9 Letters

God is good.

It’s something that gets said a lot.

I believe my life is a journey on which I continually learn and deepen my understanding of just how true the above statement is. It’s a continual process of realizing the depths of those 9 letters and what appears to be simple is simply so much more.

This last week I got to meet up with one of my dear friends from this country, Lidia.

 

We had met in Chico, two years ago, when I first did my DTS but didn’t interact much or come into contact much with one another. When I joined staff last March, I moved into the same dorm she lived in.

I can remember my first week of being on staff, Lidia was preparing a typical Brazilian meal of rice and beans when she stopped me and said, “Brittaney, I want to talk to you like an older sister.” She invited me to sit down with her for dinner and over the next 3-4 hours (which involved dessert as well- food plays a huge role in Brazilian culture) we talked; exchanging stories, visions for our lives, notes about our cultural and language differences, and whatever else came to mind.  

 

From that day forward, she really did become my older sister.

When my team and I arrived in Pitangui just over a week ago, it had been about a year and a half since I had last seen Lidia. As we talked (again, over food (: ) it really didn’t seem like that long, except for the fact that much had happened in both of our lives and we had a lot to share!

Over the following week, Lidia was one of the main translators for our team and once again we served alongside of one another, laughed, cried, and worshiped together. This time in her country.

 

One night a group of us climbed a hill that overlooked the small town. On one side, the few lights from the town could be seen, on the other side, it was the stars that took precedence. We built a bonfire, brought up a guitar and we worshipped and prayed. As we were praying, I was reminded of a night, last year, in Chico, when I stood next to Lidia and heard her literally cry out for my nation. That night in Pitangui, I got to cry out for hers.

Yesterday, as I was spending a last few minutes with Lidia before she left to be with her family for Christmas, we began to cry as we reflected on the goodness of God and all that he had done.

She had come to Chico to learn English so that she could use it for ministry. It wasn’t easy yet she pushed through and didn’t give up. She knew that God had asked her to do that and she obeyed.

Who knew that the very city she began learning English in would send a team to her city two years later for which she would translate for?

 

God did.

I’m beginning to realize, or realize even more, that what might seem to have a simple explanation and answer, to us at least, really goes far beyond our initial understanding.

God is good.

This statement is straight forward, but really holds so much more than what can be seen upfront.

As Lidia and I parted ways, the word “goodbye” never left my mouth.

Goodbye isn’t necessary when I know I will see her again. God has proven to me that there’s so much more to this than meets the eye, and I strongly believe that I haven’t even seen the half of it yet. Perhaps one day I will be the one translating for her back in my own country. Who knows?

God does.

And he is good.