Like some Christians, I have been brought to church ever since I got out of the hospital and my parents were able to take me there.  Being at one church for the majority of my life, I grew up with repetitive teachings of morals and what is “right” and/or “wrong.”  The only thing that did for me was put me in “rebellious mode” (if there is such a phrase), even though I still felt guilty and my conscience wouldn’t quit bugging me.  How?  I stole from people, lied my teeth out when I was caught doing something wrong, vandalized, and did many others things I wouldn’t want to do now.  Although I got reprimanded, I still did it.  I don’t know why.  I never could figure it out.  Especially lying.  Once I started, I just kept doing it.  One lie led to another . . .

I can’t say that I liked church very much as I really didn’t have many friends and the only people I hung around with just made it a game to try and get rid of me every week.  No, I am not feeling sorry for myself, I just think I was very foolish to think they were my friends.  The only reason I went was because I was accustomed to the routine and because of parents; it was the norm.  Church was a part of my life, just like how school was.  Sure, I learned the ‘classic’ verse in John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  But did that have a personal meaning for me?

It was not until grade six was until I realized that I was missing something.  This happened at a Maralee Dawn ventriloquist show hosted by another church which my sister’s friend invited me to attend.  Maralee asked us to all repeat a prayer after explaining God’s love to us, and what he did.  She explained that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for MY sins, for all my wrongdoing; for all the lies I’ve told!  It was just a simple prayer acknowledging that I had sinned and asking Jesus to come into my life meant that I believed that He was the only one who could forgive and save me.  Unlike many times before this incident when I had the opportunity to ask Jesus to come into my life, this time I repeated the prayer after her and invited Jesus into my heart!  Maralee also told us that if we had said the prayer and meant it, we would get a free Bible.  Although I meant it in my prayer, I didn’t tell her so I didn’t get a free Bible!  This is because I was chicken and I thought, ‘I already have a Bible so what is the big deal?’  It wasn’t a significant thing back then.

Anyway, after Grade 6, I didn’t get straight with God until Grade 8 when our youth pastor, Lorraine, challenged us to read the Bible in a year, and learn Ephesians 4:29.  That became the time when I truly desired to get to know God better (although I still can’t hear His voice like many can) so I slowly worked my way from there.

I eventually got baptized in June 1996 as a proclamation that Jesus had indeed saved me from my sins (and He still does!).  Incidentally, the first time my friend and I wanted to, we chickened out but the time after that, and realizing that God had been so good to me, I mustered my courage and made sure I followed through to do what I would say I would do . . . and that is, to tell the world how much He loves me and how much I love Him!

God has done so many things in my life ever since, especially now in Waterloo where I am studying.  There are so many things that happen that just reminds me of Him and how much God loves me and cares for me.  I also started keeping prayer notebook a couple years ago.  I have noted that God answered the majority of prayers with a yes, although not right away, and He encourages me through my walk with Him!  I am still not perfect, I still do many things wrong, and I still have difficulties in life. Being a Christian doesn’t mean it’s always easy, it just gives me a purpose and meaning in life.