Going, Going, Gone! Outgoing missionaries go home! Tear flow!

Front, l-r: Elder Hite, Sisters Caldes, Van Quakebeke, Fountaine, Winters, and Begay
Back, L-R: Sisters Gray, Davies, Moffit, Gray, Whitaker, Loranger, Sorensen, and Elder Williams

Every six weeks, tears begin to flow once again. It's time for outgoing missionaries to go home. I interview them at the beginning of their last six weeks to talked about their "My Plan." And then the last week, I do the second interview--the last one-- to review with them their finished "My Plan." Yes, we share tears and laughter and joyous and miraculous moments. They give me a copy of their "miracle story." I don't read them at that moment, mainly because of the tears that would come if I did. 

Around 2:00 p.m., the missionaries began to arrive. I had interviews with the last five who are going home. Again, another teary time for them and for me. They are exceptional young people.

Soon they had all arrived, so, we took a few pictures outside. Thankfully, it had quit raining for a bit for them to arrive and not be soaked while they unloaded all of their stuff. We had dinner at 5:00 p.m. Street tacos and all of the trimmings. They didn’t eat as much as missionaries have in the past, but that’s okay. Afterwards, we had an incredible testimony meeting. Sister Shirley said it was on the most spiritual testimony meetings she had ever been to.

After testimonies we had Tres Leches cake, the best in California, we had a wonderful companion study time and talked about light. Then, the elders went to where they were going to stay the night, and the sisters readied for bed at the mission home.

 

Elder Hite with Elder and Sister Miskin--Tres Leches cake. Yum!

Tuesday morning dawned early, and we all rose, readied ourselves for a glorious day of saying goodbye midst tears of both sadness and joy. Joanne had baked an egg bake with lots of sausage and cheese. She had also created blueberry muffins with both blueberries and craisins. They were a hit—at least to me. I Love craisins.

A few from the second floor of the Mission Home

Soon we were off and to the airport. We all went in to Terminal 4 where we dropped off everyone who were going east as their final destination. After handshakes and hugs from Sister Hammon, off they went. Up, up and away and through security. Sadness overwhelmed us. When the last one eked through, we then rushed over to Terminal 2 and did a repeat. 

Sister Gray said, "I am staying right here in your garage." She didn't want to go home.

Getting ready to board the van: Sisters Moffit, Loranger, Gray, and Begay.
Elders Wilson and Rich, the Office elders in the background.

This one was hard, too. Lots of goodbye, tears, hugs, handshakes, And then they were off, just like they came. Sister Hammon and I remembered that this group was in our first group of missionaries, and now they are gone.  

And off they go

We drove home almost in silence. Every single six weeks, this happens to us. They become an integral part of our lives, yes, even becoming part of our family. We do hope they do well. We do have faith and confidence in them. We hope they continue to have confidence in themselves. Each of them has grown and developed immensely. It was truly a miracle to watch them overcome challenges in their lives and their missions. But they did it. They overcame and continue forward, ever forward.

Tenuously, Sister Gray waves goodbye!

The last picture at Terminal 4

A selfie of those going from Terminal 2

Sister Grillone on her way!

Elder Simpson to Utah!

Elder Quinton on his way to Canada (-30 degrees! Brrrrrr!

We also had two visa waiters go to Portugal, their original mission. We will miss them, too, because they quickly became part of the California Riverside Mission. We wish them well.

Sister George with President and Sister Hammon

Elder Voellger with President and Sister Hammon

And so it goes....missionaries always coming and going, but what an impact they have on the mission and on us.