November 8th at 6am we will fly from the airport on a one way ticket to the other side of the world. It will be an emotional time as we say our goodbyes and leave life behind as we know it. This is never easy for me.
"I pray that you will begin to understand why I am doing this. I know it makes no sense to you right now but it is something that I have to do. You will always be my hero and I am so sorry to put you through this sorrow.".............. I wrote these words to my 93 year old grandfather this week. His health is failing him and he has just recently been hospitalized with pneumonia. When I leave on the 8th it is likely that I will never see him again on this Earth. He does not understand why God would take me away from him when he is so old and sick.
Kody spent the first year of his life in an orphange in western Siberia. His birth mother abandoned him shortly after he was born. He had no family to speak of. He was an orphan.
When we adopted him he clung to us. We were the first stable relationship in his life. When we arrived in the U.S. he immediately bonded with one of the first girls he met named Ella Evans. Ever since then he has called her his best friend. Now I have to explain to him that she will be taken away. That it will be a long time before he sees her again. Needless to say, he is having a hard time with this.
How do you say goodbye in situations like these? How do you help your kids understand why we are leaving?
We wrestled with these kinds of questions this summer as part of our training at MTI. It is important that we take the time to say goodbye. Not to say "I will see you later," or "I will see you soon." The truth is that I will not see most of you very soon. We must take the time to say "Goodbye." We must say goodbye to our family, our friends, our home, our car, and even my most loyal friend Toby, (the family pet).
Please take the time to say goodbye to us before we leave. Fight the temptation to avoid it, like I would normally. This is going to be a hard time for us.
Jon and Shawna,
I want you to realize that you are not alone or leaving us when you go. You are taking a little part of each of us with you. Think of the wonderful gifts that your grandfather has given you to help you grow into the man of God that you are today. I know that part of John and I are going with you. There will not be one day that we do not think of you and the boys and have our prayers and best wishes. I hope that some of the love that we have given you over the years is cemented into your hearts and can be a source of comfort if you need it. We may cry and seem worried about you but we are also very proud of you and are so grateful that God has allowed you to be a big part of our life. We love you, Dad and Connie
Jon and Shawna,
Wow. I was doing okay until I saw the picture of Kody and Ella. Now I am at work trying to not let anyone see me weep. I am so sorry I missed the prayer time last night. We will try to find some time to spend with you in the next week. I am so thankful that God has allowed you to be part of our lives. I already miss the closeness of your friendship due to the isolation Casey has forced upon us. Thinking of not seeing you at all is even more difficult. We love you!! Dave and Donna
Posted by: Donna Perkins at October 31, 2003 09:09 AMMy dear friends, This is the final day before you leave. I have tried several times to post a note but my tears on the keyboard have hindered me. We know this is a celebration to see our awesome God at work in Nepal but I am truly grieving the seperation. Thank you for sharing your life with us in small group, for your aunthentic friendship and love. God is moving all around us and He is moving with us. Beneath my grief of your moving and the unknown territory of Nepal I know it is gonna be alright. Bless you!Thank you for allowing us to be your friends. May we be faithful to you, a strong defense in the background of Maryville.LOVE - Mark, Jackie, Eli & Ellla
Posted by: jackie evans at November 7, 2003 04:55 PM