First Impressions
Turns out, at training camp, Estie and I both were unsure about how we felt about each other. We found this out recently in Peru sitting in the back of a comvey (their vans that are a main form of transportation).
Estie simply asked me “what was your very first impression of me at training camp?” My heart stopped. I had avoided her on this topic, up to this point, whenever the team started talking about it. I knew I would have to spill all the truths with her, and that I couldn’t change my answer. So I started out “it’s so funny that you ask that…”
I really thought Estie didn’t like me at camp. For some reason I got this feeling that she didn’t want to talk to me, hang out with me or get to know me. I thought she was kind of mean and I sure wasn’t about to approach her. During camp, we were questioned individually about possible team placements and one question was “who is one person that you do not want to be on a team with?” I explained that I was pretty positive that Estie didn’t like me, so I wouldn’t want to be on a team with her.
And Estie wasn't too fond of me at the time. She shared with me, as we were squished in the back of a comvey together, that she said she didn’t want me on her team either at camp! I was shocked at how ironic it all was. She thought that my personality was too much for her to handle, that she wouldn’t get along with someone like me and that I would probably drive her crazy if we were on a team together.
Giraffe Socks
A turning point at camp was the night that we went camping as a squad. Estie wore her red keens and was unprepared for the muddy swamp we were staying at. We all were pretty unprepared and it was lucky that I had worn sneakers. That night, her feet were freezing and soaked. She asked if anyone had any socks that she could borrow. There was a silence and I felt God give me a little nudge and told me to speak up. I offered her my spare socks that I had. It was the first time that she and I had spoken. I handed her the only socks that I had, with giraffe print. She commented on how cute they were and how much they were going to help. I snuck away during the campfire later to thank God. I thanked Him for that chance to get to do something for Estie. To break the ice that was between us.
(Photo by Stephanie Bernotas)
Team Placements
The first day of team placement activities was the day after the campfire and Estie was still wearing the giraffe socks. We were placed together during one activity (pictured above).
During the questions asked after the activity, I told Daniel Stinson (one of our squad trainers who asked these tough questions) about how I wouldn’t want Estie on my team, but that I think that maybe God let the giraffe socks incident happen to change our hearts toward each other. I still told him that I didn’t think it would be a good idea for us to be placed together.
Later, I found him and told him that I had changed my mind. I told him that the socks incident really was a redeeming thing from God. I told him that Satan is super mean and lies to me often about whether or not people like me. It was a challenge I needed to overcome- to not make assumptions on people’s opinion of me. I told him that I didn’t care who I was on a team with.
And sure enough, I was placed on the same team as Estie!
