Our mission has been fun and challenging, easy and hard, fast and slow; but most definitely rewarding. We have come to know our Savior Jesus Christ better; and this has been worth all the time and effort we have put forth.

We are forever grateful for this chapter in our lives, Mission is Samoa. We will miss the sound of geckos, chickens, and rain pounding on our roof. We will miss the blue and white kingfisher that perched on the wire outside our window whenever it rained, fruit bats flying in the early evening, and bright red and black cardinal honeyeaters fluttering about. We will miss the fragrance of a freshly picked gardenia and lemon from our yard. We will miss the strange sensation that we need to start swimming when we step outside where the humidity is high, the constant shuffle of flip-flops, the sei's that adorn Samoan ladies black hair, the aroma of an umu, the handsome fa'i pula, breadfruit, and taro. We will miss Samoan smiles and "O a mai oe?" from others including those we don't even know.

We will miss Institute, Epikopo Aiono, Kathy, and our students in class , their love and kindness they have shown us. Studying the gospel in preparation to teach penetrated our minds and hearts with truth in a way that could not have been possible otherwise. We will miss our daily interaction with the missionaries. We add them to our one son, Andrew, we counted as we came. We are leaving with many.

We will always remember and never forget our Mesepa International Ward, neighbors, and friends, we have come to know in the last 18 months. Just like the songs says, because I knew you, I have been changed for good." We may not see some of them again until we are reunited in the next life.

We know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that his gospel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We know Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet on the earth today to guide us back to live with our Heavenly Father.