Hermana in Houston is home! It is so surreal. It all feels like a dream... like tomorrow I'm going to wake up and I'll be back in my bed in Houston, ready to work!
My last night in Brazos they surprised me with a going away fiesta! They made tons of food and even made their own little band and played music for me! It was so sweet! Spent the whole night packing and couldn't sleep when I finally finished so I just took a long hot shower. It was a long drive to the mission office, and it was such a tender mercy because I was able to drive through all of my areas and remember the good times I had there. My last day in Houston with President Mortensen was so special. We had an incredible session with him and the Temple President and I learned SO much. They talked to us a lot about our futures that night {marriage} and it changed my entire outlook on life! That night we went to our hotel room and all of the hermanas sat in our pj's and ate the box of chocolates Luis gave me when I left. When Hermana Coley and I finally decided to go to bed, we still laid there in the dark talking for hours. The next morning we said goodbye to the Mortensen's kids {SO HARD} and drove to the airport where we had to say goodbye to President and Sister Mortensen... it was the hardest goodbye of all. When they hugged me I couldn't let go. It was so heartbreaking to watch them walk away and blow us a kiss one last time. Then the plane ride. It was delayed due to a Houston summer storm- I like to think Texas was sad to see us go, watching the tears stream down the airplane window. Half of our flight was LDS and all wanted to talk about their missionaries all over the world- another tender mercy. The Elders helped distract me by asking me all this dating advice. HAHA so cute! The decent was AWFUL! between the nerves and gravity, I felt like I was going to die. We literally RAN from our terminal to the baggage claim {that was probably a sight to see} and just as we were about to turn the corner to the escalator down to our families... we all kind of stopped. there we were... we did it... it was over. but none of us wanted to go. luckily the Elders were gentlemen and finally went first after one last hug.
you step onto the escalator. {you wonder if it could possibly be any slower} and you desperately scan the crowd for your family.
there they are.
then the tears come and you wish you could live in that moment forever.
you finally make it to the bottom and run to your mom- who airport security couldn't keep behind the line.
the hug you dreamed of for 18 months is sweeter than you ever could have imagined.
time stops.
then you see your dad- who can't hold back the tears.
you're completely enveloped in love.
the rest is a whirlwind. pictures. hugs. so many familiar faces.
the drive home.
seeing the mountains again and wondering how your heart hasn't stopped working yet.
then you're home.
you see your room.
your dog.
trying to soak it all in.
then you head to the stake center.
they tell you they're proud of you.
and then they tell you to take off the tag.
....and in that moment you realize exactly how deep into your very heart and soul it had sunk.
So much harder than deciding to serve a mission, so much harder than the preparation and the sacrifice, so much harder than saying goodbye to your family and school and dance, so much harder than serving an honorable mission,
is coming home.
Everyone jokes about the "adjustment." becoming "normal" again. It's easier in unexpected ways, and harder in others. I am just so grateful for post mission miracles. I put off thinking about my homecoming talk until a few days before, and eventually I had to come to terms and outline it. It was so painful. I sat on my bed and cried; reading my scriptures in Spanish, skimming my Preach My Gospel bursting with notes and quotes, seeing the faces of my converts in the pictures I pasted everywhere, and failing to come up with even a decimal part to explain how precious it all is to me. So I called my best friend and we went to the temple. After our session I saw a girl in the dressing room struggling to communicate with one of the temple workers, as I approached I realized she was speaking Spanish! I was able to help her and talk to her! She was a beautiful young lady from Brazil who had served a mission in Argentina. She hugged me and gave me the perfect advice- the exact words I needed to hear. I am so in awe and grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is so aware of us.
My homecoming finally helped me feel a little more "at home." It was so sweet to catch up with everyone, and my talk went better than I thought it did. I remember being at the pulpit and just seeing my beehives looking up at me and realizing that every single part of it was worth it if the only influence I could have had was just for them. It feels so good to be in my home ward! SO GOOD. The Spirit is so strong here. It felt amazing to bear my testimony in the language of my conversion, and it was so neat to see it touch people, even if they couldn't understand the words I was saying.
Another post mission miracle happened yesterday when I was at my friend's homecoming- her ward choir stood up and started singing in Spanish! I thought I was dreaming! It was the sweetest tender mercy I ever could have asked for. I know that the Lord loves us so much and is so thoughtful in addressing our needs.
I just want to close my blog with my testimony that I have come to know for myself that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church on the face of the earth. It is Christ's church, containing continuing revelation, true prophets, and the priesthood, and that it has been restored by the Lord himself through his ordained servant Joseph Smith. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for our personal, individual happiness. I know that Jesus Christ atoned for us, and that He lives. I know that with His help we can overcome anything! I know with my whole heart that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and that if we listen to and act upon his counsel we will be safe in an ever more evil world. I know that families are forever through the sealing power found in the temple. I LOVE the temple and know that it is a piece of heaven on earth. And I know that missionary work is the key to happiness and allows us to become like our Savior. I know that you can come to know these things for yourself, and invite you to do so, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
testimony meeting at the mission home!
the most incredible women I have ever met in my life. <3
our last night!
saying goodbye to my angelitas.
at the airport!
here we go...
Exactly a year and a half ago we sat together on a red-eye flight to Mexico City CCM, where she became my first companion. There wasn't anyone else I wanted to sit next to on our way home.
my little brother isn't so little anymore.
the best friend.
even Elder Lindsey was there!
18 month craving: satiated
One of my first days home the Gaytans came to visit!
writing my homecoming talk.
reunited and it feels so good!
{the little kid in the back MAKES this picture}
