Sad Good-byes

Today has been a reminder of how hard it can be to be an ex-pat/missionary overseas. I watched as a family had to separate as they took their son to boarding school, leaving his younger sister and brother behind. Oh my heart, as I saw the tears of everyone involved in saying goodbye. I know that there comes a day when you have to let your kids "leave the nest," but 9th grade just feels harder than college age. Here we are in this little country of Lesotho with no high school, and families are forced into leaving, sending kids to boarding school or online schooling which isn't the best option for many kids who want to join clubs or sports.
Elijah is the last boy in our missionary community who is in middle school and had to say goodbye to his best friend today (they have been friends for over 5 years). It is sad to see these good-byes, and it is a stark reminder of the same hard decision that we will be forced to act on a year from now. The battle within a 13 year old (this is where Eli is) who wants desperately to be challenged more academically, play sports, have friends his own age, and join a club that will help him in his desire to invent things, yet he has NO desire to leave his family. It is just one of those things that we cannot control, but we have to trust God as we learn to let go of the imagined control we have, and embrace the future God has already planned for our kids. That being said, it still brings tears to my eyes as I watch...knowing that I am next.