Nearly five years ago, in August 2003, I moved back to Saipan. James would arrive a month and a half later. On my first Sunday back on island, I attended service at Saipan Community Church. The church I grew up with. I spent every Friday morning of grades 1 through 8 in that church – singing, praying, laughing, playing. I performed in the band, sang in the choir, and participated in Christmas programs in that church. The church with no walls, the church where the doors are always open.
My family never attended that church, we never attended any church. But I did attend it sometimes. I’d go with my friends whose families were deeply rooted in the Christian faith. I’d attend church retreats with my friends from church and school. The first retreat I attended was a camp-out at Managaha. And I should have known since then never to attempt another Managaha camp-out. Because Deece + camping = a sucky time for all.
That first Sunday back in the familiar open air church was wonderful. During the service I sat with Auntie Jan; as a child I would sit with her in that church before her daughter, Kristy, and I would head off to Sunday School. And after the service on that first Sunday, Auntie Jan and another friend’s mother, Auntie Debbie, sat with me and prayed with me. They prayed for me. They were happy that I was there, and so was I. Both of these women were also my teachers. Literally - Auntie Debbie taught me various subjects throughout my time at Saipan Community School, Auntie Jan was actually my principal. They watched me grow. They knew me when I was a nice young innocent girl. They knew me when I was a loud rule-breaking child. They knew me when I was a somewhat rebellious teen. And they know me now as a Christian adult, a wife and mother.
Yesterday I sat in that church while attending a service to celebrate the eternal life of a childhood friend - Auntie Debbie's daughter, Audra. Audra and I were friends; we weren’t best friends, but we were friends. She was a year younger than me and a grade below me throughout my time at Saipan Community School. We saw each other every weekday. We played in band concerts together and performed in Christmas plays together. She was always a wonderful person. So kind, so cheerful, so full of love.
I sat with Auntie Jan at Audra's memorial service yesterday. I shed tears of sadness and tears of joy. I can't remember when I last saw my friend, but we had an online exchange a few years ago and she just radiated joy and love across miles and miles of fiber optic cable. I am sad that no one will be able to embrace her in person again. But I am overjoyed and amazed and a little overwhelmed knowing that she is in heaven with our creator. I don't know if she is looking down on us or not, but one thing I know is that she is with God. The God who created her and the God who created me. The only God.
It was a beautiful service. Probably the most beautiful I've ever attended, with live music and raw emotion. And it was about my friend and our God. It was about how she lived and how she loved our God.
If there is a family to emulate, Audra's family is it. They trust in the Lord, they have faith beyond measure. They have raised their children right in the eyes of God.
I feel a deep connection with Auntie Jan and Auntie Debbie's families. They may not feel it, but I do. And the funny thing is, I never really know what to call them. I tried to keep names out of this post, but my sentences didn't seem to make sense without them. So I added their names, Auntie Jan and Auntie Debbie. But because of their roles as teachers in my life, I got used to calling them Mrs. Springer and Mrs. Winkfield. But that places them so far away from me. And I don't want them far away. I may not see them often, I may not hang out with them or their children regularly, I may not be their family - at least not by normal standards. But they are my family. They are my family in Christ.The reading from Audra's celebration of eternal life:
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4
The chorus of the song her family sang:
"You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you"
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21
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