Hello all! For those of you that don’t know me, I am Marissa, one of Brooke’s best friends and a fellow Presbyterian. Woo! Brooke and I have been friends since our freshmen year of high school (2005-2006, geez we’re getting old), when Brooke was the weird girl that spent our 8th grade year living in Africa. Well that weird girl and I, along with our friend Gabby, quickly became inseparable.
Over the course of the last 12 years, much has changed in our lives. We all went off to college, graduated and got jobs (Thank God!), some of us bought homes, one of us got married, and our obsession with Gilmore Girls grew even stronger. The only thing that didn’t change over the last decade was Brooke’s desire and calling to serve in Malawi again.
About two years ago, Brooke and I casually discussed taking a trip to Malawi together during the summer of 2017. She had been back a few times, but I was never able to make the trip. This was going to be the time that it actually happened! About a year ago as we were talked about our plans, Brooke, as if listing an item on a grocery list, said, “Oh, by the way, I’m not coming back with you”. It took me a moment, and I asked er if she was serious, and before she could even answer, I knew that she was serious. You see, Brooke has been called to return to Malawi since our freshmen year when she returned home from her first trip there. From that point forward, every summer that she came back from a short trip to Malawi he was more in love with that country and her desire to return to live grew stronger.
And so, as much as I will miss seeing her on a (semi) regular basis, or miss the instantaneous conversations that we can have about the Steelers or musicals, I am not sad that she is going. How can I be sad when I know she is going to be exactly where she is supposed to be! God has lead Brooke to Malawi, and she is whole-heartedly following him! How amazing is that!!
To my best friend, I am so excited to see how you will change the world over the course of the next year. I am excited to see how God changes you over the course of the next year and, I am excited to, finally, visit you in the warm heart of Africa! I am so proud of you!
-Marissa Virgin
When Brooke first approached me about writing a post for her blog, I was somewhat hesitant. Not that I don’t have plenty to say, I just wanted to be sure I was saying the right things and making the most of my space. I thought of about eight different ways to start this, and finally ended on the most logical; the beginning.
I’m not certain if she even knows this, but Brooke and I met during what was easily the most challenging part of my life. I came from a very small school where I could tell you everyone’s name, and came into a school of vastly larger magnitude where I knew practically no one. I was beyond nervous and Brooke just chatted me up like we had known each other all along. Her acceptance of me really changed my entire perception of high school and my outlook on it going forward.
We met in 9th grade band, while we were both seriously failing at paying attention. Seated next to each other from day one, who knew that we were getting into a friendship that would last through amazing and awful teachers, insane school projects, band trips, separation through college, graduations, significant others, relocations, weddings, jobs, and now, more than a year apart with as little contact as ever. I’m not even remotely concerned that we won’t be just as close as we are now when she gets back.
One of my favorite memories with Brooke was a last-minute plan. We were both on trips to London and Dublin at the same time but with opposite schedules. We had exactly one day of overlap between us. Most people would probably say “hey, that’s awesome” and then go on with their lives. Not Brooke. She made it a point that we meet up and spend the day together. I would have never gotten to King’s Cross Station, Platform 9 ¾, or Abbey Road while I was studying abroad if it hadn’t been for Brooke and her endless desire to be with friends.
The first thing I tell anyone when I talk about Brooke is that she is just such a GOOD person. It’s the most overwhelming thought I have about her. I have never met somebody who so genuinely and selflessly puts others before themselves. While my heart is so torn, and the moment is so bittersweet to me, I know that Malawi is getting such a beautiful gift by having my best friend there because of this.
It’s not often that your friends are your role models. But how lucky am I that mine is?! I am so beyond proud of my best friend, and it is amazing to me that I get to say that.
I’m not certain if she even knows this, but Brooke and I met during what was easily the most challenging part of my life. I came from a very small school where I could tell you everyone’s name, and came into a school of vastly larger magnitude where I knew practically no one. I was beyond nervous and Brooke just chatted me up like we had known each other all along. Her acceptance of me really changed my entire perception of high school and my outlook on it going forward.
We met in 9th grade band, while we were both seriously failing at paying attention. Seated next to each other from day one, who knew that we were getting into a friendship that would last through amazing and awful teachers, insane school projects, band trips, separation through college, graduations, significant others, relocations, weddings, jobs, and now, more than a year apart with as little contact as ever. I’m not even remotely concerned that we won’t be just as close as we are now when she gets back.
One of my favorite memories with Brooke was a last-minute plan. We were both on trips to London and Dublin at the same time but with opposite schedules. We had exactly one day of overlap between us. Most people would probably say “hey, that’s awesome” and then go on with their lives. Not Brooke. She made it a point that we meet up and spend the day together. I would have never gotten to King’s Cross Station, Platform 9 ¾, or Abbey Road while I was studying abroad if it hadn’t been for Brooke and her endless desire to be with friends.
The first thing I tell anyone when I talk about Brooke is that she is just such a GOOD person. It’s the most overwhelming thought I have about her. I have never met somebody who so genuinely and selflessly puts others before themselves. While my heart is so torn, and the moment is so bittersweet to me, I know that Malawi is getting such a beautiful gift by having my best friend there because of this.
It’s not often that your friends are your role models. But how lucky am I that mine is?! I am so beyond proud of my best friend, and it is amazing to me that I get to say that.
Brooke, I am going to miss you terribly. I know Malawi will appreciate you as much as we do. I can’t wait to see what you can do. As long as you keep posting, I’ll follow you from home.
-Gabrielle DelVecchio
