What God is doing in Monta's life...

As we were deeply missing Latvia this summer, I emailed Monta and asked her if she would mind typing up some of her thoughts about how her life was different now a year later after accepting Christ. These were her thoughts.



“I used to think that I was never good enough to cut it”

I listen to last year’s theme song for our camp “Think Again” - “What I was made for” and it brings so many memories back and a huge smile on my face. Suddenly everyone’s here again. We all dance and sing. We play games and learn. We do it all with so much joy and that’s when we understand – we can cut it! And you know why? Because we’re not alone!

Last year around this time I was just an average girl who was enjoying her summer holiday, working and preparing to go to camp for the first time in her life. To the camp that changed my life. It wasn’t the first time I heard about God, of course, but it was the first time when I felt Him being right there with me. Instead of spending one week in the camp I spent there 2 weeks. I learnt so much from all those amazing people who were so passionate about God that it assured me - I was ready. I will never forget July 12, 2006 when I became a Christian. I won’t have the chance to spend this wonderful day with my American friends this year… But I won’t be too sad about it, because I know I will meet them all one day again!

They were all so right saying that becoming a Christian doesn’t mean that all the problems will suddenly go away and never come back. Probably this year has been even harder that the last one. But it all has seemed so much easier, because I am not alone anymore. I always have someone who looks down on me and I know He smiles. Sometimes I believe that He frowns upon my actions, but even when I do mess up He still loves me and still keeps me near. Becoming a Christian changed me. It changed the way I think, changed the things I love and it changed the way I looked at the world. It also changed the way people looked at me, but still there are so many people who only think I have become a better person. And I know it’s only because of this endless love that surrounds me.

Not always I felt like I had it. There have been times when I felt like I don’t deserve it and there have been times when I had completely abandoned the idea of me becoming a better person or God loving me or being close to me. I must admit – there have been times when I’ve been so angry that I have yelled, screamed and cried. But over and over again I have learnt to give myself to Him and that is when the peace and calm come over. I wish I knew how to live like that every single day of my life. But I have learnt so much. Mostly I must thank Anete who leads our little Bible study group and has been so supportive. And than all the Americans who have been through so much with me. Especially Sara – I don’t know what I would do without her.

Looking back – I don’t think that I could compare who I was and who I am now. It would be impossible. I don’t think I have become somehow better – I’m different. And I try to live the way that God has planned for me. Things go wrong, I get His messages too late or just don’t understand them, I do bad things, I still hurt people some times and they still hurt me, but I have never felt better. I just have to be reminded from time to time that everything that is happening is only to make my life better. Sometimes I have tough lessons to learn and I do it and I know that when I do God looks at me and smiles. Could I ask for anything else? And it’s only the beginning of my journey!