How Do You Say Goodbye? - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

Light is streaming into the kitchen through the window over the sink. I'm sitting at the table, pen in hand, journal and Bible open in front of me. Water begins to turn over inside the kettle on the stove and a slight whistle escapes the pot as I get up to take it off of the flame. Quietly I pour myself a glass of hot water and slip a small tea bag inside, taking it back to my position at the table. I sink back down into the chair and let my mind wander before my pen touches the page.

How has a month passed already? It seems like yesterday that we were getting off of a plane in Kiev, boarding our nineteen hour train to Lugansk. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that it is almost May of 2012. But these are things that pass quickly through my mind, and I let my mind settle on processing through the fact that we're actually leaving this place today.

We are leaving Eastern Ukraine today, beginning our long journey to Arad, Romania.

A lot has happened in one month.

It has been my first month as team leader…which is weird, because it feels so normal. I love this team, and I have been so blessed by them, and by the opportunity to lead them.

This country has been the first country on the World Race that God has truly gripped my heart for a people group…the Eastern Ukrainians.

This is also the first country that I could see myself being here long term (though I have no idea what that looks like yet). The first time that I have felt the intense desire and longing to learn the language and immerse myself in the culture.

God opened so many doors through the ministry we were able to do. Through a few of our presentations about our trip, there may be an opportunity for our contact to hold an English translator's school, we were able to visit a school that has only ever had one group of Americans before us visit them (we signed a lot of autographs), and we had the chance to do a presentation at a school that was hesitant to have us at first, but they gladly want more groups to come in the future.

It was a month of new beginnings and heart awakenings.

So as I sit at the kitchen table in the morning light, my heart is sad to say goodbye to Ukraine. The people have captured my heart in a very special way, and I feel the weight of God's heart for them. He has revealed to me that my story is similar to theirs. That they are chosen. Appointed. Set apart to bear fruit- fruit that will last.

And so while I am sad to say goodbye to this place, these people, and this month, I know that God has more for me here. So, I look forward to the next two months of our race, and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me and Ukraine in the future.

See you later, Ukraine!
Team TUFF!