one long good-bye

It is hard to explain how I've felt lately; there are so many emotions as my time wraps up in Honduras! It would be incomplete to do it without using the word "sad," though.

Sad...

...that my time here is quickly ending...

...that I am saying good-bye to so many people here whom I love and who love me...

...that all that is familiar here and all that challenges me will be gone...

But with that sadness comes an incredible gratitude. I'm sooo thankful that I have had the opportunity to be here, to experience these things, to be drawn closer to the Lord, and to build relationships with these people.

Friday was my last day with my students. We had a beautiful time, and at the end of the day I started to thank them for the great year. I don't know who broke down first, them or I, but all but two students were all crying pretty hard. Their words to me were more than encouraging, and they emphasized my mission here: to be more than just a teacher, but to be a mentor, a friend, and a channel of God's love. Thankfully I have a few more opportunities to interact with them (promotion, a birthday party they're throwing me, etc).

I cherish my time here in Honduras and will always remember the unique ways that students and their families interact with teachers. I've attended birthday parties, gone for dinner, and slept over at my students' houses. Super special! The students really give their hearts to you, and it is both challenging and rewarding to "hold so many hearts." God is amazing in how He provides!!!

Yesterday I also said good-bye to my dear friend, Erin Sheehy. I didn't think I had any more tears to cry after saying bye to my students...little did I know....I guess I'll just have to get used to wearing waterproof mascara! ;) Erin is my good friend from church and the one who always goes to the Micah project with me. She is an inspiration to me and a model of true servanthood.

Wow - God is so good in how he places all of these people in my path to challenge and to encourage me!

So....what am I doing now that I don't teach?!

Ha! If only you knew.....all the preparation for promotion, hosting a good-bye reunion for all the students I ever taught (happened today - so precious and encouraging!), report cards and all sorts of other end-of-the-year paperwork, cleaning out my classroom and going through my stuff at home, writing good-bye and thank you cards, visiting the dentist way too many times, attending potlucks, and trying to sleep in a regular schedule, to name a few things!

:) Sorry for the long blog silence.

Hopefully it won't be quite so long next time, but when so much is happening it's hard to find the time to blog and to know what to choose to write about!!

Thanks for your continued prayers for my transition!