4 1/2 years ago, I got the opportunity to go to Russia for several weeks with the Global Aid Network. While I was there my team visited orphanages, children's facilities and families to deliver aid and share the gospel.
My friend Megan and I in front of the city gate:
At an orphanage:
I loooved this trip and besides the spiritual and educational benefits, I made some wonderful relationships with my team members. Even though I didn't know any of them before I went, I got really close with all the members of my team. It was a great mix of young and old and from all different states.
My team and a couple of our Russian interpreters:
Even though I got close with my team, it has been hard to stay close with them, especially after all these years. BUT, just yesterday I was blessed to have lunch with two of my Russia team members; Linda and Jaye! Linda (in the blue shirt with the hand brace) also lives in Ohio and Jaye (in the blue shirt with the green and yellow skirt) lives in Iowa but was driving through Ohio on a road trip. So, they both came to Springfield and we spent over 3 hours at Bob Evans eating and talking and catching up.
It was so good to see them again and hear about what God has done in their lives in the past 4 years. It was such a reminder that being believers makes us sisters in Christ and that is a bond that surpasses time and distance and everything else. I almost never think about heaven (I get too caught up in the here and now...) but yesterday I was feeling sad about not getting to see the rest of our team, and I realized that we will have eternity to spend together :) It made me so happy because I feel that God has put a lot of short-term relationships in my life. I have many friends from Russia, from Uganda, or from camps or college who I have been close to but don't get to see very often. It is encouraging that even though I am bad at staying in touch now I will have more than enough time to be with them in heaven. God is so good :)
Me and Linda:
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