The past couple of weeks have been a blur. We have been farewelled by every conceivable group. We had a family home evening with the group of elders and sisters who came into the mission with us 18 months ago. They have been our "social group" by assignment since we got here and we have become good friends with them during the past year and a half. Instead of entertainment we had a testimony meeting of sorts. We were each asked to tell special experiences from our service. Since we were assigned to many different zones after our training it was special and interesting to hear the varied experiences of our group. Next was our zone hale and farewell, which is a potluck that kind of lasts all day long. It was very sweet to be able to express the gratitude I feel to so many of the elders and sisters I have worked closely with. I had a couple of private lunches and dinners with some especially close sisters who have become dear to me. Monday night after closing all the zone who cared to, met at a restaurant for another farewell dinner. Also very sweet. David has endeared himself to many of these people. I know they will think of him and his sweet spirit more than they will miss me. Tuesday was the cafeteria's good bye party for David which I was invited to attend. All the staff and missionaries gathered for a pizza lunch (they usually aren't offered pizza for lunch) and special send off for David. They gave him a beautiful hand made Toy Story blanket, and made him a giant "cowboy" cake. They all gave him hugs and high fives and generally made him feel like he had been an important part of the crew. David's boss took me aside afterwards and said, "Make sure you tell them back home that David served a real mission. This was real work that he did for the Lord, every single day. The cafeteria is subsidized by tithing dollars, and every thing he did saved the church money." Wednesday morning I was asked to briefly speak to our prayer meeting. It was hard to say goodbye, but I really wanted them to know how much I appreciated the love and support we have felt from them. Everyone fussed over David because he was in suit and tie instead of his usual work clothes. I had a doctor's appointment to get a shot in my knee (interesting that it should just start bothering me again now, after 18 painfree months). Afterward I took David to the baptistry of the temple to do baptisms for a large family of Quibell relations I researched. He has been there enough that I was able to leave him, go back to the library to work, and come back for him in an hour or so. At 11:30 we walked over to the Joseph Smith building for a beautiful farewell appreciation luncheon with the mission presidency. It was delicious food and some really wonderful messages were given by President Simmons and his counselors. Sister Simmons had requested that David sit at her table, so we felt very special and appreciated.
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| Elder David Demke with President and Sister Simmons |
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| David's giant cowboy cake |
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| David and some of his coworkers |
That was it! All done! We are still officially missionaries until released by our stake president, but our mission service is over.
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| Grandma and Afton on her baptism day |
Friday we flew to Houston for the baptism of my second granddaughter Afton McKenna. It was so beautiful and I am so grateful that we were able to be there to see such an important ordinance for one so well prepared. We enjoyed a few days there with our love ones, at the beach, zoo, museum and the flew back to Salt Lake City to enjoy the special conference weekend and then pack up and head home to California.
I'm going through some adjustment already. It feels weird not to go into the library every day. I hope and pray that I will be guided to choose significant ways for me and David to spend the rest of our lives. I am so grateful for this mission experience. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
