"So long, farewell, to you my friends.
Goodbye, for now, until we meet again.
It's been great, to play and sing together,
and now it's time to say goodbye.
So long, farewell, to you my friends.
Goodbye, for now, until we meet again."
-The Goodbye Song-
Aloha!
This Summer I'm interning for the organization Pacific House of Mission. PHM is an organization that champions Christian outreach to military kids here on Oahu. This ministry is very necessary to these kids' lives, which are constantly changing, as it brings both stability and a sense of home to them, no matter how long or short they are with us.
Tonight at our Schofield CLUB night, we had an impromptu farewell for one of our CLUB kids, Tessa. Tessa's family has been stationed at Schofield for two years, and as we sent her off with the "Goodbye Song" from an old TV show "Outside the Box" there were tears streaming down her face. These lyrics hit me. They are so true to a military kids' life. There are so many "hello's" and "goodbye's" and you never know when you might see someone again. It's a constantly changing lifestyle. Here at PHM we offer some stability. We welcome the students in when they get here, give them a home and teach them this "hominess" while they are here, and then send them off with love when they leave. This sending them off with love is essential, as it gives them strength and courage to move forward in their next new place. It gives them the "I did well here, I can take this "hominess" and share it with more people" feeling. And they do! By making them feel loved here, they take it the next place, and then somebody else takes it to the next place, and then the love multiplies all over the world. WHAT?! I'M SERIOUS!
We sent off another famous kid, McKenzie last week.
Meeting with some CLUB kids at the movies
Game of Knock Out
Taking a surfing break
I'm constantly amazed at how CLUB effects these kids, the leaders, and the community surrounding us. And it's obvious that it does. When I see these kids at CLUB, it's right there on their faces. I see them happy, I see them start to step outside themselves more and more, I see them come back, and I see them change. Every one of these kids is AWESOME and UNIQUE and SPECIAL. I am thoroughly enjoying meeting them, hanging out with them, and finding out who they are. To me, and to them, it's the best thing out there.
Thanks for reading, check in later for more!
Rachel Merry
