A Truly Personal Relationship

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Moving to Chicago opened doors that I didn't know existed.  I discovered youth group, cheerleading, class electives, student government, and, because of my very passionate music teacher, the Beatles. Though there were typical junior high struggles, I developed a core group of friends and developed a passion for being deeply involved in the things I loved.  

In 1999, with my Dad's coursework complete, we moved back to Austria.  I was devastated. My hormonal, Jr. High soul felt crushed. My parents were taking me from everyone and everything I loved. The school I would be attending for 8th grade was a small private Christian school, with less than 200 students, Kindergarten through Seniors.  There would be 18 students in my class.  No band, no sports, no student government  Our church didn't have a youth group. By the end of the year I had sunk into a deep depression. I was angry that my parents' ministry was ruining my life.  I didn't understand why God, if He really loved me, would take me away from everything I loved. At the end of the school year, my dad suggested I go on a trip to Poland to work at an English camp - a mission's trip in disguise.  I agreed, and my dad dropped me off with strangers in a different country for three weeks.  I had never been away from my family or the comforts of home for such an extended period of time,  

Those three weeks changed my life.  Truly away from everything and everyone I knew and loved, I turned to the only thing I had - Jesus Christ.  As I got to know these Polish students, I was finding joy in serving others.  As they sensed my loneliness and reached out to me, I was able to let down my walls and reach out to them as well.  I discovered that God could use me - He wasn't just interested in using my parents. And He wasn't just interested in using me - He loved me. God had a specific purpose for me and my life, but I needed to believe it and in Him for myself.  It is this time that I truly consider my salvation experience.  As a six year old I accepted Jesus logically.  At 14, I truly accepted Him and came home with a new heart.  It was during this time that I learned that, though we will struggle God will never leave us. I also fully understood the need for my own personal relationship with Christ,  

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