First of our good-byes

With only a couple of weeks remaining before we leave the mission for Springville, we began saying our goodbyes to some of the missionaries. Elder Tuipulotu (from New Zealand) is one who claims he will miss us the most! His companion, Elder Wigington, actually taught his first lesson on the mission while Gary was with him and his companion at a less-active sister's home. He is from Hales Corners, Wisconsin, where Gary once served as a summer vicar to Pastor Pieplow at Hales Corners Lutheran Church.
The next photo is of 'Healey's Angels.' Our wonderful referrals and baptisms secretary came to the mission a couple of weeks before we did and hails from Orem, Utah. Her 5 sons came down on their Harley Davidson motorcycles to escort Sister Healey and her two daughters home. They have often ridden down from Utah to California to take her out to dinner and then turn right around and return north to their homes in Utah. It was fun seeing them all in the parking lot with their beasts!

Sisters Nai, Seumanutafa and Tili are the Samoan sisters and are all from Samoa. They frequently dress alike. (Yesterday it was orange tops.!) Finally, the ASL Sisters Brennan, Meagher and Riestra (who is really deaf). Sister Brennan is going home when we do.

It's been a great Sunday. We first went to our own Palmyra Ward, then we went to the Anaheim 10th ward to see our niece Michelle West's Primary program, which she also wrote. We also made friends with a new young family in the ward, the Thomander family from Logan. Wendy has some common interests with Signe, namely essential oils and foot zone therapy. Two weeks ago, after having us over for dinner, she gave Signe some therapy. Tonight, after we return from a baptism at the Santa Ana stake center, it will be Gary's turn. We will really miss our friends and relatives down here but hope to visit when we can in years to come. Making many new friends is one of the really wonderful blessings of a mission!