Biblical Friends

"Better is open rebuke than hidden love.  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy," 

Proverbs 27:5-6

     My mission organization in Bolivia is focusing more on discipleship, which has had me really thinking about friendships and what discipleship is.  I never quite fit into the guidelines, but I am okay with that.  I am focused on who God made me to be and how He has developed me to serve Him on a path that was not developed for anyone else.  He uses my friends and other opportunities for discipleship.  I refuse to put it into a clean definition and a mental thing.  It is a faith and love thing, a part of my life.
     Thinking about this makes me focus on family.  For one of the only times in my entire life, I feel like my sister. Mylinda, needs me.  And for the first time, I am not physically there for her.  I have had to accept that and even cry a little over it because she is one of the most important people in the world to me.  However, I can support her and talk to her and show her how much I love her.

   Then, I have four special ladies in my life that I love as much as a sister, we just don't have as much history as Mylinda and I.  Becky, P-Nutt, Erin, and Julia are true Biblical friends.  They tell me when I am wrong in love.  They support me and guide me in prayer and confidence.  They disciple me as much as I disciple them. 

     However, this realization made me realize that I really didn't have anyone like that here.  I was struggling with fitting in with the other missionaries.  They are lovely people, but everyone already had their people and I don't open up that easily (even when it may appear like I do).  So, I
began to pray over the situation.  I wanted to have a close relationship here too.  God sent me Tasha.  She came in August with a different mission organization, but He used her to show me my strengths and help clarify the path He is clearing for me.  Having her has helped me in so many ways.  It seems to have opened the door for me to find confidence in two other ladies:  Beth Bergen and Julie Pinard.
 

I am blessed to have people in my life that love me and that I am developing Biblical friendship with.  It is so freeing when the world has so many repressive rules and regulations and my natural instinct is to rebel against it.   They keep me in check.