Reunited

When we were students at NTBI, Israel was befriended by a boy there named David. David's family is on staff at NTBI, and something just "clicked" between David and Israel (despite an eleven year age difference). Mostly, this was due to David's extreme patience with Israel and his willingness to play with him all the time. David and Israel spent many hours throwing balls back and forth in the gym, the hallway, or our apartment.

Here are some pictures of the two of them at NTBI...

Helping Israel learn how to walk

At a Christmas party together

At David's house for supper one evening

Their most frequent location together--in the gym

After we left NTBI last May, Israel kept talking about David during the summer. "David? Basketball? David? Basketball?" So I had Israel make a card for David, and we mailed it to him. A month or two later, David wrote Israel a note back, and included a picture of himself for Israel. Israel loved the card the the picture. I mean LOVED. He was so proud that David wrote him back. :) So for the past eight months or so, Israel has had David's picture and note hanging by his bed.

Almost daily, Israel looks up at David's picture and says something like, "My friend David!" or "David play basketball with me." 

Well, last night, Israel got to be reunited with his friend David. :) David's family was passing through the MTC, and we were privileged to have them over for dinner. Israel was a little shy around David at first, but warmed up to him very quickly, and he was David's little shadow by the end of the evening.

David's whole family has been such a blessing to us the past few years. Here's David's twin, Daniel, with Abel. :)

This lifestyle we've chosen is going to constantly be separating us from friends. And that's hard. But I was reminded last night that when we have to move away or be separated from friends, then that just means that we get to have wonderfully joyful reunions with them as well!