Seeing Jesus in a picture of pizza

What do you see? A pizza cooling off quickly in the icy air? 

Maybe, like my friend Walt, you see this picture and want to ask, “Who is wasting that pizza?” (Which, if you know Walt, means, “Are you gonna eat that?”) I look at this picture and see good food, but I also see friendship — and Jesus. Jesus in a picture of pizza? I will explain. But it is funny and wonderful how those three things — food, friendship and Jesus — always seem to be blended together in my life in Estonia.

I took this photo during a meal shared with a brand new friend. She, like I, is not a native and is not used to the Estonian winter air. However, due to COVID-19, we were enjoying a frosty outdoor lunch. She is an exchange student from a country in Southeastern Europe, spending the semester in Tartu. How did I meet this friend? 

Several weeks ago, a friend from Denver called me in the middle of the night. I thought that was strange and that maybe she had forgotten about the time difference (which I often do myself). But after this happened two nights in a row, I decided to call her back. She told me a friend of hers from another country would be contacting me via Facebook. She advised me to accept the request. Soon after, when I did, I found myself chatting with a missionary from the country in Southeastern Europe who wanted to connect me with this exchange student. She said the student would arrive in Estonia soon and asked if I would like to welcome her and spend time with her. I said that I would love to.

When the student arrived in Estonia a few days later, to my surprise, she contacted me. After her first week in quarantine, she asked for help getting a taxi to her COVID test and shared that she didn’t yet have a mobile phone. So I picked her up, and we spent the day together. We got her COVID test, found her a new phone and shopped for a warm jacket. Later, after trying (unsuccessfully) to get her a local bank account, we shared that pizza on a snowy bench (pictured above). She and I were fast friends.

During our lunch, we talked about the subject of friends. She asked how she could meet more. I replied that I knew the perfect place. I had the church youth group in mind but wasn’t sure if I should mention it yet. However, I started to explain about Kolgata, the wonderful church where I go on Fridays and Sundays, and how they have a fun youth group on Thursdays. Before I could finish, she stopped me. She put out her hand and shouted in excitement, “Church! I really want to go to church!” I was not expecting that response. It filled me with joy.

I immediately connected her with the Kolgata youth pastor and some of the students so that she would have a ride to the youth group. The next day, she messaged me that she had made another new friend while doing laundry in her dorm. He is also an exchange student, and she asked if he could go as well. I replied that this would be fantastic and she should bring whomever she would like. They both attended youth group Thursday night and had a great time. They both said they wanted to attend church on Sunday as well!

Sunday morning, I picked them up and learned two very interesting things on our way to Kolgata. First, that my new friend is from a Muslim background and seems to be seeking. Second, that her fellow exchange student from the dorm is already a Christian — and, in fact, a pastor’s son. I love how God works!

On the way home from church that day, we stopped at my apartment. I wanted to run in and grab a Life Application Study Bible to give my new friend. When I brought it out, I asked her if she had ever had a Bible before. She replied that this was her first. It makes me smile to think about this: When God connects us to new friends, we have the honor and privilege of introducing them to him, the best new friend they can ever have.

Please join me in praying that as we continue to meet and get to know each other — and perhaps enjoy more pizza lunches together in the icy Estonian air — that my new friend will come to know Jesus.

Partner with Beth Ann as she helps make Christ-following disciples in Estonia.