HELLO GOODBYE

MAF’s caravan swooped down on us today bearing five summer interns (Lydia, Andrea, Larissa W, Tim and John) as well as intern-round-two Josh (who was with us already for several months last year) and returning missionary Pamela.  Bright mid day sun, hugs, figuring out who is who, stacks of trunks and suitcases, swarms of curious kids . . . Then as we embraced the new people we had to release the old ones, Larissa Funk and her visiting sister Renee climbed on to go back to America, as well as Scotticus departing on a two week family trip and Jonah heading to Kampala for errands.  I found myself numb to the emotions and focused Martha-like on the details of organizing people into cars and making sure there was food.  A surprise of missionary life has been the quick depth of relationship fostered by shared trials and crowded intimacy in the details of our lives . . . And the sense of “this is not right” loss when people move out too quickly.  Praying for ourselves, and particularly our kids, to keep hearts open to the embrace and not dread the anticipation of goodbyes.