The First of Many Farewells

My two most faithful English class students, Peter and Ling, invited me to dinner on the 27th to say their goodbyes since they decided to move back to New York.  They also invited our good friend Trista.
We had a wonderful dinner together at one of their favorite places - the one that served us steamed chicken feet last time we were there.
The food was fantastic and the fellowship was wonderful - a very fitting goodbye.
After dinner, Peter and Ling mentioned the remote possibility that they might one day move back to Texas.  That was my cue to let them know about my upcoming move to the mission field of Croatia.

It was perfect timing, since Trista speaks really good English she was there to help me explain to Ling and Peter exactly what I was planning to do.
Needless to say, they were not too pleased with the thought that I was moving halfway around the world.  They asked many questions about my health, the weather over there  and how long I would be gone, etc.

In the end, they came to understand that my move to Croatia is because of the Lord.  (Ling and Peter don't yet know Him, but I continue to pray they one day will.)

Trista is a Christian and joy is always on her face.  She is such a blessing to me.

As you can see, both Ling and Trista are actually very mean spirited!  :-)

 

By their own declaration, "We are family.  We will never forget!"

I have so enjoyed getting to know these precious people, and the joy of teaching them English in an effort to reach them for Christ has been incomparable.  The grace of God is evident in having them move first.  The goodbye would have been much harder the other way around.
Ling told me she would keep these photos of us and tell her children, "This is your Uncle Sam, the teacher."

By the way, Ling kept a couple of the A Beka Readers we were using in class.  She is determined to read them to her sons who are finally coming from China to meet them in New York.  (The A Beka Reader has Bible verses in it.)  Praise the Lord!
To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

This is the beginning of a series of farewells.