Good-byes

Living on the Africa Mercy long term means that there are a lot of 'hellos' and many sad 'good-byes'. Depending on the month, there can be a hundred or so people coming and going - more leaving at the end of an outreach and more coming at the start. When Marcel and I came back to the ship in January after being gone about a month, it was amazing - I would walk around the ship or dining room and hardly recognize anyone. So many people we had come to know had returned home and new faces had arrived to take their place.

In school, we also have kids coming and going. The big change times are usually in the summer and in January, although you never know when someone might be allowed to come or need to go. This past December I had three girls return to their home countries with their families and one new student come to the ship in January. Sometimes you have not known the kids as long or have not worked with them enough to feel too much emotion at their leaving, but no matter what, it is one more time that you have to figure out how to say good-bye. Yesterday another one of my students left to go with her parent to work with Mercy Ships in Texas. I guess her leaving got me thinking of many of the people who I lived or worked with who are no longer here. On the one hand, it is pretty exciting to have people that I know all over the world, but on the other hand, it is hard to stay in touch and let people know that I am missing them at times, find out what is up in their lives and let them know what is going on in mine. For any former roommates, co-workers and friends who are reading this now, know that you are missed and I think of you often.

Many say that it is just a part of being with Mercy Ships, but that sure does not make the good-byes any easier. I think one of the first questions that people ask here on the ship is 'How long are you here?' and somehow, when I hear '4 weeks' I wonder how close I want to become to this person. Not that I am cruel or unwelcoming or never talk to them again, but there is a different feeling in the short term and long term relationships. It is hard to invest time, self and energy into a relationship you know may not continue in three weeks. I think the hardest good-byes are the people who are here for a year or longer. These are the people or kids that you took the time with, talked to and found out more about them, but still are leaving before you are and so you get to say good-bye again.