Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Meals, Gifts, Songs and Love


We had already been scheduled to speak in Sacrament meeting on the 14th, so that turned out well as that was to be our last Sunday. After the closing song and prayer, the congregation had us stand while they sang, "We'll Keep a Welcome." Oh how we love that song. Indeed, we will have a feeling of hiraeth after we leave here.



The Young Single Adults held a big Family Home Evening to say good-bye to us. Students came from all over South Wales and it was so nice of them. Because there were some investigators, Elders Burri and Clark were able to come also. After the lesson Luc sang the solo introduction to "We'll Keep a Welcome" then they all joined in. This song is so poignant. Oh how we will miss these young people. Several have promised to come visit us in America. We hope so, but we shall see.

The 16th was our last day in Wales. David Beale came over from Bristol and helped us go to the EBM office, taking all our luggage because it would not fit in our little car. We love him and will truly miss him. We admire his goodness (he has never even tasted a cola drink and neither has any of his children). We also respect and admire his abilities. He is legend.

Sister Ogden provided a wonderful dinner at their home, then a sweet testimony meeting, one of the most powerful I have ever experienced, with the other departing missionaries. Elder Wark's (from Scotland) testimony was one of the most powerful and amazing I have ever heard. Then President & Sister Ogden had us and Sister Cunha stay overnight at their home. The Elders stayed at the mission office. President Ogden got up at 3:00 a.m. with us, we shared some sweetrolls and he wished us bon voyage as the AP's drove us all in a van to the airport. All went well as we flew out from Birmingham to Paris to Salt Lake City. Truly the end of a very sweet experience.

5 comments:

Julie said...

Nice!! So are you going to make a book now?

Kim said...

So nice to have an ending to your mission. Now you need to keep going with what has happened since. I miss looking at your life on a regular basis.

Katie Kerr Wrede said...

It must be my time of the month--I totally teared up reading this! Oh, and I LOVE that tealish scarf you are wearing in one of the pics.

I keep thinking about that song they sang to you when they knew you were leaving...it is so sweet (sniff, sniff)

Ruelinda said...

So Nice To Hear From You Again! I Love It!

Larsen said...

I am so glad I decided to look at your blog! How wonderful to see an update. I hope your hubby is well. We were so sad you left at the same time that Elder Larsen was transferred to your zone. He is still in Cwmbran, training and as DL and doing great...even with a broken wrist. THANK YOU for all the photos of him and the info about him and the care for him while you were serving in EBM. We sure appreciated you and your TLC.
Sounds like you took some English weather home to SLC this Spring!!
Take care, Becky