I'm leaving on a jet plane

I remember singing this song before I left the states and now I am singing it again. However, in the states it was my mother who was crying and now it is me. Yes I am sitting here in an internet cafe-- in a country where showing emotion is not accepted-- crying, publicly no less.
This day is going to be a tough one for us. We had to say our final good-byes to Aunty Chris from Banta-- our mother, our friend, supporter, encouragement, the list goes on. Sometimes when I sit with Aunty Chris and listen to her I just think, do I really know her? I should be reading about her in a best-selling biography, and yet I am sitting here listening to her, and she considers me one of her dearest friends. I don't know how God has blessed me so, to meet this woman. And this is who I had to say good-bye to today. And next it's the kids.
We will be leaving for our debriefing tonight and from there we will leave to go to the airport. Last night we had our farewell. It was a touching program, and it was a blessing to see the appreciation of the people, to see some of the fruits of our labor.
I wish I had more to say but as soon as I start typing I starting crying again and my thoughts are a bit scattered. I just wanted to write one last blog from Sierra Leone. But I know that this will not be the last time I am here. I read in a book once that Africa has a way of getting under your skin and it gets in your blood, so much that you can never truly leave. I know now that this statement is true. And it's a funny thing, because I can't actually put my finger on it, but there's just something there that won't let me go.

So Africa, my Africa, you will forever be in my heart. As I go, may God watch over you and take care of you, may you look to Jesus for your salvation, may you always find rest and peace in his arms, and may you seek Him and follow Him with your whole heart.