Emme(7), Reece(7), Lydia(8), and Zoe(6) in their beautiful sarees.

This will be our last posting on this blog.  Elder Meyers and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting yesterday, July 22nd.  Our topics that were given to us was faith and repentance.  Of course we tied that into our mission.  Once we got started it was easy to talk about those wonderful people and experiences that we were blessed to have in Sri Lanka.
The grand daughters are holding signs thanking Sister Ann for having their sarees made for them.  They were beautiful in their

sarees and the people at church enjoyed seeing them.
After sacrament about forty friends and relatives came to our home and we enjoyed a lunch.  Most of all we enjoyed just being together and getting reacquainted. 
Brad and Rae made a special effort to come to church and support us. Mark and Jan stopped by for dinner and a visit on Friday.  They were headed to Oregon for a few days of relaxation.  We want to say thanks both to Brad and Rae and Mark and Jan for taking their time to show their love and support for us.
Scott and I will never forget the time we spent as the Lord's missionaries.  Sri Lanka will always have a special place in our hearts.  We will love our Sri Lankan family forever!

HOMEWARD BOUND!

Ann, Papa K, and Anton at the airport

Inside the Dubai Airport

Looking at the city of Dubai

Waiting at the gate for plane to Seattle

Terminal C for departure from Seattle to Boise

Greeted by family at airport

Grandma hugging grandkids

We left our apartment in Colombo, Sri Lanka at 11pm on Sunday, June 24th. We headed for the airport.  Ann, Anton, and Papa K went with us.  After wishing President Anton a happy 50th birthday
we proceeded to the counter and got checked in.  As we left the counter we looked over and there was Ann, Anton, and Papa K waving and throwing kisses at us.  A few tears were shed but we quickly moved on.  We left Sri Lanka at 3am, Sri Lankan time.  We flew to Dubai where there was a three hour layover.  Then it was on to Seattle for another three hour layover.  This part of the flight was around fifteen hours.  We were getting very tired.  We watched several movies and tried to sleep to pass the time. We were ever so happy to be told that we were landing in Seattle.  We found our gate and went to look for a nice juicy hamburger.  We discovered a Wendy's, I think that was the best hamburger I have ever eaten.  Finally the call came to board the plane to Boise.  That was a short flight, just over an hour.  We were so excited to see our children and grandchildren.  Elder Meyers talked about using the bathroom and I said, no way, we are headed to our family.  As we got closer to the meeting spot our steps became faster and all of a sudden here comes the grandchildren running at us.  I guess they were all behind the sign that they made but as soon as they knew we were there they couldn't wait.  It was so amazing to see, touch, hug and kiss all those that we loved.
It is wonderful to be home!  Our bodies are here in Emmett, Idaho but our thoughts are still with the Sri Lankan Saints.  We will be ever grateful for the experience of being the Lord's servants in Sri Lanka.

A week of saying goodbyes:

Sister Emily Whitaker with Thomas and Jack

Departure interview with Pres & Sis Funk

Rosika

Ranjani

Nivedha & Theeban

Shanali, Sanduni & Pamudiha

Swarnalatha

Manusha & Malshan

Mohan & Sadun

Uwani & Sujeewa

Back-Sasanka, Dashmika &Roshen
Front-Nandika & Ashen

Wednesday's English class





Ranjani & Gihan putting out the goodies

Party group

Plaque preesented by English students

Jayanthi, Udari & Achala visiting in our apt

String Hoppers at Maljini's

Maljini's sister(Tharin's mom), two aunties
from America & Maljini

Last Seminary/Institute Class

Anura with elephant gift

Potluck in our honor after Church

Member eating potluck

Aveesha-future of Sri Lanka

We were asked to share our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting today.  It was so hard. There was not a person in the audience that didn't have tears in their eyes.  Our hearts are very tender.  We love these saints with all our hearts.  They are engraven on our hearts. I shared the following with the members as I ended my testimony.  In Ether 12:38, Moroni is saying his farewells.  I took this scripture and modified it a bit to express how we feel.  And now we, Elder and Sister Meyers, bid farewell unto the Saints in Sri Lanka, whom we love,  until we shall meet before the judgement-seat of Christ, where we all will know that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

This is a picture of Elder Meyers looking at himself in the mirror in our apartment elevator.  From the day we arrived he has  checked out himself to make sure he is looking good.  I don't want to forget this special time.  Of course I teased him that I would take his picture one day.

Birthday boy arriving for party

On June 25th, President Anton will have his

Opening presents

50th birthday.  Since we will be leaving that day we decided to celebrate his birthday on Thursday.  He asked if we could have his dinner at 9 pm.  We decorated the door with a happy birthday sign and balloons. I made his favorite foods that I can make.  We had

Enjoying dinner and blowing out candles

fried rice, mandarin chicken, mandarin sauce, deviled eggs, broccoli salad, and Robert Redford(pudding cake) for dessert.  He brought Ann, Papa K, Milli, Codi, Jared, and Angelea.  He kept saying how good the food was.  He loved the attention.
Friday we met Maljini at a Chinese Restaurant called Xilaton.  This was suppose

to be our goodbye lunch.  We had a lovely visit and we gave her a card thanking her for being our friend We also gave her an Uno game so she could play with Tharin, her nephew.  Two hours after we got home she texted and insisted that we come to her home on Thursday so she and Tharin could treat us to some string hoppers for dinner.
On Saturday President Kolitha, Sister Primali, and Sonali took us out

Looking at all the shops before dinner

to dinner at The Dutch Hospital Complex.  There are lots of little shops and restaurants in this area.  We ate at The Colombo Place. 

Colombo Place

This family was converted while going to school in Germany.  The Colombo Place served German food.  They had that but we ordered a ham and cheese sandwich with fries and coleslaw.  It tasted so good!  I think this is the first time we have had ham and cheese since we left home.  It was nice to hear their conversion story and feel of their love for us.

Twin Towers

Across the street from this area is what the locals call the Twin Towers.  It houses offices for the area.
Today I was released as a primary worker.  I had been doing music time.  In fact all of the presidency was released.  They put Emily Whitaker in as president.  Sister Primali went back in as first counselor and Sister DeAndra went back in as second counselor.  They will make a wonderful presidency.  Sister Whitaker is from America.  Her husband is here working at the American Embassy in security.  They will be here for two years.
After church we held our last Sunday English Class.  We have learned

Our RS English Class

to love these special sisters and brethren that attend.  Sister Domika was trying hard not to cry but the tears came as I told her that I loved her.  Of course when she cried I had to join her.  Teaching this class has been a choice experience for us!
Message of the week:  President Ezra Taft Benson made the following statement:  "When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.  Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities."

Counting down the days!

Elder Meyers was taught by his mother how to make paper chains.  He decided to revert back to his childhood so he could count down the days left on our mission. 
It is amazing to think that we only have two more weeks before we return to America.  We have learned so much about life in another country, ourselves, and how much our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and all of Father's children.

Hotel patio

Maljini called on Friday and invited us to go to Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel for dinner.  Our appointment had cancelled so we decided to go.  They had an outdoor setting by the lake.  They served Sri Lankan food, buffet style.  I really enjoyed the cuttle fish and hoppers. 
I remember when we first came, someone told us that they were eating hoppers, I thought

Musicians singing to us at dinner

they were talking about grasshoppers.  There are several kinds of hoppers.  One is a pasta type and the other looks like a taco bowl.  The bowl is soft and it can have an egg, meat, or other item in the middle of the bowl.  We had both the pasta type hoppers and the bowl shaped hopper.  Our hopper was without anything in it.  I am afraid to eat their eggs

Boat used for parties and dinner on the lake

when they aren't cooked all the way. The meat ones are so spicy it will burn your mouth!
Saturday we had our last Faith in God Activity with the primary children.  We showed a video on baptism and discussed the importance of living up to our baptism covenants.  Every child was able to repeat one of their Articles of Faith.  They have been working hard this year

Shamitha, Sonali, Codi, Haran and Regno

to learn those.  We ended the activity with some games and then refreshments.  Several of the children had made thank you cards for us.  We will miss these children.  They have become like our grandchildren.
Codi had her 11th birthday on Saturday.  Her family had a party for her at the Church.  The party was suppose to start at 6 pm but it was almost 8:30 pm before it

Codi in her party flock

got started.  We enjoyed having some time to visit with our friends.  We got home around 10 pm.  We were exhausted after a long day of activities.
As I pointed out at the beginning of this week's message, even when we get old we remember what we were taught by our mothers.
The message for the week is Proverbs 22:6 
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.