Sunday July 7, 2024

This past week has been such an emotional roller coaster.  As we came to the end of our 18 month assignment it was a bitter sweet experience to know that we were going home, but at the same time we were leaving those wonderful young missionaries and all the wonderful people that we had gotten to love in Tela and Telamar.  After church we went home and cleaned up the last of what was left in the kitchen and finished putting things in our bags.  The Elders, Elder Cruz and Elder Slade called and asked if they could come over and help us so they came over and helped us get our bags out to the car and helped us straighten up the house.  It was nice of them to help us get everything in the car and to help us get us on our way.  We then drove to the mission office in La Lima where we met President and Hermana Ostler, and a few of the missionaries that were there doing their final interviews.  It was fun to be there together there at the office then we drove to San Pedro Sula where we spent the night at the Ostler's home.  On Monday they left early to go back to the office to finish with the final interviews with the missionaries and then we went there as well a little later, where we spent the morning together as a group.  At around 2:00 in the afternoon there was a bus that picked up our group of 20 that were all going home plus the two Presidents Assistants went with us and we went on a tour of sorts in San Pedro Sula.  It was raining like crazy when we left La Lima but once we got to San Pedro Sula it wasn't raining all that bad.  Most of the city is in the San Pedro Sula West mission so as missionaries they never get in to the city center.  We stopped and the San Pedro Sula letters sign park and took some pictures then we went to a tourist shopping center where Colleen found some cute little nativities.  We then went to an ice cream parlor and all had an ice cream.  We then went to the new temple where President and Hermana Ostler met us and we took pictures.

Counting us, there were 11 going back to the USA, and the others went to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Chile.  The San Pedro Sula temple is scheduled to have an open house in September and the dedication in October.  I wish we could have been there for that, but it will be a great experience for those who can attend.  After the temple we went to dinner, which was an Italian place, it was really good.  We then got back on the bus and we all went to the Ostler's home where we shared a scripture, then the President talked for a bit, then we had ice cream and cookies.  Everyone then got another picture with the Ostler's and they all got on the bus to go back to La Lima for the night, but we stayed there for the night.  It was late when everyone finally left, and we were all pretty tired so we visited for a while then went to bed.  On Tuesday morning the Ostler's had a zoom meeting then as soon as they got finished with that they took us to the airport.  There were three other Elders who flew with us from Honduras to Atlanta, then one went to Phoenix and the other two flew with us to Salt Lake.  They are from Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs.  It was fun to be on the plane with them coming home.  As we touched down in Salt Lake they were both so nervous, it was almost funny to see their reaction to actually be so close to seeing their families again.  As we were just about to go through the doors out past the security, into the general public area where you meet families, the one stopped and said,  "I can't do this."  Colleen said, "Your mom is just on the other side of that door and she is so excited to see you, she has been waiting two whole years to see you again."  We all put our arms around each other and went together.  

They went through the doors first then We went out.  What a wonderful sight that was!!!!!  They each went to their families groups, and right in front of us were so many wonderful family members to greet us.  Even though it was 10:30 at night it was so awesome!!! Meggan and Janise were there, Todd and Chelsea and all of their family were there,  Jayden, Turner, Declan, Myaela, and Juliet, even though Juliet was sleeping.  They have a friend of Jaydens with them because they went to EFY this past week together so we met Kellen there as well.  Marleen was there with Melinda, and Makenna . Ray and Patty were there, Barrett and Collett were there.  Christine and Nellie were there.  Reggie, Megan and Wyatt and Cheryl Vaudrey, Colleens friends from work were there.   Wyatt for some reason thought it would be cool to be in a dinosaur inflatable costume, so at first I had no idea who it was so I didn't really know what was going on but after I found out it was him it was good.  We are so thankful for each of them for being there for us.  It was so awesome to see everyone again and to get a hug and a welcome home that way.  

What a wonderful home coming that was to see so many loved ones again.  We are so blessed to have the families, friends, and loved ones that we do and the love and support that they provide.  It was a great way to end the day.  It was really such a relief to actually be back in Utah, at home again.  We did it!  We made it through the whole 18 month adventure.  And what an adventure it was, in so many ways.  I hope we never forget all those wonderful people that we were blessed to come to know during that time.  

We spent the night with Barrett and Collett, they took us home from the airport, and helped us with our luggage.  We finally got to bed, and it was so awesome to have a hot shower and a wonderful bed to sleep in.  Then on Wednesday morning, July 3,  we got up and I took the car and went to Jim King's house to pick up Todd, Jayden, Turner, Declan and Kellen, we then all went to Heber City, where we picked up a U-Haul rental truck and we went to Grandma and Grandpa Hicken's house.  It was so great to see them again, they were kind enough to let us fill their basement with all our Provo house belongings while we were gone, and our car and truck were stored there as well while we were gone.  Christine and T, and Nellie,  Thomas and Collen, came up and helped us load the truck.  The two Elders serving in their ward came over and helped load up as well as a young man from their ward came over.  Carrie and Coopper were there as well.  It only took an hour and half to load everything in the truck.  It went super well and thanks to T, there was not a square inch of free space in that truck,  he is amazing at packing trucks.  Meggan and Janise picked up Colleen and they all came up as well.  It was so great to have the help of everyone to get everything loaded.   Grandma had pizza there for everyone so we ate lunch then we all took of to get to Provo to get it all unloaded here.  The beds and furniture was taken in the house but most of the boxes we left in the garage.  We had Barrett come to our house a few weeks ago to check on everything to make sure it was ready to move back in to, and as we were talking we realized that we no longer had carpet in the front room, and the laminate flooring had been changed from a pretty brown to grey, the walls are all painted a blue gray and the cabinites and vanities are all black, as well as the front and back door are now painted black.  What????!!!   Why would someone renting a house do all that?  Who knows but now we are going to have to paint walls, and cabinets, and bathroom vanities before we can entirely move back in.  We had left our couch and a chair here when we left because there was no room to store them in Heber, and they are gone.  Kevin, Wayne and Brandon all came and helped us unpack here in Provo.  Kevin also brought up a loveseat and two wonderful soft chairs and gave them to us.  That was so awesome of him.  They are in the process of moving to a smaller home in Oregon so since they are downsizing they gave us these chairs that they don't want to move.  

This is part of the crew that helped us load the truck.   We must have had a bigger truck when we moved everything from Provo to Heber because I do not remember it being that full.  There was not a bit of empty space at all, it was completely full, but almost everything fit.  After the truck was emptied in Provo, we returned it here in Provo and then set up the beds and quit for the night. We met with our Stake President at his office in the Stake Center and released us that evening, it was a bit emotional as well but a definite relief of stress and pressure that goes along with a missionary calling but also sad to not be able to wear that name tag any more with our Church name and the name of Jesus Christ on our shirt every day.    It was nice to sleep in our own house again.  The water heater wouldn't light so we couldn't shower but we were able to get that going the next day.  The gas service had been initiated but the valve on the meter in front of the house had not been turned on, so once it was turned on we were set.  

Thursday was the 4th of July so we spent the day partially with Meggan and Janice then later with Todd and his family where they had fireworks.  We got home around 10:30.  It was really nice to spend time with each of them and to be home for the 4th of July, it really was a great day.

On Friday Meggan and Janise and Todd and Chelsea had a welcome home party planned in Heber City at Grandma's house. There were a lot of the Hicken family who came and it was so great to see all of them again.  Barrett and Collett are out of town so they were not there but most all of the rest of the family were there, including kids and grandkids, some of whom we had never met, so it really was a great afternoon there with them.  

The girls liked their new dresses from Honduras, and the boys all got a new "Tipica" tie.  

Then on Saturday Carma had a Chappell family welcome home party for us in Springville where her daughter Morgan lives, she had her ward building reserved and we all met there in the cultural hall.  We had a wonderful lunch, and sat around and visited with everyone.  Not all my brothers and sisters were there but most were, including Newell and Melinda from Phoenix, that was unexpected but it was so great to see them again and catch up.  A lot of the grandkids and great grandkids were there as well so that was super nice to see them again and meet some of the next generation.  We didn't get any pictures there but it was so nice to see everyone again.  Carma and Morgan did a lot of work for the lunch and Ben brought a big brisket that he had been cooking all night, it was really good!  From there we had to say goodby to Todd and his family, they were driving to Boise to spend the night then from there the long drive back home on Sunday.  Meggan and Janise also left later on Saturday to fly back home to California so at the end of the day it was Colleen and I back home.  It was so quiet, compared to the house in Tela, it is so quiet here in Provo, it is really nice.  I think Colleen will sleep better here, plus the bed is way better so that should help too.  

Our church starts at 9:00 am here, the same as in Tela.  It was so nice to walk into that beautiful building Sunday morning. As the meeting began we were both so emotional, for so many reasons.  

1. We were back home, sort of, Lyman is home, but Provo is pretty close.  

2.  It was so quiet as compared to the church in Tela.  

3.  A very comfortable temperature. 

4.  Everything was in English, so Colleen understood everything that was said.  

5.  There was an organ playing the music, prelude, while we sang and postlude, it was awesome.  We sang       America the Beautiful, and My Country tis of Thee, which was awesome.  It really was great to be             home.  

Some good friends came over Sunday afternoon and it was nice to just stay at home and relax for a bit, it has been a long time since we have been able to do that.  Our Bishop has asked us to speak in Sacrament meeting and report on our mission on the 28th of July, and Lyman asked us to come there and speak on August 11.  It will be really nice to go back to Lyman for the day and see family and friends there again. 

 As we come to a close of this "Honduras Adventure" it is a closing of one chapter of our lives and now beginning a new chapter.  I am so happy that I have kept this history here in this blog, it will be fun in the future to go back and remember all those wonderful experiences that we had while serving in Tela Honduras, and in the San Pedro Sula East mission.  It was such a life changing experience for us, in so many ways.  We have been forever changed, hopefully for the better.   I know that the Lord lives and is with us always.  There are so many things that were in place for us to be able to do what we did and when we did them.  We were able to meet so many wonderful Eternal friends from Honduras.  There are also so many young men and women serving the Lord as missionaries that we got the privilege of getting to know.  We will always remember the dedication and commitment offered by them.  The experience we had as "missionaries" was life stretching and will forever make us better more Christlike people.  We have been blessed beyond measure, in so many ways.  We will forever be changed because of the experiences we had in Honduras, in a positive way.  There are so many things we take for granted living in this wonderful land of America.  There is nowhere else I would rather be.  We are so thankful that we are back home close to family and friends.