"Vick Hurry up we're gonna be late"
"coming!!!"
It was already morning and we were to go for breakfast and as you can see, I wasn't ready.
" I'm ready now let's go"
We started walking towards the dining area and on our way, we passed Raphael. He was laughing with his friends but once he saw me, he smirked and not in a cocky kind of way. The kind that sent chills up my spine.
I shrugged it off and continued my conversation with the rest.
"Is there a time table of some sort?"
"Yeah, it's going to be passed round during breakfast" It was Ella that answered. I finally asked a question that had been skipping my mind for sometime.
"How do you have so much knowledge about this trip if this is your first time going"
"Firstly, Cole has gone for the past two years, and my parents went"
"oh. That's true I haven't met your parents before, where are they?"
"Dead" Before I could speak again, we got to the dinning. I wasn't really sure how to react so I made a mental note to talk to her about it later.
"Hey Ella, about this morning...." Before I could finish, she interrupted me.
"Could we talk about this later we're gonna be late for the teens talk"
"Sure"
We started making our way to the hall where we were to have the everyday teens talk. By the time we got there, the twins had already kept sits for us since they helped set up.
After about five minutes of waiting, Cole came up the podium.
" Good afternoon every one and welcome to FROM SEED TO SEQUOIA 2020. This year's theme is FORGIVENESS. As you all know, this trip takes place for the first fifty people to sign up in the senior year of Evergreen high school. This introduction could not have taken place yesterday when we arrived due to some circumstances that will not be revealed. I am sure you all have been assigned to your rooms and given the time table for the days we will be here for If not please make sure to see me or any other teacher that came with us" He paused and took a deep breath then said
"This is the first daily teens talk of FROM SEEDS TO SEQUIOA 2020. It will take place every afternoon from twelve pm to one pm with a new topic each day all under forgiveness. Today's topic is about rape. I would like to call out our speakers for this year, please give a round of applause for Daniella Parker, Victory Goodman, Victor Goodman and I Cole Black"
Ella and the twins proceeded to the podium while Cole set up their chairs. When everyone was settled, Cole got some papers then said
" Questions will be asked, contributions will be made by both the speakers and the audience so if you have any contributions raise your hand and you'll be called to speak" He went and sat down and soon a microphone was passed to him.
" First question of the day is for Ella. Should a victim of rape be allowed to get revenge on the person who raped him/her?"
She thought for a second before she finally answered
" I don't believe in getting revenge on the person who raped you because, first of all God said we should leave it in His hands and not take revenge. Secondly, the consequence of his/her sin will come soon enough"
"Any contributions or questions?" When nobody raised their hand, He nodded and said
"The next question is for Victor. Can a person who was caught raping another person still be seen in another light?"
" I believe so. Yes, the person was caught and of course no matter what he/she is going to be stigmatized with that but I believe that the person can change and still has a chance of being seen in another way" A girl from the audience raised her hand for a question.
"What do you mean by he/she would be stigmatized?"
" I mean that no matter what happens, the person would still be seen as that person that once raped another person."
"Next question is for Victory. Should being raped be kept a secret or be told publicly?"
" I feel it should be reported. Being raped is not a minor issue, It is a crime after all. Your innocence is something that should be kept for your husband not something that anybody can come and take just for the sake of pleasure. The victim should report to bring justice and not let the person roam free on the streets because who knows, that person can continue doing it."
"any contributions or questions?"Since nobody raised their hand he said
"The last question before we take other contributions and questions non related would be for me. Should a victim forgive the person that raped him/her?"
"Yes of course. It obviously won't happen over night, it takes time and healing but you should forgive the person that hurt you" It was almost like he was directing his answer to me.
" Take this as an example. A girl was raped by her dad's friend and after that night she never saw him again. She hated him with every fiber in her body. One day she went to a different church from the one she usually went to and when she got into the church, she saw the man that raped her leading worship. She couldn't take the pain so she left. You were hurt, yes but hating the person that hurt you would hurt you more than anyone else. The person might have given their life to Christ after and would have been forgiven by God and you would remain hurting. Yes, the consequences of his/her sin would still come to him/her no matter what but he/she would take it with joy in their heart"
"questions, contributions?" Nobody raised their hands so Cole announced that we will be worshipping for the rest of the time and then he called Ella to lead us in worship. She came up and then started singing a song that was sang by Hillsong UNITED
I'll praise you on the mountain
I'll praise you when the mountain is in my way
You're the summit where my feet are
So I will praise You in the valleys all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
You're the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same
It was one of my favorite songs when I was still a Christian. The person that sang was one of my favorite people in the world. I loved her so much. I didn't sing along with them. I just listened.
So I will praise You in the valleys all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
You're the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same
With that, Cole said a short prayer and we all left for our afternoon free time."
YOU ARE READING
Happily Ever After
Spiritual" how are you so sure that he loves me? if he loves me where was he when family got broken, where is he every single time that my father hits me, if he truly loves me then he would not have allowed those things to happen" " I can assure you that Go...
