After we decided to sell the dairy my dad got some equipment to start a business. He began with an old backhoe and that means so did I. That was the first piece of equipment outside of farm equipment that I ran. I was put in a field close to the yard and told to dig up the big rocks. I really enjoyed it and still do. I don’t mind at all running backhoes, skidsteers or tractors.
The social aspect of school was still challenging but the kids let up on the teasing after the outburst, thank goodness. I was embarrassed enough. I continued on participating in every sport, serving in many different areas in our local church, helping at home and going to Bible camp or helping with Daily Vacation Bible School in the summer. At 15 I started working for much of the summers at a different Bible camp than where I attended. I would help in the kitchen with meal prep and clean up, then do janitorial work in many of the buildings through the camp. There was a crew of us and I got to meet a lot of new teens and learn more about myself. I was able to grow in God and in my self confidence. I was no longer ashamed of just being me.
At 16 I was baptized in our home church. I would have been baptized a lot sooner but I was terrified of going under water. Something I didn’t mention in my previous post was when I was very, very young (I think 3 or 4 years old) I went swimming with one of my younger brothers, my uncle and his girlfriend in a river. My uncle had swam to the other side and told us not to come to him. He was always joking so my brother and I didn’t believe him and went over. All I remember after starting to cross was bobbing up and down watching my uncle save my brother then come out back for me. From then on I was terrified to put my head under water for any reason. The baptism was wonderful though and I am so glad I did it.
When I was 17 I had my first boyfriend. We had met at the Bible camp that I attended, not worked at. It was wonderful to be in a relationship and he was a great young man and I loved his family. It felt so great because I consider my younger self as “boy crazy”! I had crushes all the time from about the age of 10 and dreamed of my wedding from that age as well. I have always been a romantic, a planner and a dreamer 🙂 I was so heart-broken when he broke up with me about a year later. He said God was telling him I was not the right one for him. I didn’t let it go so easily.
I continued working summers at the other camp and kept myself as busy as possible to not think about the relationship which had ended. I’m so grateful for the friendships I made through working at camp. When I was 18 I graduated high school and was very thankful I didn’t have a “boyfriend” for grad. I had a friend that I had worked with come out and he was marvelous to hang out with, have pictures with and make memories that I would cherish forever instead of looking back on a relationship that didn’t work out.
During my final year of high school a few of us teens raised money to go on a mission trip with Samaritan’s Purse. The summer after graduation was an amazing trip to a country in Central America to begin building a church, give medical care and reach out to the community with the Gospel message. One of the translators and I became such good friends, we felt like sisters. We still occasionally keep in touch more than 20 years later, thank goodness for social media 🙂 It has made it much easier.
When we came back the first thing I said to my mom was that I wanted to go back. I loved it so much and wanted to go back right away, but unfortunately I have never been back since. For me it wasn’t a culture shock like it was to many of the others that went, but my imagination has always been very vivid and my empathy for others had manifested within me for many years so I believe I was much more mentally prepared than many others. I made a few friends during the trip but no one nearly as close as the translator.
After the trip I prepared for college. I went to a college close to home for two years to get my Early Childhood Degree. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start the route to teaching or nursing. I chose teaching and I have always loved the younger ages and it wasn’t a long education process to get my degree. I have never been one who lives to work, not in the typical work for a pay cheque work. I have always only wanted to be a wife and a mother. So I went for two years, got my degree and went to England as an au pair.
The plan was to go be in England for 2 years, however plans changed drastically when a conflict of education styles came into play. One of the parents was pleased with my work, the other was not. I stayed for 2 months and it was a great experience even though it was really challenging. The people in the town and the church family I met were marvelous, so loving and kind. I wish I hadn’t lost the addresses because I really wanted to stay in touch over the years. However I had to leave because the working/living situation just wasn’t working out. I do love how I made the trip home. In a 24 hour time frame I was able to ride by car, boat, taxi, 2 trains, plane and car again to get home. THAT was incredible! And the experience overall was as good as it was difficult. I tend to grow so much closer to God during trying experiences.
Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”