Meet Monta...Her life was changed at camp

Hello, my name is Monta.

I would like to tell you about myself. I actually grew up in a family where people had a lot of faith in other people, science and themselves. In my family no one really believes in God. One of my Grandmothers when I was little taught me a few prayers, and this was the first time I came across God and Jesus.

But because I was so little it didn’t make much sense to me I had not read the Bible or ever gone to church for services. When I was ten, my parent divorced. I actually thought I took it really well and it made me even more sure that I was the one who could deal with all of the problems…I could do it all on my own.

I never complained about my life I thought it was good. It got better when three years ago I went to Luxembourg and spent two years there. I thought my life was perfect but it wasn’t really because of all the stress I had, being in a new place and meeting new people. I got into a few eating disorders, but when I noticed it got me into more trouble I stopped doing that. I got back on track pretty fast and it seemed like life was good again. During this me and my mom became really close and I liked that. She was my role model, and she’s really convinced that we are the only ones who can lead our lives and really change them.

A year ago we had to move back to Latvia. I didn’t want to but we still came back. And that is how the worst year of my life began. I felt lonely even though I had friends around me and I had good grades, and my relationship with my parents was good, but I felt lost. This is when I started hurting myself. I was partying like crazy, drinking, smoking, and I didn’t want to stop, because it was the only thing that made me happy, this is what I thought. The few times I got scared and I started questioning myself. How long am I going to do this?... Why can’t I stop? The more I questioned myself, and people around me the more confused I got. This was probably was the hardest time of my life. I was empty and I did not know how to fill myself up. Then one day my English teacher offered for me to come to this camp. She knew that I was speaking English a lot, so I decided to come. Though when I heard that it will be around God and Jesus I had second thoughts. But then I figured it doesn’t bother me that much and I could still go and have fun, and make new friends. The first day here seemed like a mistake, but the next day it got better and we all became better friends, and I enjoyed every second I spent with these people.

But the best parts were in the evenings when the kids from Arizona came and gave their testimonies and Jon would talk. I could have listened to Jon for hours. I also felt myself changing. I felt things that I had not felt in a long time. I was truly happy and that was when I finally realized that it all had happened because I finally and truly let God guide me in my life. I even went to church on Sunday with them and I felt so grateful that they took me with them.

I don’t think I will be able to pay them back all those good things they have given me. With their faith and compassion in everything they do have showed me and given me new life. But above all that they have taught me that God is in my life and if I give Him my life He’s going to make something beautiful out of it. Basically I want to ask God to bless all of these people who are here and I wanted to thank the Lord for bringing them here. They are the best people I have ever met and no matter what I do and where I am I will still know they will always be in my heart. And maybe one day we will meet again and I know we will.