This weekend was full. This weekend was rich. Wonderfully disgusting amounts of fried food. Various and a sundry beverage. Laughter by all. Prayer, memories shared, and well-wishes expressed for a great friend and fellow sojourner. Misty eyes and a grateful heart as I fly away.
I am currently on a plane from one Asian city, back to the one in which I currently live. This weekend was for the purpose of spending a final weekend and having a going away party for one of my best friends over here. Daniel Schneider and I have been friends since 2007, but our friendship ramped up when he moved back over to Asia in 2010. We have grown together and dreamed of things we wanted to see accomplished for the good over here. We were part of an epic vacation last year in Koh Lanta, Thailand. That little island, as well as those of us on that trip, will never be the same. We have laughed with and pushed each other towards growth in many areas these past few years.
Last night, about 20 of us from around this country came together in the top section of a small Irish pub. We did this to honor Daniel’s time over here, celebrate his pending marriage to a wonderful woman, and “send him back” to America for a new stage in life. It was a great time had by all, but I hope it was particularly meaningful for Daniel.
Here is the deal, the absolute best part of my life here in Asia is the people with whom I have the privilege of living, studying, and working. I am amazed at the caliber of people that end up on this side of the globe, both foreign expatriates, like Daniel (and me) and local East Asian friends and colleagues. To say that my life has been richly blessed by the people I have been, and continue to “do life” with over here would be the understatement of my lifetime. I am changed, each year, for the better by these people. Their commitments, skills, passions, and hearts are unrivaled. I wish space and the proper venue allowed for me to share about more of them. They really are an incredible group of men and women.
However, this is also the worst part of my life here in Asia. As I am constantly saying “hello” to wonderful people, the “good-byes” are just about as frequent. Most of the time, my friends leave for great reasons, like Daniel (he gets married in 3 weeks). This doesn’t lessen the sting, though, of his and other such departures, at least not in the short term. A fun aspect of this is I now have friends and trusted confidants all over the globe, literally. The flip side is that I have people all over the globe for whom I miss.
This spring, as is the case every spring, is a time for saying good-bye to several dear friends and colleagues. For now, I am sad thinking about Daniel and my many, many other friends whom I have bid farewell to over the years. The joy of these relationships and mutual growth far exceeds the pain of their absence, but it is pain nonetheless.
In the summer and fall months ahead, I am confident I will meet a new posse of gifted, smart, energetic people from around the world for whom I will be blessed by and learn much from. I will grow deeper in the existing relationships I already have over here. Both of these will be great. It really will be.
There will be laughter, growth, mutual sharing, and sharpening of our lives. Both from the expatriates I live/work/study with and from my East Asian brothers and sisters, I continue to learn so much about life and faith and true joy.
I am eternally grateful for my past with Daniel (and other friends that I miss). I am also hopeful for the days to come. Hopeful for the days of laughter, growth, challenge, and dreaming. . . dreaming of seeing good things that will happen in and through and around our lives.
You write really well John. I am proud of your service to EA and the many trials and tribulations you have endured.
Mike, thanks for you kind words. Man, I look forward to sitting down one of these days and hearing about the past few years. . . and finally meeting your wife!
It is always hard to say good-byes to your friends. sorry that you have to/had to experienced this almost every spring. I am glad to hear that you are confident you will meet a new posse of gifted, smart energetic people in the coming summer and fall.
just want you know that I am really appreciated you. May Lord blessed you.
Thanks Casey, it really is my honor.
Great post, John! I can understand a part of what you mean. Only being here for two years and getting ready to leave all these wonderful people who know me better than most people anywhere else in the world, maybe to come back in a couple years, and maybe not. I can’t imagine the heartaches and also wonderful blessings, like you say, of being here long term. Thanks so much for your commitment to asia and to all the people you encounter in your life here. I know many people have been blessed by you as well!
Thanks Michelle for your words. . . been great getting to know you the past two years!
Uncle John!! (i immediately regret calling you that hahaha!) You’ve been a lifesaver these past 2 years. Thank you for making all of it fun! Or at least making me laugh in all of it!
Thank YOU, Sarah. . . You will be grateful missed!
Well this made me cry
As I said today, you guys were definitely in mind when I wrote it.
Great post John thanks for sharing.
Thanks. . . good hearing from you!
So well written, John. And so, so true. Such is our lives — whether I was living in EA or now back in NC, I do feel like our worlds are a revolving door of dear, dear people and I am so thankful for the sweet seasons I have with different friends. I may or may not have sat in staff meeting this past week weeping with a few dear friends leaving and moving on to other things. Just really identify with what you’ve written here. Hope you are well.
Cam, thanks for sharing this. Tough times, but the good definitely out weighs the challenge. . . at least for me. Great thoughts!
You misspelled lessen. I enjoyed reading the article and often find myself living vicariously through your adventures. It’s been a long time and I hope all is well.
Lin, great hearing from you. Same here. I was looking at your facebook account just a few weeks ago looking at pics of your family. It’s been way too long.
Nice catch on “lesson”. . . just made the correction.
Dan Yi Er, you will be missed!
Gunter, you summed up very well the cycles of community over here. Hard but incredible and incredibly worth it.
Yes he will. . . thanks for being here long-term!
I knowwww this feeling. I ran across your blog by total coincidence, and I find myself internally nodding my head to “uh-huh” in response to so much of your writing! I lived in SE Asia for a while and this – the saying goodbye and the missing – was by far the hardest part. I’m not really sure the nature of your work over there, but whatever it is, thank you for doing it. God bless you.
Thanks a lot, Lacey. . . nice to have a kindred spirit. Thanks for reading the blog and commenting. Nice to know people are out there reading this thing and enjoying it!