The beginning of goodbyes

October marked the end of President Irion’s and President Smith’s service. They and their wives have been such wonderful inspiring leaders. I have been blessed by their counsel and their effort to create warm and personal connections with all temple workers and patrons. We had a lovely farewell dinner with testimonies and music. Two sisters sang a song from Wicked, which doesn’t sound very appropriate but it was the message of “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”  Very appropriate!  All of us have been changed. It has been a great blessing and a humbling one to have served with so many outstanding and truly amazing people. Everyone here is living a life of service and consecration. We also had two evenings with special endowment sessions - only half the missionaries at a time will fit in the rooms- and it was a sweet experience to feel such love and spirit. I looked around and thought of President Holland’s talk on the rank and file of the church and here we were - just ordinary people trying to be good and help further the Lord’s work.  The prayer circle was especially touching - all 54 people circling the room uniting in prayer.
Next weekend the 30 couples that came before us will end their mission and leave. We will miss them all. The temple maintenance closure follows for two weeks so that will feel even stranger. Then it reopens the week of thanksgiving with a shorter winter schedule (but we will still serve 5 days a week.). Then it will be only 3 weeks or so til we will finish. It’s hard to believe it’s coming soon. We will love being back with family but I know it will be hard to end this glorious mission experience. It has been a unique and wonderful time to have nothing to do but temple work, family history, reading, and immersing myself in the history of the people and places we’ve come to love.  Goodbyes are always a little hard.