Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Since my last update, I have been on vacation for a few days and helped two friends/Inter-Varsity staff workers move from their current places of work to their new home: Ottawa. And I'm currently back in Toronto for some intensive fundraising. As a result of these recent adventures, my trusty new car has racked up over 1600 kilometres in the past 10 days.

These 10 days have also been a shock to my system. The changes and transitions that I had anticipated for over 8 months were finally here. I was not looking forward to this week at all because it meant that two of my closest friends were moving far away.

I did enjoy my vacation because I was able to spend some quality time with one of these 2 friends and her whole family in one of the nicest towns in Ontario. Yet, it was bittersweet. Being with her signified that she would be moving to the Middle East in a week, to complete her Masters in Engineering. I had a blast, though, and made the most of every moment.

Then, the drive to Ottawa was surreal. The last time I drove there, several of us Inter-Varsity staff were exploring the city, as we prepared to send our fellow staff and dear friends to this city to kick start the Inter-Varsity movement at the University of Ottawa. That was 6 months ago.

Being in Ottawa made it a reality that my other close friend would no longer be working with me. Instead, he was called to be in Ottawa to help students faithfully follow Jesus. That was parting 1.

Parting number 2 came this morning. This was the goodbye I dreaded for days, for weeks, and for months. I wanted this day to come, but I didn't at the same time. At 8 a.m. this morning, I said goodbye to my close friend moving to the Middle East.

I am extremely sad to see her go because she has been an important part of my life over the past year. Yet, I am excited for her to go because we discerned together that God had called her to this place. So, as hard as this parting is, I am holding on to the knowledge that God is good and that His plans are perfect.

So my prayer is that God would work through both my friends and me, in the places we are, to bring glory to His Name.