Because city traffic and parking is impossible I had taken the electric tram to my friend’s house. Coming home I had to walk 2 blocks from the the tram stop to my home. It was sunny and hot. The cat had survived. I was feeling good about the day. I actually was feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit very strongly in an affirming presence upon me. I was totally unfocussed on my surroundings because I was enjoying the nearness of the Lord.
A block from my apartment building I hear a young woman’s voice say, “Karen? (pause) Is that you?” With some effort I had to pull myself back into the present and as I glanced about I saw a familiar face which for a moment I couldn’t identify. Then, I knew her! Nadia, whom I hadn’t seen in years was standing before me, smiling. We hugged each other on the street with joy and abandon.
She told me she lived not far away and another young woman I knew was caring for her daughter, did I have time to see them? We walked back to the bus/tram stop and waited for Ira to bring Nadia’s little daughter. As we waited Nadia told me some of what she was doing with her life. She is now married with a 2 year old daughter. She is a house group leader with 11 woman that she is mentoring; some as new born believers, and some she is raising up to be leaders like herself.
Nadia also told me something that brought tears to both of our eyes. She thanked me for bringing Jesus into her life so many years ago. I first met Nadia when she was 7 years old, in 1994. Her big sister had become a believer in another city and then, when Michael and I moved to the city where her family lived, Nadia and her mom both became believers within a few months. They have been followers of Christ ever since.
In 1995 Ira, then 9 years old, was our neighbor who lived across the alley in the next building. We had an outdoor youth Bible study in the summertime and Ira’s mom used to sneak in close and hide where she could listen without being seen. She was hungry to know who this God was that we were teaching about. It wasn’t long before she became a believer in the Christ who died for her as well, and she has raised her children to know God.
Nadia told me that she has been thinking about us a great deal lately and has been wanting to see us and personally thank us for introducing her to Jesus. There is no doubt that it was the Lord who caused our paths to cross. Nadia was walking back from an appointment at a health clinic which happened to be on the street where we lived. I had no reason to be on the street walking home except that I had been called out to help another friend.
When Ira arrived with the baby we walked back to our home to spend some time together drinking tea and catching up on the years. When I met these girls they were 7 and 9 years old. Today they are young women of God living lives to serve and please Him. The kicker came when it was time to go, when without prompting, they asked if they could pray for me! They had noticed me limping a bit from my bad hip and wanted to anoint me with oil and pray for healing. Talk about ministry coming full circle. It was powerful!
(L-R) Ira, Karen, Nadia, Viktoria
self portrait with an Ipad and a wiggly toddler
Ira and Nadia, Vika hiding from the camera
sweet reunion
