We are feeling a bit melancholy lately. Everyday seems to bring a new "last" - our last Staff Meeting, our last English Class, our last shopping trip, etc.
We also attended our final farewell dinner and fireside. The dinner is held in the mission presidents home (top floor of the mission home) followed by the fireside in the Chapel. Ours comes a week early, being combined with that of four Elders whose mission ends today (Wednesday). Those four, the Mission President, his wife and ourselves are in the picture.
The picture was taken just after dinner in President and Sister Mecham's appartment. Each of these four Elders means something special to us. Starting on the back left is President Mecham. Then Elder Stephenson and Elder Sherwood whom we were in the MTC with in Provo in 2008. We have known them a long time and they are excellent Elders, both finishing their missions by by helping in the office.
Next is Elder Onon. We attended the Hong Kong Temple with his mother and sister. He had been serving in the Ogden Utah Mission, but one of those who was asked to return to Mongolia to help here as he finished his misison. He speaks excellent English (the reason we needed him) and has been a terrific help here. Oh, and his sister is the one who will begin serving a mission next month. In the Ogden Utah Mission !
Elder Batbold is on the end. He had been serving in the Singapore Mission. While there, he learned Chinese and, with the help of his companion, taught himself English while he was at it! His twin sister is Batchimeg who served a mission in Australia at the same time that our good friends Dave and Robyn Osborn did. It's a small world! Their father and Batchimeg's baby are also in the picture. If you look closely Dave and Robyn you might be able to see that their father is wearing a Shedaisy hat!
We are really anxious to return home to see our family. But we wish we didn't have to say goodbye to all of our wonderful new friends here!
6 comments:
I can't believe all of the 'what a small world' stories that you have. There have been so many connections for you over there, I love it!!!
Sorry that you are having to deal with the mix of emotions as your time ends over there. I don't envy you at all. I can only imagine how hard it is going to be for you both. But just try to keep in your thoughts that your 13 super awesome grandkids are over come with excitement that you are coming home and maybe that will help just a little bit. :) Love you both and can't wait to see you!!!
I think you grow much closer to people very quickly when you work hard with them on a meaningful task. It makes it even more difficult to say goodbye. You're leaving the people you love and the significance of the task behind at the same time.
God bless you for your efforts for the past couple of years. Twenty years later, I'm still part Canadian, eh? I'm sure you'll always feel a special love for the Mongolian people.
You'll see them again someday in a more...um...hospitable environment! ;^)
It's crazy the mix of emotions that you must be going through. It's exciting to be coming home to your "home" and family but also so sad to leave what has become your life for the past 2 years. You're going to have to "readjust" all over again!
How fun and sad at the same time. The hard part is they will be half a world away, but always in your heart. When I came home from Germany, I felt like half my heart was ripped out. But I was able to go back 25 years later and retrieve it, and make it stronger.
Goodbyes are hard no matter which direction you are going! Goodbyes two years ago were so hard, and now your doing it all over again! At least this time the "hello's" on the other end will be so exciting.
We hate to see you go! You've done a wonderful job here! Thanks to you, many people will have richer and fuller lives and more promising futures! Great job!
The Lassons
Post a Comment