Pioneer Day

As we hurried along the cobblestones on our way to the train station, Ben leaned in to me and said, mournfully, "I really don't want to leave here."

I understood perfectly.  Erin and Ethan both expressed the idea that I might have a difficult time returning to Gilbert, the heat, the scorpions, the travel-by-car-everywhere-you-go mentality, the closed-up houses until the heat drops enough to turn off the air-conditioning, and the walk-around-the cornfields-for-entertainment outing.  I am a little concerned myself.

I think having family nearby will help....that and listing all of the many many positive things about living in Gilbert.

SK took Erin, Andrew and the luggage to the airport in the rental car (missionaries the world over are not allowed to take non-missionaries in their cars), while Ethan, Ben, Anna, Lauren and I walked to the train station and caught a train there.  I love taking the train, and am still hoping that before we leave here, we will take a train as far as our train passes will allow, and then home again.  They are clean and fast and pleasant.

Before he left this morning, Ben whispered to me that he had lost his very special souvenir.  He is eight years old, and was careful and decisive about selecting a few certain mementos of his trip.  The first one he purchased...which he knew immediately that he wanted was a very small plastic replica of the Christus.  He was much saddened this morning as it was nearing time to go and he had not found it.  He told me he said a little prayer and then looked under the bed... there it was!

It was difficult to say good-by, but it was one of the easier good-byes during our time as missionaries. We leave for home in the U.S.A. five weeks from tomorrow.  And Monday we leave for Festinord in Randers Denmark....over on Jutland.  It will last until Saturday morning.

As yet, we don't know what our assignments will be, but I hope whatever we do, we will be able to interact with our YSAs.  I think just about everyone is going, and everyone is excited about it.  It should be outstanding this year....since Denmark has a reputation for doing things up right.

I have been doing laundry since Erin, Ethan and family left....our washing machine takes minimum 2 hours a load.  I am not sure why, but it seems to be common here.....just the way it is.  If I were to do cottons on the regular cotton load, it would take 3 hours and 15 minutes!  I believe it is because the washing machine heats the water, instead of taking it hot from the pipes.  Hot water is enormously expensive in Denmark.  I wanted to get everything clean, pressed and ready to leave, and today seems like the best time to do that.

I worked on the Sunday School lesson, and Visiting Teaching lesson.

In the evening, SK and I went out to dinner with two of our dear friends from the branch, Sister Hamblin and Elder/Sister Thorne.  We have been waiting for a TGI Friday to open for a year.  We saw the signs a long time ago, and it finally opened a couple of weeks ago.  It is right on the walking street....Stroeget.

We had an enjoyable time.  We had at least 4 different waiters/waitresses serve us and every single one was delightful.  Sister Hamblin handed out the pass-along-cards and we told them about what we are doing here in this beautiful land.  You just never know when some of those contacts may bear fruit.

Lone (pronounced Loan-uh) and Sister Hamblin

Anna and me

Erin/Ethan and family have landed in Newark, and will still have another 12 hours of waiting in terminals and flying to get home.  That is a long long time en route.

Before falling asleep tonight, I will pause a few moments and read something about our pioneer forefathers and the remarkable faith and fortitude it took for them to do what they did.  I am in awe of their sacrifices.

Have a great Pioneer Day!