From Nebraska to Virginia. The story of God’s faithfulness in my life
. . . leading me to love Him and love my neighbor.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36—40 NIV)
My journey of loving God and loving my neighbor began in Nebraska, where the state’s motto was “Nebraska . . . the good life”. I grew up in Broken Bow, the Gateway to the Sandhills. It is a beautiful place that instills strong work ethic in its youth, provides excellent schools for its children, encourages community involvement, and through its farming and cattle industry produces some of the best crops and beef in the world. There are rolling hills, beautiful canyons, and fields of lush corn and pastureland as far as the eye can see.
My parents shared the Gospel and Jesus’ words from Matthew 22:36—40 with my brother and me. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the waters of baptism we received new life in Christ. We were raised with a strong Christian faith and taught to love God and to love one another. That faith has guided generations of my family through joy, laughter, and love and has also sustained it through sorrow, trials, and hardships.
I began thinking about my neighbors after watching State Farm commercials on TV. These catchy commercials come to my mind even today. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. I first engaged my neighbors as a newspaper carrier. This job taught me that “Omaha World-Herald” subscribers have high expectations at 6:00 a.m., and it taught me to be kind and loving no matter the reason for a late delivery.
Upon high school graduation, I moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska. I received a great education with opportunities to love my professors and friends. The church I attended provided social and educational experiences to feed my hungry soul. My first career job in the human resources department of Union Bank & Trust Co. provided the setting for me to learn about other religions such as Buddism first hand from a co-worker whose family had made their way to the U.S. after the Vietnam war. The Gospel was shared with her, but she endured hardships because of our friendship. The Bible my co-workers and I had given to her was taken away. This was my first interaction with someone whose family was opposed to Christianity. During this time, God strengthened my faith, and the Holy Spirit encouraged me to be bold in sharing my faith.
My journey of loving God and loving my neighbor continued one fall. At the wedding of a friend in my hometown, I met my future husband, Brent, a seminarian, at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. After a brief courtship we married, and I left “the good life” of Nebraska and joined him in the “Show Me” state of Missouri. Soon after moving, I asked him to drive to Wal-Mart so I could exchange a wedding gift. He declined my request and encouraged me to get in the car and explore the area for myself. This seemed like an overwhelming task at the time, but figuring out how to drive in St. Louis provided me the confidence needed to drive along the jammed boulevards of Moscow, the speedy autobahns near Frankfurt, and the busy freeways of the Washington D.C. metro area. The Lord used this transition to show me that the plan I had for my life was not necessarily His plan. As our time in the “Show Me” state came to a close, the Lord opened my eyes to my next journey. It would be to a place I had never dreamed of going, a place that would provide a time of deep growth and reliance on the Lord.
My husband’s first call after the seminary was to serve as a missionary in Russia. The path we traveled in this vast country gave me the privilege to live among and learn from people who had a far different lifestyle and culture. From Russia I watched the news of the collapse of the Twin Towers in NYC on 9/11, the bombing of two Moscow apartment complexes, a bombing in a metro station not far from the mission office, the siege of the school in Beslan, and the takeover of a theater in one of Moscow’s most prominent districts. During our time there, I received a phone call from home that my brother had been killed in a car accident, leaving behind his wife and one-year-old daughter. Along with personal sadness came other challenges including long-lasting winters and many days with little sunlight. Yet God’s faithfulness continued even while change happened all around the world. I remember one snowy day sitting next to a babushka on a public bus explaining to me in tears why she disliked her current stage of life. She missed the security she had during the days of communism. I could hardly believe it. How could this be? As she talked, I realized the inequity she was experiencing and lack of stability in her life was not enough to sustain her. She was in despair. She longed for the old days of certainty, uniformity, and just to know what would be. She said she was too old for the things of God. I left the bus sad, asking God why some hearts reject His love. God was as faithful to her as He was to me. Amidst the periods of heaviness there, God sustained me and provided wonderful, lifelong friendships, and He blessed us with three children: Zachary, Katelyn and Sophia. The experiences I had in Russia brought much sorrow and joy, hardship and blessing, separation from old friends and the birth of new friendships. But most of all, those years helped me to grow and become stronger.
After six years of serving in Russia, the Lord led Brent to accept a call to serve farther west in the region of Eurasia. This was the beginning of an eight-year journey living in Germany and serving the greater Eurasia region, an opportunity to love God and His people in many countries from Central Asia to Turkey and from England to the Middle East. Due to my husband’s travel schedule we lived near Germany’s largest transportation hub, Frankfurt. Shortly upon arrival we rented a car at Enterprise. During the process of checking out, Brent shared with the agent that he worked with the Lutheran church. Through the course of the conversation it was revealed that while she had lived in Germany her entire life, she had no idea who Martin Luther was, let alone his role in the reformation of the Christian church. It was a telling experience in the land of the reformer and confirmed that we didn’t have to travel far to be in a neighborhood that needed the Gospel proclaimed. While my husband often traveled to support missionaries and projects outside of Germany, our three kids and I regularly participated in activities at Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfurt. The Holy Spirit led me to take an active role as a teacher on Sunday mornings to the children in the congregation. Through this experience I was able to love children from all over the world. Teaching the kids in this congregation brought to life the song “Jesus loves the little children.”
This past spring God guided our family back to the U.S., to live in Northern Virginia, and work among His people in the Southeastern District of the LCMS. Relocation brings with it many tasks, and as I went through the process of getting my car licensed at the local DMV in Alexandria, I noticed the state motto: “Virginia Is For Lovers.” What a joy, to have a daily reminder of Matthew 22 as I get into my car.
During my years of growing up in Nebraska I dreamed of driving along the East Coast in the fall. I wanted to see firsthand the beauty of the leaves changing into multicolored tapestry. It is exciting to now be in this place as fall begins. I look forward to seeing the beautiful creation around me and to experience God’s faithfulness in my new neighborhood. As you remember God’s love for you in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to look around your neighborhood and see how the Holy Spirit is encouraging you to love God and love your neighbor.
Jennie is married to Rev. Brent Smith who serves as the Executive Director of Mission Development for the Southeastern District. She awaits to see how the Holy spirit will guide her in her ministry in the neighborhood and beyond.
