What about dessert?

The mission president and mission mom are SO AMAZING! They made us a wonderful dinner and we had an awesome dinner followed by the Best. Testimony Meeting. Ever! The interview with the president was sooo incredible! He gave me some great advice for the next phase of my life and expressed his love and gratitude for my work as a missionary!

Could this be it?

It's a bittersweet day.

We had some good appointments this morning, then now this evening it's time to pack things up. We still have a day or two before we actually leave, but it's packing time!

I'm kind of envious of the elders, who still have another six months. But it's also kind of exciting to think about going home! Not that I'm thinking about going home... AAARGH! There's so much to do and so little time!!!!

Filling the calendar

I can't believe it! Just when we're starting to get things rolling here we get word that...it's...the...end!

Dinner with the president is just a couple of days away, so we still have time to do SOME work. But, OH, NO!

Getting to know the ward

Since we're both short-timers, we want to be as effective as we can, so after praying about it we decided that we should visit members of the Ward Council. For one, we'll get to know the needs of the ward, and we'll also get to know the members better — that's why I love going to Primary: you get to hear all kinds of stories about what goes on in the families!

Things are going great...but time is running short!

Smart work

Taking it personally

Sister Miller and I talked. Well, she talked and I listened.

I had no idea that her grandpa had passed away! She said that the mission president gave her a choice: she could go home, or stay and finish out her mission. It was so close to the end. She chose to stay and finish out her mission, and so the mission president made us companions.

I think we're OK now. I understand what's going on with her, and we'll figure out how to make it work!

He that hath ears to hear...

So you know, I've been upset with Sister Miller wanting to take naps — especially when I want to be out there working! We're down to a matter of weeks left, and there's still a lot of missionary work to be done!

I thought that I'd better pray about it, you know, because it's really been getting in the way of things between us. So as I was praying, I had the thought come to me that I needed to listen to what Sister Miller was really saying, not just judge her by her actions.

Rats. I hate it when I have to be humble!

Not what I expected!

Funny, I remember Sister Miller as being hard working, gung-ho and fired up about the work! We had a bit of an...um...argument about what we're supposed to do. I literally didn't see that coming, no way!

I've seen a lot of missionaries slack off as they reach the end, and that's not what I want to do. I REALLY hope that isn't what Sister Miller wants to do!

Reunited!

I was so excited to be with Sis. Miller again! We've hardly seen each other during our missions, just at Christmas and an occasional zone conference. We had so much fun in the MTC, I thought it would be awesome to close out my mission with her.

And then, this.

New missions!

Wow! The Church just announced that there are 11 new missions and a whole bunch of new mission presidents! It's amazing to see the continued growth, and it's even more fun to be part of it!

Making the transition

Out of the blue...!

Here's something I wasn't expecting! We got a call today from the Assistants telling us that we're part of a special transfer. Should I be worried about how often my transfers seem to be special? I don't know the reason, but they're moving the elders out of Fourth Ward and putting Sis. Miller in for our last few weeks.

Yep, we're there until we die! (Don't worry! That's a missionary expression for the transfer that sends you back home).

Sis. Green, on the other hand, is getting a greenie who is coming down from Seoul, also on a special transfer. My little green sister is TRAINING!

Well, I've got to go pack. At least the move is only across town. And I think we can see the beach from the apartment!

Happy New Year!