Monday, March 12 to Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Monday, March 12, 2018

We had our farewell excursion today with the missionaries that are leaving… like us.

l to r: Elder Mendez, Elder Zeron, Elder Alofipo, Elder Perry, Hermana Gunn, Hermana Aleman, Hermana Palma, Hermana Largaespada, Hermana Poncio, President Poncio, Hermana Bell, Elder Bell. This foto was at the Catarina overlook of the Laguna de Apoyo.

We started the day, eating breakfast at the El Ranchito Viejo in Catarina. 

Then we went to the over look, after which we went to the Mayasa Market (we bought matching t-shirts), then to Granada for a luncheon, testimony meeting and certificate ceremony. Sister Bell and I were asked to give a short message about the importance of marriage and secrets to finding an eternal companion. We discussed D&C 131:1-4, the quote by President Nelson which said, “Salvation is a individual quest, while exaltation is a family quest” (or something like that). Sister Bell taught various principles of finding a spouse such as living the gospel, ponder your Patriarchal Blessing, get a father’s blessings (grandfather gave her a father’s blessing before the 1974-75 school season and specifically blessed her that she would find her eternal companion. I came home off my mission and went back to BYU that school year.)

We had a wonderful lunch, shared our testimonies then received our certificates. It was a very nice and enjoyable day.

We got home late afternoon and packed. We finally got all done packing at 10pm.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

We loaded up the truck and went to the office. We said goodbye to several missionaries there, welcomed the new missionaries that arrived last night and today and headed to the airport.

With Sister Joyce from Australia, who will be doing the nursing until the new nurse comes next month. She is a nursing student with some practical nursing experience. Sister Bell has been training her.

Here we are with sister Fersola from the Dominican Republic. She is the lead sister Trainer. She is several years older than most of the sister missionaries and was a practicing family counselor before her mission.

At the airport with our 4 suitcases, two briefcases, pillow and picture tube and hammock chair.

 

At the airport with Elder Howell from Idaho Falls. He is the financial secretary…. A good man to be friends with.

We are back in the States. We left Managua at 1:30 and arrived in Houston at 5:30 pm. It took a little time to get through immigration and customs. As we walked out into the waiting area, we saw a big sign welcoming us home with John, Isa, Gustavo, Natalie, Rene and Eli all waiting for us. We felt like the most important people in the world. It was wonderful so see them, give them hugs and feel of their love. We eat at Olive Garden, stuffing ourselves with breadsticks, salad and Lasagna. We sat us visiting for several hours before sleepiness finally won out.