Patience

I know the Lord taught me patience and perseverance this year but now He is really asking me to walk out what I learned and it is HARD! Sadly, I was really prideful about leaving this year. I didn't want to be like the other past interns who didn't know where they were going so they just moved back home with family. Here Bryan and I are with less than 2 weeks and no jobs to speak of. I am not saying we are just being whimsical about it, Bryan has put out applications and resumes. Alas, the question that everyone is asking us is, "What are you going to do after this year is over?" I never thought I wouldn't have an answer!!! I say the polite thing, "We don't know but God knows and we know He has a plan!" I put a smile on my face and act like everything is okay.

But really! I am going to be honest here! Every day Bryan and I race to the phone and email to check. I have never checked phone messages and email messages with this much earnesty. I do believe that God has jobs for us picked out and that He will not leave us. But it is really difficult when you want ONE particular job and that place hasn't gotten back to you yet. I won't disclose everything considering we are really trying not to get our hopes up!

Through this whole thing of applying and waiting, I have fallen more in love with Bryan. I know why God picked Bryan for me. He knows how to be patient, whereas inwardly I am a mess. I remember back when Bryan and I were dating and I had a conversation with my dad about Bryan. I was worried about being so young and getting serious so fast. I remember my dad's words, "Guys like Bryan don't come around very often and you are going to miss out on a great man if you let this one go. He balances you out very well, Elise. Bryan is a rock and you will come to appreciate that." My dad is FULL of Godly wisdom and just real-life wisdom. At 19 when Bryan and I started dating, I didn't really even know myself very well so thinking about marriage was a little overwhelming. My dad's words calmed me and reassured me that God was handpicking the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I really have grown to appreciate the fact that Bryan is very even keel. I am not saying I will ever naturally be the way Bryan is but, God is working on me by having a real life example sleeping right next to me.

Anyways, if you are reading this and feel inclined to pray for us it would be helpful.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34

My Friend Katie

My friend Katie's story is sadly a common one. Katie grew up in a home where her mother had a faith and her father just went along with it. She grew up going to church so always believed in God. At fifteen years old she fell in love with a boy who was a christian. They got very serious and at 15 Katie lost her virginity. Her boyfriend made demands and since she loved him, she felt like she had to go along with it. One day she decided she had enough and that the physical aspects of their relationships had to stop. He proceded to pressure her making her feel used instead of loved.

She went to Young Life camp where she met Christian friends that invited her to a Bible study. She gave her heart and her life to Christ her Junior year of highschool and decided that she had to make the hardest decision and let her first love go. It was very hard for her but the guilt of their relationship became too much for her to handle. She finished highschool going to Young Life and being involved with church.

Katie got into a Christian college and played volleyball. A lot of the athletes only went to the school because of sports opportunities instead of their faith. After the first volleyball season the athletes were off their non-drinking contracts. They all decided to celebrate and Katie had her first drink...which turned into many. That night she was raped and left by all of her "friends". Because of the experience Katie continued to "numb" herself by drinking and trying drugs. She quickly deteriorated into the college party girl who drinks, smokes, and is used by guys. Katie tried to get out of her cycle by herself but quickly realized it was impossible. Two christian guys continued to befriend her, and finally confronted her about her problem. She broke down and knew she had allow God to come back into her heart and heal her from the inside out.

Katie made the decision to spend her first part of her summer at Washington Family Ranch since she gave her heart to Christ at this camp only a few years earlier. Katie came as a new creation in Christ and said, "My life has taken full circle, and my focus has been on Christ and his power to heal and love. I feel that is is my calling to do the same unto others." She came in June and I was able to get to know her. She had such a great experience that she came back in August to be on the Zip/Swing team. Katie is full of energy and love.

It became clear that Katie had a lot of areas in her life that God needed to heal. She decided to get baptized and wanted me to be a part of it. This was my first time baptizing anyone and it was an incredible thing to be a part of!

The question for Katie was, "What do you want to leave under the water?"

Her response: "The hurt that others have done to me and the hurt that I have done to myself. The fact that I felt raped and used by too many guys and that I found my value in others. I want to leave those things under the water so that I can restore my virginity and help others find the love that Christ has.