Hi friends & fam! My bestie wrote the kindest guest blog for me! Hope you enjoy!
Hello everyone!
My name is Taylor Buldra. Nikki asked me to write a guest blog post, so here I am! Before I share with you a little bit about Nikki, let me tell you our story as friends. In fifth grade, my family moved to Hudson, Wisconsin and I met Nikki on the playground of Willow River Elementary School. Although occasionally playing together throughout elementary school was fun, it was not until Nikki came to The Refuge youth group in middle school that we started to become great friends. Both of our lives changed as we quickly became best friends and pointed each other towards Christ. Through our wonderful leaders at The Refuge, Nikki became a follower of Jesus and never turned back. She dove into the Word and fellowship with other believers, she was baptized and proclaimed her faith publicly, and she encouraged myself and others to continue growing in our faiths as well. Nikki and I supported and kept each other accountable throughout the trials and victories of middle and high school. Alongside our incredible friend group (Nikki’s original squad *cough *cough), we grew together as friends and in Christ’s likeness as individuals. After graduating, we both pursued a college education, me in Chicagoland and Nikki near the Twin Cities until she embarked on the World Race. Even though we are many miles apart, our friendship continues to grow.
As I was thinking about what to share with you all, my mind wandered to a sermon that Nikki and I heard at Grove Community Church, our home church in Minneapolis. Pastors Josh and Katie Krehbiel shared a message about God’s original design for women, referencing Genesis 2 where God creates the first woman, Eve. Genesis 2:18 says, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” That word ‘helper’ is the word ‘ezer’ in the original Hebrew language. ‘Ezer’ is used nineteen other times in the bible. Three of those times, ‘ezer’ refers to military aid and the other sixteen times it is used as a name for God – Jehovah Ezer. ‘Ezer’ is defined as strength and power; to save, rescue, defend, cherish, and nurture. When God creates Eve to be a ‘helper’ for Adam, He creates her to be a mighty warrior, strong defender, and cherishing nurturer. Women are designed to be beautiful reflections of God’s powerful, rescuing nature.
In my friendship with Nikki, I have witnessed the way that she reflects our God – Jehovah Ezer – by listening carefully to, advocating for, and empowering others. Nikki exudes care and concern for God’s people. Everyone around her knows that when they need to confide in a friend, Nikki will intently, gently, and humbly listen to whatever they have to say. She cherishes every word and compassionately responds. She also fiercely defends and advocates for the people who need it most. Many times, I have witnessed Nikki defend a friend who is in need and come to their rescue. Regardless of the consequences to herself, Nikki will always put other’s needs before her own and she does so with grace and dignity. Beyond listening and advocating, Nikki empowers the people around her. She meets people where they are, acknowledges their suffering, and calls them higher. She reminds people of God’s grace and power in all situations. Her profound trust in the Lord in all circumstances empowers those around her to look up and see God’s hand in their own lives. Nikki uses the gifts that God has given her to live out her nature as God’s ezer – His strong and powerful rescuer, defender, and warrior. She embodies God’s concern for His people and is not afraid to follow Him wherever He leads her. Nikki is truly a woman of God.
Nik, as you continue to embrace your nature as a woman of God on the World Race, know that myself and so many other people believe in you and what the Lord is doing through you. We are praying that God will empower you to empower others the way that He has so many other times already. Continue to trust in Him and be bold for the gospel. Thank you for the incredible impact that you have had on my life. No matter how many miles apart we are (5,176 at this moment), you will always be my ride-or-die, my sister in Christ, my best friend. I am so incredibly proud of you and I love you more than you know.
