Starting to Say Goodbye

Goodbyes really stink. I have entered into the time of starting to say goodbye to people that I have come to know well over my time in Guyana, and I will miss them greatly. Today was my last Sunday at the church I have been attending while in New Amsterdam. I have been their organist for seven of the past nine months. I was asked to give a talk again today as a farewell. I was really afraid I would not be able to get through my whole talk, but I basically did. I didn’t choke up until my last sentence where it really hit me that this was the last thing that this congregation of my brothers and sisters in Christ were going to hear from me. Their friendship and faith has helped me to grow in my own testimony and faith this year.

Tomorrow we have a different kind of goodbye. One that I am really not looking forward to. One of the students in the academy passed away last week from cancer. We have cancelled all classes tomorrow so that we, as the GLMA teachers, and any students who want to can attend the funeral. I know tragedy happens. Shoot, Lake Mills Class of 2010 knows a lot about that with all the death, sickness, and injuries that plagued our class during our younger years. I never thought about the fact that those things happen to teachers as well. Waldorf had the death of a senior student this year and I saw many of my mentors and professors grieving in their own way. As a first year teacher I didn’t think it would happen to me. This was an older student who had perfect attendance in the academy until he got sick. He always had a smile and made sure to greet each teacher whenever he arrived to the academy. The teachers will be offering a special musical offering at the funeral tomorrow to honor him and to share with the family.

I have 23 days left in Guyana. The goodbyes have started, but I can see the days on the calendar of goodbyes we have left. Saying goodbye to friends I have made, my students, personal relationships, the people who have treated us so well, and saying goodbye to my fellow teachers is going to be really hard. I can only imagine what I will be like when Dan and Claire leave. They fly out on June 11 while Eric and I head to Suriname for instrument repairs. I have come to know both of them so well.  All of these relationships I will cherish forever. I know I will see Dan at least once this summer and Claire and I will Skype I’m sure, but that is nothing like living and working with the same two people for ten months. We have had experiences that no one else will understand.

Goodbyes are always hard. I have come to realize that when I said goodbye to people back home before I left for Guyana was hard, but I knew I would be seeing them all again in a little over ten months. It is different here. I don’t know when I will see all these wonderful people again. I know I will someday, but not knowing when is what is making it so hard. For now, I will distract myself with my to do list of things to get done before concert week. I will take the goodbyes as they come and look forward to the exciting things ahead in the next 23 days.

These two lovely ladies are great young women and I have been blessed to get to know them this year. It was tough to say goodbye.