Saturday July 25th, 2015
Greetings All,By the time you receive this, we should be headed for Los Angeles, overnight flight, Air New Zealand.
 |
| Auckland |
Definitely a bitter-sweet time as earlier described. But now more intense due to tearful good-byes, farewell dinners and the well wishes of some of the greatest and most loving people on the planet.
Twelve months ago, I wrote the following
paragraphs to a good friend in response to his request for my feelings on
serving as a senior missionary. Comments
were intended for a Church class. Now as
we de part, I felt impressed to share them.
More true than ever.
I
think most seniors consider a mission.
My observation – it’s a difficult decision due to a variety of
factors. Most of them are personal, i.e.
interrupting a comfortable lifestyle, leaving the grandkids, financial challenges,
etc. So brothers and sisters, just
because you may not be one of those “unbridled enthusiasts” who somehow answer
the call with no hesitation, don’t feel any sense of guilt. Personally, I don’t think many of them
exist. It’s typically a hard decision
fraught with emotion and personal considerations. Heaven knows how much courage it took for us to
turn-in those papers. In the end, it’s a
pure act of faith.
But
providence interceded on our behalf as it will in yours and you will know if
the decision is right for you. Through a
series of subsequent events, we had confirmation the decision was right. We also knew how blessed we were and felt a need
to “give back”.
Now having
been here six months, anxiety has been replaced by gratitude. Our family has been blessed in our absence. Grandma has learned the grandkids can do
without her - at least for small moment in time.
And as for you both, you
will have the experience of a lifetime.
You will meet wonderful people.
You will feel the strength of eternal principles. Things in your life will become clearer and
better defined. In short and as always, your
giving will in turn make you the greatest receiver. |
| Carol, Fugals, Elder Melligan and the author. |
So….farewell beautiful New Zealand! And farewell to all the people we have grown
to love. They have enriched our lives
beyond measure. A FOREVER memory!!
Homecoming report August 16th,
Cottonwood Heights 7th Ward, 1:00 PM start time. (May have to be moved to the Conference
Center.)