Courtney

Courtney

Emanuel:

During orientation on my first day at BBTI, I should have paid attention to what the student handbook said about courting. At the time, I was certain the rules would never be applicable to me. I came to BBTI with the sole intention of focusing on getting all the training and education in missions I could. Romance was the very least of my concerns.

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Courtney:

There was too much to do at BBTI those last few weeks of school. As much as various people begged me to go to the two-week survival course, I had already been gone all semester in India, and I was happier to stay behind and do my job. When my friend Laura-Lee returned, she had much to tell me of all the people there and the things they had done. One night she told me about one of the young men there, Emanuel. She told of his beliefs concerning the gospel, the music he had shared, his love for reading and study, and a little of his history being raised Amish. I found it fascinating, and so rare to find a young man who seemed to believe much the same as we did.

She spoke of him some more over the next few weeks that we were together, and the possibility of him coming to BBTI (which I am always in support of). I even saw pictures and videos of everyone from the survival course when we stayed with Tim (who had put the course together). I remember Tim telling a friend of mine about what a great guy Emanuel was, and that if they had been closer in age he’d say the two of them should get together.

After a couple busy weeks of traveling with Laura-Lee, I went home for the summer. Towards the end of my stay home, it was confirmed to me who all would be coming to BBTI as students, and that Emanuel would be one of them (and that his last name was Schrock).

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Emanuel:

I met Courtney on one of the first days of school. My first thought was, “Ok, another girl. Big deal.” I dismissed her from my mind, and kept minding my business.  

Later that first week, I was in the school classroom doing my homework one evening, and Courtney was there. We chatted for a few minutes, and I decided she was an intelligent and okay person. I didn’t think much of it however, and kept my eyes on what I thought was the ball.

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After our first date.

Courtney:

I vaguely remember being introduced to Emanuel in the library one day soon after school started, but we didn’t talk at all. He in particular I had little interaction with, though I did want to get to know him. Yet, as much as I was curious to get to know him, I found him to be a little intimidating at first. He never seemed much inclined to hang out with people, never seemed to enjoy himself when he did, and was always slamming doors whenever he came in or out of them (I eventually learned he was just noisy). I thought perhaps he was often angry or upset somehow. Yet I still wished to talk in depth with him about his beliefs. Tim and Laura-Lee had seemed to get along with him alright.

I know at one point we had a brief conversation about the Audacity video Ray Comfort did. However, I don’t remember when this conversation was exactly. If it was during that first week, it was the first time we had really spoken to each other.

It was definitely during that second week that we had a few more interactions.

He had received a package from his family back in Ohio, and that Tuesday evening, while I was waiting in the library with Ariana to go to FBI class, he opened his package in the next room. To my surprise—and really rather to my delight—he came into the library with a molasses cookie for me out of his package. It was the first friendly gesture I had seen from him, and I thought perhaps he was a friendly fellow after all. Then later that week, he and Carlo (his roommate) both came to play games with the Harris family and me. This was one of those times I wasn’t sure if he was having fun or not, and he was definitely eager to leave when it was all over. Still, it was fun to play him in checkers. I was glad it ended up being him and me, and he seemed to enjoy himself a bit also.

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Emanuel:

The school classroom is largely at fault for quite a few things. Often in the evenings I would take my books there to do my homework, and somehow Courtney ended up being there as well on many such occasions. About a month into the schoolyear, we were in the classroom together, and we shared our stories of how we got saved. I was impressed by the genuineness of her conversion, and her testimony of a changed life through Christ. It was that evening that I decided that she was more than just an average woman.

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Courtney:

Labor Day came. My brother-in-law Kaylen had off from work, and he and my sister Brianna decided to come out to BBTI for the day. It was Brianna and Kaylen’s first time out to the school that year, and so their first time meeting a lot of the students. Brianna immediately recognized Emanuel though. He and his brother Moses had come to visit the school for a day the previous year. I had not put two-and-two together, but when she told me this I did indeed remember seeing him and his brother, though I had not spoken to them. So Emanuel and Brianna seemed to hit it off really well.

Later, Brianna told me she and Kaylen had spoken to a couple other friends of ours, and all four of them were agreed that Emanuel and I would make a great couple. They all thought I liked him, because of how I acted around him. Brianna said I was really happy whenever I was with him, that both of us were “glowing” when we were together earlier that morning. I denied my part, and really denied his. I had not seen any apparent happiness on his part.

Throughout the several following weeks I began to think about what my sister had said about Emanuel. I denied it to myself, not understanding how I could be “glowing” around someone I barely knew and was actually still a bit uncomfortable around. I reminded myself of the circumstances¸ and told myself nothing could ever happen between Emanuel and me.

About a month into school Emanuel received another package from his family, and showed me some of the pictures of his nieces and nephews. I could see we were definitely becoming friends, which was nice. That Wednesday night I had left my computer in the schoolroom before church, and went back afterwards to finish my work. Emanuel also came into the schoolroom to do some work. Soon we got to talking. It was the first real and in-depth conversation we had had. I asked him about his salvation and he told me his testimony and some about his family. He asked about my salvation in turn, and I gave him my testimony and a little about my family. We talked about missions, and the trips he had been on, and few other things. He seemed as great as everyone had said he was. He was no “cookie-cutter Baptist”, though I pretty much already knew that. His understanding of the gospel was amazing. He spoke of things I had only learned within the last couple years.

Eventually I went home…and thought some more about what my sister had said.

“This is stupid!” I thought, “Brianna put this idea in my head. This is why you should be careful with your words! People throw random comments out there about a guy, and then I’m left to struggle with such thoughts!” I couldn’t deny, though, that from quite near the beginning, even despite his rough first impression, I was happy whenever I saw him. But I didn’t know why, and so it seemed silly. I decided it was as simple as good company and friendship, and no more. I prayed God would take these thoughts and feelings from my mind.

It must have been some time later that week or the next that I was sitting in the library alone at night, doing some work. Someone came in the door down the hall, and soon Emanuel appeared around the corner. He often hung out in the schoolhouse at night. We immediately started chatting, talked about how he had gotten arrested in China, and laughed about a lot of funny stuff. He sat down at the table and we watched some funny videos, and he showed me a picture of his family. When I left, I found an armadillo outside, and text him to come see it. After it ran off, I went to my house and we texted some more. He named the armadillo “Patrick” after one of the funny videos we watched. The following afternoon I walked into the schoolhouse and he said, “Hey, Patrick!” and we had a good laugh remembering the video.

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Emanuel:

And so began a serious identity crisis. Until that point, I had thoroughly enjoyed life as a single, independent adult, and I was not willing to give up that liberty yet. While I certainly had dreams of someday meeting a better half, looking for a wife was not anywhere near on my things-to-do list. I had this lofty idea that God would somehow use me and my singleness to do great things in the world, and it wasn’t easy giving that up. As Courtney and I got to know each other, I suddenly realized that I was being torn between two dreams: of doing great things for God, and meeting the woman of my dreams (as if the two had to be separated). The crisis was intense, and for weeks I was caught in a vicious battle between the two. I spent hours searching for God’s will, and trying to figure out this strange phenomenon. But, in spite of all my resolutions and my logical reasoning, I found myself being drawn more and more to this woman who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. I knew I could not possibly avoid her, since we would be spending the next nine months at the same school (she graduated two years ago, and is now on staff). Part of me wanted to maintain my macho tough-guy front and ignore her, but some other, more powerful part of me refused to let me do that.

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Courtney:

At the end of the month was the lunar eclipse. I had long looked forward to it, having missed the last one while I was in India. It was to be the last of the four “blood moons”, and I was excited. After church, I ate lunch in the school kitchen and looked up all the details. I was happy to see that this one was in the evening, and not early morning. While I was sitting there, Emanuel came in the school through the library. He walked down the hallway, poked his head in kitchen door and smiled broadly at me for a good few seconds. My heart fluttered. It shouldn’t have.

I looked away saying, “The lunar eclipse is tonight!” Not that I thought it mattered to him. Some time earlier that month he had found me star gazing outside. He had asked if I “studied that stuff” in such a tone as to make me think he didn’t care much for astronomy. But surprisingly that Sunday he seemed a little interested and asked what time the eclipse was. Soon after church that night it began. I text him that it was commencing, thinking he would want to step outside his house and see it. To my delighted surprise he text back, “Be right up!” It shouldn’t have made me so happy, but it did. He didn’t have to come up. He could have stayed down with the Schnell’s and watched it.

After that night, Emanuel seemed to hang out less in the library. Yet, the following Sunday was the Pastor Appreciation dinner, and he helped me set up a table outside and sat with me and few other people. We got home about mid-afternoon, and I was surprised when he text me and asked if I wanted to play chess with him in the schoolhouse. I sure did! He brought popcorn and made coffee, and I set up the board. I taught him how to play, and by the third game he was beating me. We talked quite a bit, and looked at some pictures, and didn’t leave until close to church time. I later learned he was supposed to have gone to the dairy that afternoon, but had forgotten.

It was somewhere around this time that I was praying about the whole situation, and was struck with a full realization (or a full confession to myself really): “I like Emanuel.” However, with various obstacles to the relationship, and the fact that I didn't think he liked me anyway, I could only try my best to change my mind about Emanuel.

After that afternoon of chess, there were no more friendly outreaches on his end. He seemed more distant, and that was okay, because I was busy trying to stop thinking about him. I remember a day hunting on the school property with one of the staff members who was also a good friend. On our way back with our squirrel, he asked me if I liked Emanuel. I responded that he was enjoyable to be around, and I wouldn’t run away if he asked after me; however, I told him it wouldn't work out for various reasons and that I didn’t think he liked me. He seemed to agree with all of it, and said that he didn’t think Emanuel wanted to get married, based on some things he had said near the beginning of the year. I wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed, or accept it in helping me get over him. But I also thought to myself that Emanuel was not anti-relationships, he was just a man with focus who knew his mind and wasn’t going to fawn over girls. He’d find a girl someday.

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Emanuel:

Courtney won my affection simply by being the woman I unconsciously dreamed of meeting someday. It started when I realized that I was enjoying our conversations, and went out of my way to talk to her. The school classroom suddenly became my favorite place to study. I began to watch for the light in the classroom, which was a good indication that she was there, and suddenly my house seemed to be an utterly unsuitable place to study in. I also discovered that I was constantly checking my phone, hoping there would be a text message from her. At first my undue interest disturbed me, and I tried to fight it, but it was no use. The process was slow, but there came a day when I knew that I would have no rest until I made some move toward getting to know her better. Slowly, I began to let her into my life, and was delighted when she took interest in the little things that held meaning to me. I discovered that cookies and pictures of cute nephews and nieces from home can be a wonderful asset. I was thrilled to see that she seemed to enjoy hearing about past experiences I and my family went through. We shared favorite stories, silly video clips, dreams, and hopes until suddenly I realized we had built a camaraderie of understanding and interest. And the strange thing was, I found that I was enjoying every minute of it.

Eventually the walls I thought I had built crumbled, and I admitted to myself that I liked her. I liked her for who she was, what she liked, what she did, and everything she stood for. However, things were quite complicated, and I didn’t know if things would work out. There were several other guys who I knew were interested in her, and had made it clear to her. I didn't want to try anything until I knew she wasn't interested. Finally, I learned from a friend that she wasn't interested, and was still single. So, with feelings ranging between excitement and apprehension, I embarked on what seemed a high-risk expedition of figuring out whether she was remotely interested in me. Due to past experiences, I was determined to keep feelings and emotions out of the picture until I knew how the land lay.

Judging from a series of past occasions, I thought there was a possibility she might like me. We had done enough things together, and had enough conversations together that I knew we had common likes and interests. A culmination of moments shared together, ranging from watching funny videos to making pear cider, to talking about anything from missions to squirrel hunting, convinced me that she was certainly comfortable around me, and seemed to enjoy all of the above. However, I didn’t know whether to interpret that as cordial friendship or personal interest, so I kept my distance.

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Courtney:

Staying away from Emanuel and attempting to stop thinking about him didn’t seem to work out really well. One afternoon in particular I saw him near my house chopping up trees. He had been riding in the grasslands most of the day, and so I was surprised to see him out working as soon as he got back. I figured he must be tired. And, like Mama often did when men were working on our property, I thought to offer him a drink. I could have just taken something out to him like Mama always did for the men, but I thought it better to text him. So I wrote up a text to ask if he wanted some tea or water, but I hesitated to send it. “Don’t do it, Courtney.” I told myself. Now was my time to ignore him. But….it was just the Southern hospitable thing to do! I sent it. It was a long time before he responded to my text, saying that he had left his phone in the truck and was done working now. That was fine—I shouldn’t have sent it in the first place. This was God keeping me in check, when I couldn’t keep myself in check.

Just a few minutes later, I was sitting on my front steps talking to Ariana, when he pulled up to my house in the work truck, a broad smile on his face. It was that same smile the day of the lunar eclipse, and my heart sighed. The three of us chatted for a few minutes until Ariana left, then him, and I went inside.

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Emanuel:

The Reception

Courtney has a sister and brother-in-law not far from the school in Texas, named Brianna and Kaylen. In October, they had a mini, belated wedding reception, and Courtney’s family came in from Arkansas for the occasion. I was working at the shop on the evening before the reception, when I checked my phone, and saw I had missed a text message from Courtney thirty minutes earlier, asking me what I was doing that evening. I told her, and asked why she asked. She said she had needed a ride to her sister’s place to have supper with her family, but that she had her car now and didn’t need a ride after all. I wanted to kick myself for not checking my phone earlier. Then she said she hadn’t left yet, and I was welcome to come along and meet her family. I wasn’t sure what to make of such an invitation, but I wasn’t about to turn it down. It ended up being a wonderful evening, both of spending time with Courtney on the road (with a chaperone of course), and meeting her family at Kaylen and Brianna’s house.

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Courtney:

The night before my sister’s reception was a Friday. My family was coming in, and we were all meeting up at Brianna’s for dinner. However, the director of the school had taken my car to get tires, and the other single girl Ruth had decided to stay home. It came time to leave, and my car still wasn’t back, so I text Emanuel to ask what he was doing tonight (right that minute). He didn’t respond for a while, during which time Bro. Rex brought my car back and I began to leave for my sister’s. As I was pulling out, I was stalled by Mrs. Margie who reminded me of some things I was supposed to take to my sister. Then Emanuel text me back about the cider press he was building. I told myself not to do it, but I invited him to come along anyway and have dinner with my sister and Kaylen. So he left off with his press and got ready while I gathered the things from Mrs. Margie and arranged for Nathanael to come along with us. We arrived at my sister’s quite late, but I thought we had a really good evening. Kaylen is very musical like Emanuel, and so they’d play their instruments whenever they were together.

However, I knew that bringing him along looked suspicious, and my parents really liked him and saw in him a very eligible young man. I told them it would never happen, and not to try anything.

The next day, while preparing for the reception, Mama kept making comments about Emanuel. I ignored her, and just kept my eyes on the carrots I was chopping.

Over the next month several things happened that I can’t remember the order of. Everything sort of ran together. I think the first was that Emanuel still had to try out his cider press. I thought that was the neatest thing—to build a cider press. He invited me to come help try it out. I was curious to see it, and more than willing to come. I remember when a young man had built his own telescope when I was a student. I had also thought that was pretty awesome, but some of us single girls had not been overly eager to go try it out with him lest he should think more of our actions than any of us meant. So also this time I debated going down to try Emanuel’s cider press with him, lest it should seem suspicious. Yet, I told myself, I had gone to try the telescope once or twice, Emanuel is my friend, and Nathanael will also be there. It’s a cider press! Why would I miss out, especially when trying out such things is so in keeping with my character? So after FBI class that Tuesday, I went down to where he and Nathanael were. It was as awesome as I had expected, and a lot of fun. I even got to do more than watch, as Nathanael and I helped grind the pears for the press.

As much as I had set my mind against Emanuel time and again, I just could never shake this idea that God was somehow in on this. That “Emanuel and I” was kind of his idea. I was drawn to pray about it, even when I told myself it was a no-go, even when I prayed God would take my feelings away. One day I remember talking to God about it, and God said, “You asked me why not the other men who were interested in you, and I answered you. But you never asked me, ‘Why Emanuel?’”

I said, “Okay. Why Emanuel?”

God wasted no time. This was at the end of the month and we went to visit Ms. Pam. She was what the Texans call a “shut-in” (kind a horrid term to my ear). She was stuck at home due to surgeries she’d had, and the guys had met her door-knocking. Finding her to be a Christian, they decided to go back and visit with her to give her some fellowship. So, Ariana, Nathanael, Carlo, Emanuel, and I all went on a Monday night. We sang, prayed, and read scripture, and did quite a bit of talking. The woman had had a rough time of it and was greatly discouraged. She upset herself so much, I interrupted her to ask if I could pray. With her consent, I laid my hands on her and prayed for her spirit—that she would know more of God’s character, and for her body—that she would be healed. When I finished, Emanuel brought up some scripture out of Romans and began to expound to her the pure love of God even in our most trying times, and talk to her of how the gospel applies to our Christian lives. I could see that his heart hurt for her, and for her to know these things.

“That’s why.” I thought. “That’s why Emanuel.”

My mind didn’t give over to the idea, since there was still so much in the way. But I began to see more clearly over the next little while how in-line we were on spiritual matters and the gospel; and how he met the only three things I had ever required in a man: that he be loving and compassionate, wise, and humble.

At some point Emanuel text me and asked if I was going to go with a friend, Michael, to his sister’s wedding, or if I was going to the missionary auction. I told him I didn’t know yet, and I liked to think about things for a while. I asked him why he wanted to know, as this was the second time he had asked me. I don’t remember what he all he had said…something about being nosy. Either way he just brushed it off. I wondered what he was thinking, and what he would be doing that weekend. He had mentioned some different plans he had for the next few weekends. I wasn’t sure whether to go to the wedding and be away for a week, or go to the missionary auction, which I was pretty sure he was going to. But I couldn’t base my plans on him.

Some weeks later, when I finally made my decision to go to the wedding, I text to tell him so. I told him that it was to “satisfy his curiosity”, though really I just wanted to tell him. He text back a sarcastic comment about being able to sleep better now. I hadn’t expected that, but it didn’t matter to me. I told him he was the one who had asked (more than once). He text back a few minutes later to apologize, and we went on talking about other things. I myself was curious as to his plans, and he told me he was going to the missionary auction. As excited as I was to go to Ellen’s wedding, I was sorry I wouldn’t be going to the auction. It was great fun, and Emanuel would be there. But that wasn’t supposed to matter to me.

A few days before I left for the wedding I had made some squirrel soup. It had not turned out as good as it normally does, but knowing Emanuel I thought he might like to try some, and I would like to share it. I debated in myself for several minutes, with my phone in hand, wondering if I should do this—telling myself I shouldn’t. But I convinced myself that I would do this for any friend I knew liked squirrel (and I would). So I text him and asked if he wanted to try it, and he said he sure would. So that evening he came into the school kitchen where I was studying and had some. I don’t know if he liked it or not (it was rather mediocre to me), but it was nice to see him.

We left for the wedding on a Thursday. Emanuel and I had been messaging on Facebook the night before, as we had increasingly done, sharing songs, poems, sermons, and ideas. After I got off work that morning, I finished up my packing and hurried to send him another reply on Facebook with a neat wood-working idea and some funny songs. I wouldn’t have internet for a while, so I didn’t want to leave without replying. He also text me to ask what he should bring to the missionary auction. I told him to employ one of the ideas he’d sent me a while back for carving swans out of apples. I left some venison in the school fridge for him, since I figured he was the only one around who would eat wild meat, and I didn’t want it to spoil while I was gone. I waved good-bye to him as we pulled out, and then thought I probably shouldn’t have done that. I never wanted to be a forward person, I just was having little luck at controlling myself.

Throughout my trip we text each other. One night we discussed going to the abortion clinic in Fort Worth to pass out literature. After the missionary auction he sent me a picture of his fruit platter. His apples were looking more like swans and less likes the ducks everyone teased him about. He told me about how it all went, and how much various items sold for. He had asked me during the auction if I wanted a coffee basket, but I hadn’t gotten the message in time.

I prayed early on in the trip for God to somehow give me confirmation about what was going through Emanuel’s head. There wasn’t enough evidence to convict him of anything. Did he like me? Was Michael right about him not wanting a girl at all? This couldn’t go on, so I just needed to know what he was thinking. I felt as if God would give me the answer I sought when I came back from Mississippi.

When I arrived back, I found in my mailbox the plate and spices I left with the venison, as well as some Ukrainian chocolates from Emanuel. He told me he had decided to stay around for Thanksgiving and asked me what I would be doing. Up until recently I had been planning to stay around as well, but had decided to go home with my sister and brother-in-law. So I told him so. An idea immediately sprung up in my mind to invite him to come with Kaylen, Brianna, and I to Arkansas for a fun, family Thanksgiving. I couldn’t ask him myself though. So I decided to talk to Kaylen later that day. We talked some more with Ruth, and had a great time until it was time to go to work detail. Things somehow seemed different. For the first time I had an idea that maybe he might like me.

When I went into the office Bro. Rex, was doing work. We talked for a bit about my trip, and then I got up to leave. But he stopped me with his characteristic mannerisms that he displays when he has a secret to tell you.

He asked me, “If a young man was interested in you, would you want to know about it?”

Since when had he asked to tell me such things? I thought about it for a few seconds, almost said no, but then sat down and drawled out a, “Sure…! Why not?”

So he proceeded to tell me about how he had been in the washhouse at the same time as Emanuel one day that week, and Emanuel had randomly asked what he thought about me. For whatever reason Bro. Rex took that to mean something serious. So he joked with him at first about how he thinks I have long, dark hair and am about yea-tall, etc… But then he had proceeded to tell Emanuel not to do anything until he talked to my father first. I told Bro. Rex that different people have different ideas. He says Emanuel is interested in me, and Michael says he doesn’t like anybody… So I could not be sure. Bro. Rex was pretty certain about his own idea though. I made no move to dissuade him, or show that I was opposed. Bro. Rex could tell that I like him back.

When I got out of the school building and headed down toward the Nispels’ for…something, I text Kaylen to tell him my idea of inviting Emanuel to come with us to Arkansas, and see if he agreed. He agreed whole-heartedly and said he would ask for me.

I believe it was that weekend that we had a game night, and Brianna and Kaylen came out. Ruth and I made hamburgers for Hannah, Emanuel, and ourselves before everyone got there. Then we all played games with the kids, and us older ones went to my house to watch Hunger Games. When the movie was over, Kaylen and Emanuel were talking in the kitchen and he asked him if he wanted to come to Arkansas with us for Thanksgiving. Emanuel said he’d think about it.

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Emanuel:

Thanksgiving in Arkansas

Some of us single students had a party on Friday evening before Thanksgiving, and Kaylen and Brianna came to join us for an evening of fun. Before they left, we were talking about our Thanksgiving plans, when Kaylen said they were going to Arkansas to be with Courtney and Brianna’s parents’ place, and I was welcome to come along. My heart rate was strangely affected by that piece of information. I had known that Courtney was going to Arkansas for Thanksgiving, and I knew I was going to miss seeing her for almost a week, so this proposition was delightful. I told him I would think about it, and would let him know.

The stress level of the next few days was alarmingly high as I went through the process of deciding what to do for Thanksgiving. The larger part of me saw this trip as an open opportunity to get to know Courtney better, and spend time with her family. It would also be a good way to tell whether or not Courtney was interested in anything beyond a casual friendship. But there was another part of me that kept telling me this was a point of no return; that if I went, Courtney (and a whole host of other people) would know for sure that I was interested in her. I knew that once I let her know how I felt about her, I couldn’t just back out and drop her if later I decided I wasn’t interested after all. And at that point, part of me was still hanging on to my old life as an independent adult, and I had a pretty good feeling that if I went to Arkansas, I could very well end up losing that. 

After talking it over with a few friends, I decided I was ready to jump in with both feet. But I wasn’t sure how Courtney felt about the whole thing, and I didn’t want to make it awkward for her, since I knew people would make some pretty loud speculations. Finally I sent her a text message asking her if it would be awkward for her if I went, and told her I wouldn’t go if it would. Her response delighted me: “Well, I’d like to see them speculate to my face!” She said it wouldn’t be awkward for her at all. So, after a good deal of stressful speculation, I decided to go.

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Courtney

Over the next few days I heard nothing, except from my sister. She said he had been talking to Kaylen, asking if all of us were okay with him coming—if I was okay with it. I told them to tell him we were all okay with it, and we didn’t mind people speculating (since, you know, everyone had been doing that all semester anyway). I talked quite a bit with my sister, as she reiterated to me once again (this might have been the third or fourth time) that she thought Emanuel liked me. I told her it didn’t matter until he told me so himself.

He eventually said he’d come, though I can’t remember how or when I found out. I know he had text me himself to confirm that I would be okay with it, and I was (duh! It was my idea!). So Wednesday we all packed our things in Kaylen’s vehicle and headed out.

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Emanuel

The eight-hour drive to Arkansas was a blast. I got to be in the inner circle of Courtney’s family, and I got to see a little bit of who Courtney and her in-laws were in their natural environment. We had a lot of fun, sharing our favorite music, and telling stories.

We arrived at her family’s place around 1:00 am, and her parents were still up. I soon decided that my ideas about Courtney and I were mild compared to theirs. They seemed to have pretty much concluded that I was to be Courtney’s Prince Charming, and didn’t try very hard to hide it. I was surprised in one way, but in another way, I didn’t mind much, because at least I wouldn’t have any trouble getting their permission should I… Well, you know, need it.

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Courtney:

We had a great Thanksgiving. The only downside was how many comments Mama and Dad made to him, or in his earshot, about being their son-in-law, joining the family, being in the family pictures, etc… I know how to slough off the things Dad, and even Mom, say, but I hoped it wasn’t making Emanuel uncomfortable. When I had imagined people “speculating”, I hadn’t thought it would be such a bombardment from my parents. I really enjoyed having him around though, and Titus (my three-year old brother) really liked him.

On the day we left, before church, Dad went outside to prepare his truck to leave. Emanuel went out to help him. I had a funny feeling I knew why, and was hopeful. They sat out there talking for quite some time. After they both came in, it wasn’t long before Dad took me outside to tell me what they had talked about. Sure enough, he had asked Dad about asking me out. Dad told me he didn’t like it, just because he had hoped I wouldn’t get married, but that he knew it was God’s will for the two of us and so he gave his consent.

We drove home, and had a pleasant trip. At one point I was watching a video on his phone, when a message popped up from a friend of his saying, “How’d it go?” I figured I knew what they were talking about.

The next day was back to class. I had no mail, but when I passed the boxes on break I had an envelope sitting in mine. It was sealed, and I turned it over to see just my name on the front. I knew who it was from, but I just had to open it up and see for sure. I ripped it open with my finger, instead of cutting it with a knife like I usually do, and looked at the end. It was Emanuel’s name. I did a fist pump and whispered a “yes!”, then shoved it back in my box to await for later.

When class was over I took it home and read it through twice. It was the most joyous thing I could read at that point—the end of everything I had wondered about for so long. He told me the short of all that had been going through his mind this semester, that he wanted a relationship, that he didn’t want to presume anything about how I felt, and so was asking me if I felt the same. I couldn’t wait to reply.

That day was above most days very busy, and I had no time to write until late. After helping clean up the cookie exchange a little bit and packing my things to go spend the night with Brianna, I wrote out a hurried letter expressing the same back to him. I told him a bit of what I had been thinking and praying, and that my answer was yes. I spent the next day helping my sister after her gall bladder surgery, and came back Tuesday night. I got on Facebook and saw a message from him the day before asking me to wait a week to reply to his letter. Oops. I told him he could give it back if he wanted, but he said no, he wasn’t giving that letter to anyone.

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Emanuel:

I was tired of not knowing for sure where matters stood, so I wasted no time writing Courtney a letter when we got back from Arkansas. I placed it in her mailbox Monday morning after we returned, and she answered that same afternoon. I was a little tense as I ripped it open. The tension changed into delight when I realized she had liked me for a long time, and had been praying and waiting "to receive such a letter as yours." 

The rest is history. We went on our first date that Friday evening, and discussed some of our major beliefs and visions. It was a most delightful evening, and when it was over, we were officially in a relationship. 

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Christmas in Ohio

I invited Courtney to spend Christmas break with my family in Ohio, which is where we are currently at, until the end of break. It has been the honor and privilege of my life to spend time with Courtney, and have her around to meet my family and friends. I'm continuously blown away at the awesome wonder of seeing God do things that soar far beyond the realm of my imagination. Courtney and I both feel like God was arranging everything from the start, and we were just along for the ride. Jesus led us all the way, and our faith and trust in Him has been greatly increased. 

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Because I had to know

On December 23, 2015, I took Courtney to a beautiful property owned by my former employer. As far as Courtney was concerned, we were only there to have some photos taken as a celebration of our courtship. But there, under a covered bridge, at a table for two, over a jug of chocolate milk, Courtney unscrambled a set of wooden blocks to form the words "Chocolate Milk". The back side of blocks formed the meaning of the code: "I Love You." (inside joke). 

The last block had a question on it that would determine her and my future:

She checked Yes.

Sheer surprise:

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Why so fast?

I'm sure many of you are as surprised as Courtney was, and may be thinking something along the lines of: "Didn't they just start dating less than a month ago?" 

I have several answers:

• Although we have been in an "official" relationship for less than a month, we have known each other, and been around each other at the school almost every day for the past four months. During that time, we had plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. 
• Just because we're engaged does not mean we are getting married right away. We have not decided on a date yet, but we're thinking of a summer or early fall wedding. Being engaged makes it much more convenient and helpful to plan our lives after school ends in May. 

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What's next?

School picks back up on January 4. We have finished Phonetics and Culture, and have started Phonemics and Introductory NT Greek, which we will be picking back up when we get back in school after New Years. Graduation is scheduled for May, 2016. 

How you can pray:

• For Courtney and I to sense God's direction for our future:
• A place to serve
• What preparatory steps to take for ministry
• For us to conduct ourselves in a manner that honors God during the months ahead.
• For skill and wisdom to use the increasingly limited time to invest in a relationship, on top of my studies. 

A Day in Bowie

 

A Day in Bowie

I'm sucking in my breath as I realize it's been close to a month since I moved to Bowie, Texas and began school at BBTI. Were someone to ask where the time has gone,  I'm not sure I would have a clear answer. While planning to come to BBTI, I told myself I would  probably have to find something recreational to do, or find some good books to read, in order to not become idle. How naive can be the human mind!

What I do know is that I'm learning many valuable things, on both the intellectual and spiritual level. In both areas, the lessons learned haven't always been all fun and patronizing, but they were absolutely worth the work and pain. 

I see a hand in the back. What does a day at BBTI look like, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

Its hard to tell where one day ends and another begins, but I believe I'll start with the alarm clock. I'm not a person to allow my life to be controlled by an alarm clock, so I normally roll out of bed a bit later then my smart-aleck phone notoriously asserts to be the proper time of 6:00. If the shower fails to wake me up, the coffee finishes the job, and by the time I've eaten a bagel (or flapjacks if I feel led), and walk out the front door, I'm fully awake, and ready to face the world.

"The world" as it relates to me, and appears to me at my initial evacuation from my quarters, is as portrayed in the above photo. It is a wonderful world, with grass and trees, cows and horses, grasshoppers,  and ants the size of your aunt. The three hundred-yard walk to school is calm and relaxing, the sun being only high enough to shed it's glory and not its heat upon the earth.

School begins at 7:55, and normally opens with a short meditation on scripture. Next is World Survey, where students take turns reporting on a missionary, country, or a people group to pray for.

Articulatory Phonetics

Phonetics class begins at 8:30,and lasts until 10:00, with a short break in between. (Michael, my Phonetics teacher, may be reading this, so I won't mention him) 

Phonetics is the study of how individual human speech sounds are made. It is an exhilarating adventure into the here-to-fore unknown internal workings of the Pharyngeal, Oral, and Nasal Cavities, the Articulators, and the corresponding Points of Articulation. I won't take the time to elaborate on those terms, since I'm sure you have been able to speak quite well without understanding them so far. We learn Phonetics in order to Recognize, Record, Recall, and Reproduce  all human speech sounds, which are the foundation of all languages. (Michael would be proud that I remembered the four "R"s)

Culture 

Culture class starts at 10:15, and is taught by Steve Schnell. Dr. Schnell graduated from BBTI a long time ago, and served in Cambodia for years, then returned to serve at BBTI, where he is much used of the Lord in all aspects of the ministry. Over the years, he has earned degrees ranging from Sanitation Engineer (aka, sewage plumber) to Professor of Anthropology (earned on the field in Cambodia). He is a fine man, learned in all wisdom and understanding, and is favored by God and man. 

Anthropology is the study of what culture is, how they are formed, and in our case, how individual cultures relate to Christian evangelism. The goal is to prepare the missionary to notice and understand the culture he/she engages, in order to be effective in missions. If you think culture and missions are not related, consider the native African couple who killed their baby because a western missionary ordered the man to leave his hammock after the baby was born. The culture was that the father of a newborn male must lie in a hammock a certain amount of time after the baby was born, or the baby must die. The missionary either didn't know about this cultural norm, or ignored it, and caused the death of a child. In one sense, that's stupidity and ignorance on the missionary's part, but in another sense it's a lack of understanding and preparation to face the culture. In many (or most) cases, the effectiveness of the gospel is measured by natives' understanding of it in terms of their own culture, not our western one. 

Grammar

Culture class ends at 12:00, except on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when we have chapel service from 11:30 to 12:00. Usually we have an hour of class between 12:00 and 1:00 in the afternoon. When Dr. Schnell or Michael don't use it for review and exercises, Brian Alford teaches grammar during this class. I am amazed at what all I thought I knew about grammar, but either forgot or never learned, which is not all the fault of my primitive education as an Amish kid. 

Work Detail

Work detail is that period in time in which we, the students, engage in manual labor, performing various tasks that need to be done, ranging from cleaning up shops, building tables, gutting old houses, landscaping, and working towards earning a degree in Waste Disposal Services. Work detail starts at 2:00, and ends at 4:00 for the ladies, and 5:00 for the men. Since I'm not a lady, I naturally work until five, at which time I am free to return to my barracks. 

What I do after my release from work detail largely depends on the day of the week. If it is not Wednesday, I spend the evening studying and doing homework. When the opportunity presents itself, I try to make and eat food, and do other unspeakable house tasks. If it is Wednesday, I'm a good boy, and go to prayer meeting, which usually doesn't help me get to bed early. 

Karena

The horses you have seen and heard so much about are not here simply for special effects. They are well trained riding horses, and I often go riding in the evenings with the Schnell boys and Mr. Wes, a man from town who owns some of the horses. 

After our first ride, Mr. Wes told me he has a young paint who had little prior training, and needed to be worked with on a regular basis. I agreed to help him, and now I have a beautiful horse to call my very own while I am here. 

"My horse" is a sweet and gentle five-year-old paint, whose name I changed from Isis to Karena. (It's all part of the missionary training) I named her Karena after the Karen people of Burma, a people group under extreme oppression by the Burmese military.

Karena and I have bonded well.  I think I have learned as much about life and my relationship with God during our time together as she has about riding. As mentioned, she is a gentle horse, and I have learned that I must treat her carefully and patiently as I train her to understand and do what is expected of her. Harsh and rash words, angry gestures and punishments, and impatient corrections could turn her from a gentle and willing learner to a confused and ill-tempered beast. 

Many times, as I spend time with Karena, my mind goes back to my early years as a believer in the Lord Jesus. How patient He was, and still is with me! He overlooked my faults, and handled my spirit delicately and gently, giving me only gentle corrections, in measures that were not too large to destroy my faith. Sure, He saw (and still does) all the different places where I needed growth and correction. But those are not His focus. He has earned my trust, and He will never destroy it by being unreasonable or harsh with me. 

Recent events have proven my immaturity and pride, and He needed to apply correction, but He did it without driving me from Him. Instead, I was drawn closer. I love Jesus. 

Naomi Elaine Marie Carpenter

And finally, I am pleased to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and....

Just kidding, Michael. 

In a world far removed from my family, including my young nieces and nephews, the pain of separation is much lessened by this cute little red-head. There are two babies on the premises, one the daughter of my Phonetics teacher, the other the son of a student couple. I have to say, I favor the former. 

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There you have it: a small taste of life here at BBTI. I hope you have been inspired, and that you have gained a lofty view of the school here. It is quite worthy. 

How you can pray:

• That the students would be able to process and retain the important portions of the mountains of information that gets shoved into our brains daily. 
• For Miss Lisa's hands to be healed. She is a student. 
• For both my room mate, John Carlo, and me to receive direction from God as we knock on doors, and peer into windows in search of God's will for our lives in a place to serve. 
• For the snakes, scorpions and spiders to remain friendly allies to our cause.