An emotional roller-coaster

I finally stepped onto the emotional roller-coaster this morning, as the reality of leaving here hit home.
We lined up for assembly, rather thin on the ground. There is so much illness in school, as four strains of influenza have hit us hard.
There was the usual national anthem followed by prayers and I thought that was it. However, the Head of department then started on the "Somebody is leaving," bit and I was hauled out to face the kids. I was presented with gifts of typical Paraguayan Nanduti lace.

I then had to make a speech.

I chose to do it in Spanish so that all the teachers could understand (or not, as my Spanish is not wonderful). It took me a while to overcome the lump that threatened to stick in my throat and to fight back the tears, but I managed it all without blubbing and I hope that I gave the children some encouragement to keep reading and studying hard and to aim for a leadership role in life to make Paraguay a better country for its people.

Speech given, the children then rushed up to mob me and hug me to bits. I am going to miss them so much.

After the children had gone back to class I went back to the library and there the lump came up and the cork, holding back my emotions, popped out. I felt better after that.

The rest of the morning was spent on a round of "Goodbyes." I am starting a new blog about England, but in Spanish, so the fifth form students playfully offered to write comments in the comments box, to help me to improve my Spanish after fifteen years!
I was so surprised by the number of parents who came to thank me for what I had done in my fifteen years here. I just see it as my job and my service for the Lord. It is a good feeling to know that it has meant something to people.

There is no doubt that these have been some of the best years of my life, hard work, exciting, scarey at times, full of highs and a few lows, but all part of my "journey" with God. I am looking ahead with excitement now to what else He has in store for me, but part of my heart will always remain here in Paraguay.

Before I left somebody took a photo of me with the girls in the Primary English department. They are now being left with no English person among them. Five and a half Paraguayans and one South African will be left to run the department. (and Babs, the furniture is much better arranged now!)

I could not relax this afternoon (we broke up at midday) so now I have made a good start on packing up my flat, washing curtains etc. It is better than sitting and reminiscing or moping. I want to leave it all shipshape for the next inhabitant. (At least we do not have a white glove inspection like we did in the army when we moved on.)