Dedicated to Helena Hengelbrok

My 18-year-old neighbor, Helena Hengelbrok, complained yesterday that I haven't posted in a while. The fact that she enjoys reading my blog is reason enough to keep posting. This post is dedicated to her:

I met Helena about 5 years ago. Her family moved in down the street and my teammate, Lynette Good, met them at the grocery store. Somehow they heard each other speaking English, which is rare this side of the Berlin Wall. Lynette came running into my apartment later that day screaming, "We have friends!!!!!" True friends don't grow on trees and it was almost immediately apparent that the Hengelbroks would become true friends.

I hoped that Helena (then 13 or 14) would start attending my youth group, which she did! Turns out, she loves to learn and enjoyed studying the Bible. She liked to guess where my lessons were headed while I was still spitting out my opening "hook", and she was usually right. She asked questions I didn't know the answers to and I soon realized that she was going to give me a run for my money! I studied harder knowing Helena would be in the audience.

I'm not all that smart, but I was smart enough to invest time into a friendship with a very unique young lady. I tell her all the time that she's more than my neighbor. More than a kid in my youth group. More than a frequent status hacker. I bake with her, plan youth group events with her, watch movies with her, host sleepovers for her and her friends, talk theology (and relationships) with her, drink green tea with her, walk her home at the end of a late night . . . She's become my friend.

And now she's graduated and leaving Berlin, first for Peru and then for Princeton! (That rhymed!) I'll miss her, but I'm so thankful for the years of getting to know her, being stretched by her and having the privilege of leaving any amount of positive influence on her life.

Helena, there's no doubt you will go on to shape the world in some great way. But as you do, never forget:

Intellect, gifts, abilities, dreams and desires are gifts (as is faith).

There are no accidents. Your family moving to Max-Sabersky-Allee is proof of Intelligent Design.

The search doesn't end until you have perfect peace.

Everything natural can be proven, but a lot of things are SUPERnatural.

You always have a friend in me!