Another Farewell

We had another farewell, two weeks ago now. We have been so busy I've been too tired to post at night. Farewells are getting harder, as we get to know the missionaries better, having known them longer. One especially hard one was one of the Assistants to the President, Elder Stephens.  We see the APs a lot because they work in the office a great deal, and handle a lot of the business of Missionary Leadership Council meetings, and Zone Conferences, etc.

Sisters Romero, Grant and Gubac, and Elders Vang, Stephens, Burkhart, Woolsey and Bayatan. The going-home missionaries at the Manila America Cemetery, resting place of over 17,000 World War 2 dead, and the place from which Elder Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Philippines for the preaching of the gospel.

The going-home missionaries always sing us a song together.

Sister Gubac

Elder Bayatan, who learned to be quite the negotiator of contracts on his mission. He was involved in acquiring something like six new apartments during his tenure!

Sister Romero

Sister Grant

Elder Stephens, one of the first APs we got to know

Of course, we know that these young missionaries need to return to the real world and move on with their lives, but, selfishly, we certainly would like to keep them around!