by Bobby Whitney
Hi, my name’s Bobby. I come from Hampshire, England and I’m age 13. I live with my parents, Penny and John Witney, and my sister Lizzie, she is 15 years old. We are all Christian Scientists. Mum is a Christian Science practitioner and Dad is a businessman.
Recently the opportunity for us to live in India for a couple of years has come to light. Our family has been moved over here by the company where my dad works. This has been a wonderful experience and we’ve had a great time so far. But there are a few challenges we have needed to face and we are overcoming these challenges by turning to God. (more…)
Rosie - The Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 11, 2006
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to pray for the world.
With the various disruptive events on our planet, I have tried to focus on the good, and understand more of the nature of God’s government. But I keep coming back again and again to one question—how can I pray for someone, something, halfway across the world, and know whether my prayers are actually helping?
Earlier this year, I helped form an online forum for teenagers around the world who share a common interest in a certain Japanese animation series. A few weeks ago, one of the Indonesian members posted a message saying that a close friend of hers had been hit in the face with a soccer ball while wearing glasses. She asked us to please pray for her friend. (more…)
Chet Manchester - The Christian Science Journal Dec. 2006
As a college student, I traveled to Kenya for a study-abroad program that took me and about 20 other students to some of the most beautiful game parks in the world. Afterward, a friend and I set out on our own to meet the extraordinary African people themselves. We eventually found ourselves in a nearly deserted village by the shoreline of Lake Victoria. It was a gorgeous setting, and I was puzzled why so few people lived there. We soon learned that this region had been plagued by malaria, and many people had been forced to move away.
We’d been traveling through the general area for a few days, and I hadn’t given a second thought to the mosquitoes, but suddenly I felt in real danger. Many people who live or travel to Africa take malaria pills to protect themselves from the disease. These drugs are not totally effective, and because I’ve always relied on Christian Science for my health, I hadn’t considered using them. Prayer, as I’ve come to understand its depth and practicality through my study of the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings, has proved to be not just a wishing game, but a power that is immediately at hand and 100 percent effective. So, when I began to experience the symptoms of malaria during the next few days, it was natural for me to pray. (more…)
Photo and story by John Hunter - The Christian Science Journal Sept. 2006
This summer, I enrolled in an introductory photography course with a focus on infrared and high speed films. I was hesitant at first, since I’d struggled with mechanics and process during my last photo class back in my sophomore year in high school. But this university class was much different. It gave me a fresh perspective on photography. I was excited and involved, turning inspiration and experience into unique and interesting art.
The photo class had me crawling through sewers, climbing buildings, meeting all types of people, and experimenting with all sorts of subject matter. I would often experiment at night, using flashlights or even fireworks as my subjects. I would hop fences or crawl through mud to get to a specific location if it fascinated me. I loved going on these excursions, searching for different perspectives on the typical or mundane. (more…)
Johanna - The Christian Science Journal Feb. 2006
I live in Germany and my friends at school call me “Jojo.” I enjoy horseback riding, playing the guitar, listening to my CDs, and recently I’ve gotten pretty interested in studying the ancient Maya Indians. Someday, I think I’d even like to be a research explorer.
I also like to spend some time each day praying. Usually, I read something from the Bible and Science and Health, or sometimes I just think quietly about God. Since I was little, I’ve had a lot of healings through prayer and learning more about my relationship with God. (more…)
Rebecca Holzworth - The Christian Science Sentinel Oct. 9, 2006
This past spring, a friend and I went to Mexico City, primarily to study its art and architecture. I enjoy traveling and was really excited about the trip, although at the same time several things concerned me. My friend and I hadn’t spent much time together, and I hoped that we’d get along really well. I’d also been warned we’d be in areas with a high crime rate, and I wasn’t accustomed to the altitude, native food, or water. (more…)
by Michael Trevail
Buongiorno from the Christian Science Plaza!!!!
My name is Michael Trevail, and I’m currently TMC Youth’s newest intern for 2007. I started a week ago. I’ll be devoting my time to the Reading Room, Sunday School activities department, and TMC Youth. I’m working with such an amazing team from all three departments and everyone on the church plaza has been so welcoming to me.
I am currently a freshman at American River College majoring in liberal studies. My goal is to be a teacher. Before coming to TMC Youth, I worked at a private school, doing team building with the second through fifth graders in the after-school program. (more…)
Max Polatin - The Christian Science Journal, Aug. 2006
“No fear.” I once heard a skateboarder say that about me to another skater. I wanted to say to him, “Hey-I am afraid sometimes, but trusting God helps me overcome the fear.”
What I know about God is really essential in my skateboarding. I often do tricks that involve big jumps. This can be kinda scary. So while I set up for a trick I think, I know I can’t fall out of the arms of God. The Bible talks about God’s “outstretched arm” and “outstretched hand,” and I think of being in His hands at the spot where I’ll land. Then I just go for it. I really believe God is taking care of me. Sometimes everyone in the skate park stops to watch. I’ve been skateboarding since I was five, and I’ve become pretty good at it. (more…)
Spencer Keel - Christian Science Sentinel, Aug. 21, 2006
For as long as I can remember, since first joining a running club when I was 11, this is what a Christian Science practitioner has been telling me. Now I’m 16, and to me relaxing and running on the wings of angels means the run will be easy, fast, free of pain or obstacles-that I’ll be free to express God’s goodness and power. And with the wings of God’s angels holding me up, I cannot possibly fall.
Last year, right after my freshman year in high school, I competed in an 800-meter race at the state meet for Junior Olympics Track and Field in Georgia. During track season, just a month before, I’d run the 800 in two minutes and 23 seconds. That wasn’t a bad time for a freshman, but I’d hoped to do better this time and maybe shave off two or three seconds. It felt like another opportunity to prove the all-power of God. (more…)
By Patricia Myers - Christian Science Sentinel, June 12, 2006
My parents joke that our home is a kind of United Nations/Holiday Inn. That’s because since I was four years old, my family has hosted exchange students. You might say it’s become a way of life for me—and it hasn’t just been about sharing my house, my parents, and two older sisters (not to mention my snakes, geckos, tarantula, two dogs, and two cats), but seeing the world as an extension of my family. We’ve been home to exchange students from countries like Spain, Italy, Thailand, Argentina, Denmark, Belarus, and Azerbaijan over the past 14 years.
One of the really cool advantages of this is that I feel as if I have brothers and sisters all over the world now. Even my really good friends at school here in Tennessee are all foreigners—one of my best friends, Sonja, is from Bosnia; and another good friend, Meng Meng, came here from China.
Last year, I finally had the opportunity to be an exchange student myself. I spent my junior year of high school in the small town of Anton, Panama. I have to be honest; my Spanish was pretty much a joke before I went on this trip. I mean, I’d taken two unserious years of Spanish in high school, but the extent of my vocabulary was limited to hola and si. That had to change—and fast!
