IS THIS THE FUN PART??

Every once in awhile when we are involved in some mundane task, the dental school is closed again, or we are just thinking aloud we ask ourselves "Is this the fun part?" It has become a joke with us...every once in awhile we just look at each other and say it. We today we found the FUN PART.

Hermanas Julio, Osorio and Valverde
with President Gomez and our AP's
Elders Nicolosi and Waldron

We got up early this morning (leaving the house by 4:30) to take missionaries to the airport. We have 13 missionaries going home this week. Several of the missionaries that left today have found a soft spot in our hearts. We have gotten to know them from mission experiences, visiting their wards, at the dental school, or in the office. They are an exceptional group of missionaries. The group of eleven this morning included three hermanas...one from Columbia, one from Guatemala and one from Ecuador.

These missionaries were so excited and ready to go home. After paying their exit tax (necessary to leave Honduras), we were able to visit with them for a little while. We gave them each a Snickers bar in case they got hungry on the plane, and watched them leave. We felt almost like parents.

The departing missionaries

The arriving missionaries
They don't look too green!!

About 3 hours later, we were back at the airport. This time we were waiting for new missionaries. We have 16 coming in this week. It was so fun to be at the airport. On the same flight were 4-5 missionaries returning home to Honduras. All of the emotions of waiting for our missionary to return came back. Those families were so excited. After greeting their returning sons, the missionaries went to a training meeting for about a day and a half. They learn all about employment opportunities, the PEF, and life skills that will help them continue the path that they have started.

There are no words
(Notice the little hand hugging big brother)

We took the missionaries back to the office where they were fed (surprise) and then started learning about the mission. We took two to the mall to get new glasses this afternoon...and tomorrow we are helping with their training. I am giving the Health lecture and Wayne is doing the Security one.

President Gomez doing what he does best
Leading Missionaries

Our three elders from the States haven't arrived yet. There was a mix-up with their flights, and they are arriving in San Pedro Sula this evening, spending the night with the Mission President there and then taking a 4 hour bus ride to Tegucigalpa tomorrow morning. We are anxious for them to arrive. Thursday morning we say goodbye to Elder Nicolosi and Elder Chambers. They are working up until the last minute. Elder Chambers is the missionary that we took the picture of with holes in his shoes. Elder Nicolosi is the AP that has helped us get adjusted so much to Honduras. We will miss both of them. Here is a picture of Elder Nicolosi having Elder Rodriguez call his family to verify that they had his itinerary. He didn't even talk to them!

IT REALLY WAS A FUN DAY!!