Wow! Where to start when writing about a week like this? It was an amazing week! There was so much going on and so many opportunities to grow and to serve God.
Before I went on the Gleaners trip I didn’t really know many people at ALIVE. When I heard about the Gleaners mission trip I thought that it would be a really cool opportunity to meet some new friends and get involved and maybe discover something about myself. This was my first mission trip and I wasn’t sure what to expect or what I would discover.
I am one of four kids that were raised in a Christian home. Throughout my childhood I attended church, Sunday school, youth group and choir. In my teens I started to question my beliefs and began to feel frustrated with the lack of mentorship that I received. I had a negative attitude towards church, and felt that my individuality was not appreciated or respected.
I was first introduced to God when I was about 15 years old. This encounter occurred when my lovely best friend invited me to Trinity Baptist's youth group, although I was too young at the time to fully understand all of the principles that were presented. However even something as ordinary as attending a youth group allowed my mind to be opened to the possibility that there really was more to life than what I thought.
I was born and raised to a non-Christian family in northern B.C. At age ten my family moved to the little town of Kaslo where my first friend was a young boy from a very strong Christian family, Jason Wood. Jason brought me to the Kootaney Covanent Bible Camp in the summer of 1995 where I met Jesus for the first time.
Before I came to know Christ, I was the captain of my own ship. Life was like a ship at sea without a rudder a waif. My journey throughout my life was full of rough storms. I was at the mercy of the world's surging ocean, unable to steer myself away from sharp jagged rocks of addiction. At one point in my life I had a beautiful dove companion, but she flew away to find some more solid ground to nest in. Slowly one by one I began locking all my crew members below deck they were always giving me advice and was tired of listening to them.
What kid wouldn't love to go to camp in the summer? I was one of those kids. In the summer of 1998 I went to Green Bay Bible camp with one of my best friends. I was worried because I never grew up in a religious home so I wasn't really sure what to expect from the camp.
Looking back on the past year or so, it's so amazing to see how God drew me in to Him, how He lined up all the little situations in my life just so, how He sparked curiosity in my mind, how He surrounded me with His people. Everything that has happened came from Him and He knew I would get here one day. He knew I'd eventually become so saturated that there would be nothing else to do but dive right in and fully experience His love and grace. Read Janine's story here, or watch the video.
Four months ago I wanted to die. I was hopeless and felt alone even though I had people all around me. The things of this world that I turned to were not filling me, they were doing the exact opposite...digging me deeper into despair. My thoughts were self destructive and leading me on a quick road to death. Emptiness sums it up best.
Without God, mostly I was afraid of what people thought of me, of my dreams at night, of my future, my abilities and God loved me.He showed me through His creation that He created me, special, loved, his daughter.
I am one of four kids that were raised in a Christian home. Throughout my childhood I attended church, Sunday school, youth group and choir. In my teens I started to question my beliefs and began to feel frustrated with the lack of mentorship that I received. I had a negative attitude towards church, and felt that my individuality was not appreciated or respected.
I was first introduced to God when I was about 15 years old. This encounter occurred when my lovely best friend invited me to Trinity Baptist's youth group, although I was too young at the time to fully understand all of the principles that were presented. However even something as ordinary as attending a youth group allowed my mind to be opened to the possibility that there really was more to life than what I thought.
I was born and raised to a non-Christian family in northern B.C. At age ten my family moved to the little town of Kaslo where my first friend was a young boy from a very strong Christian family, Jason Wood. Jason brought me to the Kootaney Covanent Bible Camp in the summer of 1995 where I met Jesus for the first time.
Before I came to know Christ, I was the captain of my own ship. Life was like a ship at sea without a rudder a waif. My journey throughout my life was full of rough storms. I was at the mercy of the world's surging ocean, unable to steer myself away from sharp jagged rocks of addiction. At one point in my life I had a beautiful dove companion, but she flew away to find some more solid ground to nest in. Slowly one by one I began locking all my crew members below deck they were always giving me advice and was tired of listening to them.
What kid wouldn't love to go to camp in the summer? I was one of those kids. In the summer of 1998 I went to Green Bay Bible camp with one of my best friends. I was worried because I never grew up in a religious home so I wasn't really sure what to expect from the camp.
Four months ago I wanted to die. I was hopeless and felt alone even though I had people all around me. The things of this world that I turned to were not filling me, they were doing the exact opposite...digging me deeper into despair. My thoughts were self destructive and leading me on a quick road to death. Emptiness sums it up best.
Without God, mostly I was afraid of what people thought of me, of my dreams at night, of my future, my abilities and God loved me.