Sometimes you just get lucky. Sometimes the heavenly Father drops someone special in your life just when you need them. This blessing came to me in the form of Abby Anne Evaniuk and what a friend she is to me. We met at training camp this past summer but I already knew we’d be friends even before that. Because somehow we both decided to post our life stories on our blogs within the same week. Which lead to reading each other’s and knowing I’d found someone who was bound to become very important to me. I knew from the start I was about to meet the strongest person ever.
Not only has she been through a life of hardship and then some, she made it out alive and God has certainly turned her story into something beautiful. This girl has the kindest heart and loves on people so well. She’s honest and vulnerable and unashamed of who God has made her to be.
This friendship has consisted of 14 hour plane rides sharing a single seat, dancing on rooftops like the wild ones we are, singing songs no one else knows, long bus rides of shared snacks, late night deep talks and so much more. We even finish each other’s sandwiches (and sometimes sentences). She knows my ins and outs and all the in betweens. And she still hasn’t gone running.
Growing up I went to a small church where the closest kids to my age were my siblings. This meant I never got really close with anyone who had the same faith as me. And then this girl comes into my life and she gets me. All of me. She understands my past better than most and walks with me through my faith. She’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had and probably ever will have.
Abby, I know at some point you’ll read this so please know that you’re the literal best. The world needs 7 billion more of you because life is just better with you around. Never let anyone tear you down because God has made you perfectly and redeemed you from all of your past. ALL of it.
I got to spend my first 2 months on the field better getting to know Abby because our whole squad was placed in a house together. The squad took to calling us the twins after the first couple days and occasionally our resemblance to an old married couple is a little frightening. We may be split up for the rest of the months but you better believe the reunions on travel days will be marvelous.
Thanks for all the laughs and tears Abby, can’t wait for all our future adventures. My 80 year old self thanks you in advance for being the one to give me abs due to excessive amounts of laughter.
Who knew I’d find my soul sister a world away.
