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Lydia Friend

Goodreads Author

Born

Israel

Website

https://pilgrimdiaries.net/

Genre

Memoir, Spirituality, Poetry

Influences

https://www.facebook.com/pilgrimdiaries ...more

Member Since

April 2013

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/friendlydia

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Lydia Friend is a poet, memoirist, and director of a Bible bookstore in Jerusalem. Born into a family devoted to Christian radio work at the Lebanese border, she grew up between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States — a third-culture childhood that shaped both her faith and her voice. She holds a BA in Theology and studied the Anthropology of Pilgrimage at the University of the Holy Land. Her debut memoir, The Diaries of a Teenage Pilgrim: The Early Journey, was published in 2025 and traces her spiritual awakening from 1994 to 1998. For over thirty years she wrote secretly in the bridal mysticism tradition before she knew what that was. She is currently at work on her second book, which covers her family's years in the borderlands of North Lydia Friend is a poet, memoirist, and director of a Bible bookstore in Jerusalem. Born into a family devoted to Christian radio work at the Lebanese border, she grew up between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States — a third-culture childhood that shaped both her faith and her voice. She holds a BA in Theology and studied the Anthropology of Pilgrimage at the University of the Holy Land. Her debut memoir, The Diaries of a Teenage Pilgrim: The Early Journey, was published in 2025 and traces her spiritual awakening from 1994 to 1998. For over thirty years she wrote secretly in the bridal mysticism tradition before she knew what that was. She is currently at work on her second book, which covers her family's years in the borderlands of North Israel and South Lebanon from 1998 to 2000. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.

When thirteen-year-old Lydia's father announces they're leaving their cozy Wisconsin parsonage for Israel in just forty days, her world turns upside down. What follows is an extraordinary pilgrimage that spans continents and decades of reflection, a journey of displacement, identity, and the discovery of divine calling in the most unexpected places.

Written in memoir format and based on personal experiences and diary excerpts, Lydia tells her story of how she went from a reluctant pilgrim running away from the Holy Land to Missouri's Ozarks, to a teenager who dedicated her life to serving the Lord in the Middle East and beyond.

Her story and poetry speak to anyone who has ever felt like a stranger: Third Culture Kids navigating between worlds, ministry families facing cross-cultural moves, men and women wrestling with belonging and purpose, seniors who want to reignite their passion for God, and teens grappling with confusion about identity and purpose.

Lydia takes you on a journey to Jerusalem, living in a Jewish neighborhood, attending an Arab school in East Jerusalem, then moving to the Israeli-Lebanese border. She joins a hockey team, then a speed skating team. Rockets fly overhead while her father works in South Lebanon with Christian radio. As the only believer in Jesus among her friends, she grapples with how to live set apart for God. But as tensions build, she runs away to the Ozarks to live with her Grandma and experience a normal American high school life. During that time, she comes face to face with her dreams and God's dreams. She has a destiny set before her, but will she choose the comfort of American life, or will she return to the Galilean Hills that changed her?

This is the raw testimony of a "Stranger Lovely" learning that belonging comes not from fitting in, but from knowing the One she belongs to. As one who has moved between many places, she discovers a single constant: the mystical presence of God. He opens to her the language of the Song of Songs and reveals that He wants her for a Bride, drawing her into deeper intimacy through poetry and divine love. This is the true story of a teenager who begins her journey and slowly finds the Lover of her soul. This is the early journey. Part two is coming, as the mountains of spices await Lydia's return.

Also available in hardcover (ISBN: 979-8993036120), paperback, and ebook (ISBN: 979-8993036151). Search "The Diaries of a Teenage Pilgrim Lydia Friend" to find all formats. ...more

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The Diaries of a Teenage Pilgrim: The Early Journey: A Coming-of-Age Story of How God Called Me to Run After Him
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Light to the Hills

by Bonnie Blaylock (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 18, 2023 04:24PM

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Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds

by David C. Pollock

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Oct 28, 2020 11:30AM

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Exiles (Realms of the Infinite, #1)

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Oct 05, 2019 06:01AM

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Book Launch Guide for Pros Dale did it again! This author succeeds yet again in making another smashing tutorial for authors. This one teaches authors how to have a good launch plan. Something any author should work on. I found the book very motivatio ...more
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Holy Land Adventure Indiana Jones Style Having lived in Jerusalem and some of the places mentioned this book intrigued me. I would have loved to meet the author and discuss it. Such an interesting idea. I might people who claimed to be David in Jerusa ...more
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Lydia Friend made a comment on Diane Kurtz’s review of The Diaries of a Teenage Pilgrim: The Early Journey: A Coming-of-Age Story of How God Called Me to Run After Him " Diane, Thank you so much for taking time to read and review my book. May you always be known to those that matter and may your story touch hearts wher ...more "
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