We stepped off the plane in flip flops, and t-shirts. The warmest clothing we had were hoodies and the occasional pair of jeans. F squad was NOT prepared for Europe, and the cold snow that greeted us as we stepped out of the airplane.
This was taken right after we got off the airplane and we were waling to the airport. It was thr first time I had seen snow in over 10 months.
This is a story of what it looks like when God provides.
It’s a story of what the true body of Christ looks like.
This is a story of how my God sees our needs before we even have them, and provides a better solution then we ever could have imagined.
Our story starts the night before Easter, with my squad mate Kaitlin who had been sick for the last couple of days. She was able to hold herself together for the couple days of travel, but now that we were in Riga she needed to go to the doctor. A couple people from my squad rushed her to one doctor, unfortunately in Riga all the doctors offices are injury specific, and they had to hop from hospital to hospital. At the second office they were at they ran into a couple of Latvians who offered to drive them to the correct office. Because taxi’s are expensive, my squad mates jumped on the offer. These nice strangers (Toms and Tabatha ) drove the three racers to the correct hospital, helped them check in, and then sat and talked with shelly and Chip for hours. It turns out that they were Christians, and they both spoke very good English (Tabitha is even an English teacher). Their father is a pastor of a church, very near to the hostel that we were all staying at, and that opened up conversation all about God. Tabatha had gone to a Discipleship training school in south Africa, working with an organization called Youth With A Mission (or YWAM). We have worked on and off with YWAM over the last year, and having just gotten off the plane from Africa that same day, they had a lot to talk about.
It was so amazing, and such a God thing that they had even run into Tabatha and Toms that night. The two Ltvians had been done at the hospital, but had to fill out one last paper. That was when they ran into the three people from out squad. If it had just been a couple minutes later they never would have met. They invited us all to go to their church the next day (Easter Sunday) and Tabatha even offered to translate for us if we did decide to go.
Around 18 of my squad mates and I all decided to go to church together. We left that morning without expectations. It was a freezing cold morning, and it had been snowing since our plane had landed the day before. All the secondhand stores were closed for the holiday (which here in Latvia also included Monday) and the mall was unbelievable expensive. Because of that we were all still in our unacceptable clothes, and shoes. We looked like a bunch of people very out of place. As we were standing there shivering my friend Grayson turned to me and said “I’m just praying that they just know that we need stuff, and then when we get to church they will just hand me a pair of shoes that fit me perfectly.” We all couldn’t help but laugh.
Walking into the small church we were amazed. There were paper doves hanging from the roof, people handing out hot coffee and cookies, and a complete band. It was one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Yep, We were not in Africa anymore. The church service was beautiful, near the end they had baptisms, and we got to watch four people dedicate their lives to Christ! The pastor who was dressed in a very nice suit and tie, just took his jacket off, and then walked into the baptism pool, shoes and all. It was AMAZING! It really showed what mattered, and what didn’t. He didn’t care about his nice suit and fancy shoes, what really mattered was much more important then nice clothing! Then after that we got to take actual real communion! I actually cried because I was so happy to take communion. It was the first time in almost a year.
After church they said that they were serving lunch in another room. Free lunch? Couldn’t say no to that! We walked into this side room full of sandwiches and foods. Amazing! Grabbing a couple handfuls of whatever was closest, Alison and I began to talk to one of the women there. She was very interested in us, our trip, and why we were dressed so crazily. We told Katya about how we were wearing all we had. She looked at us, and said ‘the church should be able to help you all with clothes… let me go ask” and then she walked off. Alison and I just stood there dumbfounded. That is when another one of our girls walked up to us and informed us that the pastor, his family, and the church wanted to cook us all dinner that night! Not only did they want to cook the 20 of us that we there dinner, they wanted to cook all 50 of us dinner! On Easter Sunday and everything! These amazing people gave up their Easter Sundays with their families, to cook and serve food to 50 complete strangers. I couldn’t believe my ears. It was then that Tabitha came out of nowhere holding a pair of boots. She walked right up to Grayson and handed them to him saying ‘here try these on’. They fit perfectly. I’ll never forget the moment when Grayson looked up still on his knees from putting the boots on, tears in his eyes, and he said ‘That’s MY God.”
Katya then found me and informed me that she talked to the pastor about getting us clothes, but there was no point, because they already had something planned. They were going to bring us clothes that night when we came for dinner! The story gets even more amazing as I talked to one of the girls about the night before. They were telling me about how they were all at the church the night before decorating for Easter, when one of the men cut his finger. That was when Toms and Tabatha had taken him to the hospital, and met our racers. Well as they were talking to Chip and shelly at the hospital, they were also texting all the people that were back at the church still, telling them all about us. The people at the church then stopped what they were doing, and began to pray for US. Before we even knew they existed, they were praying for us! What?!
Our squad had been wanting to get together on Easter and worship, and have time together, but we couldn’t find anywhere to have the time together. The church offered up not only their building, but also all their musical instruments and electrical equipment. Who are these people?!
this is all of us who went to church. Grayson is in the back holding up his sandles that he no longer has to wear! You can also see Tabathia and Toms on the right and left.
That night we arrived at the church, and had the most amazing dinner AND dissert. They had also collected us tons of jackets, shoes, shirts, hats, gloves. Everything that we could have ever needed they brought for us. I got a warm winter jacket, and a pair of shoes, both of which fit wonderfully! Then after dinner we all moved into squad worship. We all had a lot to be thankful for this Easter! But the night wasn’t over yet!
My team in our new winter clothes!
I left home wanting to be re-baptized in Africa. Unfortunately the timing just never seemed right, and I left Africa without doing so. This last Easter was my chance! Five other girls and I all decided to get re baptized in this amazing church, surrounded by people that will forever keep us accountable. I decided on Easter Sunday March 31st, that I am choosing not only to live one year for Jesus, but to live all my years for Jesus.
Best. Day. Ever.
There is no great way to end this blog, other then to say that like Heidi Baker says, love looks like something. This church chose to feed, cloth, and love complete strangers and showed what Christ’s love looks like. They continue to show the Love of the Lord every chance they get. Just today they came by our apartment and brought us boxes and boxes of food because they know that our food budget is small. God has really shown me what it means to look and love like he does. I want to encourage you all, and challenge you the same way that I have been challenged, just as I see Jesus in every single action of this amazing church, we can show those around us who Jesus is, and what he looks like. How are you showing Jesus to those around you today? Love looks like something. Have you been showing love?
