We ended our time in Huatulco with Missionary Zone Conference with Pres. and Hermana Conde, and District Conference with our branch and the four neighboring branches. The choir for District Conference was amazing, as always. We had a goodbye activity the Friday before we left and that Friday began one of the hardest weekends we've ever had.
We spent Friday and Saturday visiting many of the members of the branch, saying goodbye, and asking them to take care of each other. Then on Sunday, after church, we said final goodbyes and drove the six hours over the mountain to Oaxaca. We stayed at the president's house Sunday and Monday nights and had a very nice visit with them. They are wonderful leaders and have so much love for the missionaries.
President Conde took us to the airport early Tuesday morning for our flight to Mexico City. We had a five hour layover there before catching our flight home. As sad and hard as it was to leave Huatulco, it was that joyous and exciting to be greeted at the Salt Lake City airport by our entire family. Oh how we missed them. Even now, a month later, I can't seem to hug them enough.
We arrived home just in time for Christmas so adjusting to home life was delayed a couple of weeks. Then, back to school for the grandkids and we were left to settle in. Since Brent retired only two days before we left for our mission, he was feeling a little out of place with nowhere to go and no deadlines or appointments. But we've been busy cleaning out files, closets and drawers and getting rid of surplus. Wow, we used to think we needed all that stuff.
We definitely miss our dear friends in Huatulco, and the missionaries who served there with us, but we have been able to keep in touch via Facebook messaging, WhatsApp, and phone calls. One special family sent us pictures last Sunday of their trip to the temple to be sealed together. And we're still waiting to hear about mission calls for three future missionaries from the branch. Our plans for 2018 include a trip to Huatulco for a visit to our home away from home.
Our lives have been forever changed from our experiences in Huatulco. The church members there are faithful and love the gospel. They are wonderful examples to us of what is really important in life. We are eternally grateful for them and their friendship. We hope and pray that we never forget what we've learned from our mission experience.
The choir for District Conference.
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| I love these beautiful ladies. |
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| These faithful members traveled one hour to District Conference in this truck. |
Our last missionary zone with Presidente y Hermana Conde.
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| Lunch at our apartment following District Conference with Presidente y Hermana Conde. |
One more baptism and one more baby blessing before we left. The 2 boys are brothers.
Farewell Party
We supplied two piñatas for the party--Elder Johnson and Santa!
The District Primary Presidency asked Elder Johnson to play Santa at their party.🎅😆
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| And Santa wasn't sure if Pres. Pineda had been a good boy! |
We really miss our time spent with the missionaries. We took them to the beach for lunch the Monday before we left⬆ and, they often seemed to be hungry for tacos after Branch Council.⬇
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| We miss spending Tuesday mornings with amazing missionaries. |
Things we will miss.
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| We drove down this road hundreds of times to visit two families. Brent learned how to do it just right so we didn't hit the ruts too much. However, we were blessed that the bottom of our car didn't fall apart from all the topes (speed bumps) and rough roads we drove over for a year and a half. |
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| The Plaza |
Random Parades
Dear friends and adopted grandchildren.
The culture
And that's a wrap of 18 fantastic months.
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| Oaxaca Airport with our president. |
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| 18 precious blessings welcomed us home. |
