The Trip Home

Friday morning we planned to get up at 4:30 to be prepared for the 6am departure to the airport. We set the alarm. We failed, however, to turn on the alarm. We awoke at 5:15.

What excitement! I didn't know I could shower, finish packing, clean the room, and be ready so fast. I even got a little breakfast. I preferred to go out with a rush. We stuffed much into the last days of our mission. It was a good way for the last day to begin.

We had much time to decompress and transition while in the plane and at airports. Our flight didn't leave until 7:15 pm. We thought we could escort our Kenyan people to their gate, but it didn't work as we didn't have our boarding passes. So we said good-byes, and then waited. We read. We walked around. I crocheted part of a necklace. We hung around like vultures for the ticket office to open so we could rid ourselves of 4 of our bags. We weighted them-- EXACTLY 23 KG each! And we checked them through to our final destination! Hurray! We feared we might have to pay for the extra baggage for the USA leg. Then we enjoyed a Subway Sandwich and shopped at the Out of Africa place for a last tie for Tom.

We slept on the Johannesburg to London flight and arrived at 5:15 am London time. Again, the airport became our friend as we waited the 6 hours for a connecting flight. This one was harder to sleep on-- 11 hours-- but it was all daytime. We arrived in Dallas at 3pm or so. We had to claim our luggage and take it through customs, but then they rechecked it immediately after.

Our 7 hour layover there increased by 2 hours as Dallas had a lightening storm and the flights were stopped during that time. By then, we were moving pretty slowly ourselves. I don't know about "brain dead"... but certainly in critical condition. We arrived in Jackson, MS at 1am, collected all our luggage, and got to our son, Andy's, house by 2:20. Ahh. The bed felt Sooo good.

Sunday was Easter. We enjoyed being in church. But how odd to have no responsibilities. None. It isn't all that good of a feeling. So I held somebody's baby most of the time. We enjoyed the grand children. They are bright and talented and smart and...

Monday Andy had off and we worked outside landscaping their house. They've done a beautiful job of it! It's just lovely. I mostly mulched and admired.

Tuesday we hauled our stuff home. Tom drove the truck and I, the new (to us) Toyota. Wait! Where's the clutch? What's the left foot supposed to do? And, er, which side of the road should I be on? It IS like riding a bike. You don't forget. Our intent was to stop in Little Rock at the commissary and stock up. Alas. A tornado had come through the night before and damaged it... and it was closed. So we stopped in Mountain View at Walmart and picked up a few things.

It felt almost strange to be home. I expected to walk in and just feel this overwhelming sense of: I'M HOME. But it didn't happen. It was hard to remember. Where does this go? Where do I find that? Has that always been there? It was like slowly immersing oneself into a warm tub of water. Ah... but crawling into our own bed felt GREAT!

As we unpacked, old met new. Which memorabilia or memories will take the forefront now? We have TOO MUCH STUFF. Some things will have to go. When you've lived with little-- it's a good time to evaluate the much.

Wednesday afternoon we drove to Springfield to meet with the Stake President and the High Council and be released. It was good to report. We feel we have served a mission with our heart, might, mind and strength. Not a perfect mission. We certainly made our share of mistakes. But a mission that was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.

I felt a touch of sadness at taking off the name tag for the last time. We have been so blessed and protected as we have served. I KNOW the Lord has watched over us. I KNOW angels have been round about us protecting and guiding us as we've been about the Lord's work. Will we still have that guidance and protection?

I trust we will. I trust as we continue to give ourselves to the Lord, what will be done will be according to His will. It has been a great mission. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is God's church. Jesus Christ, the savior and redeemer, is at its head. We will draw nearer to God and the the peace, joy, and love that is His nature, as we follow its teachings. I know this is so.