YOUTH SUNDAY
Three United Methodist youth spoke on Youth Sunday. 2004. Their theme was Romans 8:15: "And so we should not be like cringing, fearful slaves, but we should behave like God's very own children, adopted into the bosom of his family, and calling to him, "Father."
Caitlin Body
As many of you know, I'm adopted. Many of you remember my adoption better than I do. When I was born in Peru, my birth mother couldn't take care of me, and she thought it would be best if I was adopted. It must have been one of the hardest decisions of her life. Any parents who give up a child must have a very hard time. I think it was a good decision because I have a very happy life now. I was welcomed by my whole family and many friends when I came to America. I was just a baby, but I've heard the story of my adoption over and over. It's very special to me.
Adoption has taken place for thousands of years. You all know the story of Moses being placed in a basket by his birth mother to save his life. His mother hoped that someone would find him and take care of him. He was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and grew up with that family as an Egyptian. Later in his life, Moses was asked by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God had a plan for him. The Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. Moses led them to the promised land. Can you imagine what would have happened if Moses hadn't been put in that basket? The story would have been much different.
In today's world, some people are still slaves. Not the way the Israelites were. Instead they are slaves to drugs, alcohol, work, partying, and other things. They may feel like they have lost their way. But if they are willing, God will try to lead them away from their addictions and toward a life of faith and love.
Sometimes I imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn't been adopted. My mom, Sue, came to Lima, Peru to get me. Someone who was taking care of me told her that I was to have only water after 12:00 at night. I was about seven weeks old, but I weighed what would be acceptable for a newborn baby. My mom immediately changed that rule. I have some pictures of her, my birth mom, and me. It shows that my birth mom was very short. I am five feet four inches, and she looked as though she would come about to my shoulder.
I probably would be living in the jungle of Peru. I have seen a picture of a typical house and found one in a library book by Marion Morrison, Peru, Enchantment of the World that was similar. As I remember, it had two stories and a thatched roof. I would possibly have lived without electricity or running water. In that book the author said children aged six to fifteen are supposed to attend school, but many are needed at home to help with farming or to care for animals, and drop out. Generally the academic standards are not high, and there are shortages of textbooks, pens and pencils, sports equipment and even desks and chairs. My mom told me a road had recently been built to our village, so it all sounds very primitive.
Currently there is a group of us going through confirmation. We are meeting with Reverend Stone and learning about the church and what it means to be a member of it. We have discussed everything from creation to the crucifixion. Becoming a member of the church is similar to adoption. We are becoming a part of a family - a church family. The difference is that we don't leave our birth families. Our families come together every Sunday to learn more about God and his teachings.
I am very glad that I was adopted into the family I have. I have a family that loves, supports, and cares for me. And I am looking forward to becoming a member of the church family - another source of love and support. And thank you, God, for finding me a home.
Caitlin updated her story in June 2004: I was in seventh grade last school year, and will be going into the eighth grade in the fall. I was active in sports - basketball, volleyball, track, and I will be doing the same things this coming year. In junior high basketball, we played Chariton, Norwalk, Winterset, and I-35, and we had track meets at Norwalk, Chariton, and Osceola. Mr. Lowe is our track coach. I think this is good practice. It gets us ready for high school. Winning isn't emphasized except in track. Winning is more important in that sport.
I am in band and chorus. I also play and sing in church, too. The junior high band director was Miss Averwig. We called her Miss A. Miss March was the chorus director. I did pretty well in both. In band I got a 1+ for my trumpet solo and a 1 for my duet with Emily Eddy. In chorus, I got 1+for solo and 1- in duet. That began as a quartet, and then it was a trio, then two of us. Ashley Mattson and I did the duet. I sing soprano. My vocal solo was “Gentle Shepherd." It was in a different language, but I did it in English. The duet was, "What Tomorrow Brings." These contests were here at Clarke Community School.
I've been in Kathy Kooiker's Children's Theater each year from kindergarten through sixth grade, and in every community musical or play except "You Can't take it with You.” We are just now ready for the production, "Oklahoma.” For it I am assistant stage manager backstage helping with the curtain and some props. In past years I've just loved being on stage. In the community productions, I've usually had small parts, not that many speaking roles, except for "Our Town." However, in this production, they couldn't have younger kids, so I'll be backstage and I will enjoy it, too. Mom is usually in the musical ones, playing trumpet, or having something to do with lights and sound. Mom and I both play trumpets with Rev. Stone for the praise music at church.
I will be going to several camps. I just recently finished a basketball camp that was here at Clarke conducted by Coach Bolton, and I'm also going to band camp and another basketball camp that will be here. Later I will go to a three-day camp at Iowa State University for basketball. At the end of July, I am going to a teen musical theatre workshop at the Des Moines Playhouse. My mom and I are also going to Washington, D.C. for our vacation. The last two weeks have been hectic. It doesn't seem like summer yet, except for sleeping-in. I like not getting up at 6:30 every morning to. eat breakfast before going to school. During basketball I have to get up earlier than that- like 5:00, because practice starts at 6:00 a.m. But usually my extra-curricular activities are after school. · .
My teachers have been Mrs. Van Ahn, Mr. Lowe, Mr. and Mrs. Ehrhardt, Ms. March, Miss Averwig, Mrs. Seeberger for PE, and for each nine-week period we had exploratory teachers. I think a good teacher is one whose teaching techniques make it fun, but who also push the class to make sure lessons are done and grades are good.
I don't have a lot of time to socialize except for Friday nights or Saturday. There are always five or ten minutes before school begins. My special friend is Lizzy Lohr, and I had a good friend, Adam Helgeson, but his family moved to Johnston. We still get together and do things.
I have now been confirmed. In April, I was baptized by Rev. Stone. I preferred immersion and we used the baptistery at the Christian Church. I became part of another family - the church. I am interested in my original family, but I don't have any contact with them; I was so little when I left, and I only have pictures. I might go there sometime, but even so, it would be hard to trace them. I think I have two sisters there, and there might be other siblings. When we study about the Incas, I think it would be interesting to know whether or not this is my ancestry. My birth mom lived in the rain forest, and there is a lot of discussion now about preserving them because they are our main oxygen resource. We study about the Andes mountains, and I take a personal interest, but it is all pretty vague as to where the tribes lived. It is hard to tell if I will ever try to find my original family or learn more about them, but I am so very fortunate to have all that I do here and now. I am totally satisfied with all the family I have.
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Last Revised November 13, 2012