Part 4 of a 6-week series
If you’re just joining me, you can read Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 3 here.
Having been very sick in the early years of high school and still battling some illness issues quite frequently, my parents and I decided that it was best for me to stay at home for my first year of college, rather than move away. So, backing up a few years before the “incident” (read about that here), I enrolled in a summer Math class right out of high school. My ACT scores were not in yet (they lost my first set of scores, but that’s a whole other issue and we won’t go there), so in order to enroll in the local Community College I had to take their entrance exam. BLEH! Thankfully, my hard work in high school paid off and I passed with flying colors! WHEW!! Not that I should have been worried, because I had great teachers in high school, but I am a hor-ri-ble, absolutely horrible test taker. I was just glad I didn’t faint or become violently ill during the test. Seriously – my anxiety about tests is that bad. It’s quite sad really.
Next I had to decide on courses to take. But, since I more than passed the English/Lit and Math portion of the entrance exam I was left with no real options for classes. My score was too high for the math courses they offered, but I settled on Elementary Statistics because I thought at that time I wanted to go into Psychology and that was a required course. Thanks to my AP English/Lit class in high school, I did not need to take any courses in that area right away. So, I settled into taking just Statistics for the summer term.
Over the next year I kept my major as Psychology, but felt more and more empty inside. I was missing something. MUSIC!!!! I was missing music. It had been such a huge part of my life up through high school that I missed it – truly missed it. I was enrolled in the Choir class, but that just wasn’t enough. I began to pray again about my major and the courses I was taking. After my 2nd semester of Psychology pre-req’s it became quite clear that it was not the right path for me. So I switched my major to Music Education.
I threw myself into that “world” with all I had. I took 2 orchestra classes, a choir class, Theory, private piano, class piano, private voice – you name it I was enrolled in it!! And I absolutely loved it!! I just knew this was where God wanted me. During these transitions was the “incident”, which changed my view and my focus as well. I also changed jobs to start fresh.
My next job was working part-time at a bowling alley. My dad had been a bowler for many years, as well as my oldest-younger brother. I was not really a bowler, but thought it looked fun and was willing to learn if necessary. The job started out part-time during the afternoon/evening times and soon became nearly full-time, which cut into my school hours. I soon found myself working school around work, rather than the other way around (which was my original intent).
Over the next several years, I worked nearly full-time and took some classes here and there. My position at the bowling alley changed several times and I eventually found myself enjoying my job. I was working with kids and helping them improve as well as have a good time. It was a lot of fun.
By this point I had taken all the “basics” in college except Science. I cannot begin to tell you how much I loathe science. I was not looking forward to taking a lab either. The thought of dissecting things turns my stomach. But, I had to have a lab to complete my science requirements for the “education” part of my degree. So, like any good queasy college student I put it off and enrolled in Meteorology and Oceanography. Yep…Oceanography. I figured someday it might come in handy, because there was no use for it here inOklahomathat’s for sure. But, it sounded interesting, so I took it. In fact, I still have the books for that class and I’m so glad I kept them now that we’re homeschooling. A great resource for sure. And I’m glad to know that class did not go unused. LOL
Anyway…back to the college years. After about 3.5 years of working and going to school I couldn’t do it anymore. So I quit school to work full-time, telling myself that I was “saving up” for a “real” college someday, all the while I knew this was simply not true. During the spring of 2000 I found myself searching once again. Searching for God, His will in my life and quite simply meaning. I was completely lost. I had lost sight of God and what I believed he had planned for my life.
In May I was asked to attend my youth church camp (which sadly, part of it burned a few weeks ago in the raging fires around our area) as a sponsor/family group leader. I was beyond excited and absolutely elated at the chance. I had literally grown up at that camp and it not only brought back a flood of memories, I felt at peace and at home there. I was ready to go. The 2nd week of June couldn’t come soon enough.
Finally, it was time to drive the small group of kids from my home church to camp. I was beyond excited!! I think I was even more excited than they were. When we arrived, I immediately found my bunk next to one of the other “sponsors” and began setting up my bed. Then it was time for our first sponsors meeting. I knew a lot of the workers there, since this was my “home” camp. I must admit, it felt a little strange being on the adult end rather than the camper end this time, but I was ready and excited for the week.
That week we also had aCampTeamfromOzarkChristianCollegethere to help as sponsors and talk to the kids aboutBibleCollegepossibilities. The team was 2 girls and 2 guys. One of the girls was my bunk neighbor and we quickly became friends. We stayed up late at night talking about college and what each of us had done since high school (she was just a year younger than I was). We quickly found we had a lot in common and enjoyed each others company.
Each night we had chapel services at camp and were led in song by a local Christian band. Thursday night has long since held the tradition of being “decision” time before heading back to “reality” on Friday. And, of course, this week was no different. Most of the night was a blur for me, but I distinctly remember hearing God’s voice. As we sang song after song about surrender and giving up everything for God, he was saying, “Come…follow me. It will be good. Surrender to me and come.” I kept hearing that over and over and was eventually overcome with emotions that I couldn’t even process. I found myself knelt on the ground between a row of chairs, completely overcome with God’s grace, goodness, mercy and love for me. My new friend knelt down to pray with me and see if she could do anything more. I told her this was a long time coming and that I just needed to let it out. She understood and simply sat next to me with her hand on my shoulder for the remainder of the time.
During that time of repentance and surrender, I also felt God calling me to a life of service to him. Not just living for him, but serving him in a full-time, possibly job-related capacity. I felt the call to full-time Christian ministry. After the service was over, I talked to my friend and told her what was on my heart and we talked about me attending Ozark – possibly in the fall!!! I was so excited and completely at peace about this new direction God was taking me.
When I came I home, I told my parents what had happened and talked it over with them. They were completely on board and excited for me as well. So, we began the process of enrollment for the fall semester. The next few weeks were a whirlwind of paperwork, phone calls to complete all the necessary paperwork. Two weeks after I camp, the OCC camp team was coming back out for another week of camp. A local friend of mine and I began making nightly drives out to the camp to visit her then boyfriend and the camp team I now called friends. During that week I found out that my new friend (“K”) was going to be roommate-less (yes, that is a word) in the upcoming year, so she invited me to be her roommate!! I was so excited!! I was nearly finished with all the paperwork and now I had a roommate!
Things continued to move quickly the rest of that summer. My oldest-younger brother was getting married the beginning of August and I was leaving just a few weeks after that. I’m unsure of the exact date, but somewhere around the 20th of August I found myself and my parents making the 2-hour drive toJoplin,MO to start my “new” college life. I was ready.
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Since I have missed several weeks (and posts), I am going to post the rest of our story over the next several days leading up to our Anniversary this Thursday the 16th. Post #5: Ozark “Bridal” College coming tomorrow.
I am writing this series in hopes that some of the experiences and situations I have encountered during my life will give hope and healing to those hurting.
Blessings,
Annette
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