Coming Home.

Well I figured I should write an entry since being home from my mission. It's hard to believe it has been over 3 weeks!

Going home was a weird experience. It was strange to go to transfer bus and not have anyone to pick up or anywhere to go really. Since the other 2 sisters going home were out in Kansas and wouldn't be in Independence until 5, I got to hang out with a bunch of elders. By myself. So strange! We went to a little seminar put on by the employment office and they made us all call each other by our first names. We all of course thought it was hilarious to call the other missionaries by their first names, but not so funny when they did it to us. We also got to go to the Community of Christ temple and sing! One of the elders that went home with me wanted to do it, so our mission president had arranged it and a bunch of us went over and were able to sing in the big meeting room- the one where you can see up to the top of the spiral. That was an experience. Sister Browning and I sang "I Stand All Amazed." Afterwards I went to lunch with about 25 elders- some were going home with me and some were waiting for their companions to come from Kansas. I rode in the mission van with some elders and it felt so not allowed to be there by myself! After lunch they were thinking about what to do (we had a couple of hours until we had to be at the mission home) but I made them drop me off at the VC- I needed some sisters! It was sad to say goodbye to the sisters and the VC. I knew I would be back in a month, but it wouldn't be the same. It never will be.

We went to the mission home and talked and got ready for dinner. The whole time I kept checking the time, like there was something I should be doing. We had dinner and then while President interviewed all of us we sat around and shared experiences from our missions.Things we had learned, ways we had changed, etc. It was cool to see the changes that have happened in all of us and the goals we have for our lives.

The next day was the day! In our mission we have a cool last day- we get to go to Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman. On the way we stopped at the site where they are building the new Kansas City Temple. It is coming along fast! I am so excited for it. Then we were off to Far West. We walked around the site and then took our traditional group picture. The best is that President sets up the camera on self-timer and then runs to be in the picture with us. It is so cute/hilarious to watch. Also all the elders were being careful where they stood because of a joke President made. There are a lot of former elders and sisters who have gotten married from our mission, and once an elder going home and a sister going home stood next to each other in the group picture-then they got married. So the elders made sure not to stand too close to us. :)

Adam-ondi-Ahman was a cool experience. I was afraid it was going to be cold, being the middle of February in Missouri, but by that time it was a perfect day. We got there and went down to Preacher's Rock, which is a rock they used to stand on and preach (surprise) while they had church meetings there. There is a little valley below it and you can sit in it far away from the rock and still hear the person talking perfectly. It is pretty incredible. We all got the chance to get on the rock and recite a scripture.

Then we went back up the trail and drove over to a little meeting room they have there. It is a tradition for every group of departing missionaries to have a testimony meeting there. How amazing is that? It was a really good and emotional meeting. I didn't even cry when I bore my testimony, which was surprising to me, but I did a little at the end watching all the elders crying. After the meeting we had a minute before we left and I went to a balcony behind the building that overlooks one of the valleys there. It was really a breathtaking sight. It wasn't amazing and green yet but the quiet and the spirit there is so tangible. I just had a moment alone to think and pray and be grateful to be there. 

Then we were off...to the airport!!! Craziness. The Van Komens walked us in and made sure everything was set, then they left us. It was funny to be there and remember the last time I was there and the opposite feelings I had. Everything was so new, I was nervous and excited and had no idea what to expect. Now I was sad to leave that place and especially the people. But at the same time I was also nervous and excited to be going home. It was hard to concentrate on the flight, but I forced myself to finish my last day of Book of Mormon reading so I could finish the challenge on time. I think Salt Lake was the hardest! I had a 2-3 hour layover there and I just wanted to be home! My friends Marci and Nikki came to visit me there, and that was fun. I think it was hilarious to them to see me as such a missionary. Then it was finally time! I think that 40 minute flight was the longest flight ever, and I have been on some pretty long flights. But I got there and it was great! My family was there, some people from the ward, my former roommates Kim and Robyn, my friend Amanda and my old companion Sis. Webb. It was of course good to see everyone. I of course went to my mom first and cried and hugged her. I said hi to everyone and all the men made me hug them. :) It felt not real. That is a scene you imagine in your head before it happens but in your head you don't feel like you are floating.

We went home and it was weird to see it again. It was weird to be in my house, to go to my own room, to see my stuff I forgot about, to be able to talk face to face with everyone. Good, but weird. It has been quite the experience so far "adjusting" to non-missionary life.