Written by Sister Chalet Severson Nov.
25, 2010
When we were asked to tell our companions about a person who
has shaped our life, I didn’t even need to think. I knew exactly who that person was for
me. Her name is Candy Rendon.
She’s about ten years older than I am and has
been an older-sister figure in my life since I was about 12. We first met at church. She was the camp director in my ward. I had just moved into the ward and was a
little on the quiet side. Well…on the
outside. Inside I was wild and rambunctious.
When I first met Candy, there was something different about her. Not your normal leader. She was way young, but was very grown up at
the same time. I don’t know what or why
it was, but I instantly had a bond with her and knew we would be good friends.
Once camp came we went on a hike. At the tail end of all the hikers was me, my
friend Sam and Candy. Candy, being the
one trying to hurry us up, kept teasing us on how we were so slow and that we
were young. We should be faster than
her. Well, that’s all it took to bring
the prankster out in me. Once we sat
down for a rest, I slipped a rock into her backpack. This continued for about 10 more times as we
continued our hike. Once we were getting
closer to the top, she was getting further and further behind. The teasing now was aimed towards her and how
she was so slow. Once at the top, we all
sat to eat our lunch. She opened her
back pack and found the rocks! It then
turned into dodge the rocks! I was
running, she was throwing. We have been
inseparable ever since.
Every big decision in my life, she was who I turned to. She has been the voice in my head, the friend
of reason. I have always had her back
and she’s had mine. She continued on to
become Young Women’s President and an even bigger influence in my Gospel
life. She was the person I wanted to be
like as a young girl and now as I’m grown, I still look to her for guidance and
a sister to spend time with. I’ve lived
with her right before my mission and was able to spend lots of time with her
and her kids. She’s an example to
me. She’s the definition of love and friendship. She’s not just my best friend. She’s my family, my sister.
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| Chalet Severson is third from left on front row. Back row includes Elder Sorenson, Elder Stachowski, Elder Voss, and Elder Amussen Front row, Sister Mimaki, Sister Shibata, and on right, Sister Harada |
