The First Day Of The Rest Of Her New Life

Reagan Morgan, a 2017 graduate of Tri-County R-7 High School at Jamesport, met Duane Knapp in church about two years ago. The friendship eventually led to sharing one of the biggest days in Reagan’s life thus far — enrollment in Bethany Global University. This private Christian college was founded in 1948 and is one of 9 working colleges in the United States. Reagan is responsible for her room and board and fees and has spent her entire savings to become a missionary — even selling her car to help finance her education. The following helps mark the start of Reagan’s adventure.

It was very dark and raining when we pulled into Reagan Morgan’s driveway in Jamesport at 3:59 a.m. on a Monday, Aug. 20. This was enrollment day for Reagan at Bethany Global University in Bloomington, MN. The school is a 4-year college specializing in training missionaries. It is a very small institution of approximately 300 students located in a very upscale residential area of Bloomington, some 375 miles north of Jamesport.

Reagan was to check in at school between 9 and 11:45 a.m. that day. Uh-oh, I thought. Mathematically, 375 miles at 60 miles per hour is going to take 6-1/4 hours. That means we are going to have to leave her place at 4 a.m. allowing only a 15-minute stop for breakfast somewhere.

Thank goodness we had planned to load her personal belongings in the car after church the previous day. Packing and reloading her items more carefully left just enough room for Reagan to crawl in and close the door with her blanket and pillow.

My wife, Gail, and I left our house at 3:30 a.m. for the run into Jamesport. A quick look at the weather radar confirms my worst fear. It shows a solid mass of rain from northern Missouri to the Iowa/Minnesota line. After hugging mom and Lou goodbye, Reagan hops in the back seat, saying, “I haven’t been to bed since Friday night!” Needless to say, she was fast asleep by the time we hit Highway 6 on the west edge of Jamesport.

My planned route is to take Highway 6 back to Wabash Junction east of Gallatin and then take Highway 13 north to I-35. There is probably no worse stretch of road to travel in the black of night with heavy rain than this. Finally reaching I-35 dodging two raccoons in the road, we were able to relax. Now, only 340 miles left to go.

The windshield wipers ran at a mesmerizing medium speed. By Des Moines it is light enough to see beyond the edge of the road. Onward through Ames and Mason City the rain continued. Eventually we pulled off for a quick breakfast and was back on the road in 15 minutes. Only 106 miles to go. We crossed into Minnesota and then on through Albert Lea. The skies begin to brighten. Thirty minutes out from our destination the rain stops and the sun peeks out. Hallelujah!!

We used the GPS to get to the campus at 10:45 a.m. — only 15 minutes later than originally planned. A student directed us to a road guard who pointed to two students standing in the road just ahead. They filled out a large name card with Reagan’s dorm and room number. Then they told us to stop at the dorm with the large helium filled purple balloons in front (each dorm had different colored balloons for identification …how clever!).

We noticed about 12 to 15 students outside the dorm with the purple balloons. One student looked at Reagan’s card and yelled out “Room 28!” Students then descended on the car like a swarm of locusts. Everyone grabs a bag or two out of the trunk and backseat and, with Reagan in tow, all disappeared around the corner of the dorm. The car is completely unloaded in less than 30 seconds! Then, standing there with my mouth agape, I hear “Sir, sir!” from a young lady with a clipboard in hand. She orders me to park down on another street. As I jump back into the car I realize that I didn’t really need to shut off the engine or even get out of the car. As I drive away, a glance in the rear view mirror reveals another car pulling into the spot we just vacated with the same descending locusts.

Two other students helped us locate the financial office. Around the corner of a 2-story brick office building we go, down a sidewalk to the main entrance, and then up a flight of stairs to the office entry. My escort goes inside and returns within 15 seconds to direct me inside. Less than five minutes later, my business is concluded.

As I stand on the steps overlooking the quadrangle and the four dorms (three female and one male) I observe other new students and their families with sophomore students assisting. All appear neat and well dressed. I don’t see any purple or orange or spiked or unusual hairdos, no visible tattoos or body piercings, no jeans full of holes or gross T-shirts. What I see is good ol’ 18-, 19- and 20-year-old wholesome American youth!

Back across campus Reagan is busy with her resident assistant (RA) who helps get Reagan squared away. With hugs all around we say our goodbyes and drive off campus exactly one hour to the minute from the time we initially entered.

A few minutes later it is back on I-35 south for the 6-1/4 hour ride back home. As we come up to cruise-control speed, I reflect on what has just transpired. Being an old military man, I smile at how organized and efficient everything seems to have been. Everyone knew his or her job and conducted it in a friendly and professional manner. Then I think about the reason all these wonderful, young, happy, gregarious, disciplined students are here at this place. They are there to get 4-year associate degrees to become missionaries. They are there because they have a calling to serve their Maker and their fellow man.

I am sure they are under no illusions as to what their lives will be like on the mission field: no 6-figure salaries, no 4,000-square-foot homes with three car garages housing Mercedes and BMW’s on snob hill, no memberships in the local country club. No, their lives will most likely involve very low incomes, sub-standard housing and living conditions in under developed countries around the world.

The hour I spent on this campus felt very special to me — much like I felt when I stepped off the Navy motor launch onto the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor or when I walked down the long walkway in front of the black Vietnam Wall Memorial or stood reverently watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Gail and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. We both feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take this very special young lady to this very special university on the first day of her new life. We know that Reagan is where she wants to be and are sure that God intends for her to be there.

Thanks for reading.