From Tegucigalpa to Washington D.C.

Sunday, March 15, 2015--The Final Entry

We reported to the High Council at 8:00 a.m. and felt a warm welcome. We shared experiences and feelings about our mission and then were asked to bear our testimonies in Spanish. I was grateful to be prepared for that! In the past I have heard many missionaries report to the Stake Council and it was so different to be on the “reporting” side rather than the “listening” side. My nerves were all crazy.

Garfield 2^nd Ward Sacrament Meeting was at 11:00 at the Rigby South Stake Center and we each gave a 15-minute talk, ending with our testimonies in Spanish again. Hugs and greetings from friends and family, ward and former ward members felt so good and we loved seeing so many familiar faces. However, we knew very few families in our re-aligned ward. There were a few people who used to be part of our ward who were included again in the new boundaries so that gave us a few more recognizable faces.

My sweet friend Clara, who helped take care of my kitties, came to church; and I so appreciated her support. Loretta felt well enough to come with Alan, too, and it was wonderful to see her. Becky and Elaine were also part of my email support and Marjory. I love these friends for the time and effort they put in to keep in touch despite their very busy schedules and personal challenges. Each one was a life-line!!

Lunch at our house was awesome chaos! It was exciting to have all of our children come home although we missed the rest of the Texas and Nevada families.

We loved seeing other friends and family members including Grant, Mary, and Mandee; Sheryl came to Sacrament Meeting but couldn’t come to the house; Dean and Karen; Jordan and his wife and baby; sisters and nieces Stephanie, April, and Valerie; Max and Darla Lapioli—they brought us a Great Harvest cranberry orange bread loaf, stayed for lunch and visited, and she helped with the food clean-up; Faylene and four of her grandchildren; Shirleen—Meghan came to Sacrament Meeting with Ella, but couldn’t come to the house—Bryan and Bonnie who brought a favorite salad; and JoAnn and Camille who came from Salt Lake; so it was a lively houseful.

Christi June washed dishes and cleaned and wiped counters and did the lion’s share of the clean up after lunch and I so appreciated her help. We took a few family photos and the kids all played outside in the spring-like weather again and expended their energy. Then, one by one, guests and family began leaving. Kevin and Barek had to make the nine-hour drive to Reno all in one stretch so Kevin could get home for work Monday morning. Tracen and Melissa gathered children, packed up their necessities, made a space for Marc, and headed to Kaysville. Mike and Christi headed to Boise with Damien and Dylan, and their three local kids went back to their apartments. Last to leave on Sunday were Jeff and Emi and kids who piled into their van with all their “trip stuff” and headed back to Salem, Utah.

Emily and Scott had to trade time going back and forth to their house on Sunday because poor Amelia had a tummy bug and couldn’t be with us.

Kristie stayed until Monday early morning and Justin left early Tuesday. Scott picked them up early and took each of them to the airport on his way to work. Alexis stayed until Wednesday so she could go out to dinner with us and Scott and Emily’s family for Glade’s birthday on Tuesday. She and Emma left about noon. Then the house was quiet and we could unwind and begin to decide what to do with the rest of our lives!!

This missionary experience was a great opportunity for personal growth and development as well as an opportunity to serve. Our hearts and spirits have been changed by the things we learned, the sacrifices we made, the inspirational people we met in the temple, and those faithful saints who serve in the House of the Lord every day. They are humble and their means are meager, but they are building mansions in Heaven as they follow the teachings of the Savior and keep His commandments. They are filled with love and share it so easily. It is not so easy for those with affluence to be humble and sometimes happiness is easier to find without all the “stuff” we acquire and then have to worry about and care for. To simplify will bring blessings.

It was a blessing for me to be able to serve with music. There were no language barriers—at least none that weren’t overcome with focus and discernment—and the opportunity to play gave me a chance to share and offer something that was important to them. I played for numberless choirs, individuals doing solos, Sacrament Meeting, Relief Society, duets, and special programs. It was hard work to prepare to play in the recital with Gina, but well worth the effort. It kept my skills honed and was a blessing to share the gift of music that Heavenly Father gave to each of us. We loved playing together. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward if one puts in the time and work to overcome.

Our marriage is stronger than ever as we shared the same space, the same routine, and many of the same friends and experiences. We learned that we really were good at sharing a small apartment, house-keeping chores, and animated conversation about the events of our days. When you leave behind your “former life” to serve a mission, the things that matter most come clearly to the forefront. We bear testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and has made exaltation and eternal life available to each of us if we choose to seek it. Our Father in Heaven loves us deeply, provides for our growth and learning, and showers us and our families with blessings and tender mercies. Our faith has grown as we learned to lean on Him so that we could fulfill His work. Now we will rest and prepare to serve again where we are needed.