family functions more and more often. I was hoping that I would be able to have the courage to ask her if she felt the same way about me that I felt about her. Little did I know . . . there was far more in store for me.

Katie had asked Paul Stauffer, our preaching elder at Community Bible Church, if she could give a presentation about her Rwanda trip. He said that would be great and gave her a date in November. She was planning to do a multimedia presentation as well as talk about her experiences in Rwanda, and I offered to help her put it together. I really think that she did most of the work on it though. She is very talented when it comes to stuff like that. Although I am not sure that she would admit that.

Her sister, Heather, came into Altoona to spend some time with Katie and hear first hand all about her trip. The day of her presentation did not go entirely according to plan, and this time I was

able to help her out. Because my mother is the church secretary I had access to the church office and therefore the copier to get copies made of her handout. I also was responsible for the church's sound board and, being technology savvy, was able to help get the video portion setup. I knew if I were in her position where things seemed to be falling apart around me that I would want to be encouraged. I hugged her and told her that it would all be okay. She could do this.

After church, Katie had invited me to join her and several others at Pizza Hut as a sort of send off for Heather. I knew that my family was having a get together as we did every Sunday, and I felt that I had prior commitments, so I declined to join her. When I got home a close friend of the family, Michele Eilenberger, upon hearing that I snubbed Katie to have dinner with my family said and I quote: "If you do not get your butt down there right now, I will personally kick your can