...Makes me feel like a bad person...

[Lissa]

I'm going home this evening to visit the family and attend a thing for the youth at church on Saturday that I want to go to and my boyfriend is coming too. We had mentioned it to a couple kids in the youth at the church we attend and they seemed interested. It ended up being a bit short notice so most of them can't go, we hadn't gotten a yes or no from one of the guys yet, but we assumed it would be a no so Garrett and I were looking forward to spending the weekend with my family.

Well, the young guy called last night and said he can go and that he can spend the night Friday night but not Saturday. Now I feel like a bad person because I'm a bit sad that he's going, when I should be happy that he's showing enough interest in church that he wants to drive 2 hours just for a 2 hour long thing.


Another thing, there's a Christian student center on the campus where I go to school and I've been doing a lot of stuff with them. Goodness, I practically live there and that's also where I met my boyfriend.

Over Spring Break we're going on a mission trip to Mississippi to help a church that was destroyed during Katrina. First years typically don't get to go because there's a limited number of seats and they give the people who didn't get to go the year before a chance at them first. Even thought I'm a junior I transferred in so it's my first year with them but I was offered a spot and so is my boyfriend. I wasn't really geared to go because I'm not too good at one-on-one Bible studies, I'm good with groups, just not one-on-one, but my boyfriend encouraged me to go so I accepted. I thought that as long as I'm with him I'll be fine, he's better at talking to people anyway.

Everyone got grouped into pairs and I didn't get put with him, I'm with his cousin Andy instead. I was worried to start with but Garrett was my crutch, now that my crutch won't be there with me I'm really scared I'll mess up. At least one positive thing is that it will give me a chance to get to know his cousin better, I just would have rather been with my boyfriend on my first mission trip because he knows how I think and how to calm me down when I start getting worried.

[Marilyn]

Melissa, You are not a bad person, just an honest one. Many people have feelings like you are having, they just won't admit it so readily. Kevin is a very nice kid, and I think it is great the you and Garrett are encouraging him. You are making a small sacrifice going back on Saturday, but if you help Kevin stay on the right path, you have done well. You never know, he may learn something today that will help him for a lifetime. You've seen how many of your friends have fallen away. We all need all the help and encouragement that we can get to make it on the narrow path.

You'll do fine on the mission trip, also. You know more and have greater ability than you realize. This trip will help you to understand that and you will either gain confidence or the resolve to learn more and do even better next time.

We are very proud/pleased!!

[rivermom]

Excellent words to your daughter Marilyn!! Lissa, I just want you to know how many daughters are out there in this world who would give anything to have the lessons or words of encouragement that your Mom gives you! You are a very blessed lady to have a Mom like you do.