K
khmsct99
Guest
I was born in the country of Guatemala. (Country below Mexico) I say this because it plays a big role in my future. However, as a baby I came to the USA because I was adopted. I was always interested in my biological family and wondered about Guatemala.
As a child/preteen I always thought that Christians were the same. I never knew about Catholics or Protestants, I never knew about other denominations. I just thought that all Christians were like the church I attended and they believed the exact same things.
In 6th Grade I was doing a project about any country I chose. I chose Guatemala. One of the requirements was to identify the religion in the country. I printed off a bar graph, and it was divided into 3 sections, they were Roman Catholic, Christianity, and Other. I did not know what Roman Catholic was, all I knew was that it was the predominant religion there. Christianity was much lower. I was confused.
In 7th grade, I still didn’t know about denominations. I thought that Christians were Christians. However, I had a Catholic English Teacher. I asked a friend what it was she said that Catholics were Christians.
One day it was Ash Wednesday and I remember my bus driver, who was also Catholic, talking about giving up a certain food for Lent. I remember seeing ashes on her forehead. I remember getting home and telling my a. mother, “The bus driver had dirt on her forehead.” That’s really what I said because I didn’t know what it was! My a. mother said it was ashes from being Catholic.
I remember the teacher saying that she was going to give up coffee for Lent since she had an addiction to it. I didn’t know what she meant by Lent though. At that point I just thought that it was a “weird” kind of Christianity because I, a Protestant, did not observe Lent or Ash Wednesday.
A month later I remember her reviewing for the end of year state testing. But one day she was doing something to entertain us since she didn’t have anything else to do. We did palm reading. She said that she didn’t want to offend anybody, it was just for fun.
I remember her asking a question that really opened my eyes that day. She said, “Who in here is a Baptist?” Literally, EVERYONE raised their hand EXCEPT me. I had no idea what that was. I soon realized I was a Baptist because I attended and grew up in a Baptist Church which is what everyone is in my area.
I still didn’t understand Protestants or Catholics. A few weeks later I was in Social Studies class and we were talking about different denominations in Christianity. He explained many but I don’t remember what he said about them, except Baptist, because I was a Baptist. He said that when we are baptized we go underwater completely.
I’m now in high school. I don’t have a good relationship with my adoptive family. We argue, and a few months ago, I got into an argument about my OCD and Emetophobia problem (Fear of throwing up) They say it’s all in my head and that I need to quit worrying. I was mad and decided I was going to move to Guatemala, change my name back to my birth name, and meet real family.
Ironically, a week before this happened I told a new friend that I was born there and the adoption and she asked me, “Are you ever going to move there when you are an adult?” and my reply, “I don’t think so. I will probably visit Guatemala, and meet my biological family but I probably won’t live there.”
Then I remembered Guatemala being predominately Roman Catholic.
I asked my Baptist friend and was hoping to get opinions from her. I remember the first time I told her. I said: "What would think if I were to convert, not really religions, but – " I did not get to finish. She said, “Don’t you ever consider changing religions!” and I told her I would never do that. Then I finished and said “…but attending a Catholic Church” and she said, “I don’t know.” I asked a person who I found out was Catholic that same day, in my class. I was talking to her and the Baptist friend, and I asked what was the difference between Roman Catholics and Catholics? She said “They are two different things, they believe in different things, they are not the same” I was shocked! I thought, well if they are different things, I shouldn’t think of joining a Roman Catholic Church in Guatemala. So I quit thinking about it.
Then I thought, why do they both use the word Catholic? I looked it up and never got good answers. Until, I found Catholic Answers and thought, maybe I will get actual answers from other Catholics. I understand now.
I finally got to ask my Baptist friend again about it. She said negative things about Catholics and said I shouldn’t convert and that we would just Skype so that I would stay Baptist. I never said anything rude, I never got into an argument, I defended the reasons. I have not converted to being a Catholic, but for some reason I use the pronoun “We”. She talked about “Worshiping Mary” and I was about to say, “We don’t worship Mary, we just pray and ask…” but I caught myself and said “They…”
Later I apologized and said I never meant to offend her. I just wanted to talk and see what her opinions were. She said thanks and that she accepted my apology. She called other denominations, “stupid”, but she believes that Baptists are only correct.
I never talked about it again. I just kind of, not really forgot, but was not questioning as much about converting until a kid wanted to talk about the Blood Moon and how he thought it looked “Satanic” because it was red and “bloody looking” but I saw it and it was not that red. Then they talked about other denominations and I was involved so you can probably tell how it went. Ever since, I have actually seriously thought about converting to Catholicism.
That’s my story and hopefully God will lead me to the right path and show me which way to go, and yes, I am sorry for it being very long!
Thanks… God Bless You!
As a child/preteen I always thought that Christians were the same. I never knew about Catholics or Protestants, I never knew about other denominations. I just thought that all Christians were like the church I attended and they believed the exact same things.
In 6th Grade I was doing a project about any country I chose. I chose Guatemala. One of the requirements was to identify the religion in the country. I printed off a bar graph, and it was divided into 3 sections, they were Roman Catholic, Christianity, and Other. I did not know what Roman Catholic was, all I knew was that it was the predominant religion there. Christianity was much lower. I was confused.
In 7th grade, I still didn’t know about denominations. I thought that Christians were Christians. However, I had a Catholic English Teacher. I asked a friend what it was she said that Catholics were Christians.
One day it was Ash Wednesday and I remember my bus driver, who was also Catholic, talking about giving up a certain food for Lent. I remember seeing ashes on her forehead. I remember getting home and telling my a. mother, “The bus driver had dirt on her forehead.” That’s really what I said because I didn’t know what it was! My a. mother said it was ashes from being Catholic.
I remember the teacher saying that she was going to give up coffee for Lent since she had an addiction to it. I didn’t know what she meant by Lent though. At that point I just thought that it was a “weird” kind of Christianity because I, a Protestant, did not observe Lent or Ash Wednesday.
A month later I remember her reviewing for the end of year state testing. But one day she was doing something to entertain us since she didn’t have anything else to do. We did palm reading. She said that she didn’t want to offend anybody, it was just for fun.
I remember her asking a question that really opened my eyes that day. She said, “Who in here is a Baptist?” Literally, EVERYONE raised their hand EXCEPT me. I had no idea what that was. I soon realized I was a Baptist because I attended and grew up in a Baptist Church which is what everyone is in my area.
I still didn’t understand Protestants or Catholics. A few weeks later I was in Social Studies class and we were talking about different denominations in Christianity. He explained many but I don’t remember what he said about them, except Baptist, because I was a Baptist. He said that when we are baptized we go underwater completely.
I’m now in high school. I don’t have a good relationship with my adoptive family. We argue, and a few months ago, I got into an argument about my OCD and Emetophobia problem (Fear of throwing up) They say it’s all in my head and that I need to quit worrying. I was mad and decided I was going to move to Guatemala, change my name back to my birth name, and meet real family.
Ironically, a week before this happened I told a new friend that I was born there and the adoption and she asked me, “Are you ever going to move there when you are an adult?” and my reply, “I don’t think so. I will probably visit Guatemala, and meet my biological family but I probably won’t live there.”
Then I remembered Guatemala being predominately Roman Catholic.
I asked my Baptist friend and was hoping to get opinions from her. I remember the first time I told her. I said: "What would think if I were to convert, not really religions, but – " I did not get to finish. She said, “Don’t you ever consider changing religions!” and I told her I would never do that. Then I finished and said “…but attending a Catholic Church” and she said, “I don’t know.” I asked a person who I found out was Catholic that same day, in my class. I was talking to her and the Baptist friend, and I asked what was the difference between Roman Catholics and Catholics? She said “They are two different things, they believe in different things, they are not the same” I was shocked! I thought, well if they are different things, I shouldn’t think of joining a Roman Catholic Church in Guatemala. So I quit thinking about it.
Then I thought, why do they both use the word Catholic? I looked it up and never got good answers. Until, I found Catholic Answers and thought, maybe I will get actual answers from other Catholics. I understand now.
I finally got to ask my Baptist friend again about it. She said negative things about Catholics and said I shouldn’t convert and that we would just Skype so that I would stay Baptist. I never said anything rude, I never got into an argument, I defended the reasons. I have not converted to being a Catholic, but for some reason I use the pronoun “We”. She talked about “Worshiping Mary” and I was about to say, “We don’t worship Mary, we just pray and ask…” but I caught myself and said “They…”
Later I apologized and said I never meant to offend her. I just wanted to talk and see what her opinions were. She said thanks and that she accepted my apology. She called other denominations, “stupid”, but she believes that Baptists are only correct.
I never talked about it again. I just kind of, not really forgot, but was not questioning as much about converting until a kid wanted to talk about the Blood Moon and how he thought it looked “Satanic” because it was red and “bloody looking” but I saw it and it was not that red. Then they talked about other denominations and I was involved so you can probably tell how it went. Ever since, I have actually seriously thought about converting to Catholicism.
That’s my story and hopefully God will lead me to the right path and show me which way to go, and yes, I am sorry for it being very long!
Thanks… God Bless You!
Welcome!