Change is Good

When I was in 11^th grade, my music minister was called by God to be a music minister at Eastern Hills Baptist Church. At first, I did not understand why he was leaving. I had a dream that my music minister and his family were going to be leaving. However, I did not know that he would depart before I graduated. I could not understand why God would have this happen to me. Now I have realized that this situation has helped me grow. It was God’s will and he is in control of all situations.

When I found out that they were leaving I was confused because I did not understand why he would leave me before I went off to college. Before he confronted our adult choir and orchestra, he called my house and told my mom the bad news. I was sad because I had gotten to know him like a father. He was my mentor and I did not want him to leave. I was very upset; I did not know why God would take him away from me when he was teaching me so much. I helped him and his family pack their belongings before they left. His daughter could not figure out why I was willing to help them pack. While I had become close friends with her in the past few years, I told her that it was God’s will for her and her family to move to another church. Also, I explained to her that this change was not a negative part of her life because change is good. She acted like my younger sister. For example, we picked on each other all the time.

Before I found out that my music minister and his family were leaving, I did not realize how important it was to spend time with them. It was a blessing in disguise due to the fact that I got to know his family on a more personal level. After they departed, I was completely lost. Unfortunately, I did not have someone to talk to when I needed it the most. I felt like everyone was leaving me. Not only was he someone that I looked up to, he was also the only music minister I could remember having. Even though I knew that change needed to occur, I did not want it to.

Now, I feel totally different about the situation because I know why he had to leave. It was God’s will. I am happy with how things worked out. For instance, I met unique people, made new friends, learned the difference between how individuals lead music, and found ways to cope with loss. It is a growing experience. Eventually, I came to understand why God takes people away from me that I deeply care about. My music minister’s time was complete there and God had other plans for him. I have learned how to have a long distance relationship. He is still my mentor and he knows what answer I want when I ask questions.

We still have a strong connection. Even though it is difficult to maintain a long distance relationship, he still teaches me many lessons. I learned that while certain situations do not appear good at the time, God is in control. There is always light at the end of a tunnel. I know that if God had him stay in St. Augustine, it would have been harder for me to look at schools outside of the state. I wanted to stay near home so that I could play at the same church for him. However, I would have never met my new friends or learned how God sometimes has to change a person’s world upside down to make him/her listen. Being away from my old music minister has helped me to depend more on God. So far, my time at Gardner-Webb University has opened my eyes to new experiences. I am also more determined and enthusiastic to find out what God has in store for my life. I am willing and able to do what God has in store for me. God has taught me so much through this situation.

Some situations will happen in your life where you may question God but keep in mind that if you just watch it will turn into good. It may take longer than you think but watch. I was not happy at first that my mentor’s family was leaving. Things changed because now I am happy he left. I have grown up a lot throughout this time period. God has taught me to rely on Him more. At the beginning change may not seem good but rely on God though all situations.

The Amazon Family

Animation is a wonderful thing. I met a man one day that was making a cartoon and I asked him if I could see it when he finished. He said “Sure.” I noticed as I watched him draw that it was about a boy and his adventures in the Amazon. When the man finished he handed it to me it was a few pages long. It started out in England which is were the boys family was from but then they embarked for the Amazon. On the way the boat fluxed about in the waves like a rowboat on rapids. The sea was very rough. When the got to the coast they still had a trek in front of them till they got to the Amazon. They had to traverse through many different climates and landscape.

His family was very venturesome. Every time they saw a person they would ask them where they were and if they were headed the correct way. A few times they were told a better way to go and then were asked where they were from. They would tell them that they were emigrates from England. Sometimes they would not take the peoples advice because they liked to be trailblazers and set there own path.

To some people their trip might have seemed just like a junket but it wasn’t. It was for adventure and a new life in a vivacious climate. At times the journey to get to there destination seemed like it would never end and then something inside of them would goad them on. The vigor inside of them to have adventures in the Amazon is what kept them going most of the trip.

On there trip to the Amazon they met many people that were polytheistic which meant that they believed in many immortal gods. They talked about what gods they believed in and that they believed in reincarnation; after they died they came back as another type of animal. Then they would use the opportunity to tell them about Jesus and what he had done for them that. They themselves were mortals and would all someday die but that. Jesus died for them because he loved them so much. That everyone was a sinner and the only way for salvation was though Jesus and that they just had to admit, believe and confess. We also told them that Jesus had resurrected from the grave and is alive.

When they finally got to the Amazon they saw thought about the people they had saw and wondered how they could not have figured out that God had given them vitality. He had given them a reason to live. He was the one that created them. They then used there resources to set up a home in the Amazon and decide to stay there so that every morning they could wake up to God’s beautiful creation. The years they lived there they saw the animals that migrated every year and learned about what animals did. The animals treated them like family and accepted them. They decide that after living there for a few years that it was a viable place to live and be adventurous. Many people came and went from the area and they always had someone to share there faith with and living there was a resuscitation every day of what God had done for them.

This I Believe In the Power of God

I believe in the power of God. There have been many instances in my life that one can see God’s hand at work. One instance took place when I was fifteen months old.

Late Sunday afternoon, I walked into the kitchen. My mom was trying to get my dad to go to church ahead of us because he was one of the ministers and had things to do. She told him that she would feed us and then bring us to church. When he was almost out of the house, I pulled a pot of Ramen noodles off the stove. It scalded my chest, arms, and hands. My mom took me to run cold water on me in the bathroom. Then, my dad called the pastor of our church. He told the pastor that he had to take me to the ER. The church decided to pray for my well-being right then. It was 5 pm on a Sunday night when my mom put ice on my chest, arms, and hands. She held me in her arms while my dad drove to the hospital.

Over 1/4 of my body was bright red. My skin was bubbling up with blisters and filling with fluid. My chest, arms and hands were swollen. I felt like I was on fire; I could not be comforted even though my mom tried to comfort me by singing the whole way to the hospital. When we got to the ER, the nurse immediately took me to the back where a doctor and another nurse cleaned my burns with purified water.

Then, they put silver nitrate cream and bandages to cover up the burns. There were many questions about how this kind of accident could happen. The medical staff couldn’t believe that I pulled the pot off the stove. Sadly, the doctor told my parents that I would be scarred for life. An appointment was set with a burn specialist for the following day. When we got home, there were many messages on the machine saying that many church members were praying for me and my family.

The next day, the specialist reviewed my chart and explained to my parents what might happen when the bandages came off. He said the skin would be dead and looked horrible. He prepared them for the worst. He told my parents that skin grafting would be required. Then, he moistened the bandages with purified water. He took them off and there was no redness and no signs of burns on my chest, arms, or hands. It looked like nothing happen. The doctor could not believe what he saw. I was healed by the grace of God.

If it were not for God, then I would have been scarred for life. Through the prayers of the members of my church, my burns were completely healed. I thank God everyday for what he has done for me. After this experience, one can easily see why I believe in the miraculous power of God.