C
CatholicWhovian
Guest
A bit of a background first:
I’ve befriended this Australian exchange student last semester. When we first met we instantly became fast friends because of how we have a lot in common with each other. We are both devout Catholics loyal to the Church, something which is rare in both our universities, sadly (and the sad irony is that we are both from Catholic universities). I’ve always wanted to look for an exchange student who is as much a devout Catholic as I am. Fortunately he is as much in love with the Faith as I am. We also have the same interests (we both like Doctor Who) and the same experiences in life. There was a time in my life, specifically in high school, when I had no friends and I was bullied constantly. He also had a time in his life when all his friends from high school suddenly left him and he was isolated from everyone except his family for a reason I will not disclose here. I made a promise.
Because of that for 6 months we’ve grown closer, and he became a best friend to me. He told me in our last meeting together earlier this month that for him I was his lifeline to his old life back in Australia. He told me about how exchange students get to do things they wouldn’t normally do in their home countries, and that when they come back they come back differently. For him I reminded him unintentionally of himself back home - how me being a devout Catholic reminded him of his work at the Marist Youth Ministry back in Sydney (he studied in a Marist high school), how my experience was the same as his experience, etc. And how he wanted someone to talk to openly about the faith, because if he talked about it with his other friends who are either not devout or not Catholic or either, they would be closed and he would start from scratch. For him I was someone whom he can openly talk to; and for me vice versa.
Our friendship is not only mutual but most importantly based on Christ. We pray for each other, sometimes we would go to school Masses together, other times I would join him in Lectio Divina sections. If you have a friendship like that it is sure to last long; it’s also an important kind of friendship, especially since you’re with a person who will always remind you of your relationship with Christ and you being a child of God.
He’s leaving home tomorrow night. We’ve already had a proper goodbye. I’ll miss him terribly. :bighanky:
It’s hard to move on, especially when one of your best and closest friends is going back home. I don’t know when I’ll see him again, considering I plan to study in the UK for my master’s/post-graduate degree. And the UK is a long, LONG way from Australia compared to the Philippines. But that’s life.
Please pray for him to have a safe flight back home. He’s as important to me as family; that’s why I’m posting a prayer request here.
I’ve befriended this Australian exchange student last semester. When we first met we instantly became fast friends because of how we have a lot in common with each other. We are both devout Catholics loyal to the Church, something which is rare in both our universities, sadly (and the sad irony is that we are both from Catholic universities). I’ve always wanted to look for an exchange student who is as much a devout Catholic as I am. Fortunately he is as much in love with the Faith as I am. We also have the same interests (we both like Doctor Who) and the same experiences in life. There was a time in my life, specifically in high school, when I had no friends and I was bullied constantly. He also had a time in his life when all his friends from high school suddenly left him and he was isolated from everyone except his family for a reason I will not disclose here. I made a promise.
Because of that for 6 months we’ve grown closer, and he became a best friend to me. He told me in our last meeting together earlier this month that for him I was his lifeline to his old life back in Australia. He told me about how exchange students get to do things they wouldn’t normally do in their home countries, and that when they come back they come back differently. For him I reminded him unintentionally of himself back home - how me being a devout Catholic reminded him of his work at the Marist Youth Ministry back in Sydney (he studied in a Marist high school), how my experience was the same as his experience, etc. And how he wanted someone to talk to openly about the faith, because if he talked about it with his other friends who are either not devout or not Catholic or either, they would be closed and he would start from scratch. For him I was someone whom he can openly talk to; and for me vice versa.
Our friendship is not only mutual but most importantly based on Christ. We pray for each other, sometimes we would go to school Masses together, other times I would join him in Lectio Divina sections. If you have a friendship like that it is sure to last long; it’s also an important kind of friendship, especially since you’re with a person who will always remind you of your relationship with Christ and you being a child of God.
He’s leaving home tomorrow night. We’ve already had a proper goodbye. I’ll miss him terribly. :bighanky:
It’s hard to move on, especially when one of your best and closest friends is going back home. I don’t know when I’ll see him again, considering I plan to study in the UK for my master’s/post-graduate degree. And the UK is a long, LONG way from Australia compared to the Philippines. But that’s life.
Please pray for him to have a safe flight back home. He’s as important to me as family; that’s why I’m posting a prayer request here.
