Basecamp 2022

You may have heard these things before, but I’m going to repeat them so that we have them in writing, lest we be like my parents who squabble about how a story actually went down ;)

I first took notice of you in Alabama at Basecamp in the spring of 2022. I was in my first year of Ascend and did not have very many friends. Despite that fact, I knew that I was right where God wanted me to be. I knew that Unbound, this group of believers, had something special. Never had I seen such a beautiful display of teamwork, camaraderie, and intentionality all of which were tuned by the gospel. I didn’t know how, but I wanted to catch the attention of these leaders and one day stand among them. I’m still working on that latter part ;)

Anyways, you were working on shooting a video about distractions and directed each ascend team to a different location within the beach house for a specific setting. My team was directed to a bedroom at the very top of the stairs to create the scene of an epic pillow fight. After you had come and filmed our scene, we all trailed down the winding stairs back to the main level. At the bottom of the stairs, I realize “shoot! I left my shoes upstairs!” So I run up the stairs, grab my shoes, and get halfway down the stairs again when I realize I also left my sweatshirt. At this point, I begin talking to myself “Good gracious Abby, why are you so forgetful tonight?” As I take that last step up the stairs, I walk into what is now a dark room. My cheeks were instantly flushed as I realized you were changing your shirt. I think I stood there for just a few seconds not knowing what to do. Eventually, I broke free of the daze and words followed stating my reasoning for being in your room. You handed me my sweatshirt and I darted out of the bedroom and down the flights of stairs. I can not tell you have many times I have relived that moment. That is my very first memory of you :)

I woke up early the next day because I was going to be interviewed in the afternoon explaining what Ascend is, and I had not yet prepared what I wanted to say. I did some primping, curled my hair, poured myself some coffee, and I was just getting ready to sit down with my notebook to organize my thoughts when Tamma approached me, “Morning Abby! Would you be willing to do your interview now? We think the person we were supposed to interview this morning has overslept.” There goes my plan…I reluctantly agree, and as I get situated with the clip-on microphone I realize, you, Abe Chen, the guy I walked in on last night, will be asking the questions! My thoughts were instantly scattered as I was trying to get a grip on the butterflies and tell myself that you didn’t recognize me. After all, there are so many students, why would I make a lasting impression? So, the interview happens, and as always, it wasn’t as terrifying as I had imagined. 

Now, it’s the last night of base camp, and I’m staying up late playing an epic game of codenames. I remember feeling unreasonably giddy that you were playing too, and also the disappointment that you weren’t on my team…you were trying to convince me that codenames were more fun with a lot of people, and after that night, I was fully convinced you were right ;)