Hellos and Good-byes

We had visited 4 homes with the Sister Missionaries the night before, so, we prepared for our PEF class late and must have forgotten to set the alarm. Early in the morning, we got a call from the brother of Carlos.  We must hurry!

Pres. Benedict was still tying his tie when we pulled up in front of the casa de Carlos to take him to the airport.  As we were leaving, I looked over in the doorway and saw his moma.  She was in tears.  I remember that feeling... a few times...     I gave her a hug and offered what I know. One of the three reasons that we are serving our mission: "Your family will be blessed."   

It was about 6:30 a.m. when we got there. We learned that the plane was to depart at 8:40.  The three of us were the only ones in the two room airport for quite some time.  But... He had never been on an airplane before and today was the day to begin his mission!                

He will fly to Sao Paulo, Brasil to the Mission Language and Training Center there for a month and then to Mosambique.

We went with the Branch President to the casa of Paulino to tell him that his call is to the Brasil, Porto Alegre South Mission, where we served our last mission!  What a fun assignment for us!

Elder Teixeira came home after two years of serving in the Portugal Mission.  What joy!  His friends were waiting all morning for the plane to come in.  (Sometimes the plane comes and sometimes not...or sometimes many hours later or earlier than scheduled...we never know...but we can hear it fly over and then we know it is here...)  Two years is even longer on an island without watches or busy schedules. One of his friends said, "Look at the Prossa.  It's green now!"  There was a little tree and bushes in the landing behind him.  Hugs and high-fives for everyone.

Elder Kelton is on his way to the Mosambique Mission.  After meetings, we witnessed another tearful good-bye with his friends in Cova Figueira and then drove him to the airport in Sao Filipe.    He has been a member for only 1 year and 3 months.  He is the only member in his family.  He is one of the few here that already has his education and a good teaching job.  "I don't know if I will have a job when I get back, but I know I will serve the Lord."

 To witness the coming and goings...I could sit at an airport for days.  To see the hugs of grandchildren running off a plane to waiting grandparents, husbands returning from business travel, people riding in those carts that we all want a turn at, people glassy eyed and carrying too much luggage to really enjoy a vacation; I like watching the older woman with smile wrinkles who crochets her waiting away next to people who watch the news and slurp their drinks, or the sleepy sloutching couple with backpacks trying to read novels that they have lost interest in, or the young boy playing video games much to the dismay of his mom who has educational material and maps on hand and a dad who paces almost as often as he looks at his watch. 

I still like to remember a young man in a California airport waiting for a plane.  Whoever he was...he touched my heart, as he rushed (actually ran in) just as a plane had landed.  He held a small bouquet of flowers in his hand and a bright future on his face.  I felt like we were right in the middle of a movie!  Or the time, in a Salt Lake Airport when a baby from China was placed into the adoptive parents arms, or the many times when we have seen Missionaries come and go...many in our own family.  I know that most of the comings and goings are for a day, a week or more... but some are for a year or two or more and I remember waiting at a Bosie airport 39 yeatrs ago...

  There are reasons why people plan and save and miss their family to help other families...

And so, at times...(like this past week full of wonderful missionary hellos and good-byes)...

I have to wipe my tears away... in order to see theirs.  

Lulicia (Lou) received her call to Brasil, Ribeirao Preto Mission.  Her brother gave her a hug, his face (above) describes best, the pull of feelings, that families all over the world experience at such good news.  It is these moments when our spirits remember what is important and why we have earthlife and how much we love our families.  Those amazing people that we have been blessed to take for granted for awhile. 

 Lou's  mother quietly offered us tiny apples that she had placed on a plate.