When I was young I didn’t really understand the importance of church and how to apply it to my everyday life.  I was baptized at age 10 into the Seventh Day-Adventist church in Maryland.  After my baptism nothing really seemed to change. My parents raised me the best they could, and both have a strong relationship with God.  But I still had a passion for worldly things.  I remember being encouraged to join Pathfinders (similar to Boy Scouts) at church.  At first it seemed alright, but I was not very interested.  Everyone at church was friendly, and I recognized a few people from elementary school, but I was shy. I was also a part of choir, but did not really enjoy that either.

My interests did not change in middle school.  I loved toys, especially r/c cars and video games.  I always looked forward to playing with them after the Sabbath. It was during my second year of middle school that my mom moved us to Michigan.  Prior to this, my parents filed for divorce. I was hurt and was not into church, in fact it was the last thing I wanted to be in.  I had a Bible in my house but did not read much. My siblings and I learned the significance of Bible stories from my mom. When we came to Michigan, things started getting better. My spiritual life was mediocre, neither high nor low.  I believed that God existed, but never really understood biblical principles from home and at church.

Though I did not understand everything, I always remembered to pray before going to bed and when I first wake up. I attended a church in SE Michigan. I was shy the first few times I visited. I learned things at church that I could apply to my life, especially in high school. When I was accepted to Michigan State University, things became very different.

When I started my first year at Michigan State University, I realized that I was on my own.  My parents were not with me, but I came to value the Bible I had as very important.  From a young age my mom left her Bible open every day on Psalm 91.  At first I never understood why until she explained the purpose of why she left the bible open to that book.  She explained to me that the purpose for keeping the bible open to that page was for protection and just having God’s presence in the room so no evil spirits would be in the presence. Since then I still do it today, leaving my Bible open to Psalm 91 in my room when I go to sleep.  For me this gives me a comfort presence especially after reading the verses again and again knowing that God has his angels watching over me.  When my mom introduced me to UCHURCH in East Lansing, I was anxious. I did not really know anyone and I was shy.  As time went by I became friends with many people at church.  However, studying at a secular university was not easy on my relationship with God.

Temptations were never far away, but God helped me through them. Many individuals picked on me for being a virgin and avoiding alcohol. However, one individual was baptized at my church and became one of my best friends. It was here that I learned the reasons why I was a Christian. When I was more interested in worldly things, I did not understand the principles of why we did/did not do certain things. Now it is clearer to me.  Towards the end of my second year of college I rededicated my life to Jesus to learn more about the Creator who died for me.  Since then everything has been very challenging.  I am still getting used to a new life.  For example my music habits have changed. I was listening to music such as R&B, pop, jazz, and rap, not realizing the impact this kind of music was having on my mind. This kind of music put me in an emotional state that was dangerous to my relationship with Jesus. I have also been learning the importance of keeping the Sabbath. I used to eat out after church. Now, I try to postpone things that require someone else to work until after sunset. Instead of following the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) I would study before/after church or even on Friday nights.  But after learning the importance of the Sabbath and understanding that God created everything in six days and rested on the seventh day, I spend my learning about the Creator and respecting His creatures and I share my beliefs with those who do not know about it.