Family picture from Wanda’s Facebook

I was in Cuba earlier this week; I’ll post more about that soon. Several significant things happened while I was on that trip. Somehow my traveling seems to coincide with major happenings. Like the death of my good friend Wanda Martin.

I met Wanda while we were both studying at Abilene Christian University. In 1983, I convinced her to go on a Spring Break campaign I was leading to Long Beach, California. Then a group of us returned and spent the summer there in Long Beach. That summer group formed strong ties of friendship among ourselves and with some of the young people in the church there. Wanda ended up moving to Long Beach.

I, on the other hand, went south to Argentina. My most faithful correspondents from the States were my Long Beach friends. In one letter, Wanda confided that she had gotten to be good friends with Bruce Martin, but that she was afraid he was interested in being more than just friends. She said she was going to have a talk with him. In her next letter she said, “The talk backfired…”, and I guess that’s an understatement, since they got married in 1987. One of the first things I did upon returning to the States that year was to drive down to Baytown for their wedding.

Wanda passed away unexpectedly this past Sunday morning. I hurt so for Bruce and their kids (Daniel and Amanda). I hurt for the church in Long Beach who lost a special person. And I hurt for me, for losing a friend. I’m glad I got to have lunch with Bruce and Wanda when I was out at the Pepperdine Lectures this past May. I’m sorry we won’t get to do it again.

Upon learning the news there in Cuba, I told Tony Fernández, “You think the friends of your youth will always stay young.” But that’s not how it works.

Prayers for the Martin family.