How I met Emily P.

My friends Emily and Wes celebrated their 4 year wedding anniversary this week (9/6). This got me thinking about how I met Emily and our days at the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home (TBCH). I had just finished my first year at MTSU and was making summer plans. The job that I thought I would have at home fell through and I was left looking for something. After filling out several applications and waiting on people to call, I got the idea that most businesses were not looking for someone who could only work for a couple of months. Neverless, the job search continued.

I was about to go crazy being back at home for an extended period of time (about 2 weeks) after having been away at school for a year. Not only that, I was driving mom crazy too. She went out to lunch one day with a friend of hers who happened to be a social worker for TBCH. In their conversation, it came up that I was still looking for summer work (and I'm sure that I was driving her crazy being home all the time!). Ms. Kristin mentioned to mom that she thought TBCH was still looking for a summer missionary to work with the kids but she would have to check on it. She did and I got an interview that week. I met with the head of the Brentwood campus and was introduced to some other people. They liked me with my good recommendations (ie. Ms. Kristin) asked if I was ready to start. I said YES!! But I didn't want to be too excited... I didn't want to scare them.

They already had 1 summer missionary, who had been there the year before as well. She and I would be roommates in the little apartment above the offices. I didn't meet the other summer missionary that day, I would meet her when I moved in that weekend. They told me her name was Emily. I was thrilled to be getting a job (even though it didn't pay much) that was close to home but far enough that I couldn't live at home. It was such a God thing! I would be working with kids, planning and supervising activities to help keep them busy during the summer months.

Mom and I drove to Brentwood on Saturday and began to move my stuff in. Emily wasn't at the apartment at the time we got there so we just kinda started bringing stuff in. Emily came in later and introduced herself. I remember thinking, wow she is a happy person! She was so welcoming and kind. I was excited but a little nervous about the whole thing. I mean, I didn't actually know anyone at the children's home. I knew Ms. Kristin, but she wasn't there all the time. So I was thankful to have someone so easy to talk to, who "knew the ropes", and was more than willing to show me around.

Emily and I spent that summer together and came back for another summer the next year. She was the kind of friend I really needed at that time in my life. She and I were going through lots of the same things and were able to help each other through some good and not-so-good times. The Lord knew exactly what he was doing when he carefully orchestrated the events of our lives so our paths would cross that summer. I'm still amazed at His wonderful timing. Even today, it is an encouragement to me to know that He uses seemingly meaningless and unrelated events to turn into life changing ones and create lifelong friendships.