Return Flight

We just received an email with our return-home flight information, scheduled for about nine weeks from now.  Of course we will be excited to see friends and especially family again.  But the initial response was more like a punch-in-the-stomach than a feeling of excitement.  This is probably a good sign.  It has made us reflect on many amazing things this experience has been for us.

So what is so great about abandoning the familiar and jumping into a world where almost everything is unknown.  There are obvious major obstacles: a different language, a new culture, strange foods, etc.  And even the myriad of mindless things like turning on the oven, buying bread or parking the car can present unimagined challenges.  But they can also bring unanticipated delights, especially things like buying bread!  We often find ourselves feeling like a little kid at Christmas who opens a present and then has more fun playing with the box than with the gift.  And almost every day of our mission has given us a new box.

What have been the biggest things?  First of all, even though we already knew it, we make a great team.  Over the course of our mission we have taken turns pulling each other through new and sometimes difficult challenges with strengths and weaknesses that dovetail beautifully.  We both have great companions!  Secondly, this mission has made us turn our unified focus away from OUR needs, OUR concerns, and OUR problems and place it where it should be: Serving Heavenly Father in His way by doing our best to follow the example of the Savior in helping others.

When that mixed-emotion flight home is past, we hope that two things will have happened.  We hope that the everyday routine that had become commonplace and sometimes mundane at home will take on a renewed sense of excitement and adventure.  And we hope that our focus will stay as it has become here.

Not sure what this traffic sign meant. . . moustache crossing?!

Hummmm . . . what do you do here?

This is how you go for groceries. 

Backing into a parking space can be a little tricky here in France.

And knowing how much your gas cost can be even tougher.

Finding good bread isn't difficult at all. . . 

. . . neither is finding roasted goat heads!

Vegetable or sea creature?  Not sure!

Never seen one of these cars in Idaho.  Wonder how it is in snow?

Lots of graffiti, but not all bad.

France has some really funny looking cats. . .

. . . and a few strange fashions.

Well, not everything here in France is totally different!

One of the best parts!