Found in Translation

Separation is hard, especially when you're close. My friends have always been incredibly important to me, but my track record currently shows that separation geographically typically means a loss of friendship, or at least a loss of closeness. There is, however, one glaring contradiction to this rule in that of my friend Beth, who has been praying diligently for our mission to Moldova. She has always lived hours away from me, and yet we've stayed in contact and have even grown closer through the years. It is this example that gives me hope for future separation from friends, hope that these friendships might last as well. I made a friend last week. I'm not usually got at making friends, but this one was easy. He was my translator, Denis. Since we were working together, we got to spend a lot of time with each other. I know him better now than even some of those from our own group. We had a lot of fun together and we grew rather close, possibly as close as two people can become within one week of knowing each other. Since my return, we've already e-mailed each other. I hope this contact will continue, even though I've never tried to maintain a friendship from this great a distance. In any case, my friendship with Denis Males is one memory from Moldova that I will always look fondly on. Tomorrow's story: Two for the Price of the One.