Kansas, Kansas, Kansas

Former cross-cultural students of ours
at EMU, now teaching at Hesston

Exactly thirty years ago my wife Esther and I loaded up our belongings on 1/3rd of a semi trailer to begin our move from 224 South Weaver, Hesston, Kansas, to Harrisonburg, Virginia. We returned twice to take our daughter Marisa to attend Hesston College, where I had taught for 12 years, and when she graduated in 2004. I returned in 2009 for Hesston's 100th anniversary. Neither of us had returned since then.

My best friend for over 50 years, Dwight Roth, died in December of 2025. We were colleagues at Hesston College, and had offices side by side for many of my 12 years of teaching there. I knew immediately upon hearing about his death, that I would return to Kansas for his memorial service. They scheduled it for April 4, his birthday when he would have turned 81 years old.

I wanted to drive out to remember the many similar trips we had made over the years between Kansas and Pennsylvania where I had family. Esther was not keen on doing so. She went on line and found tickets for a very reasonable price if we extended our stay for five days. We bought them, even though we would have preferred a shorter time period for our trip.

Now I am so glad that we stayed as long as we did. We were hosted by our daughter-in-law's parents, and in order not to have our stay be too large a burden on them, we began contacting friends with whom we wanted to spend time. Our stay soon became packed with invitations to coffee, lunch or dinner. We also had an enjoyable time driving around all the old haunts in Newton and Hesston where many memories resurfaced.

The former President of Hesston College, Howard Keim and his wife Tami, arranged for a coffee at their house. Howard and I had been classmates at Hesston College, and acted in a -play together. I listed the people that I wanted to see, and not only did Howard contact them, but he sent an email to invite others to join us. What a wonderful time of reminiscing we had with former colleagues. Howard had asked me to bring along my five published books which I did. I intended to donate them to Hesston College's library, but at the coffee gathering, I sold four of them. 

The main reason for our trip to Hesston was to attend the memorial service of Dwight Roth

Esther and I with Dwight's wife Lynette
and daughter Jessie

(See my blogpost on our 50-year friendship). Like Dwight, this was an unusual memorial. Friends gathered with dishes for a potluck, then simply met in a back yard on a sunny April afternoon to give our honor to Dwight and his gathered family and friends. 

Among others in Hesston that we had the opportunity to visit with, were two couples whose children Esther had in her day care program at that time. The husband of one of the couples had been with me in Honduras, and was probably instrumental in me deciding to attend Hesston College.

We visited a student of mine who was in my very first Spanish class when I began my 30+ years of teaching Spanish. He had a few stories about me about how awkward I was. They cracked me up, but I'm sure I was as nervous as a cat.

We attended Whitestone Mennonite Church for their Easter Sunday service, and reconnected with many there who were members when we had attended those 30 years ago. In addition we encountered several former students and colleagues of mine from Eastern Mennonite University. 

We also visited with a former colleague with whom I had shared an office suite for several years. Along with English he spoke Spanish and German. I had also invited them to lead a cross-cultural program to Austria when I was director of the cross-cultural program at Eastern Mennonite University. In the 2.5 hours we had with each other, it was difficult to cover all our connections and memories.

Our final event was visiting the campus of Hesston College. Since I had offices in several buildings, our tour consisted of visiting those buildings within which I had offices. A lot had changed since I had visited last. New construction, repurposing of several buildings, and renovations of many buildings that had been there from the beginning. 

Easter Sunday meal at our host's.

Truth be told, It seemed like the 30 years had shrunk in time. It was hard to believe that it was that long ago that we had left. It was easy to catch up with our former friends and colleagues. 

Kansas, Kansas, Kansas. Two years as a student, and 12 years as an instructor during three different stints; 1976-1980, 1981-1984, and 1989-1994. Although I no longer live among you, you will forever be in my heart.