Our First Goodbye

It’s hard to believe that we are already saying goodbye to some of those on the Texas Instruments team. With different aspects of the TI project coming to a close, part of our TI team is starting to pack up and return to their homes and countries. (At the start of this project, TI assigned around 7 men to lead this assignment over here in the Philippines. About 4 of them came from the U.S. while the others came from TI factories in Taiwan, Japan, and Germany.)

This past week, we said our goodbyes to those who have completed their work over here and are, therefore, leaving first. Mr. Amagai from Japan and the Wang family from Taiwan will be going home at the end  of this month. (The rest of us will not leave until later this summer.)

We loved listening to Mr. Amagai play several songs for us on his bamboo flute!:-)

Although, we have not been able to see these two families much this past year, we have still enjoyed getting to know these fellow TI members (and families). Their kind friendship and continual cheerfulness has always been an encouragement to us all. We will miss them!

Goodbyes are never fun, yet, they provide us with the reminder to be thankful for opportunities that God has given us. Although we were sad to say our first goodbye and watch our time with others over here slowly end, we are learning to be thankful for God giving us these different opportunities and friendships over the past 2 years.

Dr. Seuss seemed to sum it up best, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”:-)  May we be thankful for each opportunity and enjoy every moment that God gives us in life—even if it is a goodbye.