Two Teenagers Started Writing Letters in 1984. 42 Years Later They Finally Met

Two teenage students started a long distance friendship through a St. Gabriel Catholic School pen pal program in 1984. Decades later these childhood pen pals meet for the very first time in a sweet reunion.

Back in 1984 a St. Gabriel Catholic School teacher introduced the pen pal idea and asked the class what kind of pen pal they would like. One of Mike Rafferty’s friends spoke up first. “He said, ‘I want a 14-year-old girl from California,'” Mike recalled. Mike agreed adding “And I was like, ‘Yeah, me too.'” He got his wish that June with a note from Regena Jauregui a girl who liked tennis. But Regena had a cousin named Christie Leonard who also wanted to write him. Christie sent a picture with her name in bubble letters. Mike joked that “She kind of stole me away” from Regena.

For years they mailed letters back and forth between South Philadelphia and Orangevale California. They talked about normal teenager things and discussed their favorite football teams. He loved the Philadelphia Eagles and she was a Denver Broncos fan despite never living in Denver.

I found it so touching that they kept this up through all the seasons of life. He eventually grew up to become a professional boxer and a Philadelphia police officer. He married his wife Razel and had four children. Life got incredibly busy and they lost touch sometimes but they always managed to find their way back to each other. I really believe the Lord places certain people in our lives for a reason and He makes sure they stay there.

This week they arranged to meet at Dean’s Bar in South Philadelphia while she was visiting. After 42 years of letters the man hugged her and said “Forty-two years ago we started writing each other” to which she replied “Can you believe that?” It gave me absolute chills to see them finally standing in the same room. He introduced her to his mother who still remembers the program from all those years ago.

I hope this story encourages us to reach out to old friends and trust that God cherishes the bonds we build over time.

WATCH: After 42 Years of Writing Letters, Childhood Pen Pals Finally Meet

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