I wish I could tell you that I’m ready to go to Albania and experience life there but my heart just isn’t ready yet exactly. I am excited to leave for Albania but my heart is so torn at this moment in time. Saying goodbye to New Hope school was one of the hardest moments in my life. That school is so good to these students and the people are so giving and loving and kind. But hugging a sobbing student to your body as your about to leave for good is enough to make anyone cry.
I had this one little boy Sophanut (soap*a*nut) hugging me and his little body bucking as he cried. I had told myself before that I could cry later don’t let the kids see you cry, it’ll make it harder on them. But I couldn’t help the tears that poured down my face as I clutched him to me. The only goodbye that could top that one so far was the goodbye I had to make to my family, but what was different from that goodbye and this one was the fact I knew I would return to see my family in about a year. This goodbye held no such promise, instead there was no certainty if I would ever return to Cambodia to see my little Sophanut.
God has seasons of life where he puts people in your life so that they can either learn something from you or vice versa. There is no promise of time frame so you just have to hold on and love them with your whole heart even if that means hurting you later. My host family where we live has a beautiful daughter Darcy, who is 17 and I love her to death. She has quickly become a good friend that I do not wish to say goodbye to as well. She is a beautiful soul who has such an strong stubborn will that is extremely impressive. She has such a love for God and a willingness to say yes to what he asks of her. She has such a curious mind and a ready laugh. She has taught me so much about myself and her yes spirit. She has taught me to have more of a yes spirit and a serving spirit as she cooks for us breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am going to miss her dearly and can only hope I’ll see her again!
Goodbyes are never fun but it also allows you to enter into a new chapter of your life. Goodbyes allow you to recall the good times you had with ignoring the bad. There’s always going to be goodbyes in your life that are hard but cliche as this sounds their never far from you as long as you hold their memory close to you. Never forget them and they will never leave you, because memories are eternal.
