Today has been the last day in Germany. A sunny day, warm and dry. The house is empty, the container on it's way the barn with the rest of our things is full and well organized, all the bureaucratic stuff has been done. Many very busy days lay behind us, with help of our friends and the workers of a very good forwarding company.
Now, to all our friends we have said Goodbye, and to our family in Germany and Spain, to our congregation, to our neighbourhood, to Schwäbisch Hall, and to our christian home group. The latter had organized a big party for us. Tears have been shed. Moments of emotional overload sometimes resulted in an inner void, like our home. But we felt so loved, cared for, accompanied, blessed by our friends. We are grateful. Sometimes one notices only at the time of leave how dear people are.
On the other side of the world, at the same time, people are preparing to say hello. My boss has organized someone to come more than a 100 kms to pick us, and he has prepared our car and brought it to Auckland. He has been searching intensely for a suitable house (successfully, as it seems!). We will see some people I got to know there.
And we have said Goodbye to Schwäbisch Hall, this beautiful town, with a nice lunch at a restaurant; and the kids had gone swimming together at the beautiful swimming hall of this town. We have vistied "downtown" for a last time and I have kissed the flight of stairs of the beautiful Michaels Church.
Tomorrow some friends will bring us to the airport in Frankfurt, in the morning.