Long-lost Friends and Other Fun Things

I see that it's been over two weeks since my last post. Well, this thing called Spring Break kind of snuck up on me, and somehow I've time-warped to March 22nd. How this happened, I'm not sure. It just did. Well, actually I do know how it happened. So, let me tell you.

Way oh way back on March 8th, I went up to Gilbert to visit with my parents about life, my future, Jesus, and a multitude of other things. Sunday gave me the chance to spend some time with two of my best friends. Jen and Julia are twins, and we grew up together because our parents are actually best friends - works out well, doesn't it? Well, Jen lives in California and Julia lives in Florida, so any chance I get to spend some time with them is always treasured. I then celebrated my younger sister's birthday at her new apartment - quite chic - met her new dog, and traveled back to Tucson.

And that brings us to the whirlwind week before Spring Break. We did a new trip this year, and this one in particular had a lot of logistical details to work out. Dustin and Lori did a great job planning the whole thing, and the rest of us staff did what we could to lighten their load as our day of departure approached. But...

Before we packed up our cars and headed on the road on Friday, I had the special treat of getting to spend some time with my old roommate, Amy, who came into town on Monday and Tuesday.It was fun to catch up with her, even for just a short time. We lived together for a total of 4 years, so it felt good to have her back in Tucson for a bit.

And, if that wasn't enough in the long-lost friend department, I had another special treat on Thursday. I have a dear friend named Joanna Schupbach. She lives in Japan. We met on a mission trip to Japan five years ago, and instantly bonded. After a month, I had to leave, and Joanna and I decided we didn't like how you could bond with a friend on a trip like that, and then return to life in the States and lose that friendship without even trying. So, we pinky-swore that we would be friends after we got back. That was almost five years ago, and we haven't seen each other since. However, we have kept our promise and remained friends, communicating via email and through our increasing pool of mutual friends. I keep up with her ministry on her blog, and she keeps up with mine on my blog. (In fact, it was she who inspired me to start a blog in the first place.)

So, long story short, Joanna is dating my friend Mikey, who lives in California. She came to the States to visit him, and he surprised her with a one-day trip to Tucson to see me and several students she knows through other more recent summer trips to Japan. It was such a delight to be with her again!

Here, me, Christy, Ariel, Joanna and Meaghan are all catching up on our way to dinner.

Pizookie at the Strudel house.

Dear friends. Ryan, Steven, Mike, Mikey, Joanna, Robin, Diana, and Christy.

It was such a gift to see to Joanna again. She is such an encouragement to me, and I was so blessed to get to spend a day with her after such a long absence. Praise Jesus for sweet bonds of friendship!

And now we have reached that fateful time in our tale: Spring Break 2008. 27 students and staff hauled ourselves to Colorado Springs for bonding, spiritual input, playing, exploring, serving, playing, growing, eating, playing and SNOW! We broke up into smaller groups and stayed with different Navigator families near the Glen. It was an encouragement to learn from and share life with people who have been walking with Jesus for awhile. When we weren't with our families, we were touring the Glen (the Navigators Headquarters, which happens to be a castle), playing at Mr. Biggs, an indoor entertainment treasure-house, hearing from renowned speakers, and taking some time just to hang.

Some highlights from our trip, in pictures...

Breakfast in Albuquerque on our way to the Springs.

Snow on our first night in Colorado.

Enjoying our host family's home.

I didn't try to hold the birds. But, I was excited about the deer in the backyard, as was Alicia.

Fun at Mr. Biggs.

The four of us who got massages on our free day.

And, a staff lunch on the last day.

If you'll allow me, I'd like to comment on this last picture. Of course you'll allow me. This is my blog, and you have no choice about what I write on it. So, here's my comment: I love my staff team. Plain and simple. Beyond the fact that we are incredibly good-looking (it only took one try to get this shot, and everyone has a good smile. Need I say more?), we genuinely enjoy one another. We decided to get time together at lunch so we could discuss plans to get time together when the semester ends. No joke. They are cherished friends, and I am honored and blessed to get to work alongside them every day.

So, we returned last night after 13 hours on the road, and today has been a time for rest, recovery and preparation for a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, my living God. It has been a good day.