I can’t remember the details, but the overall memory I have of the beach retreat is sweet. I had the deepest conversations with people that understood the struggle of being a Jesus follower. I learned how to forgive myself for feeling unworthy of being saved…how to really accept him and how to look forward to a new life. This retreat was GRAND and life-changing, but I didn’t keep in touch with those great people I met. One of them was Joshua. I started talking to him after my brother befriended him. They were roommates and had a fabulous time making fun of everyone.
He was baptised along with his brother Manuel during the retreat which made me very happy since Josh told me he was going to enlist in the army. We wrote each other a couple of emails back and forth…but I stopped writing back. And I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for that. The last email he sent he said we would hang out the summer he was going to come back from Germany, where he ended up being deployed to, which was last summer. I’m really upset I didn’t keep in touch…because now I won’t ever see him or hear from him.
He died serving for this country in March. I found out before July 4th.
Thanks for my freedom, Josh…thank you.
Ed Schipul said,
September 2, 2008 at 2:34 am
What a beautiful tribute. And I second the motion – thank you Josh for our freedom. Truly the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you.