Friendships

Friday was a beautiful day of friendships, both old and new. Christa and I had a wonderful phone conversation with our Montreal contact, Sue. She seems to anticipate Christa's needs and to address them before the tiny molehills become insurmountable. Christa will be "serving the servers," making possible the work of visiting American teams rather than running the daycamps. It seems to me to be a bit like being a water boy for a sports team--behind the scenes, essential in all ways, lots of guts but little glamour. Along the way, our world traveler will be forging great friendships with the Quebecois missionaries, many of whom will host her for a night or several. Ultimately, Christa will bring home friendships and a connection with the French-speaking nationals and emigree in Montreal, Maniwaki, and beyond. Last evening, Christa finally celebrated her April 25th birthday with her long-time best friends, Kristen and Angela, and sister, Cara. We ate Italian food at Ippolito's, including the peerless garlic rolls with Parmesan topping; red velvet cake; and watched "Pride & Prejudice" before exchanging gifts for Kristen's graduation and Angela and Christa's birthdays. Each of us practically needed seatbelts to hold us in our seats--we were so thrilled to be together in a stress-free, loving environment. The love of longtime friends is such a balm for preventing loneliness, defeat, and weakness. That tender comfort is a sampling of the smorgasbord of grace-gifts that God pours into us--as we interact, as we work, as we create, as we express devotion to each other, even as we rest at night. What a storehouse of riches we experience in the company of the One who is our Oldest and Dearest Friend of Friends!