Tonight I called my family from a place where snow never falls. I called my Venezuelan family. My heart broke as I longed to be there. After spending about 9 months there over the past year, I guess I just didn’t really realize how much a part of my heart they really were. I heard a voice on the phone answer along with a slew of other background noises, noises that I knew well as a true Venezuelan Fiesta! My Venezuelan Mama picked up the phone. She told me how her sons just arrived home from the states to spend Christmas with her family. Juditha is so dear to me. She was my mom, sister, and friend all rolled up in one. She is beautiful inside and out and I am so grateful for her. She let me cry on her shoulder when I was homesick. She listened to my stories and told me her own. She gave me fashion tips, which if you know me, I am in desperate need of. I learned from her what a true servant’s heart looks like, and that a strong marriage is built upon that very thing. I was so blessed just to hear her voice tonight but also realized the pain of being so far from family. I was then passed along to her nephew and then to her niece, my dear friend Maria Fernanda. We talked of school, she being in high school and me being in graduate school. We talked of boys and our walks with God. Oh how I have missed our conversations and our girls talks. I remember, how when I first arrived in Venezuela, I attended the first youth group event. I was out of my element and kind of scared. But saw in her eyes a softness that I knew that if no one else liked me, at least we would be friends. She was not only part of my Venezuelan family, but she was in youth group, my English Classes and even my Bible Study. She and I were close and still remain dear friends. I talked to her mom, my Venezuelan Aunt Maria, as well as Juditha’ son, my brother Juan Carlos, whom I still have yet to meet. I also got to talk with my Venezuelan Papa, Pedro. He reminds me a lot of my real father. He doesn’t say much, but in his few words and numerous actions, I hear an abundance of love. He treated me like the daughter he never had. He looked out for me, protecting me and making sure I was safe. He took me out for dinner when I was said, watched movies with me and my mom, made sure I got into safe taxi’s and let me in at night when I forgot my keys…again. The generosity they showed me, I will never forget, and I know there is still a warm bed waiting for me when I return. I write all this to say, family is not just those who share your DNA, but also those who share places of your very heart. My Venezuelan family will always hold dear places in my heart and with the joy of their love, I will always feel the pain of being so far away. However, absence makes the heart grow fonder and I’m sure I will be visiting them soon enough. Until next time… take some time to thank God for your family, far and away, because even though some in that family may not have the same color hair, eyes or skin, they are still a blessed and treasured gift from God.