Goodbye, Chimbote

A short entry using the few minutes I have left in the internet cafe on the day before my departure from Chimbote.

The past week and a half have been busy, emotional, fun, sad. Events have included the following:
- 8/28 Arrival of new missionaries, Jennifer and Marcella, I moved out of my room and sleeping on a mattress in the hallway
- 8/29 Goodbye event at the parish with all the parish groups, sponsored by JUMIFRA and including musical numbers, games,sharing stories, theatre group
- Two goodbye events by the English groups, on the last day of classes and during our final conversation practice night at our house, to which a youth folkloric music group (directed by one of our students) showed up as a surprise and gave a short concert.
- Coordinating the continuation of English classes -- Paul and Roberto, two current advanced students of ours who have been in our classes since the beginning, will be handling coordination, copies, and teaching some of the basic material. The five missionaries will continue teaching classes and hosting conversation night.
- Passing on the youth center project to Jennifer, who is the new IWM at the parish, and a solid committee who I trust will carry the project forward
- goodbye gatherings with the choir, theatre group, confirmation, a party at our house, final mass singing with the choir and a little speech at mass.

my time`s up, more reflections later...