100 Days in Thailand :: Day 24 - GCM Reunion

Today we met up with some friends for coffee. The special thing about that is, these were more of my college friends from AUBURN! It just happened that my sweet friend Katie B. (who lives in Hong Kong) was here for the same ELIC conference Biscuet was attending. And she brought her fiance Maik too! We also got to meet a super fun girl named Jennifer who teaches English in China (she's originally from Marietta, GA).

Even though we were half a world away, I felt like I was right back in a coffee shop in Auburn, AL. Katie, Biscuet and I were all a part of Grace Campus Ministries together, so it was fun to be back together again catching up! We talked about life and heard all about their work in China & Hong Kong. It was incredible to think what was once just a little campus ministry in Auburn, AL (that only about 50 people attended when we all met!) had grown so much, done so much, and impacted lives around the world. Here we were in Thailand talking about our work in Hong Kong, China, Thailand, India, and Swaziland.... it was truly incredible!

Left to Right - Ericka, Katie, Jennifer, Biscuet, Maik, & Rusty

We also really enjoyed getting to know Maik and hearing more about his & Katie's love story (they are getting married in May in Hong Kong!) He is a great guy with some really HILARIOUS stories - the kind of stories that make you laugh until your sides hurt and your cheeks ache! (and all the quiet Thai people in the room stare at you - haha!) I can't remember the last time I laughed like that!

Me & Katie B. - I can't believe it's been 8 years since we met and were in small groups together, and 2 years since we all worshiped together at Encounter! I'm sure if you told us that we would meet our husbands in Africa and Hong Kong (and both end up serving overseas) back when we were at Auburn, we would've thought you were crazy!

It was truly a blessing to hang out with these friends here - to share, to laugh, and to be encouraged! Thanks guys for a fun afternoon! We pray God blesses your ministries abundantly! Katie & Maik - CONGRATULATIONS! We are so happy for you!!!