Mission Complete!

 It's next to impossible to believe, but we are home! This last week was a blur. On Monday we had a going away lunch at my favorite sushi buffet. It was at my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. Several of the couples traveled to join us. It was a sweet experience, but a little surreal. That afternoon we had to get serious about getting moved out of the piso so the Lamberts could move in. We got to bed late, then the next morning, we changed the sheets, and then finished moving everything to the Johnson's piso. The Lamberts came in late morning on Tuesday. We gave them a little time in the office to experience the mission call, and then took them to their new home to show them around. It was really weird to just hand the keys to our piso to someone else and realize that we would never return there. It had been our home for the last 23 months. So, it was a little emotional to feel the finality of that. It was also difficult to bear our testimonies on the mission call as part of the "salientes" group. It was also hard to say goodbye to the "salientes" as they prepared to leave. 

Wednesday was Transfer Day. We picked up the Lamberts and drove to the office. It was a small group of inbounds, so we didn't have to drive to the airport. So, we just got things ready in the office for them to arrive. President and Hermana Newitt changed a few details of the arrival traditions, but essentially it was still the same wonderful experience. In our time in Spain, the experience of welcoming new, excited, jet-lagged missionaries never got old. Thursday was a day to get a little training done, and then say our own goodbyes. President and Hermana Newitt pulled us in for an "exit interview". What a wonderful chance to reflect on the last two years, and to recognize how very special our time serving the Lord truly is. President Newitt said that the mission home would be our own "Waters of Mormon", and that we will look back on that experience for the rest of our lives as particularly sweet memories. I couldn't get that imagery out of my mind. It really has become sacred space for me. Our mission was difficult, but being able to feel like we had a small part in the work of the Lord was, and will always be, special. That night, we repacked a few of our bags to make weight, which meant that our carry-ons were almost as heavy as the big bags were. 

Friday morning got there all too quickly. The Elders took us to the airport, and we went in and went to the Delta ticket counter to check our bags. That is when we got a big shock. They told us that our flight from Barcelona to JFK was cancelled! That was NOT what we wanted to hear! We were told that we were going to have to deal with a change of plans, and that we would be flying from Barcelona to Seattle, and then to Salt Lake. The end result would be that we would arrive an hour later than we had anticipated. We prayed that things would work out, and that we would make all our flights. Our sweet Adam was up early back home, and he had noticed the cancellation as well. We sent messages to the office, to the family, and to the Stake Presidency to inform them of the problem, and then waited for the new flight to happen. Once we knew which gate it would fly out of we went straight there. When they gave us the new tickets, I noticed that we weren't seated in the same zip codes on that huge airplane. I went to a very kind gate agent and asked if there was any way we could sit together. He opened up a row of reserved seats, and even though it was the very last row in the back of the plane, we were next to each other. He said he didn't have access to our connecting flight to open up a reserved row, but that he would get us close. It turns out that we both got an exit row, but I was just seated behind Brenda, which wasn't too bad as that flight was a relatively short one. Anyway, after a VERY long day of flying, we arrived in Salt Lake at about 9. Of course, the host of Israel was there to greet us, and it was WONDERFUL! No hugs ever felt sweeter. We loved it. We got home just after 10:30 and President Gallacher came and released us. He asked us to bear our testimonies to our kids and grandkids, which we happily did. 

Our first official act the next morning was to go to the Farmington Days races where Alicia ran a 10K and Adam and Caleb both ran a 5K. The rest of the day was filled with errands. This morning (Sunday) we had to be in the High Council room to report our mission. That was a sweet experience as well. 

So, with all of that, our mission has come to a close. Now, all that remains is to keep moving forward as life-long disciples of Jesus Christ. It has been an honor for us both to wear those black name tags. For two years we were able to say that every morning we took upon us the name of Christ in a very literal way. Now, we will continue to take His name upon us spiritually each week when we partake of the Sacrament. I know that He lives, and that He is involved with the details of all of our lives. This work is true. Each and every one of the sweet missionaries that we served with is an absolute miracle. To watch them teach with the power and authority from God is truly miraculous. We wouldn't change this experience for anything.

Now, the sad truth. Since we are no longer set apart missionaries, continuing a mission blog makes no sense. It has been fun sending this out each week, but this will be my last installment. We love you all.

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