Leaving Texas...Coming Home!

I came home from my mission on July 30, 2014.  Twenty-two missionaries left our mission that morning, seven of us flew into the Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah.  My parents, two brothers, my grandparents, two aunts, one uncle, and two cousins came to greet me.  Mom was the first to see me, as we hugged each other, the first words out of my mouth were that I wasn't ready to come home.

My family ordered a personalized banner to welcome me home!  While they were waiting for my arrival, other people at the airport asked a lot of questions and took pictures of the banner.

My family and I came home, ate dinner, and then I went out with the two sister missionaries serving in my home ward.  Then, my parents and I went over to the stake center to meet with the stake president for my official release as a full-time missionary.  It was really sad to take off my name tag for the last time.

I have enjoyed my mission very much, and I love, and will miss, the people of South Texas a lot!  I am definitely happy I made the decision to serve the Lord as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

Summer Youth Missionaries!

We took some young ward members out to tract with us.  They were a 14 year old boy and 9 year old girl.  We had this idea a couple of weeks ago to take out youth in the ward to do missionary work during the day especially because it's summer and they have nothing better to do.  When we talked to the young members' parents, they thought it was a fantastic idea and practically begged us to do it.  It was really fun and they both loved walking around in the hot Texas sun and knocking on random doors for an hour.  We told them that they could knock any door they wanted.  As soon as that was out of our mouths, the young girl started saying, "Let's knock that door!  I think their house is pretty" as we passed EVERY house.  We eventually had to make a rule that she couldn't choose another door until her brother had chosen one so we could actually get the referrals we had planned on contacted.  She decided to rebel once and went and knocked on a door without us.  Luckily no one was home.  That contact ended in her brother picking her up and carrying her off their doorstep.  I think we're going to continue this until the summer is over.

This is seriously one of my favorite areas all because the wards down here are so mission-minded!

"Comida Estudantil"

We went over to a member's house to learn how to make guacamole and other "comida estudantil" or student food (i.e. food you can make in five minutes at college).  This sister is the sweetest lady!  Right now she is going through some family problems because she is trying to do what is correct over what is easy and her family isn't too happy about that.  I admire her testimony and dedication. She told us that no matter how bad criticisms with her family got, she was sticking to her decision.