Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Getting ready to go

Our three-year assignment here ends on Wednesday afternoon when the new mission president and his wife arrive at the Jauja International (joke!) Airport.  We have tried our hardest to get things done well in advance, and our "pack-out" of things being shipped home went well ten days ago.
However, the local Church O&M (Operations & Maintenance) waited a bit longer than perhaps they should have, and for the past six weeks, there has been frantic work going on around the house.
A good bit of which were things that we had mentioned (and re-mentioned) along the way, but have now become urgent.
We have notified the organizers of the work when we'd be out of town, but less advantage was taken than could have been, meaning we have been living here while a lot of the work gets done.
The original plan by O&M was that we would stay in a hotel for our last two weeks while they worked on the house.  Two weeks?!  As I said, they've been working for a solid six weeks.  Glad we didn't buy the original plan.
Paula has tidied up her gardens, wishing them well under new supervision
Meanwhile, there have been kind farewells and cool gifts,
and more meals than my weight-management plan had accounted for.  We have one more lunch today and a farewell meeting this evening.
We will dearly miss many people here, and the majestic scenery throughout the mission.
However, we will miss the missionaries the most; they have become our adopted sons and daughters from all points in the hemisphere.  We have come to love them and appreciate their desires and efforts to do good and help others, and we rejoice in their successes.  We're already mission 'grandparents,' as they begin to marry and have families.
This has been a rich time in our lives, and one in which we have grown closer, in part by necessity. We have learned a great deal alongside the missionaries, and while this has been a sacrifice, it has not been without it's compensating blessings.
Now, to take care of the last details and hand over the cell phone on Wednesday to the new president, and pass out of a tough, but sacred part of our lives.
Dave & Paula

9 comments:

Randy and Leslie Reese said...

Well done thou good and faithful servants....

Cindy Burt said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said...

Thank you for your tremendous example in your love for the Gospel to our son, Elder Burt. He has always spoken highly of you both, with great respect and love. I know he will miss you. As parents, we appreciate knowing of your care and attention for our son. John and Cindy Burt

Cindy Burt said...

Thank you!

Patti said...

What a wonderful three years! Good luck with your big hike. Viajes seguros!

Unknown said...

I wanted to let you know how much your blog has meant to me. I first found it when my son was in the Colombian MTC and you were the medical people in Bogota. Being a mom with her fist son so far from home and an overactive imagination, I was very happy and relieved that the church had medical people and super wives (and fun ones at that) just in case he might need them. Then you were called to be a mission president. It was shortly after, that my second son was submitting his mission papers. (My two sons' missions overlapped 15 months.) I anxiously awaited to find out where he would serve and thought many times how cool it would be if he could come to your mission. Of course Heavenly Father had different plans and and my son went to Philadelphia. It was exactly right for him. I continued following your blog and I and my husband and daughters enjoyed all of your posts. Your humorous description of obtaining a driver's license was very timely as my daughter was getting hers here in the US around the same time. She felt like it was all a hard process until she found out about your experience. When my first son got home from Colombia I shared your blog with him. He spent days looking and re-looking at all of your pictures of Bogota and talking about the places in them (most of which he didn't have his own pictures of). It was really great for him that first week home when everything here was so not normal anymore. It was a blessing. My second son has now been home almost a year and I have continued to enjoy your blog. You and your wife are such amazing people. I admire you and all you have done. I just wanted to let you know how you have touched my life when you didn't even know. Thanks for your example, your humour and sharing your experiences with the world.
Amber Nieman
Providence UT

Mikkelsens said...

I will miss reading about all of your adventures but know that you will continue to serve and inspire others in the next chapter of your lives. Thank you for your faith and examples. You're both an inspiration to me!

Sue Mikkelsen

Unknown said...

Dear Pres. and Sis. Henderson,

We have prayed much for you and your wife as you have lead this mission and missionaries. We know that your inspired leadership has directly impacted our son, Elder Crosland. He has appreciated your council and support and tells us that he has taken every opportunity to interview with you. Thank you for your loving influence.

God bless you as you return home and reunite with your family and friends. We so appreciate your service!

Love,
Anne and Richard Crosland

Unknown said...

Dear President and Sister Henderson,

You have been sorely missed back here at home! I personally have loved every entry and every picture of your blog all these years. Somehow, knowing your sense of humor like I do, it felt like you were still connected to us here.

You and Sister Henderson have always been a great example of faithful, righteous, hard working servants of the Lord that still knew how to have a good time!! Of course, to boot, you were Brenda's doctor for our first born, Ashton, 30 years ago this month.

Love you both! Safe hiking and travels home!!!

James Epps