The Little Things: Journey Update

I’m new to the whole “MFUGE Staffer” thing.  In preparation for camp, staffers get to know eachother by posting their testimony, a few fun facts & where they are now in their life.  We sophisticatedly call this the “Journey Update”.  Today was my day to post, so I thought I’d share it with you  since I realize I’ve never done posted my story on this here web blog ( this last sentence was meant to be read in the most country voice possible, just saying’)

I live in small town Powhatan, Va.  My Dad pastor’s a church there & has been for the last 20 years.  I have one younger sister & she is the bomb dot com. We lead worship & youth group together & I wouldn’t have it any other way. My parents are super fab.  We’re a crazy, fun, outgoing bunch and such people persons…. People peoples? People people?  Oh well, you get the point 🙂

I hate cats, but own one.  It’s cool though, because he thinks he’s part dog & part ninja. His name is Aero, short for Aragorn Strider (Nerd alert.  Any LOTR fans out there?).  I have my Associates degree, & am currently not in school.  I spend a lot of my time working, doing ministry (leading, teaching, growing, investing), traveling, striving to be the Christian brunette version of Martha Stewart (minus the jail time) & falling more in love with music.

My Story:

Being raised in a Christian home, I accepted Christ at a young age.  But I didn’t pursue a relationship with him until much later.  As a pastors kid, I was constantly under a microscope.  So I did what a lot of people do, I put on the fake “Sunday smile” & made sure to always keep it on.  Since it was known all over my small town that I was a PK, I quickly realized I had to keep the smile on 24/7 & not just at church.  I was a perfectionist & a people pleaser.  In a twisted way, felt like I had to constantly keep those around me smiling & be “perfect” in order to be loved & respected.

In high school I developed an eating disorder in attempts to “look perfect”.  I was very active in high school socially & musically & kept my struggles to myself.  I had a reputation for loving Jesus & I wasn’t afraid to share Him with others, but I didn’t live my life for him.  Music was my outlet to my insecurities.  What I couldn’t admit, or say aloud, came out in song.  I sang at coffee shops & led worship on Sundays.  But over time, singing became very difficult for me.  After a while, I couldn’t sing at all.  I learned that the bile from my bulimia had severely damaged my vocal chords, & it broke my heart.

I couldn’t stand how unhappy I was, with my life, my appearance, my hypocrisy & myself.  My prayers became desperate & I begged God to give me back my voice, but more importantly – to give me a fresh start.  His reply was simple & clear as day, “Give me your heart.”  So I did.  He showed me that being a Christian was so much more than doing the right thing & saying the right thing, it was about having the right heart.  I rededicated my life to Him & have been passionately pursuing Him ever since.
Along with giving me back my voice, Christ gave me a deep passion to make known the dangers of “sitting on the fence” & in the “luke warm waters” of Christianity. (Matt. 12:30)  I spent so many years thinking I was “in” when I wasn’t.  I was in Church, in knowing about Jesus, but I wasn’t in CHRIST (2 Cor. 5:17).  God took my voice, so He could give me His.  God is so good, so gracious; I am so in love with my Savior.

Fun Facts:

-I love photography.  I’ve always been “the girl with the camera”, but I didn’t start appreciating the art of it until a few years ago.  My best friend is a photography major, & in high school (when she knew I was struggling with my self image) she asked if she could take a few pictures of me for her portfolio.  I agreed, & after I saw them I was stunned.  They were amazing.  She laughed & said “I wanted you to see you the way I see you… beautiful.”  Since then, my appreciation for what she did has turned into determination to do the same for others.  I want others to see themselves the way Christ does- beautifully & wonderfully His.  & I must say- I’m super psyched to be your photographer this summer!

– If making funny/weird faces were a job, I’d be making millions…. with benefits.

-I love to bake & cook.   But more so, I just love food. I’m the girl that never orders the same thing twice & always tries new things

– I am ubberly energetic, optimistic & passionate.  I also talk really fast.  Let me apologize in advance. 🙂

– I love people, building relationships & cry with happiness when people get saved, baptized, or adopted.   Not ashamed.

Only a month & a day away guys!