Memories...

When the Shepardsville Team began, it was just thirteen people who grew up together hanging out and making memories over games, pizza, and music. There was always music (just like there was always pizza). We talked about life, laughed at far too many inside jokes, cried on each other's shoulders, and did life together.

Music eventually became more of a focus and as time went on, jamming sessions and hanging out turned into actual music practice and concert rehearsals. Time went on. People moved away. Others joined. The sound changed with each addition or change in the group members but the strongest factor in the best times was always the same - doing life together.

I could talk about the ability the Team gave me to develop musical talent otherwise probably never really cultivated. Or about learning how to speak in public because of the Team. But it wasn't much about the music so much as it was about a common interest that brought a bunch of teenagers and young adults together and taught us what it meant to do life together. It opened doors some of us never would have knocked on otherwise.

Shared laughter, tears, hopes, dreams, and a solid bond of friendship and love for Jesus Christ. This is what made the Shepardsville Team a memory that will never be forgotten.

Oh, and pizza. Never forget the pizza.

~Rose Bontrager was a member of the Shepardsville Team from 2009-2013.

She blogs about her missionary life in the Dominican Republic on alifewithadestination.blogspot.com.