When I was born, my parents had baptized me as Catholics would to please my grandparents. We went to a Catholic church until I had my first communion. Then we stopped going to church all together. I always felt something missing in my life, I had always known there a God but never truly believed.
I went to church every once in a while with my friends, but it wasn’t until the summer going into 7th grade that I started attending a youth group regularly. I was attending the middle school youth group at Fox River Christian church in Waukesha WI on Wednesday nights. After my best friend moved to California at the end of 8th grade I stopped going. It wasn’t until the summer going into 10th grade that I started believing again.
I was visiting my aunt and cousins that summer for the first time by myself. I was so nervous because I had never really spent any length of time with them. Sure, we talked and hung out at family gatherings but that was the extent of our relationship, so this was something new and it made me really nervous. Well it turned out that the same week I went up there, my aunt was having a rummage sale with some of her friends. I went outside to sit and chat with them and while we were talking the song “Who am I” by Casting Crowns came on the radio; that song was and still is my favorite song. My aunt, who was in complete shock, looked at me and said “How do you know this song”, I had to explain to her that my friend and I listen to this song all the time. That night after we put my cousins to bed my aunt and I stayed up talking. We talked about everything, the good, the bad, and anything in between. She kept telling me to follow God and that He has a path for me. It seemed as if we had been talking for no time at all, but in reality we had talked for 3 to 4 hours, it was 11:00 p.m., we had to get up with the kids the next morning, and we had another day of the rummage sale, so it was time to get to bed. Well after our talk I couldn’t sleep. I kept tossing and turning, thinking about what she said.
Sunday came around; my uncle had come home from his business trip, and after a very fun week of meeting new people and hanging out with my family it was unfortunately time for me to leave. I was lucky enough to go to church with them that Sunday. It was there that I accepted God into my life for the final time. I was done playing games. There was no turning back; I didn’t want to turn back. I finally found the missing piece in my life and that was God.
February 18th, 2009 I got a letter from my brother. He told me that he looked up to me and I inspired him to do something, and that was finding his religion. He told me that he reads the Bible everyday and goes to church every Sunday. He said I inspired him to follow God because I found and followed Him all by myself.
This made me truly happy. I was so glad that God used me as a light. I was and still am so happy that I’m no longer the only one in my immediate family that is a Christian. Growing up in a non Christian home and being the only believer was very difficult.
I no longer worry about the problem in life because I know God will take care of them. I had been praying about my brother for at least a year and God had answered that prayer. I know that I can live life to the fullest as to how God wants me to and I know he’s got a path for me and have everything under control.
May 24th, 2009 I got baptized. This was the day I showed the world that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I was super nervous because I thought my youth pastor would hold me under too long, all because I shoved cake in his face. However he didn’t hold me under for too long and everything turned out okay. That has been the best decision I’ve made in my life so far, and more then likely will continue to be the best decision in my life.
Accepting God into my life and giving up my life to follow Him and do His works has changed my life upside down. I now have hope and joy in my life. I don’t have to worry about tomorrow because I know God has it under control.
Taking that step not only changed my emotional aspect of life, it changed my life socially too. Ever since that moment I’ve met some awesome people. People I wouldn’t of met otherwise. These people have become my friends, mentors, leaders and most importantly my family. These people are the constant reminder of what I can achieve in life and the work god continues to do in my life. I have done a 180 with my since I’ve met fellow Christians who also share the same love for God. We keep each other countable and on the right track.
Going off to college and being a part from those people has been a little difficult for me. It’s for far less difficult than I thought it would be because I’ve met so many people who are Christians as well. There is no way these new friends could ever help me in the same way the people back home did, but they help me in new ways. Ways that I didn’t think I needed help. They show me new things all the time and continue to help me grow.
Allowing God into my life couldn’t have turned out any better. If I wouldn’t of taken that step in my life I would of missed out on a ton of wonderful opportunities and most importantly a terrific life change.


I LOVED looking back at my testimony again. It was a great reminder. =]

Hello from EC

Hey there!!! I don't know if you actually care but I thought I would update you on life here in EC. My week has been great. I've met so many new people and many Christians that have helped me get through this week. =] It's been a blast getting to know these people. I can't wait for you guys to meet some of them.

Sunday- We had a ton of meetings and get to know you things
Monday- More meetings and get to know you things and a dance party
Tuesday-was a day to our selves for the most part. Just getting to know the town
Wednesday- the same as before
Thursday- classes started
Friday- SO much fun...hung out in my basement and met a ton of people
Saturday- Tye dye!!!! football and I almost died. It was scary.

I miss you all and I hope that everything is going well for you back home. I would love to hear from you, weather by skype, email, phonecall, snail mail, or something!!!!! Just let me know. =]

Love you!!