On Saturday, a good many of us went to Maria's house, and it was a way for us to say good bye to her. A co volunteer who would make her sweet puddings, soups and her pinyatas even. We manage to auction it off for her at RM150 a piece at our fund raising fair. Maria is a vet by profession and followed her husband whom, I am thinking is the ambassador for Holland. He could be the second man if he is not the no. 1 as the size of house and the guard, he is probably the former.
She comes in mainly on tuesday and her greeting is kissing many on the foreheads. I remember meeting her more than 2 years ago, and in my inner man, i felt she wanted some connection, so i arranged a lunch and coffee with her and a few of my christian lady friends. Unfortunately, it did not carry on and she made it nicely clear, religion out of the way........i did not persist, but also left it at that. Fast forward, 2 weeks ago when she shared she had to leave the country as they have a posting now in Croatia, Maria shared a few words with me. One of the things she said was it is not easy to make friends, her tears welled in her eyes. I felt she lived her life just existing and not living with joy. I am sorry if it comes across so harsh, but i think she wanted more intense relationships but believed it was hard to find, partly because she traveled so much. She said from the outside, people saw she has a good life, fancy house and travel etc., but nothing much. I took opportunity to share very briefly as a christian and having a christian family i think does wonders, as i think of the many expats in my church who wants to quickly find connection and a family in a church...... My learning was, i should have persisted to reach out, i stopped when initially she did not open.....i pray that she has peace as she makes her plan to move. I pray she finds real friends in Croatia, hopefully in the midst of loneliness, she finds God......
We had a fun time and the party ended about 8.30, so it is good to start at 5pm. Something new for me to learn. They are given the privacy and everyone is well and sober and not too tired for the next day. Jesus, please look after my friend, help her meet someone who will lead her to you. Bless her and her husband...
No comments:
Post a Comment