Saying Goodbye

One of the hardest things to do here is to say goodbye. We have never had to say that word so many times. It feels like we live a life of hi's and goodbyes...and I must say that is one of the hardest things about this job. This week we had a party and said goodbye to two couples. The first one is a retired couple from the states who had planned on staying for another three years and then last year found out he has Lou Gehrig's disease...it has progressed and they must go home. So sad. We will miss them as she has been the nurse when we were stressing over sickness and he has booked tickets for us when we couldn't make it to the mall to get them. They are major servants, Mississippi born and bred, and have been special to us.

The next couple is an even harder goodbye. We met at FPO and have hung out ever since. They spent last Thanksgiving with us, we stay with them when we pass through Delhi, and now their 2 years are up. Amberley found out she was pregnant just months after I did and we have had so much fun being pregnant together. It is almost like a dream for them to be leaving. I can't let it take root in my mind that they won't be coming back in a few weeks. But their families are in Arkansas and that is not far at all from MS so we have already made plans to meet again. We love them and will not be able to replace this sweet friendship that will now be separated by much more than an 8 or 9 hour journey to the city.