Eight years ago, I stood proudly as I was confirmed as an adult member of my church. I stood with three friends and our interim pastor at Palestine Lutheran Church in Huxley. My family and friends were smiling and taking pictures. I still have that picture hanging in my room at home.

Today, I find myself in Cairo, Egypt, not quite sure where any of those people are now. I figured that when I said goodbye that day to my pastor that it would be a substantial time until the next time we met. Our pastor’s distinctive voice, and even more eye-catching, clean-shaven head were images I thought I could never forget.

Funny how you meet people again, and always in the strangest circumstances.

I got up early the other morning to work on homework, and after a few hours decided to grab a bite to eat. By around 1:30 p.m., my friends had woken up and we all walked down the street to a local sandwich shop for a quick, cheap and easy meal. We got our sandwiches and sat on the curb watching life walk past. While we were chewing on our sandwiches, I experienced one of the most bizarre occurrences of my life. As I sat quietly eating, an older couple walked past and the woman tripped on the rough-hewn Cairo sidewalk step and fell. She didn’t just fall, though; she fell on her head with a bone -crushing noise. Blood began pouring out from the side of her head. Several of us immediately jumped up to help her. We tried simultaneously to comfort her and figure out what to do. We decided she needed to go to the hospital. The couple, being Americans, told me they were staying at the Marriott Hotel nearby. There was a doctor at the hotel they felt they should consult first. We decided to head to the Marriott in a taxi, and on the way, we made small talk.

I told them I was from Iowa studying and Arabic in Cairo. To my amazement, this couple had lived in Iowa for many years. The gentleman had even preached in Slater and in Huxley. I asked what church, and he said Palestine Lutheran Church.

I nearly fell out my seat. This gentleman whom I had met randomly in Cairo had preached at my church in Iowa — the same church I had gone to my entire life. As we talked and I finally had a chance to look at him, I realized something that was nearly beyond belief.

Slowly we figured out that this man whom I was helping in Cairo, was the Rev. Abram, the same pastor who confirmed me eight years ago. During my eighth- grade year, we had spent much time together in Huxley. We have a picture together — the same picture hanging in my room.

A miracle of sorts, one must say, that many years later we would literally bump into each other again. Stranger yet, it would be here in Cairo, Egypt, after an accident like what happened.

Luckily for everyone, it was a small cut on her head with no serious injuries, and they were able to travel back to Iowa.

I didn’t believe in miracles, and I still don’t, but sometimes you just have to wonder.