From North Carolina's Autumn Leaves to the Blue Caribbean's Swaying Trees
We were unexpectedly home for three months from our mission, during which time Elder Booth 'got' to have lots and lots of medical tests (including a late night visit to the ER) to find out why he had all the symptoms of a heart attack and blacked-out while we were serving on the island of Saint Vincent back in late July. The tests all came back negative... apparently...he is just fine! The next thing we knew, we were back at our mission office in Barbados. We had just enough time to take a photo of the beach from our overnight hotel, and then we returned to the airport for our flight to Guadeloupe.
A Happy Three Months
In spite of the doctor appointments and worrying about them each week, we had a wonderful time being in our own home where our youngest daughter, her husband, and excrutiatingly cute grand daughter are living while we are on our mission. Sadie Mai just celebrated her six month birthday.
She and I hung out A LOT together. She would only nap if she was held and rocked. ( I confess I might have had a tiny bit to do with that.) We were also able to go to NY for a quick visit to see our eldest daughter, her husband, and excrutiatingly cute twin grand daughters there, who just turned one.
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Getting Back to Guadeloupe
I have to confess that it was a struggle the first week, getting back into the senior couple missionary groove. This was the third time to start this mission and I think I was suffering from reverse reverse culture shock - sort of an emotional whiplash. Once we were back working with our island missionaries, though, things started to click. As always, there was lots of paperwork to do- there had been a few car accidents to get updated on, bikes stolen, apartments to open and close, phones that had gone missing, bills to pay, insurance to straighten out, immigration paperwork to complete, receipts to sort through, Elders to drive here and there, and cookies to be made. Just when we were getting settled in again, our Mission President confirmed we were going to be transferred to another island. He had indicated, by phone, before we left NC that this might happen. We were hopeful that it wouldn't, and we are still having a hard time getting our minds around it. It is unusual for a couple to be transferred. The island we are going to? The "scene of the crime" where Wally ended up in the scary hospital... St. Vincent!
Almost Christmas at the airport in Guadeloupe with our zone leaders
Sometimes, I'm a Matthew 21:29 Kind of Person
I really thought I would never have to set foot on that island again after what happened - and now we are going to spend the rest of our mission there ( almost a year)! I couldn't hide my disappointment from our mission president. But, he feels strongly that we need to be in SV. Of course, after my initial "please no!", I came around. I wish I was always a 1 Nephi 3:17 kind of person ( I will go and do... no problem), but sometimes I'm a Matthew 21:29 kind of person. That's the verse about the son that told his father he didn't want to do what he was asked, but then he did it. So, it is with a heavy heart ( un cœur brisé) that we bid farewell to Guadeloupe.
Au revoir to all things French ( this is a grocery store ad for Christmas.) I have managed to handle shopping, conversations with real estate and insurance agents, phone calls, discussions with church members, sorting out medical problems with doctors, teaching on a few occasions with the missionaries, writing letters and emails, and even did a role play at a zone meeting with our Area Seventy ( Elder Gamiette) all in my four decades old French. It has been nerve wracking at times - but joyful as well.
Au revoir Guadeloupian friends and food
Au revoir to our apartment
Au revoir to our volcano, palm trees, and banana trees
( Well, technically they have all this on St Vincent, but still...)
Au revoir to my best friend here.
Time to make new memories on St. Vincent!
