In bubblegum pink canvas shoes, my feet felt frozen.
The weather in Novi Sad, Serbia had morphed into the autumn that I was used to back home in Kansas. As myself and two other teammates walked across Novi Sad at night to a coffee shop to spend time with a friend, we huddled in our fifty layers of clothes and rain jackets.
Hoods were up and we walked as briskly as possible. From the dark sky, icy rain pummeled down soaking us through our jeans and shoes to chill our skin. At this point, we decided to search for the bus to take since we had a 30-45 minute walk ahead of us to reach the coffee shop.
We searched the bus schedules, watched buses pass by, and reasoned we needed bus #9. We continued trekking through the flooded cross walks until we realized bus #9 was idling at the stop on the other side of the traffic light we were waiting at. Desperately, we sprinted across traffic to try to catch it but we missed it by a breath.
It is kind of humorous now. I think I laughed then too actually! It felt like we were in a misfortunate movie scene.
The three of us would have to walk. It was a dreaded conclusion we all made but we were given a choice. Either we could maybe reschedule with our Serbian friend and go home to blankets, dry clothes, and warmth or continue the journey to invest in her across town.
Her name is Danijela. In America, her name would be spelled Daniella and it is pronounced that way.
She’s 22 and is a university senior studying sports. Danijela used to be a professional swimmer, swims now, and teaches others including kids to swim. She is outgoing but claims she is shy. From our talks with her, it is obvious she desires adventure and to explore the world around her. She’s also gone through all seasons of Friends 46 times! Woah. I also geeked out with her when I discovered she was a Harry Potter fan and I encouraged her to take the quiz to find out what house she is in.
We’re both in Gryffindor. So basically we’re best friends now.
My team first met her at a coffee shop that was pointed out by a friendly, dark-haired student after we had passed out flyers inviting people to our conversational English workshops. After we were almost finished sipping down tea and coffee, she leaned towards our table with a curious expression on her face. She asked us if we knew English and asked where we were from.
I remember her eagerness and enthusiasm; her eyes were shining as we explained that we were Americans. It was like we were a treasure she had stumbled upon by accident. She told us in perfect words that she loved speaking in English. We spoke a bit but she had to hurry because her shift had technically already started; I smiled to myself that she was risking getting in trouble just to speak with us.
We saw her again a few days later and we finally had a full conversation with her. I remember her telling us with a genuine tone,
“I am so glad I met you all! You are an inspiration to me. You are not like many girls here, you are friendly and I feel like I can be myself with you without feeling judged. You are different.”
As I hunched over in my rain jacket on our way to visit with her again and multiple lights of city traffic gleamed off the drizzle, I thought to myself,
This is exactly where I want to be.
It sounded twisted to me then because I was pretty convinced I would have pneumonia the following day but it’s where we should be – fighting with persistence to be with people, fighting to not give in to what is easy or comfortable, fighting to not be deterred from loving others, fighting to show others that Christ cares for them, and fighting to share how Christ created a way for us to have relationship with God.
He wants to be with us. He is what makes us different.
I don’t regret refusing the misfortunate obstacles because we’ve been here in Serbia desiring to fight the obstacles that attempt to toss us off our path with Christ whether they be physical or our own mentalities. I learned much more of who my Serbian friend Danijela is and heard her heart, remorse of past choices, wishes, and dreams that night we said no to the choice to be curled up warm in our sleeping bags in our second-floor church bungalow.
I asked Danijela the permission to mention her and I hope she reads this!
Danijela, you have a hunger to learn, grow, and challenge yourself that is inspiring to ME. We have enjoyed laughing with you over coffee and being able to hear about your life. I know what it is to also wish for the might have been. I have realized that doing so steals goodness and contentment in the present. In my life, God has taken care of me through confusion, hardship, and longing for the might have been and He will do the same for you too. Relationship with Him changes your heart. It has for me in indescribably wonderful ways and difficult means that in the end are for my good. Continue to share your enthusiasm with others, friend! We will miss you when we leave Novi Sad but you won’t be forgotten.
