What would your reaction be if your parents sat you down and told you that you would be moving? Only not from house to house. Or even from city to city. Not even from state to state. But from continent to continent. I grew up in Africa and lived there for 13 years and moved to Denver, Colorado in 2011. I traded dusty bare feet to winter snow boots, nshima (a cornmeal staple) for McDonalds, and walls with barbed wire to peaceful, clean cut neighboorhoods. And I didn't like it all. Some people think that a girl who lived in a dusty, hot, third culture world would love to move to America. But I am not that kind of girl! Africa is, and always will be my home, and for awhile I really stuggled with contentment and trusting in the Lord throughout the entire move. But one good thing came out of the move.
I had never had a really good friend. There were lots of MKs (missionary kids) but they were always younger than I. All the national girls were always in boarding school. So I had never had the oppurtunity to form a deep, heart to heart friendship with anyone. One paticular day my mom and I went into town to go to the post office (no mail boxes in the driveway in Africa!) and I was suprised to find a package in the mail for me. This certain day I was feeling very down and sad about packing up all of my stuff, leaving my home, and flying across the ocean to move to Colorado. I was getting bitter and upset at God, and it was just a bad day! But a package can make any day better. And this package was clearly God sent. The return address from "The Tuckers, Littleton, Colorado." I showed my mom and she told me this family went to the church my dad was going to candidate to be the pastor for. In the package was a birthday card, bracelet and candy from some of the different deacon's daughters. One girl, Sarah was my age. In fact we are only 4 days apart. (I'm older, thank you very much!)
A couple weeks later I got a letter from Sarah in the mail. Then I wrote back. Then we started to email. We started a friendship via email and then soon enough it was time to meet in person. After traveling across the ocean and long layovers, we landed in Denver. The next day my family went over to her house for lunch. It was....awkward at first! We said "Hi. Nice to meet you." *insert nervous giggles* After a few minutes of awkward silence sitting on the couch, Sarah had the brillant idea to go to the park and swing. (She makes fun of me because I pronounce "swing" like "swiiiiing") It was there we started to talk and talk and form a friendship.
She was running the Colorado Relay and I went along to cheer, eat food, sleep off jet lag, take up space in the van, cheer, sleep some more, take in the breathtaking view of the Rockies, and cheer, and sleep some more. During the night we decided to sleep on the back row, my head in one direction, hers in the other. My leg kept slipping off, so we had the brilliant (at the time) idea to tie our legs together with the blanket. It worked.....until I fell completely off the row with her right after. I don't think the 8 tired men in the van appreciated our girlish giggles!
My dad was voted to be the new pastor of Highlands Baptist Church, and we flew back to Africa to pack up our belongings and get ready to transiton. The Lord knew I needed a friend, and in the past 3 years Sarah and I have shared laughter, tears, hugs, silly times, awkward moments, deep, heart to heart conversations.....we encourage each other, talk to each other, love each other when we are least loveable, we know everything about each other, and are always there for each other. A true friend tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. A true friend encourages you spirtually and helps you grow as much a you can in the Lord.
Now as I look back, I can see why God moved me to cold, snowy Colorado. I needed a friend, and Sarah needed a friend. I have learned to trust God in everything he leads me through, because He has a purpose for everything. Do you have a friend? Take the time to shoot them a email, call them, send a quick text, write a letter. Let them know they are on your mind and you are so thankful for them. If you have a best friend like this, then you are truly blessed. In order to have a friend you must be a friend. Take the time to smile at a stranger. Give a kind word to someone. Friendships can start anywhere!
Love,
(As Sarah calls me) Emy Lee
I write a blog which I have entitled “Accordingtothebook” and I’d like to invite you to follow it.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t see a follow widget on this site, but if you put one up...I will gladly follow you publicly as well.
If you wish, click on “dashboard” or “design” on the top right of your main blog…then click on “layout” on the left side of the page, “add a gadget” on the right side column…that takes you to the "basics" list. On the left of that list is a "more Gadgets" option. Click on that one and scroll down to the one that simply says “FOLLOW"