NOV 25 th -DEC 15th

This is the last blog of paulandkaylynnmission.  For the last 22 1/2 months we have published our mission happenings from Omaha Nebraska now we have completed the mission so this will be a recap of the last full week of the mission and then our return and homecoming.

We started our last week by serving in the Pantry for the last time.This was Thanksgiving week and handing out food was a pleasure. They had received a truck load from the Bishop's Storehouse in Omaha, the people working gave us so many thanks and comments of appreciation for the donation and also for the donation of money received from the Church

Monday Elder White closed the Pioneer Cemetery for the Last time. It was a very slow day at the Trail Center and it turned out that this was the last time we closed the Cemetery , this is something we had done almost 2 times a week while serving on our mission.

Tuesday was our last shift at the Kanesville Tabernacle.This was a sad day, we loved the Tabernacle and how the story of the Mormon Battalion changed our lives. Telling the story became such a part of our lives. We had relatives in the Battalion and their stories became part of our lives. We close the Tabernacle for the last time and felt that spirit of the Battalion go with us. (Just a note on Saturday December 21, the Church closed the Tabernacle until a determination will take place to how to fix the problems that the building has, our prayers are that they may get a solution)  That night we had a terrible snow storm and we were having dinner with our friends the  Beaches who we served with at the Winter Quarters Temple.

Wednesday we opened and closed the Mormon Trail Center because of a short day for the Thanksgiving break. The weather was bad and we could not open the Cemetery and so we served just inside the Trail Center. We were to close at 1:30 pm but with the visit of 3 tours after that time we stayed until 3:00 pm with the help of our friends the Holts we finished the day.

Thursday Thanksgiving day we served residents of Woodbridge Apartments a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. With the help of the other Senior Missionaries we were able to serve about 35 people Thanksgiving dinner. It was a wonderful day and we all felt good with the day of service.  We finished the day playing games with our good friends and Senior Missionaries, the Holt's.

Friday we were released as ordinance workers at the Winter Quarters Temple, such a sad day.  We loved serving in the temple and we loved the people we served with,  it was such a rewarding experience.   On the last day we were interviewed by President and Sister Bartlett. They were so kind.  The rest of the day was getting ready  to pack the car on Saturday and cleaning our apartment, trying to figure out what to take and what we needed to leave.

Saturday was our last shift at the Trail Center: said our goodbyes and turned in our keys, It was such a sad day and with the Trail Center, which had been the center of our lives for the past 22 1/2 months it was a bitter sweet day,  Turned in our keys to President and Sister Johnson and left for the last time. we went home to pack our car.

We started to pack the car and try to get things all together, it was very obvious that there is more stuff that we have room for but with faith we packed the trunk and closed it hoping what we could get the rest in after Church Sunday

Sunday was our last meeting with the Fontenelle Ward and our Karen Friends. It was Fast Sunday and we were to meet as a group with the Karen people, but because both the Bishop and one Councilor were stranded because of the snow storms in Wyoming and Indiana we had to meet with the regular ward group. We both bore testimony in the Fast meeting and then we said goodbye to the Karen people that were there, also we said goodbye to the Johnsons, Holts and the other missionaries and then attended the Sunday School meeting and went back to the apartment to pack the rest of the car and see people for the last time.

Packing the car was a real chore, we placed everything we could in the car and we still had more to get in so we again had a prayer and then finished loading and cleaning the apartment. ( it was so amazing how much we got in!)

We had dinner with Elder and Sister Luker and then visited our friend Dan for the last time. He was a good friend who lived next to us.  

Monday headed home, we had to stuff the rest of the stuff in the car and it was really full, but we pulled out of Omaha:  left the keys to the apartment and left a note to the new missionaries moving in and pulled out of Woodbridge for the last time.

We wanted to get to Rawlings Wyoming and stay that night, and wanted to see a couple of things on the way home. We made really good time and got to Cheyenne, stopped by to see the Gateway Arch, but because of time we took pictures and hurried on. When we arrived at Cheyenne, a road sign stated that large trucks unloaded were not advised to travel because of 45 mile an hour wind gusts, but we pressed on.  Arriving a Laramie Wyoming we contemplated staying, but it was still light and we moved on to Rawlings. Just outside of Laramie the road sign changed and stated that unloaded high profile vehicles not advised because of wind gusts to 65 miles an hour.  Crossing between Laramie and Rawlings the wind was terrible, we followed a Fed Ex truck and that was about all we could see.  After 1 hour we made it to Rawlings and got a hotel and went to eat. There was a cold wind blowing. We learned after that the road was closed between Laramie and Rawlings.

Tuesday arrived home to unpack. This was a short day of travel about 4 hours and the road was still closed from Laramie so we were glad that we were able to leave and get on the road. We had to make a stop at Little America for Ice Cream

Arriving home at about 2:00 on Tuesday we went to the Jr High to see Paulynn who wanted to see us and take some pictures showing our loaded car.

Arrived home to find our house was clean and a freshly cut Christmas Tree was set up and decorated by our family, Christmas lights up,  and a sign on our house to welcome us home.  We started to unpack and two of grandchildren came over after school to help. We finally got the car unpacked and then went with our grandchildren to back to Bethlehem before coming home to rest for the night

Wednesday we were released by the Stake President and his Councilors, he called them all in as we told the story of Kanesville and the sustaining of Brigham Young. Then we were officially released from our mission. Removing name tags and all!!

Rest of the week cleaning, Christmas preparation, and getting use to normal life.

Sunday December 15th our Homecoming Sacrament meeting and greeting friends.

What a wonderful mission and experience, we are hoping that we will be able to continue to serve the Lord and keep the memories of the past 22 1/2 months.  It has been rewarding to share those months with you.