One of the reasons I am getting more sentimental about leaving is that SO many missionaries are leaving in January. Thee are so many that President Holmes had them all stand up before Sacrament meeting. All of this talk of people leaving just adds to the weight of our own goodbyes in the near future.
And Sister Kay Collins who is leaving in March has been posting on Facebook how many more days she has-- we are 30 days LESS than her release date--so I am not counting but she is doing it for us!
January 18, the US/Canada team had an afternoon surprise get together for the Blasneks. They have been such a dedicated and faithful support to the ARC team and to the zone in central. They were only here a year but we all grew to love and care for them. They will be missed.
The team really wanted it to be a surprise and it was. We missed the first part because of another meeting but everyone assured us that they were shocked!
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| whole team and missionaries for US/Canada |
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| Scott, Liz, Blasneks, Josh (archivists) |
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| Kristy, Maddy, Blasneks, and Melanie (catalog team) |
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| Blasneks with Sister Slaughter |
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| us with Blasneks |
Again, one of the great blessings of our mission has been these wonderful people we have served with--both missionaries and the employees.
More pictures on Tuesday, January 24 at their last devotional with the zone.
We got a photo with the "girls" as Jena calls them--Hannah and Paulee who have served as interns for the past year.
Sister Kathy Evans who started in our zone and then went to the Special Projects Zone to do transcriptions has an sweet relationship with Jena. Tuesday was also her last day so we exchanged notes and treats with each other including York Patties which she kept at her desk on the 4th floor.
There was another good-bye luncheon for Elder and Sister Blasnek along with about 6 others (including Sister Evans) who were leaving from the mission. They had come in as an MTC group and had met monthly throughout their mission and some who were staying longer put on a luncheon for them in the Nauvoo Room on Tuesday, January 24th. We got invited as their zone leaders.
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| The missionaries leaving sat at the head table |
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Sister Beech who is leaving is taking a photo of those who are staying
as I take a photo of them who are leaving |
It was a day of frequent tears but none as intense as when Sister McClure and Sister Mantolea sang an Hawaiian farewell song...so beautiful!
Goodbyes are hard, because loving people makes it that way---but loving them is so worth it!
Side note: The Blasneks started their trip home to AZ on Thursday, but Friday morning, Elder Blasnek called Gary to "check in and see how things were going at the ARC." Gary said he will not be calling and checking in!
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