Michael W. Smith says it best

A poignantly bittersweet moment was spent  saying good-bye to my dearest friend Christina tonight. 

The Lord brought us together over three years ago at a Onething Regional conference held in Winnipeg, where I heard about the International House of Prayer for the first time, had my first taste of the prayer movement, first saw a picture of people my age living radical loves abandoned to Jesus like I never could have imagined, and when my heart first was awakened to the calling on my life as an intercessor.  Christina was the one, while at the book table, who gently and patiently began to explain and walk me through what I was experiencing in the place of prayer and worship during the conference, what the heck "harp and bowl was," why a 24/7 expression of prayer and worship was important in a city, and invited me to come check out Sanctuary House of Prayer.  October 28, 2007 was my first Sunday at SHOP.  My life has not been the same since.  That weekend put me on a trajectory I could never have imagined, to eventually have me spend time living at IHOP, coming on staff with SHOP, being a full-time intercessory missionary, and becoming best friends with Christina.

The Lord blessed me with a season of living at IHOP-KC in the fall of 2008, where as it would turn out, Christina was doing an internship/training semester and was already rooming in the same home I moved into.  It was that fall semester at IHOP that the Lord had us get to know each other, where I would pepper her with questions and doubts about the end-times and book of revelation (which again, she gently and patiently walked me through, pointing me mostly to seek out the Lord in prayer and Scripture about those issues), knit our hearts together as friends and sister in Christ as we drank QT iced-coffees and walked around the plaza, and set up the next couple of years of journeying together in Winnipeg. As much as that season was for us individually to spend time alone in the presence of God and be transformed by the Word, it was also for the formation of an integral friendship that would prove to be a major way that He worked in my life.  Christina has been one of those rare friends that come to us in life that know the good, the bad, the really ugly, and help keep God's perspective first and foremost no matter what either of us looks like in the moment.  She shines with the beauty and love of Jesus all the time.

My first weekend living in KC in 2008.  Christina brought me along with some of her Commission classmates to try "disc golf" for the first...and last time.

I'm guessing this was during a meal out with SHOP friends who came to visit IHOP while Christina and I were down there.  Can't exactly remember.

Christina's last day of her Commission term Nov 2008.  We were sad to say goodbye that day too.

 When together, we give detailed descriptions of each day since we last talked and not just texted, we laugh, discuss the destiny and future of entire cities, dream of what God is doing in our lives and the lives around us, dive deep into parts of the Word that we have been studying, drink coffee, compliment each other on nail polish colors, tear up over a frustration, talk about our roller-coaster emotions, sing on an intercession set, talk and plan about going down to IHOP again, laugh and sing (often at the same time...or trail off a sentence to sing a line of song and then go back into the previous sentence not missing a beat.  We are not fazed by this anymore. It's normal), prophesy over one another, speak truth, pray, give each other encouragement cards, share newest blog finds or Prayer room archive sets, laugh some more, sing some more, more details about the day, more emotions, more coffee, wave at each other in the prayer room, and hug at each greeting.  It has been a gift to have this dear and beautiful woman of God only a 10 minute drive away.

We have spent much time in Kansas City together from living there in fall 2008, to numerous trips over the past two years.  Now she will be there for good, and I will have a place to stay in when I come! I say farewell to Christina as she moves to Kansas City to be a part of the International House of Prayer and work at a hospital part time with hope in my heart and prayers on my lips as she faithfully steps in line with the will and calling of God.  Skype dates are already planned, and trips to see her in the works for the next couple of months.  It won't be the same, but I bless her and admire her faithfulness and abandon to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

There are no other words that I can say, so it is here when Michael W. Smith says it best (Definitely sang this loudly feeling like a 7 year old again listening to the cassette tape in my kitchen, teared up while doing so, laughed, and then wrote it in a farewell encouragement card.  Christina and I both laughed when I gave it, sang a line together, hugged and said goodbye tonight):

Packing up the dreams God planted

In the fertile soil of you

I can't believe the hopes He's granted

Means a chapter of your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

And with the faith and love God's given

Springing from the hope we know

We will pray the joy you live in

Is the strength that now you show

We'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Us getting ready to head into one of the last Awakening meetings at the FCF building, during a trip to IHOP in October for Christina's interview at the hospital.

Christina and I celebrating New Years Dec31, 2010 at the Onething 2010 conference in KC just a few weeks ago. No other way I would have wanted to bring in the New Year - to celebrate all God has done and will continue to do.