As she walked through one of the many forests of Latvia, she happened upon a little meadow. There were no other sounds, but the quiet sound of the forest. The ground was covered with thick green moss that climbed up the bottoms of the trees. Above lay the vast Latvian sky. In the middle of the meadow stood two young trees; one a Christmas tree and the other a pine tree. It was the perfect picture of natural beauty. She breathed in deep as she felt that her heart might burst with emotion. And then she thought, “If this is how I feel on earth, what will I feel when I reach heaven?”
This is a glimpse into my friend Laima’s beautiful heart. On the outside she may seem quiet and reserved, but spend time with her and you will quickly realize there is so much more that lies underneath the surface. Even with a limited English vocabulary she knew how to make me laugh so hard. She loves so well, and is as sweet as they come. It is so clear how much her life is rooted in the love of our Father.
Her home and work are at Jaunpalejas, a home in Latvia for at risk expecting mothers. She spends her days working in the garden, as well as helping care for the one girl currently living at the house. If you ask Laima how she feels about this life she gets to live she will tell you “happiness”. Beneath her smile, you would never guess the hardships she has endured to get to this place of peace.
Before her job at Jaunpalejas, she had moved to the capital city of Riga due to some hardships within her family. The job she had in the city only paid enough for her rent. She went to work before the sun rose and came home after dark. She felt hopeless…and asked God for more. Many options arose but they were all met with closed doors, but she did not give up.
After several months of searching, on a Friday afternoon her Pastors wife phoned her to tell her of a job opportunity at Jaunpalejas. That Saturday she visited, and by Sunday she moved in. In a matter of 3 days God completely turned her life around!
Each day she loves to listen to the birds…the cuckoo birds of the morning, and the barn owls at night. It is the quiet lifestyle her soul has always craved. Her role is to care for the gardens, but she also helps care for the girls. Even though it is hard work, you can see the joy and light in her eyes. She says she feels so blessed that God trust’s her to be there to love and encourage the girls that will soon fill the house.
She is not where she is because of anything she did, but instead she is there because she trusted God, even when things were hard. She embodies the love of Christ through and through. She can now use her own struggles to empathize with the girls who are lost and unsure of where their life is headed. Her story is evidence of a fulfilled promise. God is using her what she once thought ordinary life, to do extraordinary things all because she handed her life over to Him.
What would happen if you gave God the pen to your life? I can promise it will be a far better story then anything you could imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
Read more about Jaunpalejas or “The Family Cradle” here: http://www.gimenes-supulis.lv/en/
