Intro:
I feel like everyone has their own unique story. All of ours are different and can impact and change other people in different ways than we expect. I don't have that many life changing experiences that have dragged me out of something horrible and I began to do the right thing. I have had some rough patches that have made me sin out of moral misunderstanding. And I assume that by reading the title you can guess what this story is going to be about. But I don't want to make this story just about my testimonies, I want it to be about all of our testimonies. I want my courage to admit my testimony through Christ and my flaws that make me sin help you to release what is holding you hostage. I'm pretty sure you don't know who I am and that honestly doesn't really matter because all you need to know is that I am your sister through Christ.
I'm not exactly sure when I first met Christ. I know that I knew he existed all my life, but I never truly accepted him as my savior. I went to church a couple of times and then we just stopped going altogether. And I hear it so many times that you don't have to go to church to be a devout Christian, but I think it helps out a BUNCH (especially small group). The major turning point in my life was in the summer of going into 7th grade. My friend Claire invited my sister and I to go to this camp that she and her other friend went to the year before. So we decided why not give it a shot. So we signed up for Carolina Creek Christian Camp. I was not really sure what to expect when we went, I wasn't completely willing to Christ at that point in my life so I didn't quite grasp the idea of what it meant to be a Christian. So the week went on, we praised and sang. We danced all night and got sun-burnt in awkward one piece tan. But at the very end of the week on the very last day the pastor who had been leading us in worship the whole week said something that I will never forget "If you haven't accepted Christ in your life I want you to walk downstairs and meet with one of your counselors, and I want you to meet Christ and accept him as your true savior." I was so moved I thought I was the only one though so I was a little cautious when I stood up to leave. To my surprise my sister stood up along with a other fellow camp members and I was relieved, I was happy that I wouldn't be alone in this new transition in my life. When we went downstairs Rebecca, Meagan, and I went with our counselor Ashley and sat in a circle praying crying and just feeling overjoyed with the Lord's power and love. That night was one of the most remarkable nights of my life and I won't ever forget it. At that time I felt the Lord right next to me the whole time and I just felt myself be lifted up. I admitted to the world that Jesus is my Savior and when those words came out of my mouth I just felt a burden lift off and a smile came on my face along with many tears. After we had all admitted to everyone we went back upstairs and sang more worship songs and we danced and cried and just had so much fun. I was so moved and every year that I go to that camp, I get moved again and again. I learn new lessons. Ones that I never new were bothering me and on my mind so much. I've been overcoming my fear on heights when I go to camp and I'm so glad that I am because I want to feel free and better. If you ever get the chance to go to any Christian based camp I encourage you to go. And go quick! You honestly won't know what is going to happen and that is the best thing. When you leave you will want to share God's love with everyone that you meet and that is what we are here on this earth to do in the first place. So it helps you with your connection with Christ and to be a better Christian to help save others.
That was the first time that I met Christ and truly felt his power in me. There have been other times that I have met God and I will mention those times to you later in this story because that touches up on another topic that I don't know if I want to share quite yet. I imagine all of you have seen Christ or even thought about him while you are sinning. And in those moments are one of the most powerful. You know God is watching you and you know what you are doing is wrong, but you continue to do it anyway.
The next major step in my Christian life was when I was baptized. I never really thought about it because most of my friends were already baptized so I thought it was already too late for me to ve baptized. When in all reality I was in perfect timing. Rebecca and I went to California for 2 weeks to spend time with our sister who lives there. The first week we went to a Christian camp thing that her church organizes. And it was great! I loved it a lot, and believe it or not I felt a connection with God. But then the next week while we were at the church service they said for people who have lost connection with God or people who want to accept him go to the microphone and say that you accept Christ into your life. Becca went up there but I didn't I thought my connection was strong and great and I was right. It wasn't bad, but it also could be better. After the service Becca was crying and then she said to Briana that she wanted to be baptized. So Briana talked with the high school pastor and we made arrangements to be baptized. I was terrified, I thought we were going to be the only ones who were being baptized again, but of course I was wrong. There were so many students at the church who were releasing their sins to God and just living for him. Since my parents were home in Texas we had to Skype them as it was happening and I just wanted to cry right then and there just because I knew what emotions my parents were feeling. I imagine that they wish we could have done it back home or while they were there, but God times things when you don't really expect them sometimes! So I was the last person and Rebecca was already out drying off and crying. I was next and they called my name. I walked up the stone stairs, my heart racing and my mouth getting dry. I was feeling a butterfly feeling in my heart, not my stomach because I was getting happy and emotional- feeling the presence of God with me. Pastor Todd helped me down into the water and said a few things and then held me and I went under the water. In that moment as I was under the water I could feel myself smile. I had no worries at that moment, everything was gone. I walked back down the stairs trying my best to hide the tears. My parents on the phone were crying so much and I just wish I was in their arms holding them and crying with them. They told us how proud of us they were and that just set it off for me. To hear my parents say that what I did was something that made them proud parents just made me so happy. That was a remarkable moment and sharing that story with you is making me feel overjoyed and so happy to have done that.
If you have not made the decision yet to be baptized, I think you should consider it. Talk to your parents about it and see what their input is, I know some peoples parents don't believe the same things that their children believe. If you don't want to do that talk to a close friend, an adult that you know has accepted Christ and would be willing to help you out with this great transition in your life. And if you don't know anyone that would be willing to help you, ask God. Ask God to help direct you to someone that will greatly impact your life and make things better for you. I know that he will help you, even if it is not as quickly as you might hope for or vice versa, but God will always be there for you when no one else is.
Thank you for reading this part of my story, hopefully as I keep writing that more of you will open up to me as well. If you want to remain anonymous in sharing your testimonies or just anything feel free to contact me through my email. rbonta26@gmail.com. I would love to hear from all of y'all so comment, email and just get my attention. I will share your testimonies if you would like me too as well, I want you to help impact the greater world even if you don't think you will! I don't really know how well this story and my testimony will affect other people, but I am trying to do this so I can help those in need. God bless!
