December 3

Went to the devotional at the Service Center this morning.  It was interesting.  We have not made a big deal of going home.  We haven't wanted to think about; we haven't wanted to talk about it, so many people do not know it is here. 

I was hoping that we would just get through the devotional and on with the day.  As Elder Wakolo was talking before the devotional part of the meeting, he kept looking over at us.  After doing that about four or five times he stopped and asked, "Elder and Sister Tennis when are you going home?"  I told him we were leaving Monday.

"Next Monday?"

"No, this Monday."  When he looked incredulously at me I add, "All missions have to come to an end sometime and now is our time."

I think he was inspired to ask that questions.  He and all of the Service Center would have been embarrassed if they had missed saying good-bye to us.  So the devotional was our testimonies.  Scott does such a great job.  He is spiritual, funny, poinient, and then spiritual again.  Elder Wakolo invited us to be at the morning prayer on Friday so they can sing us the Fijian Farewell Song and have a little breakfast.  Nice save, Elder Wakolo.  Just another indication of why he is a Seventy and the manager of the Service Center.

Scott spent the morning in the baptistry with the YSAs.  We now have 132 baptized members of our Paradise Ward.  Pretty amazing for just 13 weeks and a class full of YSAs who are novices at family history work.

Spent the rest of the day working on this blog.  Talking to YSAs in the institute.  Asking Elder Jackson to give Scott a blessing, because he got dizzy in the temple and I am afraid that he has overdone it and is getting the flu I started to get on Sunday which did not blossom into full blown flu as Scott gave me a blessing.  Delivering Susan Stanford her stuff out of our flat, picking up more food for the fireside, and fixing dinner for Maggie and Brendon.  

We said good-bye to Maggie after the fireside tonight; She leaves on her mission tomorrow.  She cried and cried when we hugged her.  In every life comes people that seem to be familiar even though they are at first strangers.  Maggie is one of those people in my life.  We loved her instantly the first time she came into the institute.  She is one amazing young adult woman.  Our only consolation is that we will be friends for an eternity.