Returning Hermana

I really haven't updated this blog since all the Hermanas have gone home to begin their lives.  I am Debi Whitley's husband and I will just say that I am not my wife.  I am not the picture taking person that she was.
I was visited by Brad and Bridget (aka Sister O) last night.  Brad was in town for his company and Bridget came along to try and visit some of the "old people" in some of the areas in which she served on her mission.  She brought her hubby by to see where she lived for half her mission.  It was great to see her and meet her husband.  I wish I had taken a picture of them but like I said I am not Debi.

New Beginnings....

 

Our very first Hermana....

 

 

 

 

Our third Hermana....  

 

 

Our twelfth Hermana....

Another Whirlwind Reunion

 On Saturday I got a phone call from "Hermana Padlock,"

(now it's Jenny), telling me she and her MTC companion were

in New Mexico and on their way back to Texas for a little visit. 

When she got here, I found out that she is engaged! She is

getting married on June 19. Congratulations!!
Jenny had a special friend before she came on her mission,
so I was not too surprised by her announcement.

 

Her old MTC companion actually spent one night here on the first night of her mission.

She was in the Dallas Mission, too, but was never permanently located in our area.
It was so nice to see Jenny again. She told me about her wedding plans,

her last semester at BYU, and about the new job she would start in the fall.

They spent one night, but it was a whirlwind visit.
They visited all of their old areas and the people they knew.
I was so happy to see them again.

Come back soon.....
 and good luck in all you do! 

Missionary Moments April 2015 Epilogue

We had a surprise visit from Makenzie and her parents and sister

one afternoon after work during the first of April.  I was so happy to see them,

so excited....that I talked non-stop like a magpie.

 

She looked great, though. We took pictures, then they left.

After they left and I realized I didn't ask her about her mission,

what she was going to be doing this summer, when she would go

back to school...or ANYTHING. Makenzie, please call me or email me.

I am SO SORRY!

I also got a phone call from Kalolaine, our very first missionary, the one

from Tonga. She is back in the US now. She met a man named Simi and

had just gotten engaged! He was born in Tonga, but grew up in the US.

She was very happy. She told me all about what she had been doing

since she went home. We got a wedding announcement in the mail shortly thereafter,

The wedding will take place on May 1. Congratulations Kalolaine!!

Maybe she will serve ice cream at

her reception (that's an inside joke).

 

 

My most faithful communicator from the missionary era is the former Sister Oh!

She recently graduated from BYU and she is ENGAGED!

She sent me a picture of her RING and a picture of Brad, too!

I am anxious to hear even more details.
 

I have heard from Avery several times, too.

I think she is engaged now, but I haven't heard anything official yet.

Avery, if you are engaged....

please send me a picture to post on here so I will have it in my

book when I print it out.

Also...I need details! 

Calling all former Hermana's.....

Please send me updates. 

 

The Missionary Era Comes to an End

The outside of the door had at least one picture of each companionship.

Elder Brass Knuckles called to thank us for housing the missionaries and let us know that they would not be needing our home to house them any longer. The number of missionaries coming in is far less than before and they have combined some areas. Our area has been combined with another area.


Elder Midgley came to the house to take away all of the missionary books, tracts, magazines, videos, and etc. He took the bunk beds and the mattresses, too. I threw away tons of wire hangers brought here by the sisters. The room is now lonesome....missing the happy chatter of Sister missionaries.


I am a little sad, but I am looking forward to having my house all to myself again (and getting my bathroom back!). Housing the missionaries is like having company for several years. It is wonderful, but privacy is lacking. I will now look forward to the day that Mike and I go on a "Seniors" mission. I love the Savior, the restored gospel, and I want to do all I can to further the Kingdom of God.  It has blessed my life beyond my grandest dreams.


Many thanks to all of the Hermana's who have lived here. I have learned things from each of you. Please come back "home" to visit us. You are welcome any time. I know Heavenly Father will bless each of you for the time and effort you put into His service. God Bless You....until we meet again!

Moving Day

 The night before moving day --  

even missionaries like a little girl talk.

 I am loosing my "dish fairy."
Hermana Catfish was the one missionary that assigned herself
a regular job in our home.  From the first day she arrived
almost every morning (before I got up)
she unloaded the clean dishwasher and put the dishes away
for me. Thank You Hermana Catfish! 

 The Sisters were trying to arrange everything in the trunk.....

 Our newest missionary seemed a little nervous
about this crazy transfer....
I thought she would be staying here for at least
another 6 weeks.

 Hermana Catfish played some hymns to calm their nerves....

My ears will miss these fingers.

 Hermana Waltee gave me her home email address before she left.

 I think transfers are harder when

they don't know who their new companions will be or where

they are going.
 

 Good bye Hermanas....

Don't let the bed bugs bite!   ;)

I will miss you!

 The car was packed to the gills....as usual.

The Sister's went to the transfer point. Then Hermana Catfish called to tell me

there were no new missionaries coming to take their places.

 In the past 27 months there have been 17 sister missionaries

assigned to live with us. We have had at least 7 temporary

or exchange missionaries, too. Housing the missionaries has given me an

increased awareness of the diverseness of the human race. The sisters were each

so different.... but I learned the principles that the gospel teaches enable us to live

together in peace and harmony...even with complete strangers.

Tomorrow I am going to do some mighty big deep cleaning in that room!

We may have Elders moving in at some point in the future. 

"Doubled Out"

 Something unusual has happened.

This time at transfers instead of getting the calls on

Saturday night, finding out who the new companions would be,

and then transferring the next Tuesday....

 

The calls did not go out to any of the missionaries until today 

(Monday/P-day) at 10 p.m.

A number of the missionaries are being "doubled out."

It is like there is a disturbance in the force. 

This will be Sister Catfish's and Sister Waltee's last night here.

I am not sure what will be happening tomorrow.
They will not find out where they are going or who their companions will be
until they get to transfers. They both have to pack their bags tonight.

I don't know if we will get new missionaries or not.
They said they would call me tomorrow once they got to transfers.

I don't know if the revolving door is moving...
 or if it's stuck.
No one has told us anything.

It feels funny.