Goodbye's

On the morning that Travis' and Tracy's crew left to go home ( Jan 5th) we all gathered together for our departing family prayer. We had experienced a wonderful time together and now it was time for everyone to return to Cincinnati. Before they left we gave them each a Book of Mormon and asked them to do as we were doing with our missionaries which was to read the Book in 60 days, which was the same time it took Joseph Smith to translate it. We testified to them that it was the most correct book on earth and that they would grow closer to their Savior by reading it. As they read the book they were to underline all the references to Jesus Christ which were over 100 names of the Savior. There were over 6,000 verses in the Book of Mormon and over 4,500 referred to Jesus. In 239 chaptes only 6 of them did not mention something about Jesus. They were also to highlight the doctrine of Christ. We reminded them of the words of one of our past prophets, Ezra Taft Benson.

"There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives
the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find
greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid
deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow
path.... When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you
will find life in greater and greater abundance."

Ezra Taft Benson

With that challenge, the mission van was loaded up with our precious possessions and they returned to their homes in Cincinnati with lots of wonderful memories we had just had.

Izzy wanted to pick her own orange the morning she left to go home.

Tiffany, Michael and the girls were the last to go on January 10th. It was so fun to get to know these little ones

The Pitts family were the first to leave on New Years Day. Tricia had been a real trooper during all the activities but it was important to get her back on safe territory as Baby Pitts had arrival date on January 22nd.