A little over 20 years ago, a young (12 year-old) friend of our daughter, Marian, came to visit at our house. Marian invited her to go to church with us; Misty did and then went with us many times over the next few years. Misty grew up, married, and a couple of years later had a little girl of her own. Marian kept in contact with Misty and when Misty was working, Marian would bring her little girl to church with us. Lots of things happened in the next few years and Misty and her husband and family eventually moved away from Abilene. She had to meet many challenges in her life; her husband, Jeff, was in the Air Force and now Misty, Jeff, and children all are transferred to California. Still Marian and Misty remained good friends and kept in close contact with each other.

Marian and Misty communicated with many long distance calls over the years. They would discuss their successes and the problems both girls had in their lives. Often the conversation would turn to God and how He could, would and had helped the girls to remain friends, had helped them through tough life problems and how He would continue to be with them – but Marian knew Misty still needed a better and complete relationship with her God.

WBS Studies Offered - One day, after I had retired and began working with World Bible School, Marian said, “Mom, please write to Misty and see if she might be interested in some of the World Bible School lessons.” Because of some difficult situations which had occurred between Misty and some other members of our extended family, Misty was very surprised that I cared enough to write her. When the opportunity to study was offered her, she accepted and the WBS Internet became our meeting place. We sent lessons back and forth; Misty was learning more with each lesson and so was I. The more we “talked” via e-mail, the more I knew Misty had matured into a beautiful person. She asked and answered some of the really “tough” life questions. She determined that she needed to know God’s will for her life and when the Born of Water and Spirit lessons were presented to her, she decided she needed to be immersed for the remission of her sins so she could receive the salvation God offered her.

Now Misty was a very good student and returned her responses to the lessons fairly quickly. On the other hand, I might not “get around” to grading her lesson for a day or so or if it were a really busy weekend for me and my family, the grading might be postponed for two or three days. I was still new at working with World Bible School and I had not “had time” (????) to read all of the lessons and become really thoroughly familiar with the lessons I was sending out. My thought was, when Misty responds, I’ll have time to read and study the lesson and I’ll just use the “grading key” to ensure the answers are correct.

Misty Responds - That’s really not as bad as it sounds – or I’d like to think that. I was very involved in teaching and studying with other people – personal face to face Bible studies. At least that was my excuse. Misty and I were doing very well with the studies and she was learning a lot. This particular day, Misty sent in her lesson responses, I looked and saw she had completed them and I thought I’ll wait until I have “a more convenient time” to grade the lessons and send her the beginning of the next series. Saturday passes, Sunday passes, Monday is here and I open up the e-mail. I read the lesson – Lesson 8 of the "Born or Water and the Spirit" course. I read Misty’s response to the questions and then I began to read her responses to the self-evaluation this lesson contains. Please allow me to give you a few examples of those questions and Misty’s answers.

Discussion Question #2 1) Do you think that your spirit’s health is more important than your body’s health? No 2) Do you plan to be fully prepared for judgment when you meet your own death? Yes 3) Have you ever sinned (broken God’s law)? Yes 4) Is Satan a kind of “father” to those who sin? Yes 5) Do you want God to be your spiritual father? Yes Discussion Question #3 1) Did the thief on the cross deserve a place with Christ in paradise (like heaven)? No 2) Do you deserve a place in heaven? No 3) Have you ever been like a Pharisee (trusting your own strength and goodness)? yes 4) Are you convinced that God really loves and cares for you personally? Yes 5) Do you need forgiveness by Christ’s death? Yes 6) Are you willing for Jesus to be your only Savior and the very center of your life? Yes 7) Is your faith strong enough to obey Christ? Yes I can assure you, I was becoming very excited the more I read Misty’s responses. I could hardly wait to finish the e-mail questions. Discussion Question #4 Mark each box that fits your own thinking or decision after your Bible study of the New Birth. A) I choose the Spirit’s seed (the word of God) instead of Satan’s lies. Yes B) I still need the new birth of water and Spirit. I agree C) I want all of my life to be under the control of Christ and His Spirit. I agree D) I now want to enter Christ’s death and new life by biblical baptism (immersion in water to be save by Christ’s blood and renewed by His Spirit.) Yes

I was overjoyed when I read these answers. Misty was saying she wanted to be baptized. Misty is in California and we are in Texas. What do I do? I don’t know many people in the church in California and I certainly do not know any who are on the air base where Misty and her family live. So after I talked with Misty on the phone to confirm that she does understand what she has written and to have her acknowledge to me that she does want someone to come visit with her personally, I begin racking my brain and consulting the other World Bible School people and they told me exactly what steps to take.

I will never forget the contact I made with the church not far from where Misty lived. One of the elders there is a World Bible School Postal teacher and was delighted to make contact with Misty. We kept the telephone lines hot over the next few days, trying to get these two people together so they could visit and arrangements could be made for Misty’s baptism.

Tears of Joy - About 9:30 pm, on January 3, 2002, I received a call and the person on the other end of the phone said to me, “Edie, this is Misty and my hair is dripping wet.” When I realized just what that statement meant, I think I cried and laughed and shouted for joy all at the same time. I was so excited – and telling this story makes me happy and tearful all over again. Misty, whom we had known since she was just a child, who is now a wife and a mother of three children – one of them nearly a teenager – has just been born into the Family of God. She is now not only my friend, and one of my “children”, she is my Sister in Christ. And on top of all of this, she tells me she is studying with her daughter and Jessica, too, wants to be baptized. My cup truly runneth over!!

As I have reflected on this event many times in the past 18 months, I think about what could have happened had God not been with Misty and protected her when I was negligent in responding to her e-mail. It frightens me but makes me so grateful that God did watch over her and protect her until the right people could assist her with her baptism. I know that I am much more diligent in requesting that teachers know the material they are sending and that they respond quickly to the messages they receive.

From a small seed of childhood friendship, God has grown a mighty family for Himself. Misty is doing well; her daughter, Jessica, was baptized the week after Misty’s baptism. Later, Misty’s mom, Belinda, enrolled in WBS studies, learned “the way more perfectly”, was baptized and is now a Postal teacher for WBS. I thank God for His love and patience and for World Bible School providing the opportunity to share His love with those who are seekers!!