The hardest part

Packing and saying goodbye.  Two things I really dislike about missionary life.  Everytime we pack it feels like we're packing up a whole house rather than just packing for a trip.  We were able to get most of the packing done yesterday (thankfully!) so today we can spend most of the day with family before we leave tomorrow morning.

Which leads to the hardest bit...saying goodbye.  It doesn't ever get any easier.  Even in a time when communication is easy, when I can pick up my phone and facetime with anyone, its just not ever the same as actually being there.

Hearing Sam's friend asking for Sam to come over next week but he can't because he will have already left say 'but Sam is my favourite friend.' is hard to hear.
Knowing wee Jack is sad when we leave because he loves his cousins, is difficult.
Saying goodbye to my 92 year old granny, not knowing if she will still be here next time were home is not easy.

And I could go on and on.

But we have comfort and peace in knowing that returning to Haiti is exactly what God has for us. We are also really thankful to have had this much needed time in Northern Ireland. We have had some great times with family & friends, the boys have been to what feels like every playground in Bangor and we have enjoyed spending a few weeks in our home church.

So please pray for us today as we say goodbye, pray for the boys as they spend their last day in Bangor with their cousins.  Say a special prayer for Jacob, who has a really heavy cold and is pretty miserable.  I was up with him about 4 or 5 times (I'm not sure, its all a blur!) last night and to add insult to injury he had to get a travel vaccine yesterday.  Pray that he will feel better tomorrow and be well settled on the plane.  We will be leaving home at 8.30am and arriving in Calgary at 10.30pm which is actually 5.30am UK time, so its a long day.

As always thank you for your prayers and support.

Here are a few photos from our trip