Goodbyes

Time has slipped up on me and I just realized I haven't blogged in 2 weeks. I have been enjoying the kids being out of school and we have been working on our latest newsletter so I guess I haven't really thought about blogging. It is hard to believe that this time last year we were in the midst of saying goodbye to family friends. Unfortunately, that is a process that happens over and over again for the missionary. We have just recently had to say a short goodbye to our ministry partners. Scott and Cindy have returned to the US on furlough until at least January, maybe a year. Allan is now "in charge" at the clinic. The clinic is quieter and so is our house. The Nelsen's live about 10 feet from us so we are used to having someone always around. We really notice their absence at night when their house remains dark and no one pops by for a visit. At the end of July, we will once again have neighbors when another missionary family moves in until the Nelsen's return. The kids are looking forward to having kids their age from school to play with in the yard.

Besides saying goodbye to the Nelsen's and other families heading home for a year furlough, the kids especially have had a hard time saying goodbye to kids who are moving on--either back to their passport countries or on other fields of service. This year at Faith there seemed to be a higher proportion of kids who would not be returning than in the past. Emily and Will both made good friends this year who will not return. Emily's grade was particularly hit hard as almost a 4th left the Philippines for good. Making new friends and then having them move on was one of the things we knew was tough about missionary life.

Emily's new friend Katie who has left the Philippines for the US