Diary of a Missionary Mom!!: 2015

Two Months Home & Two Months To Go!!

The days go slow, but the weeks fly by. I remember our missionary daughters both writing that same statement to us in their email. Boy, how true it is!!
Our eldest daughter returned home from her mission in the Philippines exactly 2 months ago. It doesn't seem like she's been home that long, but between her homecoming and then Christmas and New Year's, time just went so fast.
Our other daughter will be returning from her mission in Mexico exactly 2 months from today. It seems like yesterday we were taking her to the airport and trying, not very successfully, to hold back the tears as we said good-bye to our second missionary for 18 months.

For the last 2 months we have enjoyed listening to our eldest talk about her mission in the Pines. She misses it so much. She grew to love the Filipino people in a way that we never imagined.She has made life long friends with some of the missionaries that she served with and she randomly breaks out speaking in Tagalog and we just chuckle and pretend to understand her. We encourage her to keep speaking the language that she has adopted as her second language.
She has bore her testimony of the Savior countless times in Tagalog to those whom she was serving and teaching and it's music to our ears whenever she speaks it.
She is currently working and planning her schooling and next steps in life.

Our daughter in Mexico will most likely do the same when she gets home. We look forward to listening to her stories, hearing her speak in the Spanish language that she has become so used to speaking and pray that neither of our girls will ever lose the gift of tongues they've been given.

We are grateful for the experiences and trials that our daughters have gone through while on their missions. They have grown closer to their Savior as they served him by serving his children.
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HOME FROM THE PINES!!

December 2014 departing missionaries from the Urdaneta Mission

Sister Carr with her President and Sister Monahan. We will forever be grateful to the Monahan's for the love they gave our daughter while she was in their care. She grew so much while on her mission. We sent them a scared young lady and through their loving guidance she returned home to us eighteen months later a confident woman with a deeper love for the gospel, the Savior and his children. We look forward to meeting the Monahan's when they return from the Pines.

Last day in the mission home. We're sure this was a bittersweet day for these beautiful sisters.

Heading to the bus stop

A few more pictures before boarding the bus.

Missionary Sisters!

Getting ready for the long ride to Manila.

Here we go!! Sis. Talk and Carr wave good-bye!

We were so excited as we drove to the airport to get our missionary.

Gpa all ready to welcome home his missionary grand-daughter.

She's HOME... a little tired, but she's HOME!!!

Sister Carr with Lauren and Jackson. She's missed these faces.

It's good to be together again!

Uncle Johnny and Araceli couldn't make it to the airport, but they came to our house to welcome AJ home.

Doing some unpacking. She left most of all her clothes in the Pines, but brought home some really great souvenirs.

Welcome Home!!!!!


Her first American meal in 18 months and she wanted In-N-Out Burger!! She was freezing when she got off the plane. We had a blanket ready for her. After being in the heat and humidity of the Philippines for 18 months, the Southern California weather was little cold for her.

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From Mexico
Hermana Carr has been a Sister Trainer leader for a while now. Part of her responsibilities consist of traveling to other towns within the mission and visiting, helping and training the other sister missionaries. At first she was nervous to take on these responsibilities, but she has grown to love it and she loves meeting and working with all the other sisters from the different areas.

Hermana Carr and Manning became fast friends in the mission field and HOPED that one day they might be companions. Well, that day came about a month ago and these two have been working hard together as Sister Trainer Leaders.

Campeche

Roaming the hills of Campeche!

So I totally lost my name tag this week and I´ve been walking around for a few days without one.... So Hermana Flores (de Bolivia) lent me hers when we went to do divisions with them. I thought ¨Cool, I´ll just represent my mama´s side of the family!¨ haha. So I was wearing the name Flores (even though mom´s is spelled Florez...) real proud this week!

A Road Trip to CAMPECHE with Hermanas Williams, Smith, and Manning! Love these girls!

Enjoying her Christmas package from home!

Feliz Navidad Bus

Hermana Aguirre! She´s awesome!

Zone picture

Hanging with the Hermanas de Hunucmá!

I got to visit the town of Izamal and it was amazing!! So pretty and it has one of the LARGEST catholic churches in the entire world. It`s huge.... There are also old pyramids in Izamal, so for our exercise we went and had a morning pyramid hike! Absolutely Gorgeous!