Mar 7-8 2008

March 7-8, 2008

Packing, packing and more packing. By late Friday afternoon we had the truck packed and ready to leave tomorrow morning. We were packed so tight they had to tie 2 suitcases and our golf clubs on top of the pickup bed cover. We also had stuff between us in the back seat. Mary Cody was there cleaning and we needed just a little more room, so I gave her by crockpot. Lucky lady. It was a very nice crockpot.

Robert and Cade also hung the Cibecue name Sharon crocheted and framed for the branch. Andi and I visited Cheryl and Thelma and I said a teary goodbye to both those families. Cheryl gave us a plaque. Rochelle gave us a small burden basket that belonged to her grandmother. Thelma gave me some earrings that are like burden baskets.

We were invited to dinner at Abbitt and Tamara’s and on our way there we said goodbye to the Bonitos. They gave Robert an Apache t-shirt and me a keychain. Abbitt also had Cecil and Myrtle, his parents, to dinner so we were able to say goodbye to them. They had a very nice spaghetti dinner for us.

Saturday we said goodbye to Elder Lefler and Lindsey and prepared to drive out of town about 9:00 AM. Just as we were leaving we had the final knock on the door. A man was there asking to use the tables and chairs for Betty’s husband’s Memorial Dinner. So we drove out of the driveway as someone was loading a truck with the tables and chairs. Very symbolic.

Leaving town was so strange. It was wonderful to have Cade and Andi there to share this time with us. We were so happy to be going home, yet sad knowing our assigment was finished and that we were no longer missionaries. We will miss our association with the Apaches and know that it will never be the same again even when we visit them. We will never again be their missionaries. This has been such an adventure and rare learning experience. Our testimonies have certainly grown. We worry about the people we are leaving behind because there is not another couple assigned to serve here and help them after we leave. We hope you all continue to pray for the people of Cibecue.

Having said that, we now have to confess that we were thrilled to get to Phoenix and re-enter our real lives. We left all our clothes, except a few t-shirts, and the clothes we were wearing, at the Branch for a clothing giveaway later this spring. So as soon as we hit Phoenix we both went shopping. Cade went with Robert and they bought him a pair of Calvin Klein levis, Robert’s first ever, and 4 shirts. Andi went with me and we bought a lot more stuff than Robert did. We went to Coldwater Creek and hit the jackpot. Andi should be a professional shopper. All this shopping was done at the Chandler Fashion Center.

Unfortunately we had some bad news during the day. Shawn was planning to bring Jeron and fly to Phoenix. Andi and I planned to tend Jeron on Sunday during the game, but Veda called and said Jeron had a fever and couldn’t come. We were all very disappointed. Robert and I haven’t seen him since last June and we were looking forward to getting to know him. Also Shawn’s plane was delayed and he didn’t arrive until after midnight.

When we finished shopping Cade and Andi got us some pizza at California Pizza Kitchen and we went back to Homewood Suites to eat. We had fun showing off all our puchases.