"We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds."

Hello!

I suppose this will be the last reflection and blog that I post while still living in Belfast. First I must say my thank you's. To all of you that have supported me through this year, for all of the letters, prayers, thoughts and comments, thank you. I am blessed and grateful for your involvement in this truly life changing year. I look forward to seeing many of you upon my return and hearing more about your lives and how the journey of a year has changed you. 

I know that I have written about mixed feelings. Mixed feelings about leaving, mixed feelings about staying, mixed feelings in general. Leaving is part of this year. It is, was, and will be what happens in a little over 2 weeks from now to me, mixed feelings about it or not. I realize more strongly than ever now that leaving is one of the most important things that I have to do in this year. Leaving means a lot of things. It means that I have finished my work here. Leaving is hoping that I have made a difference. Leaving is taking the knowledge and the experience back with me to the States and helping others see what it is really like in Belfast. Leaving is saying goodbye to those that I have grown to love. Leaving is looking back and being satisfied. Leaving is the beginning of a new journey, maybe even better than the last. Leaving is, if we are lucky never the end. Never the end of something good, but the beginning of something new, different and equally important. Leaving means that I, a good old west texas girl, made it through one of the most challenging and unbelievably transforming year of my life. 

This week is the first week of the long goodbye. One of my roommates heads off this week and after she leaves, one of us packs our bags and returns to the States every week past that. As I start the long goodbye as well, I am packing things up. The only thing is that I am not packing the usual...socks, toothbrush, and underwear...I am packing love, laughter, memories, knowledge, tools for change, fuel for my life's passion, and most of all I am packing peace. 

Hope to see you all very soon. 

All my love-

Melissa