my little brother started college this year. i helped him move in only three days before i left for china. and i worried that i wouldn’t be there to help him through the transition. i worried because he was always the quiet one, because all through high school i saw him pick up my bad study habits, because he was the one that was often taken advantage of.

but fast forward two months and i can see that i worried unnecessarily. he is completely in his element. straight a’s no problem, getting involved in fellowship, taking initiative. he might even go to jordan next summer to work in refugee camps with a public health class.

and when i take a step back, i realize that in the time between the boy who blew up a furby in the church microwave and the one who taught english in gansu and now, he grew up.

and i’m very proud.

so happy 19th birthday, little brother!

here is an embarrassing photo of us at his junior high graduation, four years ago ;]