I guess it's true. I'm an April Fool.

So I was pretty proud of myself because I made it all the way through last Sat. without falling for any April Fool's Day tricks. As it turns out, I congratulated myself a bit too soon. The following e-mail composed by yours truly serves as proof. (If you need context, it was written in response to a rather abrupt e-mail sent by the wonderful Rachel Swayze announcing her upcoming move to Argentina, where she planned to live with a missionary family for a minimum commitment of 2 and a half years. My reporter instincts told me something was fishy - but I wasn't quite smart enough to figure out what was wrong.) Disclaimer: you probably won't find the following e-mail amusing unless you happen to know both Rachel and myself.

Dear Rachel, Congratulations on what sounds like an exciting (and adventurous!) opportunity! I have to admit, I was a little taken aback the e-mail. I wasn't shocked by the overall news as much as by the language: "time for action," "quitting this country." Was I wrong in getting the impression that you've been frustrated with your life as it has been since coming back from Mexico? I know that's not what you said in the e-mail and maybe no one else got that impression - but that was how I interpreted things - although it really doesn't seem like you. I really haven't had a chance to talk to you one on one about how life has been, so I guess I have no idea how you've really been doing lately. What I'm trying to ask is, are you going to Argentina to get away from current frustrations or because you feel God is calling you there to serve? Please, please understand. I am not at all criticizing your motives for going to Argentina - I'm just trying to understand you. I think what through me off is that the e-mail was not written in usual "Rachel" style. And ... oh my gosh, it was written on April! 1! I just now - almost a week later, as I'm in the middle of typing this e-mail to you - realized that!! I am sitting in the computer lab at school laughing to myself right now! Good one, Rachel. You really had me going there! I was honestly concerned - not that I wouldn't support you going out on the mission field again, but something with that e-mail just didn't seem right! I thought about erasing what I wrote before, but I decided to leave it for you - so that you can perhaps get a little pleasure out of how good you got me! I'm taking interpersonal communications right now and we've talked a lot about how people misinterpret others or make assumptions - so I was trying really hard to connect with you while using caution with the uncertainties! And I thought I had made it through April Fool's Day without once falling for a trick! Oh, I love you Rachel! That really made my day (even though I'm a week late!). love and hugs, Bethany