Actually, it felt like I got 2 Fourths of July. Got up at 6 and finished getting everything together. Had
to get the stuff from the office into some place in my bags. Lent shampoo to Danielle as they
thought they were going back to the ship but needed up staying with us because
of the traffic for the bus in the morning. The men carried our heavy bags down
stairs. Waked over to the temple and took pictures of it and the Philippine
MTC. They are expanding it. We loaded up the bus to take us to the airport.
The young girls who are all staying for the rest of the
trip were standing there out side the bus waving and crying which made us all cry. I really came to love
them and especially Jennifer. It is amazing how close you can become friends in
such a short time. I guess this what a mission transfer feels like. The member
who did our travel log was on the bus with us. He told us that during the 1998
Coup, the rebels stormed the temple grounds to fight the military. The only damage to the temple as a bullet
grazing the side of one wall. It truly is protected. The ride went fairly fast
as the traffic was light. We dropped off Shannon Williams at one airport as she
is meeting friends at some resort for a week and then going home. We pulled up
to our airport (there are 3 airports) about 9. Our plane is to leave at 12:20. When all the
bags were unloaded mine was not on the bus. The men had taken it down the
stairs for me but had got out it of the bus since they didn't know if the bag
was going home or back to the ship. I had gone out to the bus and saw all the
bags were underneath so I had thought they had out it on there.
So my big blue bag was still I the lobby at the temple
housing. About 1 hour drive each way. Jarstads had met us at the airport so Pat
stayed with me at the restaurant and the bus, driver and the member and Brother
Jarstad went back to the housing to see if they could get it to me before I had
to board.
They were able to get it and take a cab back and only
took 1 1/2 hours. That was a miracle because it can take up to 2 hours to get
from the housing to the airport in the morning traffic. I thanked them and
thought after we should have just had a cab bring it from there and save the
round trip. If they had not made it I would have had to ship it home via FedEx. Glad
it all worked out.
Got to know Pat better and she is a wonderful lady. Made it
through check-in fees, exit fees and security in 20 minutes. They do a pat-down on
each person before they get through security. There is a male line and a female
line. The group were all watching for me
and hoping I had got my bag. I know the men who took it down the stairs for me
felt bad but I just kept telling everyone it was my bad as I should have looked
to make sure it was there under the bus and not assume. Just did not think to
look I the lobby with everyone standing around.
We were spread out the back
part of the flight and I got a 1 hour nap. The connection flight was about 1
hour wait so we found a cultural art center and made a pepper lithograph old
style Koan. It was fun. Looked at the
duty free stuff. Sprayed some perfume so we smelled better. Funny how a little helps so
much!! Checked out the Tiffany store. And still had time to FaceTime dad at
4:00 Utah time to say hello. Flight was 11 hours long so i watched "the
Hunger Games" while I ate dinner and then took an 1/2 of an ambien and slept for
6 hours or so. Felt pretty good even sleeping half sitting up. I woke up when
the lights went on to serve breakfast. Ad started watching "the
Lorax." almost got it finished. I must say the last two flights were some
of the more bumpy ones I have been on in a long time. Just constant turbulence
all the way on the pacific.
Had to fill out the customs forms and guessed that $400
was the money spent. It is a wild guess on that. When we deplaned had decided everyone just get thru as fast as
we could. Chantelle Rowe was the first off and told one of the immigration people we
had 20 people in blue shirts that needed to make a flight in just over one
hour. They gave us a bright orange express pass and we were put in the short
express pass lines took about 20 minutes to clear immigration, pick up our
bags, customs and recheck the bags. Pretty slick. Thank you Chantelle!!!
Many of us were starting to break off to catch flights to different parts
of the country. It is hard to say goodbye as some I may never see again.
We
made the plane with plenty of time. Arrived early in San Francisco so had time
to grab a quick bite. American food tastes so goood!! A bit sad to see this all
come to an end. We are setting up a LDSC PP12 face book account. You can upload pictures for
others to see but it is restricted only to those whose names are listed.
Chantelle is doing this. Barbara winters is setting up a flicker accounts so I
will have to get things on both.
We could see the wild fires burning on the
mountains and most of the cities' fireworks displays as were flew into the
valley. Fun to come in on the 4th of July. There were a few families who were
there to greet us as we arrived. Most had people picking them up. Lots of hugs
and some tears but they talked that every year they have a dinner in the fall
to get together. Hope it happens. I called dad and they were at the Murray
fireworks. They were there to pick me up by 10:40 so i did not wait too long.
So nice to be home but so glad I have the chance to do this. Changes in many lives,
including my own.
Mom/Caroline
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