F{Laura}da: Last hurrah 4.14.15

This week was full of last hurrahs. Last zone meeting, last family home evening, last everything it seems like.

Since it's the end of my mission, this week I got to go to the temple! I rode with two other sisters and the Craigs. We had a good ride. We got there and the temple was just beautiful. So gorgeous.

Wait. I can't not talk about this. They have a holy land THEME PARK. Just down the street from the temple, which is just down the street from Disney world (dare I say, happiest street in the world?) They turned all of Jesus's life into a theme park. I saw bits and pieces of it on our way in. It's got this giant coliseum and a garden of Eden ride, I think. It was insane. I really wanted to go until president said that they reenact the end of Christ's life.... No thanks. Y'all, only in the south. ONLY IN THE SOUTH.

So we got there and I hadn't eaten breakfast, but Sister Malm had packed me some muffins so I ate the muffins in the temple bathroom. Ha. My life. We had a great session and a wonderful time with the temple president. The drive home was my favorite. We had a nice talk about goals and learning at the temple. We also made sister Craig and president Craig try chic fil a sauce since they had never had it. They liked it! They also told us how they met, and oh boy, it outdid the the notebook. STELLAR.

We had our last meeting with Kitty this week before she goes back to China and before I leave. She is so great. I can't even handle it! We are going to have 3 classes together in the fall :) then when we were leaving the bottom of the bottoms opened out and the deluge had a deluge. I have never seen it rain so hard. And we didn't have an umbrella. So we did the long walk to the car sans umbrella. We finally made it there after lots of hysterical laughing. Needless to say, we were wet. The word "wet" doesn't even begin to describe it.

Well, I'm all packed to go. I was terrified that everything wouldn't fit and that I'd just have s giant pile of junk that I've somehow accumulated over the last 18 months, so I've been slowly packing since.... Last Wednesday. I'd say it came along rather nicely.

So, this is my last letter home. We've had a great run, y'all. Hearing last night on the transfer call "Sister Perkes is going home" was the most heart breaking thing. I'm sad to be leaving because I love it so much, but I know that Heavenly Father has great things in store. I know that these last 18 months have been the best 18 months for my life. I know that this is God's work. How thankful I am that he let me participate! I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is real and restored today, in its fullness, upon the earth. I know it because I've asked. I know prayers are answered and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know we have latter day prophets and that they speak eternal truths. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is our own personal Savior and Redeemer. He lives today, and because He lives we will too.

Have a good week!

Love,

Sister Perkes