Missionary Life

It's midnight. A nice cool evening in Ukraine. Standing on the platform, bags in hand, we're at the local train station. Through the loud speaker comes a women's voice, speaking very quickly and distorted. The fact that she's speaking Ukrainian makes her even harder to understand. Somehow I pick out a few words. Train. One hundred eighteen. Kiev.

It's time to go. It's time to say goodbye... Again.

Our friends Victor and Robert are with us. There to say fair well. 

Just this past week we were celebrating their recent graduation from the medical university. 

Emily and I are leaving for Kiev. We are taking a four week English teaching certification course through Cambridge University in Ukraine's Capitol city. 

Robert will be leaving Ukraine for good in just a few days. He is moving to London to begin his career as a doctor. 

Victor will be attending a military medical camp for a number weeks followed shortly by the beginning of his doctor internship in Ukraine.  

The Lord has really blessed us with these two friends. Just nine months ago we were in a new city, country, church, home - not knowing anyone. When we first moved here we thought we'd never have friends again. But The Lord is faithful.

Robert, Byron, Victor
 

Over the last six months we've grown especially close to Robert and Victor. But now, here we are, our lives going in different directions, saying goodbyes.

As we hugged them fair well and climbed on the train, Emily began to tear up. "It seems like we're saying goodbye to people every few weeks" she said. And she's right. 

Last night we said goodbye to our core group of friends from our student Bible study... Seeing that they are all graduated and are moving back to their home counties.

A few weeks prior we were saying goodbye to our home church, friends and family after our brief visit to Denver.

A few days ago we said goodbye to some of the teens we've been making connections with - hoping that they stay connected at church while we're gone - but realistically, we may not see some of them again. 

Our good friends, Lilliane and Richard

Of course, another hard goodbye was when we moved to Ukraine last fall. It's seems like the missionary life revolves around goodbyes.

As we're traveling on the train, Emily and I began to talk about our lives. About missionaries. About how lonely this calling can be. Loneliness and constant goodbyes seem to come with the territory.
 

I am so thankful and blessed by the two constant things in my life - my relationship with Jesus and my relationship with my wife. As hard as things get, I've got these two to always fall into their arms.

What a blessing and encouragement it is to serve alongside my wife. And what a firm, unchanging, and solid rock I stand on in and through Him!

Blessings,
Byron