Hey CAA,
It is currently 10:15 p.m. in CA and I am chatting with my cousin (mom's side) in Chicago. She is a year older than me. We both come from nonbelieving families, but by God's grace, I began my walk with Him in 8/9th grade. During the summer of 2001, I received a burden to pray for my cousin's salvation and God answered my prayer by allowing her to fly out to CA and attend a summer conference with my church. There, she learned more about God and Christianity, leaving home with a desire to continue. However, because she had no Christian friends at home and her parents wouldn't allow her to attend a church, her spiritual growth was stiffled, and she has backslided tremendously.
We've once been close, but ever since the last few years in high school and a year in college, we've grown apart. I should have been more persistent in keeping her accountable, praying diligently for her, and keeping more in touch, which I regret. Now, she is telling me how unhappy she is with everything in her life and has no direction. I want to encourage her, but I know that no matter what I say, what she really needs is Jesus in her life.
So CAA, I humbly ask for your prayers, suggestions, advice. Thanks for reading all this and may I be a broken vessel for the Lord to work through me to reach to my cousin.
^_^