I'm on Sabbatical!!

Here we are in Elkhart! And my long-awaited Sabbatical has begun! We left home about 3:00 AM Monday morning and had a good drive to Elkhart, with some rain in Iowa, arriving here abou 4:30 PM. Our apartment here at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary is right off Benham Avenue, across the street from Dr. Erland & Winifred Waltner, and Leroy and Winifred Saner. Winifred (my cousin) had supper for us last night, so we felt like we were at home.
The last weeks seem a bit like a blur to us, with Christmas and family activities, church activities, and preparations for the Sabbatical. It seemed like we would never get ready, and yet surprisingly, we seem to have gotten everything at the house ready to leave in good time, and all our packing done as well, so the last weekend wasn't too bad.
Of course, Sunday was a very full day, with the communion service in the morning, the dinner and sharing time at noon, and Mary Waltner's CPT Colombia program in the evening. It was very touching for us to receive all the hugs and farewells wishing us a good time away, and to feel that we were leaving with the church's blessing. We thank the church people for their support and prayers for us in this time. It was also exciting to begin sharing about our congregation's centennial year on Sunday noon! Thinking about our centennial celebration in July gives us something special to look forward to come home to!
I continue to struggle emotionally with leaving all the folks at church for whom I was providing pastoral care. It's not that I think people won't get good care in my absence, but its hard to leave the close emotional connections that are formed in relating with people going through such struggles.
Today (Tuesday), Loretta and I are resting up and getting settled in our apartment. We did go to the Tuesday chapel at AMBS, a Taize service with an Epiphany theme, and talked to a number of people at that time. It is good for me to do that as my inclination is to hide away, and I often find myself reluctant to "show up." Loretta is a good help for me in that way.
So much for today! I'll probably check in a little later again this week!
Roy