Missionary Life = Saying Goodbye
We live in a small town in Germany where almost 10% of the population is English speaking. The reason is that there is an English based, Christian school here called Black Forest Academy. This is the last week of school around here and every year its a tough time for everyone. In most places of the US, you might have some people moving away every year but for the most part, people will be coming back in the school year after year. But in the missionary life, moving and change are regular occurrences.
This year I went to Alex’s last chapel time at school. It really took me back as I watched the principal of the school talk to each grade level and congratulate them but then ask – whose not coming back next year? This was a great year for Alex as none of the kids in his class are leaving however about 25% of the school is not returning. The principle would ask each student about where they were going, if they knew anything about the school they would be going to, and other questions. The hardest time came when it looks like about 50% of the staff of the elementary school would not be returning next year. Many teachers at these types of schools only teach for 1-3 years at a time. (However, Alex’s teacher was celebrating her 25th year here – she is such a blessing to us)
We plan on being here for quite some time however we will still have to have some time where Alex is going to be one of the ones standing up. US law requires that we leave Germany every so often to be able to retain our rights to social security. So Alex will have to be the one saying goodbye at least once however he has to say “Goodbye” every year as his friends are coming and going.
Alex’s age has the easier time of it. For those in high school here, things get very emotional. A majority of those in high school live in the dorms (while their parents work in countries all around the world). They live together and are like brothers and sisters. Graduation is a time of not just completing their lower education but saying good-bye to these close friends knowing that they will probably never see each other again as they scatter all over the world. The senior class has a tradition of staying up all night together before they start catching trains and planes in all directions.
These emotional goodbyes are really tough to watch. My heart goes out to these young people.