Last Fireside and the Mission Home

They morning that my companion and I were supposed to leave was surreal.  I remember waking up, having slept with no blankets. I think I woke up sick (emotionallly).  I remember taking a shower and straightening my hair. I packed all my bathroom stuff and sat down on my empty study desk.  This was it.  I was leaving this wonderful apartment.

We also tried to clean our apartment because the new sisters would be there and we didn't want them to have a dirty apartment.  I remember Sister Woolley wasn't talking to me very much.  I concluded that she was upset about being transferred and possibly me leaving as well.  Or maybe she just didn't get enough sleep.  At any rate, there was minimal to no talking as we prepared to leave.

We drove to the elder's apartment in ( enter city here) and waited for the member who was going to drive us down to the Cherry Hill Stake Center. After loading the truck, we headed out.

Me and Sister Woolley. She is so silly. 

Elder Kitchen being weird. Ha!

He has the weirdest facial expressions!

Elder Cowgur

Elder Kitchen, me, Sister Woolley

I don't even know where we got pretzel sticks. We are so cool!

Ew! Elder Kitchen has his stuck in his nostril!

As you can see, we had plenty of fun with our pretzel sticks. I think the drive to Cherry Hill is about an hour and half. But I do remember we hit traffic, which made us late to the transfer meeting. I had to walk up to the stage and sit next to the other missionaries leaving.

When it was my turn to bear my testimony, I couldn't believe it. I had always envisioned the day when I would be up there with other missionaries at the end of their missions. I remember my very first transfer meeting when I saw and heard missionaries bear their last testimony. Now it was my turn.

Even though I had bore my testimony, it still didn't feel like I was going home. It didn't feel real. It really did feel like I was just in a dream.

After the slideshow, and the announcement of other transfers, everyone dispersed. I met up with people I hadn't seen in so long. 

Sister Carter. I was sad that Marc was not able to make it.

Members from the New Brunswick Branch.  I love them!

Silly boy!

Just looking at this picture makes me want to cry. I loved New Brunswick so much!

My favorite person. Hermana Lucy De La Hoz

Sister Woolley giving me a big hug and Elder Richins laughing his head off.

Me being happy with them!

La Familia De La Cruz

Elders Cowgur, Kitchen, me, Elders Waite and Ritchie.

I feel so short in this picture!

Me and Elder Kitchen. My face looks cool.

Trying to re-enact the cool picture we did earlier this week.

check out that double chin action.

I had to get another picture with one of my favorite families.

After I said goodbye to members and to the other missionaries, the chapel was getting emptier and emptier. I think this is when it really hit me. I went to the bathroom and I sat on the counter and sobbed. I didn't want to leave my mission. I didn't want to say goodbye to these people that I may never see again.

After I regained composure, I cleaned my eyes so I wouldn't look like a raccoon and walked outside to find
if there were any other missionaries still around.

I found Elder Tennsemeyer. He was the AP at this time. He does a great impression of President Monson.

I also found Hermana Johnson and had to take a quick picture with her.

And who could forget Elder Englis!

and of course, Morrill.  Sweet, Sweet, Morrill! and I do believe she is wearing my shirt!

I felt better and looked for the other missionaries who were also going home. We were all deciding on where to go for lunch because by this time, we were all starving. We decided on cheesecake factory.

I rode with Sister Winegar. It was a lot of fun eating with the other elders. Afterward, we went back to the mission home and played.  It was a free for all, really.  We waited until it was our turn for our exit interviews.

My exit interview was so emotional. I can't even remember what President Winegar asked me.  But I do remember expressing how much I didn't want to leave the mission field.  I cried.  He cried.  When I was done, I went up to my room and sobbed for what seemed like forever. It was a moment that I will never forget. When I was done, I cleaned off my make up for the 2nd time and changed into  p-day clothes because the elders were playing outside.

We played softball with a woofle ball. It was so much fun.  And then we headed inside and played Mormon Madgab. I was dominating. It was so much fun!

The group that was headed back to babylon!

From left to right: Elders Bedke, Maccabe, Smith, Me (not touching elder Smith because we have a pillow separating us) Elders Anderson, and Harward. We are missing Hermana Tieman, but she came later.

Elder Cummard.

Elder Anderson writing in my memory book.

Everyone went to their rooms around 12am.  I don't think anyone wanted to go to sleep. I know I didn't. Sleep was the last thing on my mind.

Before bed, I wrote in my journal. This is dated October 18, 2007.

Surreal. That's all I can say. Surreal. I feel like this whole day just flew by!! I don't even know what to say. I could say so much, but I don't have the time, well, I do, but I don't have the energy. Plus, my mind isn't working properly. Today it hit me. It hit me at the most awkward time, while I was talking to some people at the fireside.  Everything just kind of fell apart. After that I sort of just blurred goodbyes to people. I went into the girls bathroom and propped myself on teh contertop and sobbed. It hit, and it hit hard. I also broke down during my interview with President. I came up to my room and sobbed. Life is going to be a little difficult for a while. It's past 12am. I have to sleep.