Bonus Email: Returning Home!

I figured I’d give a little update on the last few days of mission and my return home!

Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal missionary days. It felt really weird knowing I would never walk the streets or ride my bike as a missionary again. 

On Wednesday all the departing missionaries met at the mission office and shared meaningful experiences and things we learned from our missions. Later on we went to the temple for an endowment session and it was amazing as always. I was able to find relief from stress I had been holding in and receive answers to questions I had. Gosh I love the temple. Then we went to the mission home, had an amazing dinner, and did a little devotional with President and Sister Fitzgerald. 

I couldn’t sleep all night because of the anticipation and I couldn’t fall asleep on the plane either so I read like 5 chapters in the Book of Mormon and I may or may not have watched portions of avengers on someone else’s screen from across the isle.

On the plane from San Antonio to Salt Lake City I talked to the lady sitting next to me and she told me that she was going to visit her sister who just got diagnosed with a horrible disease. At the end of the flight I asked if she would be interested in reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon that has helped me when family members have faced health issues and she declined haha. But she said I could tell her about it and she was really appreciative of the invitation. I think a lot of the time we feel that sharing the gospel is awkward and might cause tension but when you do it with love people will recognize that and be grateful that you were willing to share something that is meaningful to you.

When I landed in Lewiston I was seated in the back of the plane so I had to wait a while to get off. That was brutal. The whole time I was holding back my tears so no one would look at me weird but right as I saw my family the tears came flowing out. It was definitely an ugly cry but a happy cry indeed. It was hard to process that I was seeing my family with my own eyes and it still doesn’t feel real honestly. 

That night I got released and it was so bittersweet. Taking off those sacred tags was painful. I also reported to the high council that night so that was a little scary but I also enjoyed being able to share the experiences and lessons I learned on my mission with them. 

Later that night I went for a drive in my car alone and listened to music. That was nice, but I have to say that it’s a lot harder to not speed when I don’t have a computer yelling at me when I go over the limit haha.

Honestly it was kind of anticlimactic coming home haha but I am very happy to be with my family again. It almost feels like I was never gone.

I loved my mission and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to serve the past 2 years. 

Love y’all!

- Elder Christensen

Pics

- Last lesson with Diego!

- The Fields

- Rockin’ the cowboy boots with Sister Tews

- At the airport!

- Last pic with Elder Taggart

- The temple with the Fitzgeralds!!