Long Time, No See

I'm back. I've been back for a while now, actually more than a transfer but less than the time it takes to forget how long a transfer is. I had quite the adventure getting back to the states, but lets start with the epic last week in the mission.

My last P-Day: I begged and pleaded with my mission president every week to go to Ushuaia, which is the last city in the world or the farthest south. The first time I asked I got a straight up "no"... but then the President's wife recommended that I go and suggested I call again. So I did. And then my companion did. And then my zone leaders. And then my sister coordinating leader. And finally for my last p-day he said yes. It was a pricey trip but worth it. I have never been to a more beautiful place! I won't even try to explain.

Hermana Estigarribia (my companion) Hermana Velasquez, Hermana Kuhn and I with our tour boat to see the famous last light house in the world.

 Last light house in the whole. This is REALLY cool, if you don't think it is just sit and reflex about your priorities in life.

 The famous sign, which was a strict requirement from president when he gave me permission.

 .... the closest I got to a penguin.... I know, its sad.

The last working day: I always imaged my last transfer full of miracles. I would have it all figured out and have like 10 baptisms... that didn't happen. The whole world seemed to be against me my last transfer, but thats besides the point. My last day in the mission should have been an amazing story but it turned out to be terribly average. I didn't put a baptismal date, we didn't find any new investigadors, I don't even think we did our mandatory 20 contacts, but what I did do was clean an old lady's kitchen and then we went home.

 

After almost our entire transfer together, Hermana Estiagarribia took off her walking boot. She was healed just in time for me to go home.

The Four day trip home:

Sunday morning I got on a bus from Rio Grande to Rio Gallegos (6 Hours). 

From Rio grande to Rio Gallegos you must cross the border of Chill and then back into Argentina. I got into Chill just fine but as I was trying to get back into Argentina I got caught. I guess I had not paid a fee that all American have to pay. At first I laughed and thought "haha they are just messing around trying to scare me." then they took my passport to a back room and 20 minutes later they were taking my suitcases off the bus. Luckily, by a miracle, an elder who had just been called to be the assistant was traveling with me. I was suppose to do this trip all by myself by just a day before they bought Elder Garrady a ticket too. He took his stuff out too and I went to a back room to enter my credit card number into a sketching computer. Due to the fact we were in the middle of no where the internet was super slow and every bus passed through customs. We were then strained at the border of Argentina and Chilli, until a nice worker asked Cesar to drive us to Rio gallegos.  I turned to Elder Garrady as we were getting in the strangers truck and said "this could turn out to be a really funny story or a really sad story." Cesar kindly dropped us off in Rio Gallegos after a pleasant first discussion. 

 In cesar's truck

 Safe in Rio Gallegos.
Sunday Night I bused from Rio Gallegos to Comodoro Riviadavia (the mission house) 10 hours
I spent all monday in Comodoro with Hermana Ross. We shopped. We went to Lunch with the president. We had our last interviews and dinner in the mission house.
Tuesday morning we flew from Comodoro to Bueno Aires.

 Me, President rogers, Hermana Rogers, Hermana Ross in the comodoro Airport.

 In the airplane leaving Comodoro. we have a similar picture just a year and a half before coming to Argentina.

We spent the afternoon in the Buenos Aires. We had just enough time to eat lunch and go through the temple in Buenos Aires. This is a capstone event. I felt the love and approval of God as I sat in the temple. I felt as though God was proud and had accepted my service. It was an amazing experience.

 Tuesday Afternoon I flew from Buenos Aires to Atlanta Georgia. (11 hours)
Wednesday Morning I flew from Atlanta to Seattle.
Where I was greeted by family and friends. The moment you dream of your whole mission. My mom almost killed my dad because he got to me first. Noah also surprised me by showing up!

 Home Sweet home. I liked to asked missionaries what the first thing they were going to do when they got home would be. When the question was returned I said "lay down on carpet"

 I had two coats. I left the decent one for a companion and the absolutely disgusting one I burnt on Hermanas Rogers request.

 The food I missed was my mom's homemade salad. I was counting down the day to a good salad.

And thats it. I'm home. My mission is now in the past. It all just a memory. The hardest and most rewarding year and a half of my life is over. I said I wouldn't change, but I did. Or I guess I didn't really. I still like hip hop and running. Ice cream is still my favorite food and I'm utah ute til I die. Now I'm just stronger in my faith. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is my savior and my redeemer. He died and now lives so that we can all return to the Father. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God that restored the true gospel. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God because when I read it I feel closer to him. I give thanks to God every day for the opportunity I had to serve him and for the prompting, or individual revelation I received over two years ago to go on a mission. God loves me and knows me personally, like each of you.