Similarities and Differences

Church

Sunday, August 6

Ava and I visited a church today that took place in an elementary school, and I gotta say, it was what the church is supposed to be like. It wasn't overly big, but the people of that church genuinely know that it's not about their works, good or bad, it's about how much God loves them, and He showed that upon the cross. Everyone was so welcoming, too. Ava met a new friend, Kaylen. Kaylen just happens to be her age and is going to her school this fall. It was a God thing.

"I'm Steven," I said to Kaylen's parents as our daughters quickly became friends before the service even started.

They introduced themselves as Adrian and Jess.

"So, are you from here?" Adrian asked me.

"No, we're actually from Alabama. We just moved here in June."

"Oh," Jess said, "welcome. Are you just looking at churches right now?"

"Well, my uncle is a pastor, but I don't know if his church is right for us, so we're looking around."

"Oh, okay," Adrian said, "We're glad you're here."

"Thank you."

"So, is it just you and Ava?" Jess asked kind of awkwardly.

I nodded. "Yeah."

The girls were already gone, playing in the cafeteria. "Where's her mom?"

"Her mom is my sister, and she's in prison. I took Ava in when she was a baby, and yeah." I don't like telling strangers my life story, especially at church, but these people at this church made me feel at ease.

"Well, good for you for taking her in," Adrian said genuinely.

"Thanks."

"What made you guys wanna move up here?" Jess asked.

"I'm a teacher and my aunt offered me a job at the middle school she's the principal at. I took the job because the schools in Alabama suck, and I wanted to get Ava out of there."

"Wow. What do you think of Iowa so far?" Adrian asked.

I laughed a little. "I think y'all talk normally, and I think y'all are way cooler than me." I smirked a little. "Iowa is so much nicer than Alabama, and it's a lot different, but I love it. I am just trying to figure out why I didn't why we didn't move earlier."

"Is Ava nervous to go back to school?" Jess asked.

"I think a little because it's the unknown, but I think she'll be okay. I think I'm more nervous about her going to school than she is, to be honest. I worry about what could go wrong, ya know?"

"I would be, too, honestly," Adrian said. "Kaylen is our only child, and we just want the best for her."

"I know that feeling."

We went into the gym for the sermon. I have never gone to church at a school before, so this was a little different. The only weird thing was the way they do communion. Every church does it differently, so I didn't know exactly what to do, but I just did what the person next to me did. Ava took the communion class at our old church, so I just told her to do what everyone else did, too.

After church, Adrian and Jess gave me their phone numbers, so the girls can hang out. I genuinely want to go back to this church, which I didn't really expect.