I can’t believe I just typed this! Where did 19 months go? Well, I was looking through a lot of our pictures to prepare for our devotional talks and I realized we have done a whole lot of living in those 19 months. We have had experiences we never thought we would have. Seen wonderful places, worked with amazing people, both church members and others. Forged wonderful friendships, and hopefully helped some people. For my devotional talk on Monday morning, I used a part of Elder Daine’s talk about bringing people to the River of Love and helping others to feel of Christ’s love. I do think we have had opportunities to do just that and we have felt his love “splash” on us in the process. What an amazing journey this has been. Also on Monday, we had to bear our testimonies in our Senior Missionary Family Home Evening. I was so tired, and so “talked out” that I didn’t really want to go. Another couple and a single sister were also bearing their testimonies and I did want to hear them, so of course we went. So glad we did! One of the blessings of this mission has been getting to know and spend time with so many of the couples here. I think we must surely have the best of the best here. I can’t imagine any better missionaries anywhere else. They are truly consecrating their lives and some of them are just plain fun to be around! They lift me up! And we will miss them so much!!! So there are people I will miss everywhere here.

On Tuesday we had two turnovers 3 hours North of here so we took the Gardners with us and met Ryan Manrique there (he is one of our WSR managers). We have had some good times with Ryan and he will miss us almost as much as we will miss him. The first turnover was at the Samal Health Unit. We were mostly giving equipment for their dental clinic and gave some computers, printers, wheelchairs, etc. The mayor was there and spoke as well as a lot of church leaders. One of the bishops works for the region department of health and he is the one that requested this project. It is great when the local church leaders get involved. It was a good turnover for the Gardners to witness. The second turnover was for Region III DOH where we were donating 500 vaccine carriers. This wasn’t our project, but since we were in the area we agreed to do the turnover. This one was short (thank heavens) and the Gardners were able to connect with the region III director of DOH. I think they will have some meaningful projects to do in region III, so that’s great. They will be great humanitarian missionaries and I feel like we can leave and they will take care of things just fine! When we visited a school with them today that has a request, I felt so relieved that I didn’t have to develop the project. I didn’t have to take notes, or pictures, or do anything but be there and ask a few questions. That is when I realized we are ready to leave. And believe me, we are tired!

After our long and busy day on Tuesday, Wednesday continued to be full of meetings. It was very fitting and poignant that we should have a last MOA signing and celebration with Project PEARLS and Upskills. Jane Walker was even here from England (she came back to help with the fire disaster). They were all so excited to see the tunnel that leads to the temple (they had heard about it from others) and had lots of questions about the temple. Then we had lunch, lots of hugs, lots of tears (including from Lennie, who got all choked up). Our cups runneth over with love!!!! What a great last day!!!! At the office, that is. On Thursday, I wasn’t planning on going in to the office, but as I was moving the standing fan closer to the drying rack, somehow my fingers got sucked into the fan and I nearly chopped off my finger (not really, but it sliced it good). Since I didn’t want to chance our local clinic, I wrapped it up in a washcloth and we headed over to the office to have the MTC doctor look at it. So I had to go there and say even more good-byes! Yikes!!! In the middle of our cleaning and packing, no less!! Last night, we had another farewell dinner with just a few of the couples. It was so sweet and wonderful! I also had a last water aerobics in our pool (holding my hand up out of the water the whole time). We managed to get to bed around 11, which wasn’t bad at all and slept until almost 6. I think we needed that rest. I almost forgot to mention that we had our release meeting virtually with the counselor to the Stake President. So no more name tags. No more mission. It will be hard, I think. We have loved, loved, loved our time here. And we worry just a bit (maybe a lot bit) about what we will do with ourselves when we get home. That is another chapter.