Email from Mom: Saturday, June 3, 2023

From: Mom
To: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023
Subject: Last one?!?

How in the world are we already here? Can you be like that this will be my last email to this email address? It is mind blowing for me and I feel like things with a mission just started. Crazy how fast these last two years have gone by.

How were things this last week? Were you able to touch basis with all of those you were hoping to before you head home? Have you been able to say a proper goodbye to those that have influenced your time in Africa? Do you feel like you left any stones unturned that maybe could have been touched? Do you feel like you are leaving and handing off things there in a manner that will continue to progress?

I have done a lot of thinking this last week about what it must feel like to be in your shoes at this stage of life. You have lived in a foreign country that you didn’t know anything about prior to boarding a plane. You have put yourself into the culture and way of living each day and learned how life works there day in and day out. You have learned that you don’t need much to be happy or to have a thriving life as opposed to what all of Americans think and feel. You have taken each day and given it to someone other than yourself. Not a lot of adults even in these days knows what it means to be selfless yet you have been working on that for two years. I’m certain there are relationships and ‘new normal’ things you will miss and will often think about as you step into this nest stage of life. I am sure there will be many moments that will trigger something from your time spent in Africa.

There will be differences when you get home for sure. We have a nice home, air conditioning, bleach for clothes, carpet on floors, accessibility to just about anything and everything you can imagine and most days, delivery overnight with the Amazon. You will drive a car and not have to repair a bicycle, you will be able to create your own schedule for each day, you will go to work but this time it will financially benefit you instead of just spiritually benefit you. The family you have surrounded yourself with over the last years will be transitioned into the family who has sat along the sideline and watched as you have been gone and who are excited to have you home. I wonder if the pace of life will be different or if there will be similarities. With how fast time goes anymore I can only think it will be the same. I wonder about your adjustment back to life and what that will entail. I am grateful you have had as much English as you have so the language I am not worried about. It’s more the gut punch of reality of being an adult. I wish I could make all the transitions in life easier for you and for the girls too but I know that isn’t how it works. I am certain that where you have been for the last years has taught you many things and I know that you will be able to come home and work through this transition just fine. I just hope you know that I am always here and that I know you are more than capable. As a Mom I will always worry. :)

This summer is full and there are plenty of things that are on the calendar already but it doesn’t mean that there can’t be new things added. I am sure you will come home and find things that you will add to yours and that will keep you excited and looking forward to things to come. I will be honest in that I am excited to see what comes next for you. This is a blank slate and a complete fresh start. You get to choose what life looks like for you. What a great outlook right!? I am stoked for you.

I hope as you finalize time in Africa as a missionary that you will take some time to really stop and allow your heart to be engraved with the memories you’ve made. I hope you will find time to carve names and faces into your memory of those that have touched you, taught you, and who will continue to be a part of your adult life. These opportunities are few and far between in the long run. Not everyone chooses to serve a mission or even has an option to but you have. I never want you to forget these two years and the influences that have come into play because of a choice you made for yourself. I want these two years to be years that bring happy and that you will cherish being able to share with friends, family, and one day your own family too.

It has been a joy and a pleasure to be home watching as you made it every single day of this mission of yours. I’m grateful for the structure a mission has in place that allows a transition into a foreign place take place smoothly and then for the days and months that then follow, to be just as smooth. I can honestly say I never worried about you being there. I knew that the Lord would have you in His care and that has helped bring a lot of peace for me. I am beyond happy to know that all of my kids will soon be on the same continent and that a text or call can happen whenever instead of just once a week. I look forward to having dinner with all you around my table. I can’t wait for the reunion of all three of you and for the reconnection to take place as we all move forward.

Savor these last few days and minutes. Allow your heart to be open to any last things that your Heavenly Father wants to teach you. Listen to President Proudfoot as he sends you a farewell. He will have good advice. Be certain to hug Sister Proudfoot. For you and for me. What a blessing to know that as I send kids off that there is ‘mom’ still there in case a need ever comes up.

I love you. Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

Mom