Saturday, January 13, 2018

Week #75 (12/12/17-12/16/17: The Countdown

Monday, December 11, 2017, p-day-chill day with Sister Childs (the senior couple). We watched movies about the pioneers (which, by the way, if you haven’t seen the John Tanner Story, you have to see it!)

Tuesday, December 12, 2017-Thursday, December 14, 2017, say goodbye to everyone. I was reunited with my tóngabāna! (‘tóngabān’ in chinese means companion. ‘Ohana’ means family. Nobody gets left behind nor forgotten). I was yet again with the Miri 2 sisters, Sister Erickson (Sister Ricky) and Sister Bithell (Sister Bell). Their names are too hard for Ibans to pronounce. Sister Erickson also finished her mission with me. She is the official queen of Miri (having served 13 months of her mission here) so we had a lot of people to teach, and who wanted to say goodbye. I have many tóngabāna from this mission.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017, Miri 3 branch held a Christmas/goodbye party for me. They were so sweet, and all of the investigators the elders and we were teaching showed up! I was amazed! Miri is going to do well.

Friday, December 15, 2017, I arrived in Singapore. It was a great reunion. We had our last Sisters Council with the mission president’s wife, Sister Simmons. The point was to address fears and concerns. We talked about My Plan and ways to keep up the good things learned from the mission. We talked extensively about journaling and how important it is. One idea that was brilliant and interesting (not mine of course) was to go through the PMG lessons we teach and journal an experience that led to strengthening your personal testimony for every point. I had my last interview with my mission president, President Simmons. Afterwards, we went to the mission home, their home. It was everything like America and more. It was a culture shock to a lot of us. They had a dishwasher! And hot water! And carpeted stairs! They fed us a very nice home cooked meal (with a vegetarian option)! We finished singing songs, bearing our testimonies, and taking pictures. President and Sister Simmons are amazing people! It was an honor to serve under them.

Saturday, December 16, 2017, I left Singapore. Ten sisters, one elder. Twenty-six hours. Three planes. One elder, one sister. Saturday, December 16, 2017, I arrived home. Six sisters, one elder. These were our replacements.  Time has flown and everyone is different. The plane rides were long and there was plenty to eat (if I didn't get fat on my mission, the plane ride sure did it for me :) When I left Miri, it felt surreal. Singapore was the same. In the Japan airport, I was surrounded by Asians, and soon I saw Caucasians, African Americans, and Mexicans at the gate waiting to leave to America. I was surprised. I turned to my right, CNN was playing and there was a video of President Donald Trump speaking. He’s the President?! What a thought. In LAX airport, there were people who started to recognize missionaries, and they shared their missions with us. The plane to Salt Lake was small, so they took our carry-ons. When I landed, I waited for my carry-on at the jet bridge. Mine was the last to arrive. It was freezing cold and many of the bags had snow on them. Is it real? As I was walking off the plane in the Salt Lake Airport, I lost my travel buddy, only to find them in the crowd of missionaries. We found the missionaries heading to the Singapore Mission! They were starry eyed with looks of excitement and nervousness in their eyes, and full of greenie fire. It became real all at once. I almost started crying right then and there, before I had even met my family. They are a great bunch and ready to take on the world. I was taken back to the beginning, and I wish I can go back again. They boarded onto the plane we had just exited. We took a picture and I gave them all hugs (except the elder, of course). They are wonderful! In the whole history of President and Sister Simmons service, missionaries meeting each other on the way has never happened before. This was but a few of the tender mercies the Lord gave me on my way home.

I would like to thank you all for your support and prayers. I felt and continue to feel your love. I’ve felt not only your support, but the support of my God. I know in whom I trust and I will trust in Him forever. I will be sharing more of my experiences and testimony in church, Sunday, January 14, 2018. If you would like to attend and need an address, you may message me.