God did some amazing things in my life when I was in Orofino! When I was there, God really helped me to think of others more than I thought of myself. He also helped me to have a loving heart for the people around me. Before I went to Orofino, I felt really distant from God. I couldn’t really feel him working in my life at all. For the past year, I haven't really felt that God was in my life. I was always really depressed, and I was always off by myself. I didn't share what I was going through with anyone. I just kept it to myself, and let all of my hurt and struggles build up inside of me to the point where I would break down crying. I didn't really want to go to Youth Group anymore. I stopped reading my Bible, and praying. I felt like I was losing all of my friends; I felt like I had none, and that I was alone in the world. Like there was nobody I could talk to. I would always be off by myself. I didn’t like being alone, I just was because it felt so normal to me. I always felt like I was putting on an act for people. Like I never showed people the real me. But when I was in Orofino for a week, I could really feel God’s presence in my life! God really opened up my eyes! He showed me how important it is to have people in my life! I was able to open up all of my hurt and struggles with a girl named Christina, and with Melinda Elkins, and some girls that I got to know better on the trip. Christina had been going through the same stuff I was going through. I felt that God put her in my life so that I could help her and she could help me. On one of the days we were there, I broke down crying. I really felt convicted. I started to realize the way that I was living my life was not how I should have been living it. God really showed me what it’s like to be loved. When I was home, I never really showed love towards my little sister. I felt really bad about the way that I had been treating her. And when I think about it, I want her to grow up knowing that I love her, and will always be there for her! When I was in Orofino, I had a verse that really stuck out to me. James 5:16. It says:

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

That verse just really seemed to hit me in the face. God just showed me how powerful prayer can be in my life, and how important it is to have people in my life as well! God really stretched me the week that I was in Orofino. One of my goals that I had before we got to Orofino, was to be able to be more open with people. He really helped me to accomplish that goal! I was able to be more open to people, and to show them the real me.  I am really glad that I got to go to Orofino. I was happy to be able to help others, and it really changed my life.