Hello,
Just wanted to introduce myself and respond to the q's Maureen had listed for newcomers.
First of all, I want to make it known to everyone that I will NOT be on here every single day. At the most, I will be on here every three days, but my goal is once a week. Please keep in mind that I do not fathom friendships more than family relationships!
My name is Christina, daughter of John and Shawn, and I will be 21 in November. I am the oldest at home, as my older brother (nearly 26) is married. My younger siblings are: Melody (17), Faith (15), John (14), James (11-1/2), Abigail (8-1/2) and Joshua (Joshi - 5-1/2).
I grew up in a "typical" Christian home, when we were church-going folk but our hearts were not easily moved. Daddy had been an alcoholic before he was saved some ten years before he and Mother married, and Mother was raised Catholic and had passed from man to man in such a horrible way.
When I was 4, I recall Daddy led me to pray the sinner's prayer, but nothing much changed in my life. At ten, I realized the need to rededicate my life to Christ, and did so but my heart was still shallow-like.
When I was 12, my older brother was forced from home and God made a *major* surgery within our family. I was thrown (as were my sisters and parents) in to the arms of our Precious Saviour and learned the manners of dignity and modesty as I had never known before.
My parents realized their need to fall into His arms as well and seek His face as never they had. Sooo, to make a long story short, we have gone through hard times, yes, but are all the better for it -- even though we suffered such pain as I can never do justice to describe.
I have had my own share as well. In January of '05, I distinctly heard the Lord's voice telling me not to hesitate and GO to India as a missionary - which had been my dream for some five years previous. The doors continued to open each step I chose to trust my Lord for what He was doing in and through me. In April of this year, I returned as a long-term missionary but immediately, the Lord began to prepare me for what was to be in a short three months. Little did I know, when I boarded the plane headed for South India, that I would be returning to Home sweet Home in as little as three months!
My time there was a battle between homesickness and standing on my own two feet, which I had never done before -- meaning, I never lived by myself before.
But that's just how our Lord works: mysteriously. Oh, but I love Him for it!! My plans for now are to attend nursing school at our local community college next year, while at present, I am working on a few novels for completion to sell as e-books and self-publish.
Anyway, that's me. I didn't mean to make this thing a book in itself, but I guess it won't hurt. Sorry if it's too long, Maureen!
God's blessings!
-HeGivethMoreGrace