Jade Barth, Director

My Story

Page Photo Worst day of my life? I had run into a long lost friend and she recognized my boyfriend's jeep, because for some reason it was always over at her trailer park.

I grew up in a very small town of 2,500 people. My high school class had only 35 students! I was on ASB, the honor roll and played 3 sports.
When I graduated I went to WAZZU (GO COUGS!) a school of 25,000 students, 10x the size of my town. I was lost. No longer was I good enough to be on the volleyball team or popular enough to run for ASB. All those things were gone and I was lonely!
Then I met him. His name was Keo Millan. He was Filipino and a volleyball stud, which made him perfect. We hadn't dated long when we decided to have him move in with me and my roommates (Disclaimer: not a good idea, bad, bad). Things were good, but not great. I thought this was as much as I could expect out of life.
Worst day of my life. I had run into a long lost friend and she recognized my boyfriend's jeep, because for some reason it was always over at her trailer park. My mind raced, I had to know who lived there. So like any sane person (catch the sarcasm) I walked right up to that trailer and with my heart in my throat I knocked on the door. A girl answered and I chocked out the words "Hi, I'm Keo's girlfriend and I just need to know what your relationship with him is?"
"Who, what, no your not!" she retorted. "I'm his fiance"
What? How? I felt like someone had kicked me in the gutt. It hurt so bad.
She invited me in and I saw the professional pictures they had had taken together. This was for real, I was really talking to my live-in boyfriend's fiance I was the other women. I desperately wanted it to be a bad dream, everything I thought about the two of us was a lie, a horrible year and a half lie! He had been able to live two separate lives without this girl or I finding out until now.
In the next few days and in the midst of reeling from the shock, I remembered the Fellowship of Christian Athlete's Easter Retreat was coming up, I knew I needed to go. They talked about Jesus and his love for me. I can't remember a time when I didn't believe that God was real, I just thought He was more like Santa Claus. "Can I have this, would you help me with that?" was the extent of our conversations. But what they were talking about was something more, much more. A daily active relationship, someone who would never leave me, never cheat on me, and always love me no matter what. I wanted that, I needed that? I desperately cried out "God, my life sucks. Your way is sooooooo much better than mine. Have my life, do whatever You want with it."
Peace? I had never felt such wonderful peace and acceptance. He wanted me back even after all I had done, all that I had put Him through. He loved(s) me.
I went home a changed woman. My ex came over to get some of his things and noticed the difference. I told him about this wonderful peace I'd found in Jesus.
"I want what you have," he said.
I didn't really know what to do. I thought we might as well pray and that day he asked Jesus into his life.
It ended up that the other gal asked Jesus into her life as well and the two of them did get married about a year and a half later.
And I found my way here to YD!