Mission Accomplished

Missions officially begin when the Stake President sets you apart and end when he releases you.  President Maurice Jones was in Utah when we got home, so we were released via Skype.  So ends our first mission.

As we reported to President Jones, we felt very blessed to serve in "the cradle of the Restoration," where we learned so much more about the gospel and history of the Church, were able to attend the Temple weekly, were taught by President Evans, were inspired by our fellow missionaries, young and old, and were able to serve the Lord and our fellow man. 

Back in the UP

We returned home to Marquette on Monday evening to be greeted by Angela and Beth little ones. 

Back Home in Indiana

We drove to my brother Harry's home in Fort Wayne, IN the first day and spent two nights with them.  The went all out to welcome us "Back Home Again in Indiana."  I knew that my brother Dick and his three boys would be there from Georgia but was surprised that my sister Janet, her husband Terry, and two daughters from Oregon and Arizona came also for an impromptu family reunion. 

There were 38 family members present and there was not room at Harry's house for supper, so we met at the church with the Single Adults.

 I gave a powerpoint presentation about the church history sites in the mission and Sister Jones gave testimony about our experience.

Leaving the office

We spent the last night in the transition apartment, then dropped by the mission office to leave the keys and some furnishings.  Here I am closing the door to my office the last time and Sister Jones turning off the lights. 

The Last Departure

Every 6 weeks, we helped with the departure meal for the missionaries going home.  This time we were part of it and shared it with great and noble missionaries whom we had gotten to know during our year of service.  In the front row in front of the mission home are Elders Earl and Peterson (we had our first and last meal in the mission with him) and Sisters Barrett and Holzer; middle row: Elders Page and Bell, Sisters Spencer and Jones, and Elder Jones; back row: Elders Pedersen, Spencer, President Evans, Elder Russell, Sister Evans, and Elder and Sister Roth.  

Office Farewell

Sisters Spencer and Jeffries put together a luncheon to bid us farewell and to welcome our replacements, the Roths.   Sister Spencer outdid herself and fixed ribs for this meal.

The wonderful Evans Family.  Elsie and Tyler are at home with the Evans.  Three older daughters are here for the summer or were visiting at this time.  We were blessed by the leadership of President and Sister Evans and love them and their family. 

In the foreground are our dear friends and fellow servants, the Spencers from Mesa, AZ and the Jefferies from Star, ID.  Our replacements to the left rear, the Roths are from Idaho Falls, ID.

Elder Marks was picked up by his parents a bit early and came by the office for a picture. 

  

With the Spencers and Roths.

A beautiful ending to our time at the John Young Farm.

 Our last Sunday, the weather was a pattern of cloudy, rain, sunshine.  About 4 pm, it was clear and I decided to take a walk along Cheese Factory Road. On my return in 30 minutes, the clouds had rolled back in and the rain came.  I thought as I was soaking, "I should at least get a rainbow out of this."  I was magnificently rewarded.  These pictures do not do justice to the brilliant colors of the rainbow.

The Spencers came out and joined us in admiring the beauty of His creation.
We spent two more nights at the farm, but this is our concluding memory.