Day 164 - April 25th

Wacky Wednesday!
Not really, more like "Tie up loose ends Wednesday!"
We got a lot accomplished in school, and things are tapering off! Hoping to make slime with the kids tomorrow, if we have enough glue.
The end is in sight for Boaz's State Report, and he is THRILLED about that! We just have one final spelling test for Asher, and Nandry is almost finished, too. And the end is in sight with History, too. Just two more days of school!

My thumb is lots better today, I'm happy to report! I am almost back to complete usage, and I'm only experiencing a tiny bit of numbness.

I also had a medical debrief for coming home with our lovely Doctor Reda before she heads back to the States tomorrow. She was super helpful and knowledgeable - a Godsend. (She and Jenn make a GREAT team!)

The afternoon was a frenzy of loose ends and the beginnings of goodbyes. :-(
I had a final debriefing wrap-up with Barry, my Field Director, and chatted with he and his wife, Desma.

Then, remember the coffee I picked back in the fall, that Heidi later dried? Well I finally roasted it with her today in a popcorn maker over the stove! Once you roast it to the desired darkness, then you take a handful at a time and roll it around in your hands to break off the skins, which you can then just blow off of the beans. It was a cool learning experience, and a chance to have a last little visit with Jenn, Heidi, Reda, and Annabella. I'm gonna miss them!

Finally, I went back to the Abbotts' house to grind my coffee (and deliver theirs which we had also roasted). And I got a chance to talk more with Desma for a little bit and say goodbye. I know things will be busy in the morning, and she will have lots to do as she closes up their house, so I am glad we had a few minutes tonight for that.

The Abbotts, Jenn, Heidi, Annabella, and Reda start for Y-de in the morning. I could possibly see them in a brief passing on the road next week, but it is unlikely, so it looks like tomorrow is goodbye to my team, other than the Conrods! It isn't real yet, but I know it will be as they drive off in the morning.

So I guess this is the beginning of the end of my time - no denying it anymore. I'm so sad! Yet I am excited to be back in Jacksonville, too - which I will be exactly two weeks from today!

So I am torn. Oh, the in between, the starting over. My old friend, transition. Can't say I have missed you! Yet I know that here is where God is leading me, and here I will go. There are things to learn here, things which will grow me closer to Him. So, where He leads, there I will go.