It is always hard to say goodbye to friends that are moving away. There’s that sinking feeling in your stomach, that knot that tells you that change is occurring; things won’t be the same. Well, for the last month or so, I’ve had that knot inside of me.
After 27 years of living in Latin America, two of our missionary friends were asked by our church denomination to move back to the United States to serve. In just over a year and a half, this couple has come to mean so much to my family and me. For us, they have been mentors, surrogate uncle and aunt to our children, friends, and trusted ‘sounding boards’. We worked, chatted (in English!), played games, relaxed, ate, laughed and cried together. Even though they traveled quite a bit, there was always that sense that they would soon return.
It is with sad and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to them today. Thankfully, we will have opportunities to see them once or twice a year, but that will definitely be a drastic change from what it has been.
Thank you for being such a help and guide to us these past 18 months. You will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. We count it such a privilege to call you friends! We love you.
Philippians 1:3-5 (NIV) I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for…you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…
Your turn to share: Have you had a friend move away recently?
Sincerely, Kristin 
August 27, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Kristin, I’m so glad that God put those friends there for you during your first 18 months in Chile! What a blessing!
I guess “recently” is a relative term. It’s been almost 3 years now since my sister/best friend moved 2 1/2 hours away, and a month later my other best friend moved across the country. It was a terrible summer and a very hard adjustment.
We’ve determined, that if it’s left up to us, we’ll be next door neighbors in heaven!
August 27, 2007 at 10:04 pm
My daughter, who I am blessed to say is also one of my best friends, has just moved away for the 3rd time (leaving for her Jr year of college). I thought that it was supposed to get easier! Each time is actually harder, because I know that it will soon be a real move to her own home, where ever that ends up to be. College is 14 hours away, so God is preparing me for some big change, I am sure! We are blessed with the technology of internet (instant messaging and email) and cell phones (praise God for Family plans!!)
August 27, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I think we at Northgate know all too well about friends leaving us……first you and Max and then all the Pastors this June. It’s hard….I’m sure much harder for you because you are so far from your family/old acquaintances. But, can only remember that we were blessed that they were in our lives, and they can/will still be in our lives, just in a different capacity. Part of God’s plan that we cannot see yet!
August 27, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Oh Kristin, I ache for you. I’m sorry for the pain, but at the same time I thank God for your pain, because it is a by-product of your love. As you probably know, we at Edgewood are having to say good-bye to our beloved Thompson family. (It seems that God has decided that our sisters and brothers at Harvest Chapel, Fredonia, need them more than we do.) Last night at the farewell, Alma said, “You know, if we didn’t love you, it wouldn’t hurt.” So, I thank God for the depth of your relationship with these dear friends — and that God gave them 27 years in Latin America, not just 25!
August 27, 2007 at 11:39 pm
My Breast Friend has recently moved to Tenessee. We saw each other through our Chemo treatments, lost our hair together and visited everyday for 7 weeks through Radiation treatments. It was a very close bond. We keep touch on our cell phones. I miss her very much!
August 28, 2007 at 3:44 am
A little over two years ago, we left to serve as VISA missionaries for 2 years in Mexico City. We missed our family and friends a lot, but I really didn’t understand all that they said about missing us until we returned home to discover that some very close friends are going to be moving soon. Suddenly there is a BIG hole within. Fortunately, there is email and cell phones to help us keep in touch. Friendship is a beautiful gift.
August 28, 2007 at 2:29 pm
My family was the one that moved. Moved away from a neighbor/friend across the street that I knew I could always count on. We moved because of my husbands job…and for 2 1/2 yrs lived in NC. Then another job change ended up bringing us right back to the same state we lived in for 8 1/2 yrs. Not back to the same neighborhood but back to that same neighbor/friend. A few months before we moved back they had picked up and moved 45 mins west of where we developed that bond and friendship. We found our new house and very quickly realized that God had placed us w/in 5 mins of each other. We have been able to be there for each other again and thank God for His loving care! You never know if the paths you cross with people will ever intersect again but when they do it is truly a blessing!
August 28, 2007 at 10:20 pm
It was difficult to see Devan’s move away, especially the friendship that Ashley had developed with Madison! We knew they were Christians and you could count on them! You just don’t know these days who to trust with your kids! I guess you always need to look at the bigger picture and understand that God puts people in our lives at certain times for a reason and can take them away as well, but we’re always better off having the relationship then to never have had it at all! The Lord will provide for our needs, so watch out because you may find new friends around the corner (like we literally did)! God Bless!
August 29, 2007 at 1:09 am
I’m sure your friends have become not just friends, but lifelines in a strange culture, and their loss is that much deeper than the losses we often experience where other friends can fill the gap. But we have lived through a lot of dear friends relocating—we’re one of those families who have have lived in the same house for almost 30 years now, and that is unusual these days. A dear friend from work, with whom I have worked for about 30 years now just moved to California, and I miss her dearly. We stay in touch, but it is hard to maintain that bond that comes from sharing day to day life. I’m finding it pushes me to talk more to the Lord about trouble at work since she isn’t there anymore, and I guess that’s a good thing!
August 29, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Jill’s remark about thanking the Lord that your friends were in S. Am. 27 years and not 25, struck a cord with me. We really do need to be looking for the blessings in all circumstances! And Bev’s first remark also rang true to me…those were the feelings that came to mind as I heard about your friends moving. But it pushes us closer to the Lord and reinforces that He never leaves us – ever. Just the same, we have emotions and we miss our buddies for lots of reasons.
I miss you!
August 29, 2007 at 8:05 pm
When I switched jobs two years ago I had to say good-bye to some wonderful ladies. I have tried to keep in touch with one regularily. I was even invited to her daughter’s birthday party. That was two months ago. We use to have lunch together almost every day. It has been the most difficult aspect of this job to get use to. No women to talk to. I work with several men and they just don’t talk about the same things!!
August 30, 2007 at 4:14 pm
As part of my duties at church, I interact with some very special teenagers. I’ve known these wonderful people since they been 5 years old. They now attend college, and I miss them terribly. Thank God for technological advances such as texting and e-mail. God is helping me these transitions though.