While it may seem intuitive to you, it's not something Jeff or I emphasis in this blog is that living in Africa is HARD. Some days, VERY HARD. This is just the reality of the situation. I posted a bit about this in my post about working in the hospital, but this is also true of life on board, even outside of the hospital.
Loving people well and living in community necessitates hard things.
Our family believes in loving people big and loving them with so much of our heart, that it also has the opposite side of the coin in that relationship with others will bring the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. This is seen the most in saying goodbyes.
While we are here for 2 years and considered long-term crew, there are short-term crew who stay for as little as 2 weeks but also up to 6 months. We work with them, have meals with them, go to the market in a shared vehicle, etc. It is impossible to isolate yourself to just long-term crew, but this means a lot of goodbyes. As much as we guard our hearts and know the date of when friends are leaving, it is still heartbreaking when the day comes. And this time of year a lot are leaving to be home with family for Christmas. While this makes sense, saying goodbye to so many all at the same time is one of those "Hard Things". The past few days have brought more than a few tears as we give final hugs, confirm WhatsApp numbers and pray for safe travels.
So people leave expectantly, there are also the unexpected. Sick family members back home. Family Emergencies. These are obviously harder because we thought we had more time and then they are gone. Some may return but that in unknown and we really are saying "I may never see you again".
And all of this I am saying from the adult perspective. The kids are also meeting short-term and long-term crew who are leaving expectedly or unexpectedly. Teaching them to love people well but the possibility that anyone could leave at anytime is a challenge for Jeff and I, let alone to show the kids.
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