Saturday July 25^th, 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Now having been here six months, anxiety has been replaced by gratitude.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 16^th, Cottonwood Heights 7^th Ward, 1:00 PM start time.  (May have to be moved to the Conference Center.)