I was born and raised in a Christian home, I was saved at a very young age, and to be honest I don’t remember when I first asked Jesus into my life. My mom has been very sick, ever sense I was born, with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. It’s been really hard on me and my family. We’ve prayed ever sense I was young that she would get better.
For years I just kind of went through life, I knew God was there, I went to church and awanas, memorized all of the verses, but they never meant anything to me. God didn’t really mean anything to me, I wasn’t living for him, I didn’t trust in him. One night when I was 10, my mom had been especially sick that week, and I couldn’t take it anymore, I had been feeling alone. Like there was no hope at all for her to get better and no comfort if she never did. I rededicated my life to Christ that night, knowing I couldn’t do it on my own and he’d always be there for me.
Things started looking up, I started going on missions trips. I went to Eagle Alaska when I was 12, to help run a vacation bible school program and to do service projects around the village. It was a growing experience learning about serving and not putting myself first. The next year I was kitchen staff at Kokrine Hills Bible Camp, in the bush of Alaska, for a week and that was very growing experience. I kept going on similar trips like these and would always learn more about Christ, and grow a little more. But there was a wall that I put in between Christ and I, which I didn’t realize was there. Ever sense I was little as I previously said, we’d pray for my mother to be healed. She never was. So I knew God answered prayers, I just didn’t think he answered them in my life. I didn’t think that he cared about my problems, my needs, how I’m feeling. I thought he had bigger and better things to deal with then a girl in Big Lake Alaska.
So in the summer of 2010, I went to Victory Bible Camp, Ranch camp for the first time. I absolutely loved in there and felt so close to God, and learned about having “Monster Faith”, and persevering through trials. I met a friend there that God used greatly in my life. Shortly after camp my mom went to the E.R. because her heart rate was through the roof. I was so scared sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. In the meantime I talked to my friend and told him everything that was happening. And he asked me how he could pray for me, and I said “that I could grow close to God”, he said “what else?” I said similar things and finally he said “what do you want most right now?” I said “For my mom to get better” he asked me why I hadn’t been praying for that and I said that it was because I didn’t think God was listening or cared. And he said something that changed my prayer life, and hit me with trust that destroyed the wall I put up. He said “I like to believe that God likes it when we pray wild and crazy prayers. Like we really believe he can do anything.” That right there is where things really turned around in my life and I got close to God, having faith in him, and trusting that he cares for me, and trusting him.
From that point I talked to God a lot. And it was amazing! After that I became a councilor at Kokrine Hills Bible camp, and it was great, I learned so much about the native kids, and how hard a lot of them have it. I started thinking about how great a life God has blessed me with!
After that I went to S.A.L.T. (Servant and leadership training program) for the first time and it was so awesome serving alongside other teens who want to grow in their relationship with the Lord, and glorify him. It was so encouraging and I learned a lot about serving others, and what it means to lead, and how Christ showed us these things himself. Also how to identify myself in Christ, and that’s what really matters. After I came home from camp things were awesome, I was on fire for God. But it didn’t last long and I started sliding backwards. I got involved in some serious struggles and heart ache. Every time I’d tell myself I was doing wrong, and that I was hurting God and myself, I’d do it anyways. That lasted about 4 months and then I heard a sermon at my church that convicted me so much, I said no more. I prayed to God to give me strength and to help me through this hard time. And he has been faithful and been there for me. With his help I have overcome that, and I am thankful everyday for that!
Oh, and my mom is still sick, and that’s still hard, but with Christ we make it!
This past spring the Lord used things I didn’t understand to take me to a new church, and it has been such an amazing time! I now go to Lazy Mountain Bible church in Palmer, Alaska. I had the wonderful opportunity to work at Victory Bible Camp for two months this past summer, it was so impacting! The Lord used it to teach me so much I can’t even explain! But some of the bigger lessons he taught me were more about Him, being a servant, and being thankful.
God has blessed me with being on a Jr. High ministry team with my church called the “Jr REV” team. The name REV is more of an idea, the purpose for the team is to “Rev” up the youth group, like an engine. Vroom vroom. J
Now I have an active prayer life. I read my bible daily (Almost, I try). My relationship with Christ is that he is the one who gives me life, so what can I give, but my life back to him. He is my rock, and the one loves me and forgives me, and will judge the world. I want to glorify him in everything I do and live out the plan that he has for my life.
God has given me this amazing chance to go serve him abroad! For nine months on the world race Gap year, 2014! I feel so blessed to have this door opened, and am totally super excited!
God has done SO much in my life, I am so blessed and so thankful. He has changed me into a new creation for him!
Please be praying for me, it’s greatly appreciated!
