Special Time with "my brother"

I always wanted a brother, and Brian Waala, child of missionaries Russel and Lois, my parents' co-workers, was the closest I ever had to a brother growing up. Last week, he and his wife Sherri, who are visiting Okinawa after over 30 years, invited me along on their overnight trip to the northernmost tip of the island. 

After getting back, I made a sketch of them posing at Hedo Point (where they took the ashes of their oldest deceased son). A black monarch butterfly graced the special time too, so that was included in the drawing, along with the Yambaru Kuina bird we saw often as well as the crab Sherri found on our walk on the beach.

We did notice the large sign above the receptionist counter read "Haisai," the familiar Okinawan greeting, so that too was drawn into the memorial sketch as well as the billiard table on which the receptionist and Sherri played a game of 8-ball and the ping pong table on which Brian played some table tennis with another young man from Germany.

There just wasn't room to draw the cafeterias showing the Okinawan food we enjoyed or professional baseball team we got to see in training.... It was just one day, but what a full, rich time it was.

Brian and Sherri have already invited me to come along to visit the outer islands where he grew up. We take off tomorrow, and I plan to stay with them about 3 days. What a promising start we've already seen. Thank you so much, Lord!