Saying “Goodbye”

As missionaries, we are  often left in the position of saying goodbye to people we’ve just met and those we love the most.  As we draw nearer to our return to Brazil, the goodbyes begin.  This last week we visited my dearest friend from college (no photo of us because we didn’t dress up for each other…and lets face it, since we are nearing 40, we want to have makeup on when we take a pic! 😉  ).  This was our last time to see them while here in the States and so we  said goodbye.  Goodbye not just as we left their house, but goodbye to even the chance of seeing them for the next 4 years.  Although we didn’t cry on that actual day, I have a feeling that tears will be shed at some point.  Goodbyes are hard.  And not just for Joel & I.  This year the kids have really made friends and made the USA their home as well.  We are so thankful that they feel like this is their home.  And that Brazil is their home as well.  But having your heart in two places is hard.  There will be days where homesickness for one place or the other is difficult.  On those days we will remind them (and ourselves) to “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Ps 27:14)  And someday we will ‘all get to heaven, and oh what a day that will be!’