Goodbye 
 
It was a cool, bustling, eventful evening in "Newland" as families, friends, and neighbors packed up cars and belongings to begin a new chapter in their lives. There were many loved folk in the group of the “departing” and those being left behind were feeling the weight of empty homes, apartments, swings, and desks that would be left as a remembrance. They left behind things such as shoes, clothes, soap, malaria medicine, used water bottles, and well-worn clothing. They also left behind lives filled with memories and cherished stories.
As the lined formed, the departure party van for Rebecca (pictured above on "crazy hair day" at school", my neighbor, began to ask each other, “Hmmmm, wonder if the roads will open again before Rebecca’s plane leaves?” (Every time the president comes in or goes out, the roads close, and a parade of about 50 cars passes an hour later with their lights flashing.)
“Excited, hopeful, friendly children began to gather around the sparkly white SIL van that we sat in playing, “I’m going on a picnic” in French. “La Blanche” they exclaimed and the familiar pronoun (white woman) made me smile knowingly. “Tante Christy,” I said gently as I had so many times before. “Christy, La Blanche!” one child said with a big, white smile. Everyone in the van started giggling and stating other suitable names for me. One said, “Christy, la Cameroonais.(Christy, the Cameroonian, for I enjoy so much becoming part of the culture)” Another jokingly stated “Christy, la mama. (For my friends find I enjoy taking care of them out of the absence of my own mother)” And the jokes continued until I decided that these beautiful children needed to occupy themselves. I hopped out of the van and exclaimed, in broken French, “Do you know catch, catch?” They nodded with dancing eyes, and “Christy, la blanche” commenced the counting as the children scattered in all directions.
So began, on an evening filled with sorrow, a sweet friendship to fill many coming days with laughter, joy, and a new sense of what it means to be community. Now, as I walk to the main road that takes me to the SIL campus, I hear many shouts of children, and wave happily. I look forward to the day that I can truly communicate with words as well, the love that I have for them, which flows from the heart of God.

April FES 2007 
 
This is my 3rd and 4th grade class of the April 2007 FES session. What a joy they were. We created solar ovens, learned a rap about matter, and grew together. They were my first class, and many of them are now on furlough, but I will remember them and love them always.