Matters of Endings TMM 4.5.20
Our 23 months as missionaries would have come to an end this week. We asked to extend until June 1 to see our beloved students through seminary graduation. Then the world turned upside down when we and other seniors were asked to return home immediately in the face of an other-worldly pandemic. President Peterson came to the house on March 27 and released us as missionaries. I’ve been putting off writing an ending to our story, but the time has come to face the fact that we are no longer full-time missionaries with Christ’s name worn on our hearts. I’m really not complaining. We were blessed to serve almost our full mission time, and we are grateful for every minute we spent teaching, studying, preparing, and standing with the missionaries and saints in Laredo, Texas. We will always love the people there and feel honored that God sent us to that little corner of Texas to learn, love, and live for almost two years. Many stories to come…
We are blessed with the spirit in our home today. Conference was a great experience. As it ended, Cameron insisted we have a little testimony meeting with the three of us. Jim and I bore testimony of prophets, apostles, the Restoration, and many of the things that touched our hearts. Then, Cameron. As he bore his testimony, tears literally ran down his cheeks. He talked about the parts of conference that really touched him and how grateful he is to have us home. I honestly had not realized how much he missed us. He has grown spiritually so much while we were gone. I didn’t see it until we actually sat with him twice a day over the last two weeks for prayer and scriptures. He had so many insightful questions as we read from Alma. He wanted to talk about the stories and the principles like he never had before. It is a great blessing.
We have been asked by President Peterson to write or record our mission report so that it can be sent out to our friends and neighbors, so we will soon get that ready. We have many more stories to share about the faithful saints and converts in Laredo. We love you all. Thank you for your love, support, and kindness to us.
