Transitions

When we joined MAF several years ago they made it a point to prepare us for our future life overseas in more ways than just flight training. One of the seminars we had was all the transition in staff that we will see in our time in the mission field. We have almost lived in Ecuador for a year and this is definitely true. In a lot of ways, staff turnover in a mission might be the same as a secular stateside job. People come and people go. But I guess there is something different about it when you work side by side someone achieving a common goal and know their lives, their kids, their habits (good and bad), you have sweat and in some cases bled with them. It doesn't help that they usually leave the field of service and move back to the USA and reside in their home state thousands of miles away. You can't just sit down over lunch and catch up.

In our time here in Ecuador we have had 4 families leave our program for various reasons. In my opinion they all seemed good, and I think I would have done the same thing if I were in their shoes. Most recently, our chief mechanic and his family packed up and went stateside. We had the privilege of having them over for dinner one last time before they left yesterday. Perhaps we will see them again in the States, but for sure when we all cross over to the other side of eternity. This is probably one of the hardest things about being a missionary. Getting to know people, both national and expatriate, and knowing that a day might come, probably unexpectedly, in which either of you needs to leave for various reasons. I count it a privilege to work so intimately with some of the greatest people in the world, and to be able to share in their lives and work, if even for a short time. It is worth it.