Saying Goodbyes

Well, believe it or not (and I don't so much), we're finally done with language school!  It wasn't an easy year - in fact, probably one of the hardest in my life - but we leave with great memories and full hearts.  We're grateful for our time here and our really very good experience in learning our third language.  (We have no plans to return to a language school at any time.  Ever.  Thank you.)

Our ever-so-patient teachers at the language school.  Such gracious and kind people!

This last week has been a whirlwind of saying our goodbyes to friends here in Salatiga. As excited as we've been to get back to Palangka Raya and our life and ministry there, we are also really sad to leave friends here behind.  I feel like all we ever do is say good-bye and it just stinks. 

With our friend/teacher Pak Adi and his wife Ika.  He's been such a great teacher.  But he also has an amazing testimony that could make for a bestselling book.  
 It's been a bit of an emotional week.  I'm glad we managed to get a few good pictures...they are only a tiny sampling of the many friends we've made here in Salatiga. We've said far too many farewells this week, many of them quite tearful.  The girls leave behind best friends.  Sean and I both have special friends (both Indonesian and American) that we are going to miss so much.  And our MAF buddies have been the best!  Oh, how we wish they weren't ALL headed to Papua and not Kalimantan!

With Ratih, Danang, and their adorable baby Air!  Ratih was my tutor and if it weren't for her, I may not have survived my first month here - but she also has become a friend!
This goodbye thing is not an easy part of our life.  But our lives are much richer for the friendships we've made here and, in reality, these can be lasting friendships thanks to Facebook, cell phones, email, and Skype!  And Sean and I really hope to return for a visit now and then to this town, our first home in Indonesia.

Well, we're off tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. We'll travel most of the day to the MAF base in Tarakan to visit our teammates there before going to Palangka Raya.  Prayers are appreciated!  The girls are definitely more emotional than usual and a little sick too.

Comments

  1. LindaOctober 15, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    You are going through another hard transition...one you looked forward to and fought hard for. Good job on completing language school and saying good-bye well. May you have lots of joy in the future when you reunite with these dear friends. I so hope you can go back for visits! Love and hugs to all of you! Linda

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 15, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    I just want to remind you both, that after you finished language school for Spanish you said you would never learn another language...ever! Just saying :) Congrats!!

    Rachael

    ReplyDelete
  3. izzieOctober 17, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    Praying for a safe trip and health for your girls. So glad you guys finished well, I'm amazed how you have learned languages in such a short time. Excited for this new chapter in your lives!

    ReplyDelete
  4. LindaOctober 17, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Thinking of you all, Rebecca, and praying for you! Transitions are never easy, but God has gone before you to prepare the way...
    Love from all of us at Pagosa Bible,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  5. NatalieOctober 19, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    I enjoyed reading through your blog posts. I hear ya on the never-ending painful goodbyes. I am still weepy at times when I think of our departure from Tarakan. So bummed that we never got to meet. Hope your time in Tarakan was fun, and that you quickly settle in back in PLR.
    Love,
    Natalie

    ReplyDelete

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