Lake Shuswap, B.C.

Few of you reading know the story of my friendship with Ruth. It began about seven years ago when we were early high-schoolers about to take a trip to San Francisco with our church's youth choir. Kelsea and I had been going to choir practices practically glued at the hip, but when our leader announced the choir tour dates Kelsea realized she wouldn't be able to go because of a cheerleading competition she had scheduled that same week.

Everyone assumed I wouldn't be going to San Fran without my "security blanket" but for some reason (God) I did. Ruth still remembers getting on the charter bus the first day and seeing my terrified face as I sat in my bus seat alone. The rest was history- we instantly bonded and laughed more than our abdomens could handle that week. But when we got home, my family switched churches and Ruth and I went off to high school and our friendship fell apart.

Fast forward 6 and a half years. I am living in Oklahoma- Kelsea has broken her neck. She and mom decide to visit our old church for a women's conference. Ruth notices Kelsea and mom right away and they tell Ruth that I'll be moving to Seattle with my husband in a few months! Ruth says she is married too- to the youth pastor!

So Ruth and I reconnect and she invites me to the High School youth group's "Houseboat Trip '08" and Erik says "sure!" so I go!

Ruth and I led a boat of 14 Junior girls (we DROVE one of those giant houseboats and led small group discussion after the service every night.) There were 99 kids in total at the camp. I was amazed at how God was at work in their hearts! Every morning our girls would wake up and go to the kitchen to make us breakfast- each day asking Ruth and I how they could help out.

In the meantime, Ruth and I are making up for lost time- giggling so much that at night the high school girls are shooshing us and reminding us that we have to wake early the next morning!

On the last day, one of our girls was injured while riding a jet-ski. Her, her best friend, the camp doctor, another leader, and myself all boarded a ski boat so we could get to shore to take her into the ER. After taking her vitals, the doctors wheeled her into the Operating Room where she was put under anesthesia for further testing. We spent the night wondering if she would need surgery- she didn't.

The next morning I was bummed that I hadn't gotten to spend the final night of camp with Ruth- but then God revealed to me the new friendships I'd built with these two girls on my boat- with the other leader- and with the camp doctor.

I'd entered the trip hoping to re-kindle a relationship with an old friend, but in the end God gave me so much more. His love is truly captivating.