We are learning quickly that as missionaries, saying goodbyes becomes as commonplace as having a cup of coffee to start your day. I remember when our first friend came to visit us here in Arua. When she got on that plane, there was something different about that goodbye… for the first time, maybe ever, for either of us, we were the ones staying, while our friend left us behind. (IWU Team pictured left)This past week has been filled with the reality of people coming and going, a reality of missionary life. First, for Joanna & I, our husbands left us last Thursday to go to the city for a week to take
with them the team of ten IWU students that we had grown so fond of. Then, John and Billy said their goodbyes to those ten young men at the airport as they returned home to the States. Only two days later, we said goodbye to another missionary family who is very special to us, the Vandermeers (Pictured left). They left for Canada to spend the next year and a half there. A few hours later, we greeted Lisa Fish and Lisa Mayo, as they came up to Arua for the day just to spend some quality time with us and mentor us. We turned around only 24 hours later to say goodbye to them once again. Tomorrow night, we will be attending a going away party for three missionary families. Finally, on Saturday, we’ll have to say goodbye to two very special friends o
f ours, Brad & Annie Brown(Pictured below), who have spent the past four months in Uganda as they also return to the States! That’s a total of roughly 25 goodbyes in one week!My natural, human tendency in saying all of these goodbyes is to start to feel lonely… and maybe even sorry for myself, because everyone is leaving me. But in all of these goodbyes, I am reminded of the sweet, constant, steadfast presence of our God. He has promised us that He will never leave or abandon us! No matter where we are on this Earth, or how lonely we are feeling, you can rest assured that you are never alone!
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid… For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deut 31:6
“For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Joshua 1:5
3 comments:
Erica Rinehimer, You are amazing! You are! It is SO wonderful to see how even in the hard times you are clinging to Jesus. You are SUCH an encouragement to me. I LOVE YOU!!! (and John, too!)
Hey guys,
We are praying for the Congo area and the advancement of his Kingdom. May God's radical grace continue to shower upon you like rain on a plowed and sowed field and may you be prepared to reap. Just as Aurora and myself give thanks that our paths crossed, so too many others surely feel the same before and after all the goodbyes.
bytherichesofHISgrace,
Spence
you guys are so cool! i love getting your updates and e-mails; who would have thunk that missionaries would someday have the capabilities to have blogs? (postage free newsletters!)
maybe Sarah and I can make our way out there someday; keep up the good work, even when so many people come and go so quickly
-jesse and sarah joyner (btw, we both just gradiated!)
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