Monday, April 22nd - a beautiful sunny day. Saw this magnolia tree on our walk this morning. Gary started packing today and did some deep cleaning. I had a special missionary experience. The Elders asked me to answer several questions of an investigator - about the role of women in the church. I was able to teach and testify. Tonight was the last FHE of our mission! Tons of kids showed up. Amy's short spiritual lesson started things off right. They all wrote welcome notes for the new senior couple and placed them around the institute - and then were off on their campus photo scavenger hunt - but back for refreshments and visiting and some ping pong playing. Said some goodbyes tonight - to the Branch Presidency and wives. We have surely loved our association with them and built some permanent friendships. We will still see most of the students this week.
Now for the highlights of last week. Monday was cleaning day for me and lesson prep and napping day for Gary (still recovering). We heard the horrible, sad news of the Boston Marathon bombings. FHE was "Show & Tell". Dallin came early and played the banjo - a talent I didn't know he had. It was a fun night - everything from pressed flowers to a newborn (3-day old) live lamb! I fixed a feast for M&M onTuesday - but only 7 kids showed up - very rainy day. They ate plenty and still there were enough left overs for us and the Elders. Gary taught the lesson - "Render Unto Ceasar." We had a dinner invitation that night.
Wednesday was the last district meeting of the transfer. I had made a nice baked chicken dinner for the lunch afterwards. We spent the afternoon working on lesson preparations. Then it was off to Marion to teach - Gary's last Institute lesson.
He did another hyper-link power point lesson with lots of video clips and photos. It was good and covered Presidents Kimball, Benson, and Hunter. We read about the terrible explosion in West, Texas and the loss of many lives there. Makes one think about mortality and being prepared to meet God.
We see these cool huge wood carvings on our way to Marion each week in a rural area. Thursday morning I had fun playing in the dirt - weeding actually. (I'm looking foward to working in my garden at home.) But then the sky darkened and the rain came. There was a tornado watch all afternoon/evening - but the students showed up for Institute anyway and all was fine. Our CES supervisor, Brother Simpson,came for the evening.
Friday was waffles & ice cream (ah memories of my youth) and sausage and scrambled eggs and sliced strawberries for lunch. Gary was a great help getting it all ready on time. I taught the lesson - "Thou Are the Christ." The Bible videos have been a great springboard for good New Testament lessons. That evening was the Branch Closing Social and going away party for us and a dance. Each group of students sang us a Primary song with new words - "We're Glad They Called You On A Mission", "Game Nights", "Brown Sugar Bacon", "Mumfords Dear" with Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked becoming "Our Dear Mumfords laughed as they cleaned & cleaned & painted & cleaned" and Jingle Bells (not a Primary song) became "Munch & Mingle." The last group, wearing hula skirts, sang about our upcoming trip to Hawaii and chided us for not inviting them along. 
.. We received a photo album full of pictures from the events this past year. We got in our last game of Canasta with Pres. & Sister Jacobson too - while the kids were dancing. 
