What Redeemer means to me.
Good Morning.
Let’s see how long I can go without choking up! Six years ago, my family moved to the beautiful town of Sarasota where we found Church of the Redeemer and instantly felt a connection with God and all of you. Throughout the years, I have grown so much in my strength and faith in the Lord, and I owe it all to the wonderful priests, staff, Sunday school teachers, and all of you sitting here. When we moved here, I believe I was twelve and half way through the treacherous middle school years. What a joy.. Church was my escape from the drama filled school days, and the everyday struggles of growing up as a teenager. Being in such a small Sunday- school class (there were only three of us), opening up about my faith and troubles was something that in time became something I depended on. I am so blessed to have made such wonderful connections with the teachers I have been with through the years. I am not quite one to open up and spill out all my feelings, particularly when things don’t go my way or upset me, so Sunday school was really a wonderful opportunity to just make connections on how God could squeeze into my lifestyle a little more here and there. I have made such special bonds with my Sunday school teachers and their families that I will always cherish.
If I had to chose one of the most impacting people in my life at Redeemer, it would be Mrs. Moe. Six years ago, I joined the Canterbury Choir for young girls and was then able to use God’s gift to me to spread the good news to others. Music has always been the biggest connection I have with God, and I wouldn’t have discovered this without her. Mrs. Moe has done a miraculous job maintaining a beautiful sounding choir each week and I see God working through her being each and every Sunday. She has definitely brought me out of my comfort zone on many occasion, only to help shape me into the bold young woman I seek to be. I gained the opportunity and confidence to stretch myself and take on challenges that I would have shied away from before. Through her, God has provided me with a form of praise in which I feel so connected and close with Him. She has been such a God send to me from the start. Besides weekly services, I attend youth group on Sunday nights with Chris, Friday morning Bible Studies with Mrs. Boedecker, choir rehearsals with Mrs. Moe, young life, retreats, mission trips with the EYC, and the list goes on. I have learned that the busier my life, the more I need God. I try to keep myself surrounded by God aside from just going to church weekly. Under father Fred’s leadership, Redeemer has not failed on supplying the youth with endless opportunities to be active. One of my favorite memories is on my first mission trip to the Dominican republic. God truly spoke to me on this trip. That week we painted houses, provided vacation bible school for the children, and bonded as a group. We played games each night after devotion, had time to read the bible and connect with god, and there were mentors ready to assist us with whatever we needed to discuss. During that week, we were even blessed with a beautiful and joyful chapel service with padre bienvenidos and his congregation. This priest was the most welcoming and humble man I have met, he took us to our sites each morning, and even provided a hotel for us to stay in. he was by our sides the entire stay. He was a man with a special gift, and he shared it with all of us. So whether it was the poor children, the lack of schooling and nourishment, or the humble spirits of each and every child we came across, who knows. But that week, I remember the pure joy that was in my heart, the constant chills as I fumbled my way along praying to God to help me to be able to communicate with the kids, and their smiles as we spread the Word. The bonds I made were unbelievable. Their stories, breath-taking. I knew from that week on, I had to go back. I was called by God to continue my work with children and spread His word. He showed me that He would work through me, if I would only work through Him. From then on, I readily went on each mission trip and am now interning at an elementary school for the children with special needs. Through Vacation Bible School, volunteering here and there for the younger kids, and prayer, I have grown to love working with children. This is where God wanted me. Without Chris tracking me down here and there to ask if I will make it to this or that, I would not have been half as active in this parish as I am. It is an honor to have such a kind and wise youth minister. He has been such a support through my hectic high school years. Yes, they flew by, but not without a million holds ups along the way. Finding out who I am as a Christian has been and will continue to be one of the toughest experiences for me. Earlier this year, for a short period of time, it was just my mom and sister along with me. We called ourselves the three musketeers. Dad worked in Virginia for a few months, and Heather went off to college. This was a constant battle for me in my faith, seeing as I didn’t understand the bigger picture of what God’s purpose was. Just years before, my older sister was diagnosed with a heart condition and later that year, got a pacemaker, turning our lives upside-down for a while. Though we endured so much in so short a time, my parents, Father Fred, Chris, and Father Marsden kept my feet on the ground and my eyes on God. One quote that I always kept in mind during this time of trial was psalm 16:1. It reads: “Keep me safe, o god, for in you I take refuge.” The lord has provided that refuge for me each day. I believe that through this church, I have had a safe place to shape myself into the person God wants me to be. This is truly my second home and the place I will always come back to and feel perfectly content and at home. Starting in the fall, I will be attending Southeastern University, which is a small Christian university in Lakeland, Florida. I will jump right into a five year master program towards an ESE Elementary Education degree. Being the homebody that I am, I can assume that leaving home will not be easy, and it will be so hard to say goodbye to this church and all of the wonderful people who have entered my life. Thank you all again for your grace and wisdom in helping me reach the goals God has set for me.