Full Cabinets, Empty Hearts

So many of our friends are leaving right now. Correction, so many of our friends have already left. Really, we only have a couple more hard goodbye before they're all said and done, but they're not getting any easier. Some of these separations have been planned, and we knew for a long time that these precious people would be leaving our homes, hearts, and country. That still doesn't make it easier. A couple others decided very recently that they'd head back to the States instead of doing another year here. It's hard to hurry up and get your emotions ready for people you've grown to love to leave you.

The hard reality is that, despite the fact that we've shared countless Friday night Bible studies, meals, late-night chats, professional conferences, and oh-so much more, we might never see some of these folks again. They're in your life every day, and then they're gone. That's really tough. It makes the mission field seem lonely all over again, like when we first arrived. I am sure (knowing the kind of Father that we have), that more friends will come into our lives and living room (at least for Bible studies and chats), but they will never the be the same as the ones we've come to love already. <sniff>

I really don't have any reason to feel sorry for myself. Our dear friends are all moving on to bigger, better things, and I wouldn't wish them anything but the bright futures they have ahead. And, it's not like we're without friends down here anymore, either. Even though there are far fewer than there were before, the ones we have left really are precious to us as well. We really have nothing to complain about, except maybe full cabinets and empty hearts.

It's a strange thing when you're the one the staying and everyone else is going. When we left to move to Guatemala, we had to dispossess ourselves of just about everything we owned. So, strangely, that process is familiar. Last weekend we even went over to help a friend do that very thing. After all, we'd done it before, and could be of assistance. Only, this time, WE were the ones doing the taking, not the getting rid of. What do you do when you're leaving the country with only the suitcases you can afford to convince the airline to let you take with you? You leave a lot. Where do you leave it? With the ones who are staying behind.

So, over the past week, a strange assortment of things has been arriving. Some things have blessed our daily lives tremendously. More olive oil (very expensive here - and we were almsot out). New clothes for our girls (one of the benefits of having kids who are the size of adults).  Office supplies (very needed, especially since we'll be home schooling next year). Other things, though, were unexpected luxuries. Better sheets (they  make even a cheap bed seem nicer). A machete (seriously - this made Mark giggle with glee). A giant bag of craisins (there simply are no words for what a blessing this is since you can't find them here).

It's always interesting to see what people get rid of, or even what they had to begin with. A grown woman with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles travel facial tissue packets? Awesome. A young couple with a zebra foot pillow that provides massage and heat to tired tootsies? Awesome. A no-nonsense veteran missionary teacher with the most beautiul umbrella I've ever seen? Awesome. It's no wonder we love these people.

They ate differently than we do, so the food they brought will bring adventure to our meals for the next few weeks. They dressed differently, so our girls will be more colorful than they were in the past. They bought better quality kitchen items than we did, so we will be blessed with things that will last us for years to come. Which is good, becuase I want to remember them for years to come, too.

Here's to full cabinets and empty hearts, a hard reality on the mission field, but one that speaks volumes about the wonderful people God has put into our lives. They will be missed.