Dear Mom and Dad,
I have also been a little sentimental the last
week. It is really odd to me that my time as a missionary has already
ended. It would be a lie if I had moments where I felt that I would die
here in Argentina, and that I would never finish. And other moments
where I would have paid anything to stop time and have just a couple
more weeks here. I suppose only someone who has served a mission can
understand the complete emotional trauma I am going through. While I am
at the happiest I have ever been, I am also almost the saddest I have
ever been. I thought that afternoon on March 2nd was going to be the
hardest day of my life, when I walked away at the MTC, starting my
mission, and looking for any reason to turn back to see you all again,
or frankly to go home. I did not want to leave. But I believe that
leaving Argentina is going to be even harder. Oh don´t get me wrong, it
is greatly eased by the knowledge that I will quickly be with you all
again. I have missed you more than words can begin to describe. But when
I left, I knew that you were going to be okay, and I can´t help but
feel a little bit that I am leaving children behind, who desperately
need to be cared for, and I want to make sure they are cared for in the
proper way. Like, I said, a striking contrast in my emotions, and I
think that it is starting to make life a little hard for Hermana Baker.
All that being said. I did just live the dream this week. On
Saturday we were able to see the Cultural Celebration for the re
dedication of the Buenos Aires Temple. It was completely overwhelming,
in the best sense of the word. I have been praying that I would be here
since the day that I arrived in Argentina. It was very surreal
everything that happened. I kept thinking in all of the missionaries
that I know that have served here, also without a temple,and how I know
that they would have loved to be here. I feel very privileged. Elder
Christofferon, Elder Ballard, and Presidente Eyring were there, and they
all spoke. They all directed their words to the youth, and they all
made me cry. The dancing in the celebration was beyond words. It was
completely fantastic. I was blown away by how many youth participated in
the event, many of whom were unable to attend in person,so the stakes
filmed the dances, and sent them in, and they were shown. Some of these
youth dancers were just spectacular. I don´t know very much abot the
folk dances of Argentina, but if they are all danced like that, I really
want to see more.
Miriam came to the cultural celebration, and she was amazed.
Everyday she gets closer to picking a date to get baptized, and i am so
excited for her. She has fallen in love with temples, and she wants to
go some day.
Yesterday was the dedication. It was breathtaking. I was again
filled with a sense that I was living the missionary dream. I know so
many people who would have loved to be there, or to see it, but who were
unable, because of the distance. There was a very special spirit. I was
a little concerned that maybe I wouldn´t understand everything, but
everything was crystal clear. I really hope that I am given the chance
to go through while I am in Buenos Aires. Or at least that we get to go
see it.
All I know is that I miss the temple greatly, and I want to go as
many times as possible when I get home. A year and a half is a great
amount of time to not be in the temple walls.
This week we are
going to work as much as possible. Hna Baker is feeling much better, and
we are able to get out for more bits of time. It is really nice. We are
also getting to know the branch better, which is great, but it makes me
really sad that i am not going to have a little bit more time here with
them.
I do want to thank you for all that you have done to be so
supportive during my mission. I have learned that family bonds are not
just physical, from across continents, I have felt your daily support. I
AM very very excited to see you again, the next week is going to go
very quickly I think.
Mom, I am also going to miss your weekly emails,but I will gladly trade them for the daily contact that we used to have. :)
I love you!!! And I will see you soon!!!
Corinne
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