Christmas Good Byes

In the few months we've been in OH, we have really come to care about the wonderful missionaries who serve with MMS.  Some are apprentice families who are in training to be sent to another mission field and some are long term missionaries to MMS who run the training program.  They have all been very welcoming and made us feel part of the family.  Before we left Ohio, we got to be present at the annual Christmas party.  It is held at one of the missionary family's homes.  The family is from South Africa and their home is a gorgeous log cabin that is so open and spacious.  It fit all 80 of us!

 We all sat around in a big circle and the kids played on mattresses in the middle...

 While we sang Christmas carols and heard a message.

 I think Christmas carols are always moving since they remind us of Christ's coming to save us and they also remind us of so many Christmas memories from childhood...

 But I don't know...this time of being together singing songs especially chocked me up.  Maybe it was singing Christmas songs in English...something we rarely do in Brazil.  Or maybe it was just being together with people from many different countries, going to many different countries, all sitting together and singing about and to the same God.  Or maybe it was not knowing when and if we will ever see some of these friends again since we're all headed in different directions around the globe...All I know is it was the absolute perfect way to kick of Christmastime and wrap up our time in Ohio at once.

 Here is a (blurry) picture of two of the couples we've gotten to know more while in Ohio.  One is probably headed to Papua New Guinea and the other will be serving with an organization in Florida.  It will be so fun to follow their stories over the internet as they continue on their journeys.  

 Heather (who I also posted about with her play group) and her husband Andy have also been super sweet and encouraging friends.  They are from Scotland and will be probably headed to Africa in a year...though they're not sure of the details yet.  

 And Deb is the owner of the house.  She and her husband have been so welcoming and her husband has been one of Jeyson's main mechanic "mentors".  

 On one other final evening, we stopped by to have dinner with the Fischer's.  (They are the ones probably going to Papua New Guinea).  They are expecting their third baby very soon but still were so nice to have us over. 

 We were especially thankful to have them as our friends since our kids enjoyed playing together and they were so super generous with everything you can imagine for Elijah (pack and play, clothes, you name it).  It was so nice and encouraging to us to have our needs met and hope we were able to be an encouragement to them on their journey as well.  

As I type this post we are already in the Chicago area, where we are returning our car and visiting our supporting church for a few days.  In a matter of weeks we'll be across the world...very far from little Coshocton.  But we'll be bringing these friends with us in our memories, prayers, and in our facebook news feeds :)