Throughout my life, friends have come; although some stay and some leave, no one has had as big of an impact on my life as Ela Bupte. I have known her for less than a year, but I feel like I can tell her anything and everything. The way she radiates God has changed my life. 

I have always been Christian. I have always known that God loves me and that He is there for me. Typically, I would shy away from talking about religion or from defending my beliefs and God, in fear that people wouldn’t like me or would think I am weird. I just let myself and other people disregard Him, while I fall away from Him. Within the last year, my friendship with Ela  has created this desire and passion for me to grow my relationship with God. I have never felt His presence as much as now because I have grown so close to someone who really loves Jesus. 

Ever since the first time I have ever talked to Ela, I felt her joy and her love that she has shining through herself. I knew the first time I saw her that I wanted to be friends with her. I didn’t know why I felt this urge to be friends with someone I had never talked to before. Now, I know God brought us together for a reason. He knew we needed each other so much in order to get even closer to Him, for Ecclesiastes 4:10 states, “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

Ela Bupte (10) vocalizes that she “look[s] up to [me] and how [I] know [I am] a sinner in need of a savior.”

It is hard to explain how intensely amazing it is to have a friend that strives to be like Jesus and helps push you to do so as well. Without Ela, I would be nowhere near as far in my spiritual journey as I am, the growth in my faith and my pure joy found in God has been tremendous. 

Previously, I felt alone. I felt like no one really cared about anything I did or felt. I didn’t realize how great God is. Now, my life has been turned upside down. I am now not as worried about everything in life. I now know that God is working in my life. God is in control.

Ela Bupte (10) expresses that I “have pushed [her] out of [her] comfort zone and gave [her] the courage to speak up and not be ashamed” about her love for the Lord.

Knowing I have Ela to talk to, I feel so safe and so at peace. Anytime I am going through struggles in life or spiritually, I know that she will understand and uplift me, as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” She is always there for me to remind me that God loves me. She is always there to push me to be better and to be more positive. She encourages me to appreciate every single breath I take because every day is a new chance to live out God’s plan for me. 

Ela Bupte (10) declares that “our friendship truly helped my walk with God and helped [her] see how amazing He truly is and that He uses our circumstances to make us better and to depend on Him more.”

I can say endless amazing things about Ela,.she is one of the most genuine people I have ever met.  

We both have become much more passionate about God, and have had so much joy together doing things to promote Him. I was able to go to her church with her, and it was such a moving experience. Singing songs next to her and listening to the powerful message brought us together. Another act we did to advocate for God was giving flowers and notes to people to remind them of God’s everlasting love with messages and different Bible verses. We felt so empowered through Christ to give our love to others. 

Having a friendship based on Christ has been so loving and peaceful. I am so extremely grateful that God has brought us together and has encouraged us to know Him better. Psalms 133:1 announces, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”