GOD LOVES LIFEGUARDS

GOD LOVES LIFEGUARDS by Susan Warren

It began  with our new lifeguards at my condominium.  This year we hired a new pool company that brings lifeguards to the US for the summer to guard some of the pools in this Maryland area as well as all over the country.    The company offers summer jobs to dozens of Serbians.  They are provided an apartment and bicycles to get around.   Little did the residents of my highrise realize that we would be blessed with a young couple who would become like family. 

Their names are Marko and Dragana (aka Gaga), a couple perfectly suited for each other.   Not only are they the most professional guards we have ever had, but they are the most personable and the most engaging.   However, the purpose of this article is not about how wonderfully they managed our pool all summer... this is about people connecting with people, a topic you know I love to share with my readers. 

Marko has a degree in working with children who have disabilities at home in Serbia and Gaga is completing her college education.  They are in their mid-twenties.   Marko also loves to teach swimming to anyone who wants to learn, from children to senior citizens, with patience  you rarely see in young people today.  They are always smiling, always agreeable and always endearing.

Dozens of us wanted to get to know them better and to learn about their homeland.   We loved to  help them get around the city, show them the sights, take them out to eat, feed them while they were working (long days from 10:30am to 8pm six days a week).  They learned to travel all over Washington, DC, mastering our public transportation system of buses and underground metro. They saw most of the sights on their days off, including the National Zoo, the Smithsonian museums, the Air and Space museum.  They went on several shopping excursions from shopping malls to thrift shops.

The woman who teaches water aerobics offered them the completely furnished basement apartment in her home for half the cost of the apartment provided by the pool company.   They could then take the metro and no longer have to bike all the way to and from work. The apartment was available for all but the last two weeks they would be here in the states.   Another of our residents, with a two bedroom apartment,  offered to take them in!   Their living arrangements seemed to fall into place every time there was a need.

Marko hoped that when he initially came to the states he could extend his visa and remain here to work, which he was able to do.  He wanted to learn to drive a semi tractor trailer, a profitable career for the next four years.   His boss' best friend owns a trucking company which enabled Marko to stay with a guaranteed job.   All of this required getting to Boston and again, there were new friends who helped to make that possible.    Had it been anyone other than Marko I doubt all of this would have taken place.

Summer passed so quickly, just three short months and the pool closes for the season.  It is mid September and we are planning a  big farewell pool party with gifts to show our appreciation and love.  In two weeks Gaga goes home and Marko goes to Boston.   However, the question was,  where would he live for eight weeks while he trained for his trucking license?  I grew up in the suburbs of Boston, but left in '55, and none of my family is there any longer.   Then an idea hit me!   Most of you who have read my previous articles know that Walter Reed, its wounded warriors and their families have been a huge part of my life, and one of those families happens to be from Boston.   The injured warrior healed, was medically discharged and retired from the Marine Corps earlier this year, remaining here in Maryland.   His Mom, whom I befriended when they first arrived at Walter Reed three years ago, still lives in the city of Boston.  

I rely on God for much of what I do, not as much as I should, but most of the time when He speaks to me, I listen.   The Holy Spirit nudged me to call this Mom and inquire as to whether she might consider taking Marko in for eight weeks.   She is from the Ukraine and he is from Serbia so I thought they would have a few things in common.   She emphatically said "YES", that she would love to have Marko stay in her son's apartment in her home, and not only that, but rent free!!!  At that moment I thanked and praised God and wept for joy!!!    She told me that now she would have someone to cook for.....dishes that she rarely cooks since she lives alone.   And to top that off, she lives very close to public transportation which he will have to rely on.

Marko and Gaga will visit this amazing Mom next week, get the details worked out, and then return here until Gaga goes home to Serbia.  Then Marko starts his new life as a trucker, beginning with his training.  We will pray for his safety on the roads and look forward to seeing him when he is in the area.   Hopefully Gaga will be back next summer as our lifeguard and Marko will visit with all of us when he comes to see her.  Of course, we will all be staying in touch with them via Facebook and email. 

Let this be a reminder: there is nothing that happens by accident, there are no coincidences, it is all arranged by God.   Every person who crosses our path is there by design, whether or not we understand the reason at the time.    This summer it was truly remarkable to watch God working in so many lives.  To witness the enormous outpouring of love for Marko and Gaga gave us all hope, that our fellow man is inherently good and kind.   It will be a long winter and we will look forward to seeing our friends again next year.