Wendy Who? (Testimony Part 1) 
I got feedback from my squad mates, squad leaders and coaches on the World Race that I needed to dive deeper and be more vulnerable with people. I was hearing that out of everyone on the squad I was the "mysterious one". Wendy Who? At her innermost core who is that girl? That was hard to hear, I feel that I am an open book when it comes to my past, present and future journeys. How was I getting this feedback? Perhaps, I was being selective with who I share my heart with. Perhaps, I was focusing on speaking truth into others and not allowing opportunities for them to speak truth into me? I asked my team one night for advice on this, they all smiled and shared that they wanted to know more about my present struggles. They want to know the things I write in my journal and the things I go to God about. They told me that they want to walk with me through my struggles, ambitions and visions. So here is part one of my testimony. Wendy Who? Wendy Catherine Murphy <3
As a kid one night I laid in my bed staring up at the ceiling of my bedroom. The revelation that I was going to die someday or at any moment started to terrify me. Where do we go when we die? Will I ever see my family again? I couldn't sleep and tossed and turned in fear. I had so many questions about life and no answers to comfort me. I got out of bed and went into the living room. My mom sat on the couch reading The Bible. I came to her crying, spilling out my questions. She smiled and hugged me. That's when she told me about heaven and Jesus. Ever since that day I wanted to know more about God. So she continued to read me Bible stories and together we talked about the wisdom from them. I imagined being in Lions chamber like Daniel. How afraid I would have been, could I trust that God was there with me? I imagined the ocean being divided in half and Moses's faith so strong to walk through and lead his people from slavery. And although I knew they were exciting fictional type church stories something about Jesus resonated deep within me. Some sort of love and truth I knew was not from this world. Perhaps, the Bible stories were not as fictional as I thought.
I grew up going to a Christian church with my mom and brothers. My mom was Christian and my dad was Catholic. Sometimes my dad would take us to mass with him. Although, I liked the beauty of the Catholic Church, I didn't like as a kid that I couldn't eat the cracker and drink the juice for communion. Yet, going there with my dad was special and I could tell he delighted in having us kids there with him. Church brought about a community of friends and joy. I'll never forget the days when I wrapped my arms around my mom and sing worship songs with her. Often I would glance up at her as she sang. It was as though she was one with God and abundant joy was on her face. She was a light and example of the woman of God I wanted to be someday.
Now no marriage is without challenges and conflict. And although my parents loved each other they were going through a tough time when my brothers and I were younger. Money problems, stressful jobs, and three kids in different sports and activities brought chaos. Often I would hear them arguing at night. I laid in bed worried that they were going to get divorced like most of my friends parents. One night I prayed and asked God to help them. God interceded my thoughts as a kid and revealed to me to see them as individuals. Their pasts, present struggles and to not worry of the future. I knew as a kid that the wisdom he gave me to have hope in this situation was not of my own. My parents made it through those tough years together and today I am thankful to see them so alive in their faith and marriage. Ever since that time in my life I realized that God was real. He was gifting me with wisdom and understanding beyond my years. And although I spent the majority of my life going to youth church groups, I can't say that I was actually fully living for God until I asked him to pull me out of my party, drugs and sex life style in college.
Part 2 is on its way. (:
