Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Richard, Laila, Johny and I drove all day to New Mexico. Jared has arranged for us to stay with a family he knows while we are there.
We arrived in the evening. The family we are staying with is so kind and guest- free. When we arrived, they gave us something to eat.
I could hardly fall asleep, knowing we would be picking Jared up from the mission home in the morning.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 – The Big Day!
I can’t put into words how good it was to see Jared again! When he saw me, I got the biggest hug ever! He lifted me right off the ground!
Jared had a lot of fun things planned for us to see while we were in New Mexico. We also got to visit with a few families that Jared had gotten close to while he was on his mission.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
We visited with a few more families that Jared knew.
We also saw a few more places. Jared had not yet been released from his mission, so he had to wear his missionary clothes and his name tag most of the time.
Friday, September 1, 2006
I can’t believe how different New Mexico is from Utah. It’s like being in a different country. I’m grateful we got to see different places while we were here.
Saturday, September 2, 2006
There were some members Jared knew who had a lot of land. On this land, there were Native American arrowheads and other Native American treasures. This member would let the missionaries go onto his property on the last day of their mission and look for treasures. The missionaries got to keep whatever they found.
Since today was Jared’s last day on his mission, we got to go and look for arrowheads. Both Johny and Jared had looked forward to this day!
We spent most of the day looking for arrowheads.
We all found pieces of broken pottery.
I went to a quiet place and prayed to Heavenly Father, asking to find 2 arrowheads. One for Jared and one for Johny.
At the end of the day, the only one who had found an arrowhead was Richard. I asked him if he would give it to Jared, since it meant so much to him. He said, “No, it’s mine!”
On our way home, Jared said to me, “Man, I don’t understand! All the missionaries, when they come here, find at least one arrowhead!” I told Jared that I had been praying for two. Jared excitedly said, “Yes, me too! Why did you pray for two?” I responded, “One for you and one for Johny.” Jared said, “That’s why I prayed for two! One for me and one for Johny!”
We wondered why our prayers had not been answered. Especially since we had said the same prayer. After discussing it, we drove home disappointed. We tried to find comfort in knowing the Lord must have had his reasons.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Laila, Johny, and I had made a big banner and hung it on the garage door. It said, “Welcome home, Jared!” We also hung up yellow balloons and yellow ribbons on the house. Jared had his homecoming talk today.
A lot of people came to hear him speak. After scrament everyone was invited to our house to have something to eat.
Johny, Laila, and I had made a lot of cookies and a cake with Native Americans on it.
It’s so nice to finally have Jared home again!
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