A difficult weekend.

This has been a hard one. It started on Friday when we were called to say that our friend was going to come in the hour to collect Hine (the cat). By then it was already 9:30 PM and my boys were already tired after a long day which had included haircuts....never their favourite activity! We made up a nice comfy box for her to sleep in and then cuddled and kissed her for the last time. Now, those of you who aren't animal lovers probably think we are quite strange but, as I have said before, this was like leaving behind a family member. Our friend arrived and we said goodbye as we put her in the box and taped her in. It was tough! She was quite calm which surprised me. Then the tears and howls of grief began. The boys were so distraught that they were, literally, throwing themselves on the ground, crying their broken hearts out. It was hard as a parent to watch on helplessly. Our poor friend didn't know what to do!!!! He had never seen such a strong reaction over an animal before!!! My hubby and he took the cat down to get a taxi and set them on their way to Manabi.

On Sunday morning we got an urgent phone call from our friend. We paniced as to what the news would be but he was just calling to say that she was eating and investigating the house and chasing rats!! YAY!!!! She was happy!!!! We were so pleased and I think knowing that has helped us all. I am really proud of my boys and how they have handled this difficult adios. Lots of preparation has gone into it all and that has been extremely beneficial for us all. Next was the farewell from church.

We knew this one was going to be really hard as we would be saying goodbye to friends of 8 years or so. The sermon was on being a friend and how Jesus is the ultimate friend indeed. Then came our special bit. The young people performed a mime about being a light to the world and gave us lit candles with the Ecuador flag on them.
Then our close friend presented us gifts on behlf of the church. As she hugged me tight she told me she had prepared something to say but she just couldn't get the words out. I know what she wanted to say....I wanted to say it too but the tears were getting in the way!

More speeches and prayers and then the young people performed a really funky dance which was really cool. We ate our favourite meal together, had a humungous cake and said goodbye. It was a special service that none of us will forget.

In the evening we visited a house church and had their farewll to us which included lovely words of honouring of us, more pressies and yummy food. We're going to be HUGE(R?)by the time we get out of here!!!!

The other night Isy asked when we would be saying goodbye to another friend. My hubby replied that it would be in a week or so. Isy said that was good as he had had enough of goodbyes. Poor thing. I thnk we are all feeling that way.

This was a tough weekend but a very special one. Last night we met a new christian who honoured us by saying that because of us and our work he had come to know the Lord and that we would never know the full impact of what we had done for the Lord here in Ecuador. May that be so!!! We take heart in that.

PS...I managed to upload the picis which is great! Here is one of Isy's final day at his chef school when they presented him with his proper chef's hat. Cute huh?