Mission Home: The Farewell Dinner/Devotional (September 13, 2005)

    Brad was always pretty close to other missionaries in his “batch” from the MTC.  ("Batch" refers to the group of missionaries with which Brad entered the MTC.  Missionaries have their own lingo, with funny terms like this which require an explanation.)  So, we were really looking forward to meeting them as they all gathered in the mission home for dinner and a testimony meeting.  The “batch” was scheduled to leave Manila early the next morning, so we would be with them when Brad said his goodbyes.  Brad said he plans to share an apartment with several missionaries from his “batch” - including Elders Ward, Martinez and Johnson (the three he has mentioned most often over the past two years). 

    We got to meet President and Sister Stringham (presiding over the mission since July 2005), and the other missionaries.  There were about 20 going home with this group, including three of the local Filipino missionaries who received gifts and letters from Maralea and Kelli’s Christmas project.  One, Elder Bangloy, has written to us on several occasions and mentioned that he has heard often from Dan and Kathy’s family who he said with a big smile “sent me a family picture.”  There was a lot of excitement in the air.  Brad was one of four departing missionaries with parents coming to pick him up.  The parents of one of those elders did not arrive until after the evening was over, but I did have the chance to catch up to them when they appeared well after the meeting and report on what a fine job he did in presenting a spiritual thought and bearing his testimony.  There were 20 testimonies in rather rapid fire succession before President and Sister Stringham addressed the group.  I think the elders were collectively mindful about making the meeting too long, which was too bad really.  We had all kinds of time and were in no hurry.  However, I was especially moved by one of the local Filipino elders whose parents were in attendance.  He was very sweet, and spoke of how the gospel had forever changed his life.  He pledged to keep going, noting that his mission experience was merely a springboard in to bigger and better service opportunities.  Brad expressed similar sentiments.  The elders got some great counsel from President and Sister Stringham - to take the tools that they have acquired over the past two years and use them to love and serve others, to become worthy husbands and fathers.  It was a very exciting moment as we all knelt in prayer to close the meeting.  We took pictures, including Brad with his nanay (the woman who cleaned their clothes) and then we prepared to leave.  Brad was a bit torn, because he wanted to spend time with his “batch.”  He would not be returning home with them, and he clearly wanted to be part of the group’s final hours together.  So, we left the mission home without him and returned to the hotel, having arranged for Brad to join us at around “lights out.”  We gathered his luggage - which must collectively weigh about 150 pounds.  As we settled back into the room, Maralea laid on the bed to “rest” and was out cold.  I have been tired, but have forced myself to sleep at my normal hours (per local time).  So far, it seems to have worked because I really have not felt the effects of jet lag.  The adjustment was been pretty good.  (Maralea’s a seminary teacher now, so it’s not that unusual to see her conking out at 8:30 p.m.)

Brad with his "Batch" as they prepare to all leave for home after two years of missionary service

Elders Royal and Martinez

Brad with Pres. and Sis. Stringham

Brad relaxing in the Mission Home with his "Batch"

Elder Ward capturing the moment

We even got to share in the final dinner with Brad's "Batch" in the Mission Home

Brad traded his skinny ties and small knots for fat ties and fat knots

We loved being at the Mission Home with Elder Royal, the Stringhams and the "Batch."  (By the way, see the worn out shoes I'm wearing?  I still have those, they are still worn out - even more so - and I still wear them.)

    I returned to get Brad from the mission home at about 10:30 p.m., arriving to find the other missionaries loading up the van with their heavy suitcases and personal belongings which would be accompanying them home.  Brad somewhat reluctantly said his final goodbyes to his “batch.”  I felt bad that he could not stay longer, but Maralea and I just could not stay up much longer.  (Old people, sheesh.)  We returned to the hotel, and as we walked into the lobby Brad said: “I haven’t been in a building this nice for two years.”  He seemed kind of out of sorts as we got onto the elevator to take us to the room.  When we walked into the room (which is fairly small), Brad walked into the bathroom and said: “Wow.  You can drink the water from the tap?  I am used to having to purify water just to brush my teeth.  That’s amazing.”  Shortly thereafter as he exited the bathroom, Brad had a smile on his face and said: “You have hot water here?  I haven’t had a hot shower since I left the MTC.  That’s awesome.”  Despite being tired, we sat up and talked a while.  It was the first time we really had some time to visit without distractions.  He had questions about friends, family and other news from home.  It is fun sitting in a restaurant with him, as he just breaks into the local language.  We had our first family prayer with him before retiring and had him offer the prayer.  He began with a bunch of words in Tagalog said so fast . . . and then broke into English, with a little smattering of Tagalog here and there.  It’s the local language, called “Taglish” (a mixture of Tagalog and English).  It is so awesome being reunited with our first missionary son.  At the close of our first post-mission family prayer (well, technically it’s without the other kids, so we’ll call it the first “pseudo” family prayer), we put our hands in the middle and broke out into the family cheer: “Go forth to serve well.  Return with honor!”  It didn’t bring tears to my eyes at the time, but it does at this moment as I reflect upon it.  He is different.  So mature, confident, yet humble and kind.  Sure some of that will probably wear off with time (ha), but I gotta love it while it’s there.  We were doing good with all the family chat until I turned off the lights, then all the talking suddenly stopped and we were sawing logs (zzzzzzzz).