las despedidas

the goodbyes have started... well i guess the goodbyes actually started at the end of last week, but today i had to say goodbye to three of the people who have been some of my best friends here. and it was really weird. really sad. these are all people who have been a huge blessing to my life here, who i've spent alot of times with, shared a ton of laughs with, maybe even a couple of tears with, and who have just been with me in this awesome experience. and now we all go in our separate ways. maybe our paths will cross again, but then maybe they won't, and if they do it's doubtable that is will be in this city, and it will never be with all of us together. sometime this friendship thing that we do seems so weird... how we make these close friends, share our lives, maybe little pieces of our hearts with them, and then after weeks, months, with luck years, our lives take us in different directions and the relationship comes to a close, never to be the same, even if they do hang on by a few thin strings of communication. at times i've asked myself why we do it. why we're friendly with people we know we will only have such a short time with, in some cases just hours or days (like the people you talk to on a plane or when you're traveling). but i always come to the conclusion that it's worth it. no matter how short the time, or how painful the goodbyes, investing in the life of another human being is always worth it. it's worth it b/c every person i meet and the moments i get to share with them, change me just a little bit. add to who i am, what i know, how i see the things around me, and how i relate to everyone else. i know this may seems completely simple and probably cliché, but sometimes it's easy to lose sight of the importance of these relationships that seem to always be coming and going. plus i'm left with so many memories that will always make me smile. thanks friends... words just don't do justice to explain what a blessing it's been to have you in my life! so here's to my gringo friends! ¡les quiero muchisimo!

juanito (o aaron) y lianna

barrett y la mia, they're debating whether to let me into barrett's house as they gaze out the window at the top of his stairsme y lianna :)

the sad part is that this is just the beginning of the goodbyes, and the most difficult ones are still to come. but i've know that this would all have to come to an end at some point, so i think in a way i've kinda been preparing myself for it all along. so i'll deal with these goodbyes as they come, and try and not let the knowledge that they're coming put a damper on my last two weeks, or really less that two weeks, that i have here. plus, as the day of departure draws nearer, i find myself getting more and more excited about coming home and all that awaits me stateside. the Lord's preparing my heart for the next season He has in store for me. well, that's about all for now! i love you all and would love to hear how life's going. and mark your calendars for july 15th, cuz that's when i get back!