It all comes back to this beautiful woman, Linda. (I may have briefly mentioned her in part 2) We met Linda in our second city, our first full week, Kuldiga. She was a part of the Latvian team and would be one of our translators. While most of our students were building relationships with the translators since they walked with them all day, I was still adjusting to being in country and working through some issues. I unfortunately didn't talk to our translators a ton. One afternoon while we were walking the streets of Kuldiga, the ministry team I was with ran into a few of our translators on the street. (there were like 15 translators) We exchanged hugs, thankful to see a familiar face, and as we were saying goodbye I knew I had to say something to Linda but no words came to my mind. I barely even knew her, but I knew Jesus loved her so quick thinker that I am, I said , Hey, Jesus loves you. :) Ha, I did not know this would be the basis for our friendship. I did not know, nor could I have told you that we would become sisters after that moment.
From then on, every time I saw Linda I would say, Jesus loves you. Of course the more we talked, the more we found out about each other and the more we had to talk about. As our week was nearing the end, I was starting to become sad that I would have to leave my new sweet friend. I was sad that I wouldn't get to hear her worship anymore, (she has the voice of an angel!). I loved worshipping with her and listening to her. I was sad that it was to come to an end so quickly.
We would soon find out that God had other plans! :) On one of our talks, we got to talking about where we were going after we left Kuldiga and I listed off the ones I could remember. She asked if we were going to Ventspils and I had said that it sounded familiar but wasn't sure. Sure enough, we were going there in a week and to my surprise so was Linda. You see her mom lives in Ventspils and she was going to visit her mom the same time we were going to be there and for the whole week as well. Of course this made me excited to see her again but our friendship was in the beginning stages and I wasn't expecting much. But there was something different about her. I just couldn't wait to see her again and hug her and tell her, Jesus loves you!
The night we arrived in Ventspils she met us at the church service and it was a sweet reunion of friendship. Because we had so many translators in Ventspils as well, it allowed more time for Linda and I to talk and get to know one another. The night that drew us the closest was when the Kristine story happened. (Part 2 if you didn't read it) You see I needed a translator to tell Kristine my story and Linda was the one God had laid on my heart. So I asked her to be there for it and when you talk about such deep things on your heart, when you talk about the things of God and how He changed your life, you'd be a fool if that didn't bring you deeper in love to one another and closer together as friends. The next few days we both opened up about our pasts, we both talked about God's great glory in our lives and we fit probably 2 years worth of getting to know someone in 2 days. God was moving in our hearts that He drew us closer than friends, He bound our hearts as sisters! Thankfully when we left Ventspils, Linda had a few free days so she traveled to Liepaja with us for a few days. This only drew us closer as you can imagine. We talked for hours on the bus, we roomed together with Whitney, and we prayed together numerous times. She even took care of me when I got sick and prayed over me all night so I could get some rest. As the time came near that I knew she would have to leave to go back to Riga I could feel my heart beginning to break. I realized the depth of our friendship. Yes it was a very simple love for one another, but it was deeper than anything I've experienced in 3 weeks. My heart broke knowing I'd have to say goodbye to one of the best gifts I've received from God. But I had joy in my heart that I would see her again in a few days since she lived in Riga! (the city we would fly out of).
My leaders blessed me with an incredible afternoon in Riga. While the students went shopping, they informed Linda and I that we could hang out and spend that time one on one. For 3 hours we walked around Riga, ate pica (pizza), got smoothies, ice cream, and took pictures. We got to just be friends for a few hours and talk about what was next for our lives. We got the chance to not focus all of our attention on 13 students and just got to be silly, goofy, serious, whatever we felt like doing. When you experience a friendship like this you know the Lord is all over it. You know God has something great planned when He gives you such a sweet blessing. Yes the following day was EXTREMELY hard to say goodbye. I barely slept all night because I knew I would have to say goodbye, if not for good, then for a long while. How could I say goodbye to yet another friend who meant so much to my heart?
Now all that to say, I will share a few things that I learned from this friendship. 1. Linda had a pure joy for the Lord. Her presence exudes the presence of Jesus. The joy that is in her heart, the joy that is in her smile, the joy behind her laugh, is all of Jesus. Even when things are tough, she had pure joy that can only come from the Lord. She truly did rejoice always! 2. When we least expect it, in the most unexpected places, God can give us the greatest blessings. I had no idea I would meet such an incredible friend this summer! I had no idea I would have found my sister in Latvia. I didn't expect to receive the blessing and gift that God gave me this summer. Yet, I continue to thank Him for the unexpected blessing. 3. When God is in control, when He is the source, that is all that matters. If I had my way, if I was in control, I would not have let Linda see so much of my heart. After having to say goodbye to such a dear friend last summer, I had my heart closed off to others. (even more than I realized). But God was in complete control. I surrendered my heart to Him this summer to use as He will. And He sure did. The most interesting part of this whole story, the friendship of Linda and I, was God's hand in it all. When we left the United States, we were under the impression Kuldiga was our last city. However, when we arrived in country, Kuldiga was in our first week. Imagine that. Then the rest of the order was moved around as well. What are the odds that we would be going to Ventspils the same exact time as Linda? And that she would have a few free days to travel to Liepaja with us? When God is in control and you surrender to His will, He has greater things planned! 4. The last part tag teams off the previous one. When God is apart of something, nothing can tear it apart. This realization helped me with my friend who is serving overseas. This past year I focused my energy on her not being around anymore. I focused my frustrations on having to yet again say goodbye to someone. But meeting Linda and seeing God's hand all over that friendship, reminded me of my friend K. The same is true with her. God brought us together, God grew us together as friends, and even miles apart He can continue to grow us together. When He is the focus of your heart, not anyone or anything else, HE is all that matters! I realized with Linda and K that I would rather have the best and deepest friendships be of God and miles apart, than have lots of shallow friends right next door. I believe God has great things planned for my friendships with both of these sweet and dear friends. My heart believes there is more than just goodbye even if I never get to hug either of them again.
I know this was probably a big confusing mess, but like I said, it is hard to put into words what my friendship with Linda was like. It was so simple, it started off with saying, Jesus loves you. But just like God's love for us, just because it is simple, doesn't mean it doesn't run deep. Linda has a special place in my heart and she always will. She continues to encourage me to rejoice always, love Jesus with all that I am, and pray for greater things! She made Colossians 2:2-3 come alive for me this summer!
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3
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