One Last Time...

All changes are more or less tinged with melancholy, for what we are leaving behind is part of ourselves.
Amelia Barr                                                                                                                                                               

To all my faithful readers and prayer warriors out there who have been so incredibly encouraging and uplifting, I say, thank you. It seems impossible that I only have a grand total of nine days left in this country and with these people I have grown to love so dearly, and yet, sadly, it is true. There has been so much learning, growing, happiness, and joy in this house that is nearly packed up and ready to move.
This week is what I call my week of "One last times". One last time helping with a scavenger hunt. One last time going to Tia Anna's (saying goodbye there was hard). One last time going to Union Church. One last time eating lunch with Whitney. One last time at the beach. One last time at the market. One last time to "The Farm". One last time at Broken. (Maybe I'll be back there some day... God knows!!) Soon there will be even more difficult "one last times". Such as sleeping in this house, seeing each of my amazing friends at Wired, hearing certain phrases and words from "my" kids. One last time ordering food in Spanish. All of these things are things I never even thought about missing... until it is the last time.

                                                         Sweet Marcos, one of the boys at Tia Anna's.

                                                      Beautiful little Carly.

                                                 Whitney and I.  She made me feel so at home :)


Today was the day when I think everyone felt like we are "officially" leaving in a few days.  Some members of the current team came to help pack and paint.  Seeing things get moved around and left there, ready to take out the door, seems to make it real.  They did an amazing job, and I still can't believe how much they got done in the amount of time that they were here.
Despite the sadness of leaving, it is so encouraging to know that God knows what He's doing, as always.  In spite of all the "one last times" that are going on, that also means that myriads of "first times" are getting ready to come. Whatever shape or form that takes is in my Savior's hands, but is exciting none the less.  I have fallen in love with so many different things and people in El Salvador, which means part of me is definitely staying here.  I would love to come back, if God has that in His plans... we'll see. ;)

I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have taken the time to contact me.  You can't know how much that makes my day when I get a letter, e mail, message on FB, or a phone call on Skype.  I so appreciate you taking time out of your day for that purpose.  It may not seem like much, but you'd be surprised how many people don't, and how much it means when you do.  From the bottom of my heart, I say... Thank you!!!
And tomorrow... it's off to the beach with some of the greatest girls in the world!!!!!! :) :)