This morning we pull up to the airport, help her get her things out of the back, and then wait in line as we hug her and kiss her and whisper those bitter sweet words of "good-bye" to her and send her off. I only say they're bitter sweet because it is so very hard letting go, but they are also sweet because she's running into her Savior's arms all by herself so that He can carry her through this next phase in life.

It seems like it was just yesterday when we were running around the cul-de-sac playing tag with all the neighbor kids without a care in the world. We had dreams of who we might be one day, where we might go, what we might do.. We were best friends and sisters all built into one, we were inseparable. Sure we bickered and argued some, but we were kids and everything always seemed like it was the end of the world. I'd watch her walk away from me, knowing she'd always come right back. And we would always come back around to the conclusion that even though we argued and got on each others nerves, we still loved each other.

Time passed and it only taught us to fight less and become even better friends. We were home schooled in 8th grade and went to school at our church with only a few other kids, so we really only had each other as far as kids our age. God was teaching us a lot then and one day Carissa comes in our room and tells me she's scared, but that God was calling her to go all the way to Uganda, Africa. WHAT!? Thinking she was crazy, God slowly taught me of His want for me to go there too, and it was only a matter of time when I, too, decided that was where He was calling me.

A little more time passed by and all 3 of our oldest sisters went off to college. We were the oldest in the house, we have our licences to drive, we have the same job, we did everything together! Twice that year my parents came here to Guatemala for 9-day trips and we were asked to be 'mommies' for that time that our real mommy would be gone. The first trip we went to our grandparents' house all the way in Pennsylvania, the second trip we stayed home and had a couple friends stay at our house with us more for 'moral' support than anything else and we learned how to be stretched more than we would've wished to at that time.

Then God calls our family (all but one) to Guatemala and we all take this giant leap of faith and trust Him as He takes us through the unknown. Carissa and I still know that this won't be permanent; it will only be a 'pit stop' for before we actually head to our longer destination, Uganda, Africa. These last 2 years, the four of us oldest ones learn to be best of the best friends and we all do everything together. We learn a new culture, a new language, a new ministry, a new level of faith, and God deepens each of the passions He has instilled in our hearts for the countries He has called us to. We all share our struggles, our strengths, and everything in between and we learn how to be better sisters than we used to be.

After what seems like forever(that was partly our fault for not actually working to make it come sooner), God works it out that we both get to go to Uganda for 6 weeks to learn direction, culture, and to help deepen our passions for the place we will one day call 'home'. We plan the trip, and while we're planing it, God calls Carissa to go back two and a half months later and to nanny a family of a few kids for 6 months so that way she can learn to actually live life there long-term, so she can figure out how God wants her to start up her ministry, and to learn more of the culture and language before she goes there permanently. God does incredible things while we are there for our short trip and He gives us so many memories that we will never forget.

We come home and share with everyone that we have indeed been called there permanently and we try to enjoy ever bit of time we can with each other all together, trying to fit all the 'last times' for her to do before she leaves us 2 and a half months after we get back home. We make so many awesome memories, have an awesome time, have some new experiences, and we laugh. Oh, how we laugh together. We try to soak up all those last moments the best we can, but still the time comes too soon and we wonder where in the world it all went..

And now I sit here, remembering and longing for those days when we were just kids, when we didn't have a care in the world but to have fun and enjoy being a kid. And I'm faced with the reality of how old we really are, and with the fact that the time has come for us to grow up and do the things God is asking us to do. She's a big girl now and I watched her as she walked all by herself into the crowd of people outside of the airport, knowing it will be a long time until she will come back. And the tears were flowing and my heart was aching. How did we get this old without me realizing it?

But in spite of the heartache and the tears that come at such unexpected times, God has given me so much peace. Though my sister (and one of my best friends) is being taken away, she is going to be used for His Kingdom to save souls, to love on the unloved, to give hope to the hopeless, to be the very woman He has called her to be. And I am so very proud of her.

And though the hug couldn't ever be long enough and the time with her felt all-too short, I can't wait until the day that I can get to hug her again and spend time with her and meet her again with her wiser, more matured heart and with a bigger fire and passion for Jesus than ever before.. even if that means that I'll have to wait until we are both in Uganda being dangerous for our King!