My Mission

"A mission is a strange experience.  

It's a trial and a test.

A mission throws at you the worst, 

yet teaches you the best.

They told me this would be the best period of my life, 

but I guess they didn't explain it all too clear. 

I came out looking for a bed of roses.  

I just wasn't expecting all of the thorns I've found out there. 

Since I've been out, 

I've never been so happy.  

I've never been so depressed.

I've never felt so forsaken.  

I've never felt so blessed.

I've never been so confused.  

My mind has never been so clear.

I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant.  

I've never felt Him so near.

I've never been so discouraged.  

I've never been so full of hope.

I feel like I can go on forever.  

I think I have come to the end of my rope.

I've never had it so easy.  

I've never had it so tough.

Things have never gone so smoothly.  

Things have never been so rough.

I've never traveled through more valleys.  

I've never ascended to so many peaks.

I've never met so many neat people.  

I've never met so many freaks.

I've never had so many ups.  

I've never had so many downs.

I've never worn so many smiles. 

 I've never worn so many frowns.  

I've never been so lonely.  

I've never had so many friends.  

Man, I hope this is all over soon.

Gosh, I hope it never ends."

- Author: Jack L Brinkerjoff

Welcome Home, Elder Ayres!

(Christina writing here)

We have our son home! It was so wonderful to see him coming down the escalator, my heart is so full and our family is complete!

The following Saturday, we had an Open House in our house where friends and neighbors came to welcome Elder Ayres home. We wish we'd had the chance to take pictures of everyone who came, but we got a few.

The next day he gave his homecoming address in Church, and we had a lot of other friends as well. Again, we wish we could have photographed everyone!

Thank you so much to all that came, supported him throughout the mission, helped with the open house in any way, or in our Ward, and welcomed our son home! We love you! Thank you!

Pics of the trip/airport/home:

Pics of the open house:

Pics after the homecoming address Sunday:

Translation to Portuguese

Bem-Vindo ao Lar, Elder Ayres!

Nosso filho está em casa! Foi tão maravilhoso vê-lo descer pela escada rolante, meu coração está completo e nossa família também!

No sábado após, tivemos uma Casa Aberta em nossa Casa, onde amigos e vizinhos vieram receber a casa de Elder Ayres. Desejamos ter tido a chance de tirar fotos de todos os que vieram, mas conseguimos algumas.

No dia seguinte, ele deu seu discurso de regresso a casa na Igreja, e nós também tivemos muitos outros amigos vindo de outros lugares. Mais uma vez, desejamos que pudéssemos ter fotografado todos!

Muito obrigado a todos os que vieram, apoiaram-no durante sua missão, ajudaram de qualquer maneira na casa aberta e na ala, e acolheram nosso filho de volta! Amamos vocês! Muito obrigada!

Fotos da viagem / aeroporto / casa.

Fotos da casa aberta.

Fotos após o discurso no Domingo.