Calling Noh

Yesterday I was online and saw our Thai boy, Noh, who's been back home in Thailand for about 2 months now after living with us for 11 months. He had left his phone card with us, so I called him up. It was so nice to talk to him, but hard to say good-bye--knowing we won't see him for quite a while. I talked to his mom, who said she wanted to send him back to us--he is so busy with school, tests, etc.--life is now much more stressful than it was here. She thanked us for having him, and I thanked her for sending her to us so he could be part of our lives.

He said it's the rainy season there in Bangkok now, and I said we've had a drought here. He said he's been playing the guitar there now, and I said the boys continue to play in bands, while right now Noh is playing solo. Maybe when he has more time he can take lessons.

In the meantime, he strums and thinks of us, and we walk into Mark's bedroom and see the empty place where Noh used to be. With each exchange student's leaving, a part of ourselves and our hearts leave, and we seek to fill the void with a new student. The new ones fill our hearts, but then they leave a void at the end of the year.

It's a good thing God makes our hearts able to break and heal, love and hurt, grow and fill. Even in the pain of sending our students back home, we have the joy of welcoming new ones, and maintaining relationships with our "old" ones around the world.

What a wonderful way to fill our lives and hearts.

Till next time,
Suzi