Have you ever known someone for a long time but did not truly know how special they were to you?
Kayli Harshbarger was just the girl at youth group always full of joy, always the first to speak to the new kid, and ALWAYS the first to give you a huge when you walked through the door. When I first met her I was a little overwhelmed at by how happy and nice she was. I mean no one can really be that nice and happy all the time, can they?
On my first mission trip I barely knew anyone and at first I did not really want to be there. Long story short I ended up loving every part of the mission, meeting friends I would have forever, and giving my life to Christ. One of the nights I was laying on the floor next to Kayli just talking about anything and everything. We started to get into how she came to Christ and I was able to hear she was not as put together and perfect as I thought she was, but this was okay. For the first time I was able to hear about the true love and joy Christ offers to people. He has taken Kayli’s and many others cracks and let his glory shine through them. She shared with me that she did not have to pull herself together and become perfect to be able to be a good Christian. She told me I could take every pain that had ever broken me, lay it at His feet, and let Him hold me. This changed the way I looked at myself and everything around me. This same week I got a tiny splinter in my finger and knowing me I complained about it. Kayli then grabbed my hand, started to pray for my finger, then kissed it. I thought this was a little strange at first but I knew it was the start of a beautiful friendship.
It was not until just a few months ago I realized how special this girl truly was to me. She was still the first person at the door to give me a hug whenever I saw her but we did not have the bond we had on the mission field. When she told me about the World Race I became obsessed with praying for her, in this time I felt the calling for myself to go with her. The day I told her I wanted to go was the day I not only grew our friendship but the day I got a sister. When I was finally accepted into the race it was like we had just won the lottery, it was amazing to feel such happiness. I began to not only grow close with her but I fell in love with her family. The love they have for Christ amazes me. Her baby brother who can barely talk enjoys praying before every meal. They make me want to better myself to hopefully one day have as beautiful of a family as them. Kayli and I were able to invite not one but two other girls from the World Race to visit us. This made it all begin to feel so real that I would be spending 9 whole months with these ladies. As I grow closer to each and every one taking on this journey I continue to grow in my own faith. I find unfailing love in the girls and boys I have spoken to on this race. I pray I will have these Jesus loving people in my life forever.
Kayli was the one big push I needed to continue to step out in faith and I could not be more blessed to have met her. Everyone needs a Kayli in their life and I truly pray you find one because I do not know what I would do without mine.
