“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye hard.” – Winnie the Pooh
There will always be unforgettable memories behind your goodbyes. – Unknown
Stepping into the World Race I knew one thing I would struggle with was Goodbyes. I have never been good at them. I put my whole heart into everything I do. I can get so connected to a place even if it is just for a week. Past missions trips I have been on I have cried and became so connected and involved in the ministry, and I was only there for a week or so. So going into a lifestyle where I would be working with a ministry for at least a month I knew i would struggle.
So far on the race I have cried every single time we leave a country and ministry.
First was Pastor Nelson and his family in Chile month one! Our first month was incredible! We had everything we needed, literally we would ask to go to the grocery store and 1 hour later everything we needed showed up at our house! The people in the church took us in and loved us as though my team and I were their children. We landed in Chile and I saw our host Pastor Nelson and he reminded me so much like my granddad! I fell in love with the culture, church, people and city. I learned so much about hospitality and loving people from the people there. It was our first month and it was more than I ever thought it would be! I asked the question: “How can it get better than this?”
Well then we get to Argentina and the first day we got there my world was shaken all over again. in Argentina we were at a YWAM base and it was all squad month! I was with my whole squad and I was overwhelmed to say the least. Being on a YWAM base we had the chance to get to know all the staff and students there! My heart was so full! I loved every person there and my team mostly stayed on base all month and worked there, so we really got to know the people there! I was on cloud 9, I was so filled with encouragement being around my squad but also all the connections I was making with the YWAMERS!
Bolivia was a different kind of hard goodbye. As amazing of connections as we made in the last two countries it was different there. I didn’t make the connections with the people I longed for in the church we were working with for the month. We were there to give the leaders of the church a break and that is okay!Towards the end of the month we did make connection with our host pastor and family. My team on the other hand I felt like we were finally pushing for the community we wanted to be. Even though I didn’t make the connections in the church I wanted to I started to make the connections in my team I so deeply wanted for the previous months. We grew together as a team in Bolivia! I did cry in Bolivia leaving.
Now brings me to Cambodia!! I don’t know what I was expecting coming into Asia, but it wasn’t what we got! This month we are working in a English Preschool! Our hosts are Sok Eng and Khema with their beautiful children Omnor and Harathai! I love them so much! They have such a beautiful heart for the children and teachers at this school! Their vision is to reach the teachers and in that the teachers will reach their students for the kingdom! Sok and Khema have the most giving hearts and both are hilarious! They love us so well! Tomorrow is our last day of teaching at the school and as I am sitting here writing this blog I am crying thinking about saying goodbye to the teachers and this beautiful family here in Cambodia! Cambodia has gripped my heart and part of it will always be here.
I’ve learned that I will not change the world but Jesus will do that. I can however change the world for one person. So I will keep stopping and loving one person at a time, because this is my call as a Christian.
I am going to keep seeking the one person God calls me to and show them how he has changed me!
As hard as the goodbye is I am going to keep moving forward to each country! As my teammate Madi says “If it is not hard to say goodbye we must have sucked eggs!” I know the goodbyes are going to be hard but if I don’t go i will miss out on so many blessings! I am loving the life I am living and I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for me next!!
Goodbyes are going to be hard for the rest of my life, but that is not going to stop me from saying them.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and I hope it encourages you to press into the goodbyes! Its Worth it!
Jenny Marie!
#Jenskianswersthecall
