Talking with Jesus
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Samantha Smitte ’11 came to Olivet in the summer for freshman orientation not suspecting how much her life would be changed.
Her spiritual life was characterized by a heritage she is proud of, her Jewish roots. Despite her parents becoming Christians many years before, her family had stopped attending their Messianic church and Samantha was back attending Jewish summer camps.
To her, praying meant reciting prayers she didn’t quite understand and asking for forgiveness from God only during certain purification festivals.
Her plans for college had her leaning toward Indiana University or Rutgers University, close to her New Jersey home.
“I had plans to get into the party scene, but prior to spring [of my senior year] I started distancing myself from my high school friends,” remembers Samantha.
Change of plans
Around this time a family friend, and Olivet alum, shared with Samantha the positive aspects of attending ONU and why she might like it. Interested, Samantha agreed to travel to Illinois to see it for herself.
“It was like it just felt like the right place,” shares Samantha of her final decision to attend Olivet.
In her return trip for freshman orientation, Samantha roomed with Cara Sunburg ’11, a former missionary kid whose mom was also there. Cara and her mother, Carol, a trained pastor, were the perfect fit for some of the spiritual questions Samantha started asking.
The idea of Jesus wasn’t really that new to Samantha, as her parents had accepted the idea many years prior. But the idea of a relationship with God was new to her, and she liked the prospect of it.
As orientation progressed, Samantha discussed many of her concerns with wanting to hold onto her Jewish identity and heritage, but also wanting to accept Christ.
“Cara helped me understand that I didn’t have to not be Jewish to accept Christ, I didn’t have to give up my heritage,” Samantha explains.
“I just kept thinking of more questions and Cara and her mom sat down and answered them. I felt like there was just so much support and like God just loved me. I realized Jesus could love me more than any boyfriend ever could.”
Answering the door
One afternoon, Cara, Carol and Samantha were discussing more questions when Samantha made the decision to hand over her life to Christ.
“Cara’s mom explained that Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts and we have to decide to let him in. After I did, she gave me a piece of paper that said the date and that I had let Jesus in and we all signed it,” shares Samantha, pulling the paper out of her purse.
With a smile and classy New Jersey accent, Samantha shares, “I love that now I can pray in any words I want to God, anytime. And I can ask for forgiveness anytime.”
Samantha is quick to add that she doesn’t have it all figured out. “I still have doubts and things I wonder about and don’t know.”
But she believes — and that’s what faith is all about.
As Samantha navigates the newness of college life and the challenges of wondering what her future and life will be about, she continues to be encouraged by her friends.
And she’s enjoying the conversation she can have freely with her Savior, whenever she wants.