The Path of Thy Feet

After our new missionaries headed off with their new companions, our departing Elders and Sister gathered in the foyer with Elder Beier for some photos before he hurried off to take care of some Mission responsibilities.
 Elder Filips, Elder Nelson, Elder Neilson, Sister Kunzelman, Elder Mackin, Elder Cluff, Elder Madsen, and Elder Davies (pronounced Davis)



 Theses are shots of them talking and interacting with each other.  It has been such a pleasure getting to know them and working with them.

They've worked hard and served well together.

Sr Cordova had an appetizing meal waiting for us, I'm so grateful to her for all that she does to serve this missionaries whom she loves so much.

We had a wonderful evening of food and sharing mission experiences, while President Stevenson began their final interviews. Elder Davies scurried around helping every one, helping with dishes...he's so used to filling every minute of his day with service, teaching, helping others, that it felt odd to him to just sit still.  He is glad he's headed off to University on Monday so he can keep his days filled like he has here.

The next day, we headed north, had lunch at Costa Vida in Lone Tree (a mission tradition on the way to the temple--the missionaries get 50% off!), and then just over (barely) the mission border to the Denver Temple. It's just minutes outside of our mission. We're so glad we get to attend so often with our missionaries.

What a great way to close their mission serving in the temple together participating in an endowment session and then doing family sealings.  They get to hear the beautiful words of those ordinances and hear the wonderful blessings they will receive as the return home and continue on with the next things that life has in store for them. Is there anything better than a day spent in the temple? 

..dinner was waiting. and then a final testimony meeting. What amazing testimonies they have and oh how they have grown. The things they have seen and experienced. The lives they have seen changed and the changes they have seen in their own.  I love their laughter, especially Sister K's. It's so full of life, bubbly and joyful even if you don't know what she's laughing about it make you laugh as well. Their dry wit.  Their intelligence. Their hard work. The way they have served and taken care of each other. The stories and memories they share. I'm not ready for them to go home.

Early the next morning, they loaded into the Mission Van

and luggage was loaded into the trailer 

for our trip to the airport.

I can't believe how much we have grown to know and love them in such a short period of time.

I love this sweet sister so much. She's incredible.

 airport send off from some of the members.

Elder Madsen's Mom picked him up at the mission office. They're going to tour Colorado and the see the places that he served before returning home to California. It was so fun watching them interact together. When Elder Madsen found out during our welcome tour that President Stevenson loves the Princess Bride movie, he ended most of his weekly letters to the president with a quote from the movie.  So President Stevenson sent him an email that he would have received his last P-day that said this:  "I have been so long in the [missionary] business, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life."  "Have you ever thought of piracy?  You'd make a great dread pirate Roberts."

"Ponder the Path of Thy Feet" Proverbs 4: 26

What incredible paths these feet have walked over the last couple of years.
We 💕these missionaries.