Mission Completed!

Jens and Jessica Howe visited us on May 15, 2014, as they were relocating to Daytona Beach, Florida, where Jens will play Division 1 football and Jessica will work at an Oral Surgeon's medical practice.

 The Curt & Carrie Cox Family and Dale & Crystal Howe Family visited us on May 25th!

We made one last visit to The Kaufmann Memorial Gardens on May 27th.  We always enjoyed the secluded, peaceful, and beautiful environment of this garden when visiting the Country Club Plaza district of Kansas City, Missouri.

Sisters Bott, Rackham, Jorgensen, Hansen, White, and Almodovar at the Kaufmann Gardens.

The same Sister Missionaries in the Kaufmann Gardens.

Sister Pyne standing beside the "Birdie Art" outside the Nelson-Atkin Art Museum.

At PF Chang's in the Country Club Plaza.

Our last breakfast at the Brenchley's home with the Sister Missionaries!

Group photo of the Sister Missionaries at the Brenchley's home.  Front row from left to right: Sisters Bott, Walton, Fonua, Moody, Rogers, Jacobs, Wood, Adams, Thurston, Hansen, Almodovar.  Back row from left to right:  Erikson, Forbush, Raymer, Rackham, Jorgensen, Morris, White (in red cardigan), Taylor (behind Sister White),Villanueva, Kaimarama.

Dinner at Cheddar's with Elder Fisihetau, Elder & Sister Pyne, Richard & Palo Rustin, and Elder Kaafi.

Wearing lays given to us as gifts from the Polynesian members of the Independence 1st Ward.

A visitor center senior couple reception in a meeting room at the Historic Liberty Jail (sitting left to right, Sister & Elder Jones, Elder & Sister Simper, Sister & Elder Brenchley).  Sister Anderson (standing in the foreground) and Sister Heylen (standing in the background) provided the life, energy, and entertainment for the party.

Additional senior missionaries at the senior couple reception (left to right, Elder Pyne, Elder & Sister Melin, and Sister & Elder Kastel).

 

Sisters Diederich, Hunter, Anderson, and Heylen, at the senior couple reception.

 Departing senior missionaries, Elder & Sister Pyne, and Sister & Elder Simper.

"Dress like an elder day" at the Independence Visitor Center.

"Rainbow day" at the Visitor Center.

Standing in front of the Independence Visitor Centers on one of our final days.

After a remarkable musical fireside provided by the Sister Missionaries, photos were taken in front of the Independence Visitor Center, including this photo of the Fauletau Family, and Sisters Heylen, Almodovar, and Jorgensen, along with the Pyne's.

Sister Heylen, Sister Nive Fauletau, Sister Jorgensen, and Sister Almodovar.

The Brown's, with Sister Anderson in the background.

Elder & Sister Pyne, Sister Heylen, Sister Anderson, Sister Luening, and Sister McDonnel, at a final luncheon at the Country Corner Cafe in Liberty, Missouri.

Those returning home, at the Visitor Center Departure Breakfast held June 11, 2014.  From left to right, Elder & Sister Pyne, Sister Jorgensen, Sister Ewell, Sister & Elder Simper, Sister Aldous, Sister Perez, Sister Thurston, and Sister Forbush.

The departing missionaries in front of the Christus in the Independence Visitor Center.

 

The Simper's (to the left) and the Pyne's (to the right), with Visitor Center Directors, Elder & Sister Brenchley.

Listening to customized songs sung by the sister missionaries for each of the departing missionaries.

With Sister Erikson, who, along with Sister Fonua, kindly brought over cookies and a kind note to our apartment, as we were packing and loading on the evening of June 11th.

The sister missionaries requested a kiss.  Elder Pyne was sick with a cold & cough, so Sister Pyne obliged with a kiss to the cheek.

Sister White arranged to have the sister missionaries phone during the early hours of June 12th, just prior to our departing, to sing "Called to Serve" and "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" .  It brought tears to our eyes.

A selfie with Sister Forbush as we were leaving the Independence Visitor Center.  It's sad to leave the people and the work we have come to love.

When we arrived home in Dawsonville, Georgia during the late afternoon of June 13, 2014, our family greeted us with signs, banners, fireworks, and many hugs and kisses!  These are photos with some of our grandchildren.  It's exciting to return home to be close to children and grandchildren, and to begin the next phase of our lives!