Good-bye

  The word itself is an oxymoron! Saying good-bye never seems “good”. But it a part of any cross-cultural worker’s life.  We live in two worlds and must go back and forth between them at some point.  So we often are saying hello and good-bye to co-workers, family, and friends.

  I am saying a good-bye for several months to my friends here in Tanzania and co-workers, many of whom have just gotten back from the US.  It is funny how our schedules leave us working together even when we are not on the field together almost 1/2 the time!

  I had to say good-bye to my Tanzanian friends and co-workers. That involved meetings, parties, speaking in church, knocking on doors, etc…

  The choir wanted to say a thank-you/good-bye to me. This year was a big year for them in finally recording a CD (which took more than 2 years of fund-raising) and then debuting that CD. The musicians also attended the worship seminar and helped lead music with one of the leaders. So I helped and advised them a lot this year, much more than usual.  As a thank-you they purchased a kitenge for me and gave it to me at a special dinner. It was an honor to receive their thanks.

  I will miss these friends from my local church. 

 

Now I’ve begun a long journey. 5 hours from home to Mbeya, where I spent an evening with friends and left my car for a time. Then a short flight to Dar (rather than a 14 hr bus ride).  I had the privilege to spend time with some leaders of the organization, Thrive, who minister to missionary women. They have come to Tanzania to minister to missionary women from Africa. I attended a Retreat several years ago in South Africa and was greatly refreshed. Now they have come to Tanzania. So I arrived early to meet one of the leaders who is a friend and hang out before the Retreat begins tomorrow! I’m excited.

  As the Retreat ends Wednesday afternoon, they prepare for group number two of women to arrive and I begin my trip home.  After a time in the Mediterranean visiting with cities the Apostle Paul visited nearly 2000 years ago, I will finally reach my home base in OH.

  It will be a long but fun journey, great to shift gears as I head to a different stage of my ministry of church visitations.  Being in Dar and Other places will help reduce the reverse culture shock I will have when I get home.