A Month of Finals and Farewells

 When we were first called on this mission I worried about all of the things we would miss while we were gone for three years. I thought it was such a sacrifice to leave our home and our family and friends for a long period of time.  What I didn't realize then was that I would have those same exact feelings as our mission started winding down. I had no idea how much I would come to love this place, these people and this work as much as I do. And how hard it is going to be to leave it all.  I knew I would go home and things would pick up where we left them off, but leaving here is hard because I know we will never have this experience again.  

So, June, in addition to all of the meetings and mission things described in the last post, became a month of farewells, of lasts, and of soaking in as much of this place and these people as we could. 

Farewells 

We started making visits to some of the people who were most dear to us and who helped us so much on our mission.  We were hoping to have one final dinner with all of our 11 Stake Presidents and their wives before we left, but since the limit on in home gatherings was 10 we couldn't make that happen. So, we went to them.  We got each of our Stake Presidents a large copy of the painting that hung in our mission home entry way. The one we got right before we got our mission call from Dan Wilson that has Jesus carrying a small child on his back. He titled it Carrying us Home.  We thought it was the perfect gift for those who had carried us on this journey, and so we made visits to all 11 of our Stake Presidents and their wives during the month of June.  It turned out to be a really great way to say goodbye. Probably better in the long run than a big dinner because we got to spend one on one time with each of them in their homes and it was a much more intimate way to say goodbye.  It also took a lot more time, but it was worth it.  I wish we had though to get a picture with each of them, but I only got pictures with two of them. 

President and Sister Cocker from the Sacramento Stake

President and Sister Hogge from the Elk Grove Stake

The others that I didn't get pictures with, but will never forget are President and Sister Weston from the El Dorado Stake, President and Sister Hodson from the Folsom Stake, President and Sister Johnson from the Carmichael Stake, President and Sister Hansen from the East Sacramento Stake, President and Sister Langford from the Cordova Stake, President and Sister Larsen from the North Sacramento Stake, President and Sister Means from the Lodi Stake, President and Sister Jensen from the Stockton Stake and President and Sister Maxfield from the Manteca Stake.  

We also got those paintings for some wonderful people who helped us more than we could have imagined, and we visited them as well. 

Patrick Twomey, which, ironically we didn't get a picture with since he was our mission photographer. It was not a calling for him, but he willingly offered his time and services to us. He came to every zone conference to take pictures. It is thanks to him that we have so many pictures documenting our mission. He came on our Sacramento and Coloma P Day activities, He made videos for us. We are so indebted to him and he always acted like it was his privilege to do so much for us.  

Brother and Sister Henry and Roz Astle were our Zone Conference lunch coordinators. They are both over 80 and loved to serve the missionaries by arranging and organizing every zone conference lunch. They coordinated with the Stakes that provided the lunch, they made sure tables were set up and everything was ready to go as soon as we walked into the cultural hall for lunch. This was a big burden lifted off of me. I know a lot of Mission President's wives who have to do the lunches as well and it was wonderful to be able to focus on teaching at zone conferences rather than worrying about the food. 

Sister Geri Beck is also someone I would love to emulate. She is also nearing 80 and has been a widow for many years, but is always serving others.  If we needed a service project, Geri was the one who knew what was needed anywhere in the Sacramento valley. She served our missionaries every transfer by housing the new sister missionaries the night they came into the mission, and housing the departing missionaries the night before they left the mission.  I didn't realize at first what a blessing this would be to us. Transfer week is absolutely crazy and the thought of having to sleep all of the sisters coming and going, the food that would require, the clean up it would require was something I hadn't considered. Geri loved doing it and the sisters loved staying with her.

 

We were able to have a final dinner with our senior missionaries since there were only 3 couples left.  With Covid, we had to send all of our senior couples home. We were able to keep the Mairs, because they wouldn't leave us, the Smiths, because they were under 60, and the Bartletts because she was the mission nurse. These three couples were our salvation. I don't know that I have seen people work harder than these six did to keep the mission running.  It was not an easy task finding apartments for all of the newly assigned missionaries, finding flights for all of the missionaries who had to leave, and basically doing the running of the mission behind the scenes while we did the work with the missionaries.  There was also much to do to get things ready for the Zimmermans and they did a marvelous job. They are consecrated disciples of Christ and much loved by us. So grateful we could gather for one final senior couple dinner and FHE.

Others who were so dear to us were our Mission Presidency Counselors and their wives and we were able to spend time with them.

We got very close to Bruce and Jeni Bitnoff. Bruce was a counselor when we arrived in the mission and served in that capacity for a little over a year, until he was called to be a counselor in the Sacramento Temple Presidency.  They became dear friends, and even after he was released, they would invite the missionaries to their beautiful home in Pollack Pines for zone activities and we attended them regularly. We went to dinner with them as often as we could and felt like we were friends before this life.  We were able to go to dinner at one of our favorite places that we often went with them, Papa Gianni's in Cameron Park. How we love them.

What a blessing these friends have been to us. Scott couldn't have asked for better mission presidency counselors that President Moser and President Kanzler and the bonus is that Lisa and Robyn have become dear friends as well.  We were blessed to have a wonderful dinner in Blair and Lisa's beautiful home one last time. Lots of fun memories in that home, with those people we love. 

We were blessed to have lunch with our dear friends Bishop and Darci Busi from the Ione Ward. That is in the Lodi Stake and when the mission combined after our first year and we got half of the Modesto mission, we immediately connected with Bishop and Sister Busi. They were the most supportive, kindest people we were blessed to know. We love them and were grateful to spend some time with them before we left. 

One of our most tender visits had to be the visit we made to Brother and Sister Bird in their home in Stockton. Sister Bird volunteered to be one of our mission nurses when we got the three southern zones put into our mission.  It was too much area for one mission nurse to cover and she volunteered right when we needed her.  She was remarkable and such a big help, and Brother Bird was right there with her every step of the way.  She had battled cancer earlier in her life and about 6 months before we left, her cancer came back stronger than ever.  We knew when we made this visit that she didn't have long to live (she passed just a few weeks after we got home). On this visit our hearts were full to overflowing, as were our tears. We went to minister to them, but were instead ministered to. We went to uplift, but left uplifted. Sister Bird served our missionaries with all of her heart. Our mission banner wouldn't have been complete without her signature, she couldn't come to us, so we took it to her. Our lives are better because of Brother and Sister Bird.  How we love them.

I didn't get a picture with Bonnie Coop, but I did get a picture of her beautiful home. Bonnie's husband was Darlene's cousin and they lived and raised their family in this beautiful home in Sacramento.  She is a lovely woman and invited us to her home for dinner at least every six months. She is the ultimate hostess and we were blessed to have one last meal at her home last week. 

I don't know what we did to have the blessing of not only serving in Sacramento, but to land in the Silva Valley Ward. We have made the dearest, lifelong and eternal friends over the past three years. These people made it feel like home and we will love them and this place forever.  Our ward threw us a going away party on our last Saturday in the mission. We probably didn't social distance as much as we should have, but we were just too happy to be with them and thank them for our loving kindness towards us. 

Us with Jared and Julie Danielson. Scott calls him his little brother. Dear, dear friends, and so much fun.

Bishop Martin, Brother Martin, Brother Cowart, Brother Draper, Scott, Bishop Dudley, and Jared Danielson

Shannon Draper, Jill Cowart, Julie Danielson, Me, Carlene Martin, and Karina Martin

Me with Lisa Hull, best ministering sister when I wasn't that easy to minister to!

These signs show Jared's funny personality!

These are two of our favorites, Steve and Brooke Sedgewick. Due to Brooke's health challenges they couldn't attend the party, but we could not leave Sacramento without at least a doorstep visit to them.  Brooke was the first one who welcomed us to the ward with a surprise gift on our front porch the very first night we arrived.  For three years, I could expect little surprises from her often. She is the most giving, generous friend, I aspire to be as kind and thoughtful as she is. I will miss her terribly!

And, of course, I had to make one final visit to my dear friend Anjeli LeConte, who did my hair for three years.  I found her on google and she was incredible.  My hair has never looked better, I wish I could come out every six weeks to have her do it. I loved getting to know this good, Christian woman and becoming friends with her over the past three years. 

Finals (or Lasts)

We had our final visitors from home. Preston and Ethan and Camee flew in for one last visit. It was fitting that they were our last visitors from home, because Ethan and Preston were with us from the very first day in our mission.  As we flew here, they drove our car over and stayed here with us our first summer here.  When Camee got home from her mission, she started joining them on their trips here.  I honestly can't even remember how many times they have been here. I think Ethan and Preston have come about 14 or 15 times, and Camee isn't far behind that.  I can't even begin to express how grateful we feel to have been called to serve here, for many reasons, but one of them is that it is so close to home and our kids could come often.  They came out to visit and Ethan and Camee were driving our car back home for us.  We were busy, but had such a great time doing some of their favorite things one last time as well.  I think they may miss our being here almost as much as we will.  Preston has the Taqueria saved in his favorites on his phone.  So, of course we had to eat at all of our favorite places. We went to the Taqueria and to The Porch, luckily they had started outdoor eating again. We had to do take out from Sienna, but it was still delicious.

Walked around the Capitol park and the gorgeous rose bushes

One last time in Pop's chair and Scott showing them how he killed a rattle snake in our garage

One last time at the Downtown Farmer's Market to get empanadas and those amazing Northern California Strawberries

And we finally did one of the hikes we have been wanting to do for 3 years, one last hike in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Foothills

Preston flew home and Ethan and Camee took off with our car the morning our Zone Conferences started. Crazy to think our car was now home and we were soon to follow.

They were sad to leave this house we have all come to love, so many good memories in this beautiful home.

After they left, and in between all of our meetings, it was time to pack up the house. We spent our days in meetings, and while Scott was reading letters, I spent my nights packing up.  I had kept a list of everything I brought, which was good foresight on my part.  After three years it was hard to remember what was mine, and what came with the house.

Gratefully, I just had to set everything out that was ours and the movers packed it all up. They came on June 20 to pack and load and our things were on their way. It was a very strange feeling to see the moving truck taking all of our things home.  Now, our car was home, our things, besides what we could fit in 4 suitcases, were heading home, we were the only things left. 

The movers were great, and we were only too happy to buy them lunch and have one more opportunity to eat food from the Taqueria. 

The next day was Father's Day and we had the sisters from our ward, Hermana Christensen and Sister Ballantyne come for dinner with their mission dad. It was the last meal I cooked for missionaries in that home.  I can't even count how many meals with missionaries were cooked and eaten in that home.  Each last was bittersweet, so sad to be done with it all, but so excited to be with our family again.  

For Father's day the kids sent a video of all of the grandkids telling pop what they love about him. Every one of them said 'we love pop's swimming pool'.  They were all so little when we left that I'm not sure any of them even remember us living in Centerville.  They just remember us living in California, and they love our pool.  We had to remind them that it's not actually pop's pool, but we may have to get one when we get home.

And, today is June 29, 2020. It is our final full day in our mission.  I think I have cried all day long. It is P Day for our missionaries, so we have had our final meeting, today is a day to prepare, to remember and to contemplate.  I went on one last walk this morning on this trail that has become almost a sacred spot to me.  Not only is it beautiful, but it has been a place of peace and tranquility for me as I have walked so many miles on it over the past three years.  I have loved this trail and the beautiful places it has taken me and was grateful to have one last walk on it this morning. 

Our beautiful mission home. Home away from home for 3 years. How we have loved living here.

We had a few things to finish up at the office so we went there and found this, which did nothing to stop the tears, and took some pictures of the place we spent so very many hours, doing work we loved. 

We had a great afternoon, with one final Downtown Sacramento P Day with Hermana Hall and Hermana Bretzing.  Because of the shutdown, and also, because we had to send 11 Elders home when they hit their 21 month mark, Hermana Hall and Hermana Bretzing were the only ones left going home two weeks after we leave. We weren't able to take their group on our Downtown P Day before they left, but since things loosened up a bit, we were able to take these two for our last Downtown P Day. It was kind of for all 4 of us. We had a great time with them, We took them to lunch at The Broderick, which is one of the first restaurants we ate at in Midtown, and then did all of the things..

The beautiful California State Capitol Building

The Johnny Cash Mural and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

DOCO (Downtown Commons)

Old Sac

And a final picture of the penguin house.  This house is right around the corner from the mission office and we have no idea why there are penguins on the roof year round. But it made us smile every time we drove past it and it made us laugh every time our assistants would stop in front of it with new missionaries, fresh from the airport and tell them that this was the mission home. 

Tonight we took our assistants to dinner at Sienna, and it was a special night.  We had a few things to cover to make sure they are ready for the transition tomorrow, we want it to be as smooth for the Zimmerman's as it was for us when we got here with Elder Watts and Elder Pennington. These three are terrific and the mission couldn't be in better hands.  It was very, very hard to say good night to them. The tears flowed freely and they gave us a priceless gift. They had most of our former assistants send them a video to watch the night before we left, and it was the best gift they could have given us. So many memories of so many missionaries we have come to love as our own.  It's hard to capture the feelings of my heart in words, but it was a night we will never forget. 

We had spent some time getting the house ready for the Zimmerman's the next day, changing all fo the bedding and towels, etc. so we stayed at the hotel at the El Dorado Town Center tonight. We were able to meet us with the Folsom sisters for ice cream at Cold Stone, before doing one last walk around the Town Center.  This was a fitting way to spend our last night, because Scott and I went down to the town center to walk several nights each week to clear our heads and have some quiet time together.  

Us with Sister Ballantyne, Sister Foimoana, Sister Fink and Hermana Christensen at Cold Stone

One more sleep...and I'm feeling particularly drawn to Alma 26 tonight as I spent my last night as a full time representative of my Savior, Jesus Christ. As Ammon and his brothers conclude their missions he says words that touch my tender heart tonight. 'How great reason we have to rejoice, for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla (Centerville) that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?' 

There is no way we could have supposed three years ago when we started our mission. I have a million emotions right now, but the overwhelming emotion is gratitude. Gratitude that God entrusted two very ordinary people with a very extraordinary opportunity to see lives change before our eyes. The live of over 550 of the most remarkable missionaries to ever serve, the lives of those who have been gathered into the fold, and our own lives. We will never be the same. From the first day to the last it's been an honor to wear the badge. It's going to be very, very hard to take it off tomorrow. #calsacmission #missionofmiracles #goforward #standstill #behappy