Rollercoaster of emotions

It’s hard being a long termer. I thought it would be easier being somewhere for a longer time because I would get to know people and feel stable. But the truth is my heart is ripped out every time a short term person has to leave. I got a call from an American friend today. She is working 2 hours from me here in Burundi. She informed me that she was leaving for America in a week on Wednesday. It took everything within me not to burst out in tears on the phone. I hate it that people have to leave. I remember back to one of my first memories I was probably 3 or 4. We were leaving church. Dad and I had just dropped off mom for choir practice. I remember crying so much. I have always hated leaving no matter how long it is for. This happens with people going to America but also people who are leaving Buja to go to other parts of Burundi or to go to their home in a neighboring country. But I have to put things into perspective I would rather be here in Buja (the capital city) where people come for the airport and to shop than to be in a far off location where no one ever comes. I guess the saying, better to love and lost than to not love at all, is true. I’ll take friends when I can get them but that doesn’t make them leaving any easier.