You say goodbye, I say hello

I'm discovering I don't like goodbyes.
I'm not sure anyone really likes them, but having never really said them to so many people before it's quite a daunting task. I feel as if the four weeks from the day I graduated until the day I leave for Burkina (which is now 2 short weeks away) have been and will continue to be one long drawn out goodbye. However awful it is draw out goodbyes, it also wonderful to think of the "hellos" I will soon be saying, as my aunt recently reminded me. ("You say goodbye, I say hello..hello..hello") Nicole, the 24 year old with whom I will soon be living in staff housing on the orphanage compound sent me an email today saying that she has started telling the kids that I am coming back. She only told a few and soon word got out and she had some of them come and ask her "Is it true? Ami's coming and she's staying for awhile?" One girl in particular, who you will probably read alot about, Adilene (Adi for short) a seven year old has been praying for me every night since she found out I was coming! Adilene's mother died when she was very young and when she was around the age of four her father died from a snake bite. She came to live at the orphanage my first week of my first trip to Burkina in March of '04. I instantly fell in love with her HUGE eyes and big grin. I felt really blessed to witness the transformation that happens when kids come into the family created by those in the orphanage. The first few days she was quiet and withdrawn, but slowly she started coming out...alittle bit more every day. Unitl the day I left she was a bubbly, talkative, affectionate four year old. When I came home from that trip I started to sponsor her. That fall I returned to Burkina for the second time and I found myself teaching preschool to Adi as well as three others (one of them, Elysee is still there. The other two have since gone home with extended family) I spent every morning with these kids. We had a lot of fun together. Bubbles, snacks, sleep overs, books with no relevance to Burkinabe life (any story that has a boat in it...) In January I got to see her sweet face again (she's the one I'm holding in the picture to the right) I don't have kids so I don't know, but I can't imagine loving my own kids more than I love these kids...and THIS kid in particular. Like she is just an extension of my heart. To know that she is praying for me is an unbelievable and unexpected blessing. This is one hello I CANNOT wait to make...
I have to say that while I'm discovering that I'm not a fan of goodbyes, I'm realizing how amazing the people in my life are. I have some TREMENDOUS friends and family. I've spent the last couple weeks hanging out with friends. I've had numerous lunch dates and oppurtunities to spend quality time with the people who mean the most to me. I couldn't do this without you!! Your love, support, and your PRAYERS mean the world to me.
When I sat down to type this out I thought it was going to be like two sentences...oops! I have one more thought: GOD IS GOOD. And He is in this thing. He has assured me, reassured me, encouraged me....that this is where He has me right now. He has a place for me in Yako, Burkina Faso, West Africa. I'm not entirely sure what that looks like, but its ok BECAUSE He's gone before me. I'm so excited to see what He's up to on the other side of the world. :)