Everyone always told me YWAM is a great place to meet someone. The day I told everyone I was going to do a DTS, many people said, “Well, Misti’s going to come home engaged.” At the time, I just shrugged it off and laughed to myself. Yeah right, I haven’t met anyone in the last 23 years; I doubt three months in Texas is going to change much.
Well, turns out they were right; there’s a guy here, and he’s incredible. Call me cliché, but you could surely say I have fallen in love. Here’s the thing though; he’s completely different than I ever expected. You know how you think you have someone all figured out, but you keep uncovering new angles to them? No matter how close you get, it seems there’s always something new to uncover? That’s how he is, he’s constantly surprising me.
There was one day this last month that I was just having a bad attitude. Things weren’t going my way, and I just wanted to throw a fit. He knew I was having a rough day, so he and I took a walk. I spent the entire time crying and griping about all of my frustrations, and if we are being honest, I took my anger out on him. I yelled at him and blamed him for things that weren’t even his fault. The whole time, he simply just listened to me.
I completely expected him to get irritated with my girlish outburst, but he didn’t. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he just turned around and walked back, afraid of my irrational emotions, but he didn’t. He simply listened and then, in the most calming tone I’ve ever heard, said, “Misti, everything is going to be okay. I still care about you, even when you get mad and scream. Nothing you do will scare me away or wreck what we have. I’ve got your back."
That’s the thing; I’ve never had a friend like him. I just want to be with him all the time, and he never seems to get tired of being with me either. Whether we’re climbing trees, taking walks, or just sitting together outside, I could spend hours with him. Once I got to know him and his heart, it was like I had no choice but to fall in love with him. He’s everything I needed, and everything I didn’t even know I wanted.
I never knew anyone could love me like he does. He sees me slumming around in sweatpants and baggy t-shirts, but he still tells me I look beautiful. He listens to my unorganized, frantic mess of thoughts as I verbally process my days, yet he never acts bored or annoyed. I can’t even count how many times he’s caught me acting selfish or rude, but even then, his opinion of me never changes. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve a love like this.
He makes me forget all of my own dreams and desires. Now, all I want to do with my life is simply spend what I have left of it learning how to love him better. Maybe it sounds cheesy, and I’m sure I sound like a silly, lovesick teenage girl, but I just don’t care; I’m in love, and I want anyone and everyone to know it.
I’m sure many of you are worried about me just jumping in so hastily like this, but I’ve learned when you find a love like this, you have no choice but to desperately chase after it, even if it means being reckless. The thing is, I know that as reckless as I am, he will always desire me that much more fiercely; that’s just how he is. He never does anything half-heartedly, and that’s one of the things I love about him. He is 100% in, even if I’m not.
My prayer would be that all of you could find a love like what I’ve found here in YWAM. It’s the kind of love that makes you drop everything, the kind of love you would die for and vice versa. It’s as if my heart just fills with warmth every time he walks into the room. I’ll never understand how I got so fortunate that he fell in love with me first. That very first day of DTS when he walked up to me and introduced himself, I’ll never forget his words; “Hi, I think we’ve met before, but I just wanted to come over and reintroduce myself.” He said, “I noticed you, and I would like nothing more than to spend these next three months getting to know you better, and I hope you’d like to get to know me too. I hope I’m not being too forward, but I just really want to be with you. And oh yeah, my name is Jesus. It’s nice to meet you.”
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN LOVE STORY TOO! DTS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET TO KNOW JESUS AND DISCOVER ANEW HIS UNENDING LOVE FOR YOU.
Guest Author: 
Misti Sutton from YWAM Wylie. I’m 24 years old, and I come from Junction City, Oregon. I did my DTS in Wylie, Texas, and now I am on staff here working with schools and Communications Department. A few things I enjoy are: reading, writing, hiking, playing hacky sack, taking bubble baths, and winning dance battles. A fun fact about me, is that I have been to 5 different nations in the span of one year (thanks YWAM!). I am passionate about writing and teaching, and I love nothing more than gleaning new insight of God’s character in the Bible, whether that be through self study, podcasts, or other sources. I love people and the things that make them tick, and deep conversations are my jazz. God is a super cool father, and I love sharing His love and promises with others. Thanks for taking the time to read this and get to know me, even just a little!
Thanks Misti for sharing this great love story with us!
