Journey - Letting Go

Sunday, August 24th

Saturday began with a meeting of students and parents in Edman for a presentation of Wheaton's multicultural experience - to celebrate all of the cultures and ethnicities at the College while remaining unified as the Body of Christ .... but not uniform!!! Always a funny and yet enlightening presentation!
Heather joined us for a picnic lunch on Blanchard lawn - what a beautiful day!!

Afterwards, Pat, Sara, and I attended a meeting with the Pre-Health Professions advisor. She was very informative and Wheaton seems to have a very good handle on preparing a successful medical school/nursing school applicant.

For dinner, we found a neat sushi restaurant in Bloomingdale and then ....

Sara went to her meeting at Pierce Chapel. Sara's service, we were told by Heather, included each of the new freshman having their feet washed by their RA - what an humbling way to begin your college career.

Pat, Heather, and I attended the "Letting Go" service at Edman Chapel. It included prayer, singing, and sharing from members of the Parent's Council - all who have current students at Wheaton. This is not just a "meeting" however, this is a worship service. 15-20 parents spoke, some tearfully, about how God had lead their family to Wheaton College, their joys and fears, answered prayers for God providing the way for their child to be able to attend. One Daddy choked back tears as he described how, as he watched his daughter pack, it seemed that each box contained a different part of her life that was now leaving. A missionary mom from Nepal proclaimed with tears of joy how God had provided for her son to come to Wheaton .... and how she would not be able to see him again until he graduates four years later. Lastly, a mom bringing her second child to Wheaton described how, when they brought her first child to the College two years ago, the other 4 kids stuffed one of the student's jackets and buckled it into her usual spot in the family car for weeks to ease the transition! She also talked about our purpose for the last 18 years for all these new students - to prepare them to leave home -- as painful as that is -- and to have joy in that part of our (the student's AND parents') journey. All the lessons - learning to walk ... to talk ... to read .... to dress themselves .... to study and learn .... to drive .... to be men and women of faith ... and integrity ... and honesty ... and responsibility .... in short to be children of God .... all was in preparation to enable them to leave -- to become the person that God ALREADY has planned for them to be.

Heather spent the night with us at the hotel ... that was nice ...

Paul, Pat, Heather ..... and Sara