My name is Gunita and I am a parishioner of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Martin Luther. I work as a social worker for families with children. I have a very good and caring husband and three beautiful children (18, 15 and 7 years old).

My way of following the Lord started a long time ago – 25 years ago. At university I studied theology and social work. I always wished to have a deep relationship and friendship with God but changes in my relationship with Him began when I went to Medjugorje in 2013.

The visit to Our Lady at the end of 2015 became the most beautiful highlight of my life. It was a living testimony of how God leads me, cares for me and wants me. In Medjugorje I experienced with all my being how God powerfully and humbly and tenderly loves me. And this knowledge fuelled my desire to do my best to get as close as possible to my Beloved One. In the Gospel’s words about a precious pearl, I found a clear meaning.

The words of Our Lady were no longer only nicely formulated words of love but they grew into beautifully scented flowers and each of them has an idea to which I want to answer with my YES.

Since then the messages of Our Lady have become leaves of love addressed to me. And the Holy Bible is more living and attracts me more.

...Every time I prayed to Our Lady and put my fears, lack of knowledge, or the needs of the group, into her hands – the answer and solution came immediately. In this way I adopted a brand new logic: the logic of complete trust...

So it happened that I organised and led this pilgrimage. During the preparation I had to deal with several difficulties and situations when I didn’t know how to proceed (especially because of a lack of experience on my part), for example the lack of money, how to find accommodation, what to do for relaxation etc, but I always got the answer in the right moment and it was much better compared to what I might have planned myself. Divine providence worked with excellent precision and finally we had enough money. Every time I prayed to Our Lady and put my fears, lack of knowledge, or the needs of the group, into her hands – the answer and solution came immediately. In this way I adopted a brand new logic: not the logic of human business which has many of its own constructions (planning, alternative solutions) but the logic of complete trust. I want to continue in learning this mystery of Divine providence.

I still cannot believe how many people helped me with the preparation of this pilgrimage: priests, colleagues at work or friends in Latvia and even abroad. I consider this pilgrimage as a special privilege, seeing the simplicity, honest interest and humble service of the people who helped me.

...The words of Our Lady were no longer only nicely formulated words of love but they grew into beautifully scented flowers and each of them has an idea to which I want to answer with my YES...

To me, leader of the group, it is important to see how the faces of people change from before the pilgrimage to afterwards. There were people of various confessions in our group – Catholics, Protestants, Baptists… people I felt to be like my own soul – so different in terms of confession but so similar in a tender relationship between their heart and God. The Lord gave us the gift of two shepherds – a Catholic priest and an Evangelical pastor. I have always suffered when I see how the Church is divided and that religions are convinced of their own truth. In Medjugorje we felt the unity of being God’s children of one Mother – and this is my desire and wish for our entire Holy Church.

Every morning we celebrated the Holy Mass in the Latvian language. The program of the pilgrimage was carefully planned and well organised. We had an opportunity to go to confession. I felt the incredible power of this Sacrament. I thank God for everything.

When I think of the beautiful spiritual experiences from this pilgrimage, I smile. Let Jesus and Our Lady help every one of us walk this way of unity and trust.

„Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me“ (Rev 3,20).

Gunita, Latvia