In June/July during the summer in between my Junior and Senior year of high school I went on my very first trip to a place that is very close to my heart: Estonia. It was only an 11 day trip, but it was incredible. I was so free while I was there. I acted a little crazier and dropped a lot of the nerves I tend to get around people. It was a great experience.
After returning it would soon be time to start my Senior year high school. I can remember Leigh Anne always joking about how we can't believe I made it that far, alive. No, never because we were worried of an overdose or car wreck even; simply because Leigh Anne wanted to kill me during those first 6 years in Georgia. I am glad she didn't though, I'm not sure what she would do without my messy room or smart comments I tend to make.
Anyhow, I was anxious for senior year to fly by and luckily I was on work program. I was able to leave school before 12:00 each day. It was like a dream come true. I started off my senior year as one of the leaders for FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). From the beginning this was a struggle; seeing that I wasn't an athlete it was hard to gear the messages and themes towards athletes.
In my junior year I began to mess around on drums a little bit. When I was in 7th grade I made the best decision in band class to switch from the ever so manly clarinet to the percussion side of the world. I never knew how important of a decision I made right then. Some of the other leaders at FCA wanted to start a band that could lead worship, they asked me to play drums. I agreed and I was pretty horrible. I had never really learned how to play. I hadn't played much since middle school and it was so difficult the first time we played. I did enjoy it though.
Over the remainder of Senior year I joined a band with some really good buddies of mine. The original name of the band was "Blueberry Jam" and our claim to fame is a cover of "Mountain Jam" by the Allman Brothers, although we changed the name to "Sawnee Mountain Jam." For those of you that live in Forsyth, you should understand.
Most of the time we would just mess around at Joel's house (one of the guitarist) for hours, managing to play two MAYBE three songs in that time. We enjoyed to drag out guitar solos, change the tempo of songs and build it up real big at the end. It was great time. We played a few shows that year and people seemed to enjoy us for the most part. While I was playing with these guys and also playing with FCA I realized that I really enjoy drums. I started practicing on my own time and then would go and play for hours with The Revival (the new name for Blueberry Jam). It was cool to become a drummer again.
I made it through my senior year and during that time Estonia slipped back into my life. I was asked to come back to Estonia for a full summer after my Senior year and along with me my buddy Scott was also asked. He was much quicker to say yes than I was. There were a few things in my life that I was not so willing to give up, but as soon as I did I sent the email to Chris Brock asking if I could come.
After graduation was over and the festivities that follow, Scott and I boarded a plane for a two month journey in Estonia. That summer was the most eye opening summer I ever experienced. God made himself so known to me. He made it so clear that I could have a relationship with him and be closer than I was before. He showed me that He can work through me and use me to bring glory to his name. He taught me that things can get tough but to trust in him and he would carry me and the team I was working with through those times. I could spend 15 blog posts on just that summer in Estonia alone, so I will move on.
In August just after returning from Estonia I gained my current job at Starbucks. It has treated me well over the last year and a half. Sometime between August and January of 2008, my friend Nick asked me to come play drums at the youth group he was playing at the time. I remember being so nervous about it. I had to learn to play live with a click track (metronome) and also to play something that was not as improvised a jam band music. I made it through it alive and they kept calling me back. I was amazed, I hadn't decided that I wanted to continue playing drums when I got back from Estonia, in fact it had almost been time to close up that part of life. Though, I got the call. Over the following months I got much better at playing with a click track and I learned many new things about drumming and worship music. I had moved away from jam band music and moved into my favorite type of music.
During the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009 I spent time thinking about whether or not I wanted to return to Estonia for another summer. I ended up making the decision that I would. I raised the support and was getting ready to head back to Estonia in June of 2009. The only thing I was nervous about this time around was, am I still going to be able to play drums when I get back?
There I was heading back to Estonia for two and half months. This past summer was the most amazing time I have ever experienced with God. In the summer past, He showed me this close relationship I could have with him. In the most recent visit to Estonia He showed me how faithful and TRUE his word is. I learned a lot about the Bible in this past summer. I learned a ton about how God worked between the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible. There were so many themes through His word that I was beginning to see and how everything was always leading up to the birth of Jesus. It was incredible, I fell in love with Estonia last summer. So much so that I began speaking about leaving the states for some time to live there. This desire is still in my heart, but it is all in God's time.
Since returning in August I have spent a lot of time with friends. This has been a struggle because sometimes I am not the most loving and compassionate person, especially if I am in a bad mood. God has showed me this in the last couple of months. It is becoming my "thing" to work on in 2010. The verse "Let your love be genuine" in Romans snuck up on me a week ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it.
Other than working at Starbucks and spending time with friends, there has been drums. I never dreamed drums would even go as far as it has now. It continues to grow though. I have seen God in it a lot. I am enjoy each time I get behind a drum set more and more. As far as my future goes in Estonia, I am unsure. Right now I am following my dream.
I can't complain about life right now. I have people in my life that I have never cared so much about anyone else. I struggle to show them sometimes, but it is in me. My prayer this year is to grow into loving relationships with the people in my life. Drop the sassy part of me and to let my love be genuine. I cannot do this without God. I have to allow him to work through me and step out of His way.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing the journey God has taken me and my family on. Please forgive anything that is not grammatically correct. There were many thoughts I was trying to get out! I am looking forward to sharing more on the blog about God and what he is teaching me. I hope it can bless you, as I would love see this Blog only for His glory. Go, enjoy your day and we can catch up soon.
Thank you,
brett
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