It has been quiet here at the house today. The sun pulled the clouds over its head today and let the rain steer the short-lived day into the darkness. The only other soul in the house is Chris, as the rest of the lot has taken off to the beach for the weekend. I must have told them goodbye a half-dozen times before everyone finally spilled out the door last night.

There have been a lot of goodbyes lately.

Last night, I also was saying goodbye to my friend Sean Nestor, who had been with me throughout this journey. We were three weeks from ending our time here in São Paulo when Sean got word of another goodbye he would have to make – to his older brother. It was an unexpected end to a life lived too quickly, and Sean was left to pack up and bear a burden no one should. Please pray for Sean, and even more for his family. I learned strength from Sean, and I hope that those around him can do the same.

It’s not easy to say goodbye to those you love, but sometimes it’s harder to watch the people you love say it to someone else. As I write this, Lindsey is saying goodbye to her grandfather, who taught her what a man should look like. I never got to meet him, but I know she will expect me to live up to his example. I am thankful he gave her those expectations.

Soon, I will say my goodbyes to the wonderful people I have had the privilege to meet here. Until then, I have had quite my fill.