Hasta Luego

Here we are at the temple with this set of elders ready to go home tomorrow.  We have watched them all arrive and now leave.  The majority of them have learned well the lessons of the mission.
Elder Fotu-Tau'aho, Elder Franco, Elder Perez, Elder Mora, Elder Salazar, Elder Peterson, and Elder Hernandez.  We attended the temple and then went back to the mission home to eat again. 

This morning we got us at 4:30 to be at the airport by 5:45.  Elder Perez had a different flight that was to take him to Monterrey first and then on to Culiacan.  We put him on the flight and got all the others checked in on two other flights and waited.  Soon, here came Elder Perez again.  After being loaded on the plane, they took them off because of mechanical problems.  So he ended up flying to Mexico City with all the Latinos.  Elder Peterson' and Elder Salazar's faces tell the excitement they have for this day.  They both served well and go home to two very different circumstances.  One, a normal, happy family and beautiful home and the other to living with relatives in a not-too-nice anything.  He's decided to move on and go to a university somewhere away from home and get beyond the life he's known all of his life.  He showed us the picture of his home.  Some boards and a few sticks and blankets hanging.  And yet, we never saw him without a smile and a positive attitude.   Clearly, it's not about what you have but who you are and the feeling of gratitude you gain.   Believe me when I say that we are all spoiled in the United States.

Elder Lindao and Elder Esparza arrived too late to say goodbye to Elder Peterson.  Elder Lindao worked with him as an assistant.  Here they are watching Elder Peterson' plane taxi down the runway.