Category: Other Page 138 of 181

Gil and I had to go to Minnesota last week, since that’s where our mission’s national office is located. So we stayed an extra couple of days and visited three of our favorite people who are now going to college there! Aishi, Dorothy, and Bernice graduated in June and are now in Minnesota of all places. Because, of course, that is the logical place for students to go who have spent their entire lives in a tropical climate. Six months a year of freezing cold blizzards and snow and ice forming in your nostrils. Yeah. Logical. We said, “We TOLD you to apply to schools in California!!! But would you listen? Noooooo…” They don’t care. They just like the cute sweaters and boots.

Anyway. It was a wonderful two days of reuniting with these girls who are such a part of our hearts.

When we asked where we could take them to dinner, they chose Indian food. Because it reminds them of home.

Sigh. We’re so proud of them. All grown up.

When I was in college, God blessed me with Becky, Steph, and Wendy. We were in the same dorm at the same school, 20 years old, and full of idealism. They were such good friends.

The four of us hadn’t been together since 1999. It was Becky’s idea to have a reunion, and she’s the one who put it all together. One came down from Washington, one came down from Alaska, and we spent the weekend in Solvang.

Over 10 years had passed. We live in different parts of the world, are married to very different men, and each of us has our own set of trials. Perhaps we’re not as idealistic as we were then but we certainly are a lot wiser. And the friendship hasn’t changed.

In the course of the three days we were together, there was very little silence between us. We had a lot to catch up on! We talked about the funny things and the hard things. We laughed and cried and hugged.

And my soul was filled to the brim in a way that it hasn’t been in a long time.