Forever Changed

Our last week in New York was bittersweet.  Our replacements came and we turned over the reins to them.  

Elder Williams, Jay, Elder Shapiro

On Saturday, we went to dinner with ALL the senior missionaries with the exception of Elder Openshaw who was at home with a lame foot.  President and Sister Reynolds even came.  It was such an enjoyable evening.  The only thing that would have made it better would have been if we could all have sat closer to one another.  There were 20 of us so we were a bit spread out.  We hated to say goodbye to all those wonderful friends.

With sisters from the branch at
Linger Longer

On Sunday, our last day at church, the Branch had a surprise Linger Longer for us.  The Primary kids had made a poster and everyone signed it.  We felt like celebrities with everyone wanting their picture with us.  We were grateful that Jay made it even though he wasn’t feeling well.  Both he and Marc ended up with the flu (which I came down with later).

On the ferry leaving Long Island one the way out, I jotted down a few things that we have learned from this grand adventure.

I’ve learned from other missionaries that true charity—Christ like love—can be shown in the simplest of ways. I saw it in a Senior Sister who ordered a carton of soup from the restaurant we were leaving to give to the man in the wheel chair on the corner.  I saw it in a sweet Senior Sister who made sure our every need was met during our last week when we were “camping out” in our Jamaica apartment.  I saw it in a young elder who came in the office with no coat on because he had given it to “someone who needed it more”. 

We both learned that some of the people who will come to mean the most to you in this life may be the ones you have not met yet.

We learned that a great ward/branch social doesn’t have to involve topping the last one with better decorations and activities.  It can be just a few Dollar Store plastic flowers, a rousing game of musical chairs and just visiting with people you care about. 

We learned that with the Lord’s help we can stretch far more than we thought possible.

We learned that you don’t have to speak someone’s language to come to love them completely.

And we learned that a person doesn’t have to have the same beliefs as you to be a kind giving person who has an impact on your lives.

We can honestly say that as a result of the last two years in serving the Lord we truly are forever changed.

With Zoee, Maya and Arya

Sister and President Reynolds, Elder and Sister Ho

Elder & Sister Adams and Photobomber

Sister Ho, Elder Conger & Elder Adams