'Lasts'

This week has been emotionally charged - I can't believe it's only Wednesday! It has been a week of 'lasts'. Last full week of lesson plans, last prayer session with the teachers, last weekly Bible Study...

Yesterday we went to the Zacapa's to give a going away party for Eddie Ortiz. He came late in army khakis - it seemed like we were sending him off to war. The main event of the night was to have communion with each other...the worship team building each other up. It was a lovely time of fellowship - bittersweet. They surprised Heidi and I by adding us into the night. They prayed for all three of us - to go - commissioned to give up our lives to worship the Lord. It was hard saying goodbye, I don't think it's hit me yet.

Today helped to remind me. My grade 9 students put together a party for all of the teachers that would be leaving. We had a taqueada and enjoyed spending time with each other. They imitated a few of us (quite well actually) for entertainment! I think my favorite was their impression of Jeff "I'm not angry, I'm just fruustrated". I guess you had to be there ;) However, as all of this was going on I had one student running around taking exams all day. She was leaving school early. Today had been her last day. (I have been doing so well...not really crying yet, but as I'm writing this...yah...I'm done).

She came into my room for the last period of the day - finishing up her last exam, she just sat in my room. I was doing the end of the day sort of thing...marking papers, getting organized. She came around and just gave me the biggest hug and then tried to run away - I guess she also doesn't like being emotional. I didn't let her leave like that. I won't say what we said, but it impressed on me what the students feel at the end of each year...I know that I'm not like teachers I had back when I was in school...the students here don't hesitate to ask you to their house, to their birthday parties (I can't imagine doing that to any of my highschool teachers)...they want to know you, to be your friend. These students have learned how to let go early in life. They've had to each year as their new found friends have left...and yet they still open their hearts the next year. What a lesson. I love my students so much, I love how open they are. My prayers are that they will receive the One who will never leave them, the One who always goes before them, carries them, corrects them, knows them, loves them.

I miss Maria already...Thank You Lord, I know I'll see her again!