Home Again

I am now back in Texas! My trip home was long. I started at 11:00 in the morning and arrived in San Antonio at 11:00pm. I went from Kalispell to Spoakne on a plane that held only 19 people! From Spokane to Denver, I sat close to a sweet older lady that ordered Cranberry juice with an extra glass so she could share with me. In the Denver aiport, I ate at Quizzno's for my first time ever. It was pretty good. While we waited for our plane, I talked to a older man about what I had been in Monatna for and what I was doing for the summer. He is a retired college professor from Virginia and said he was proud that I went to college and was going on to get my masters. He said all young people should be like me. On the last flight, I saw a great lightning show out the window of the plane. When the plane landed, I was greated by my wonderful family. Mom made me a welcome home sign and gave me a teddy bear. Rebecca gave me a big red, Jordan gave me Cadbury Easter eggs, and Daddy gave me a Rose. We gathered my luggage and headed for home. Well, we stopped at IHOP first and then went home. I am so glad to be back in Texas again! I could live without the humidity though!

Oh Canada

My last full day in Montana was lots of fun. The Burdett's, the Templeman's, and I went to Waterton National Park in Canada. It is the extension of Galcier on the Canada side. We started at 9:15 and drove to Glacier. We entered at West Glacier and drove over the top and Logan Pass and down the other side and exited the park at St. Mary's. It is faster to go to Canada this way then to go all the way around the outside of the park. We stopped for pictures along the way. In St. Mary's, we stopped for lunch. Then we continued along our journey. We entered the park again at Many Glacier just long enough for pictures. Then we exited again and drove to the US/ Canada border at Chief Mountain. After we crossed the border we took pictures of the US and Canada flag next to each other. Then we entered Waterton Lakes National Park. We saw the famous Prince of Whales hotel, Cameron Falls, and in the town of Waterton we saw several deer and one sheep just prancing down the street. Then we drove up to Red Rock Canyon. On the way we saw a black bear in the valley below and stopped for pictures. We took pictures at Red Rock Canyon and hiked a trail to nearby Blackiston Falls. Then we got back in the car and went to a town in Canada called Cardiston. We ate a picnic supper in the car and got dessert at Dairy Queen. Then we headed back to the border. Once we were back in the US, we went the long way home around the park. We stopped at Two Medicine Lake, East Glacier where the historic Glacier Lodge is, and we stopped at the goat lick where several mountain goats roam. We drove the rest of the way home and got there at 11:00 pm. What a long adventurous day! We got great pictures and I can now add Canada to my countries I have visited list.

Saying Goodbye

May 29th was my last day at church. The kids came in saying they didn't want me to leave and was I sure I had to say goodbye. Some of them gave me hugs and gifts. Then I taught Sunday school as normal. We went to the regular service, but then things were different. Mr. Burdett reviewed with the children the two missionaries they had been learning about the past couple of weeks. He said that after their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas returned home. Then he said that we have someone that has been with us since January as a missionary and it is now time for her to return home. Then he called me to the front. The youth presented me with a cook book. The children gave me a slow cooker cookbook, and then the 4's and 5's gave me a Montana shirt with their names written on the back. The youth left to get a party set up and I lead the children in singing some songs. Then we all went out into the big room for hot dogs, chips, and cake and icecream. The cake was decorated in red, white, and, blue and said thank you Rachael. We ate and talked for a long time. Then the kids presented a dance they have been working on for me. They did a good job. When it was time for everyone to leave, I gave them all one last hug and said goodbye. That is when the tears poured down my cheeks. I hate to say goodbye. I have grown to love these kids and who knows when or if I will see them again, so that was hard.

Then I went to my college Bible study that night for the last time. They announced it and called the Burdett's to find out my favorite kind of icecream and so they had it for me. I walked around and told everyone good bye and got pictures of the leaders. Then I went home.

It was sad to leave, but I know that I had fulfilled my time there and God wants me back home now. The time he gave me there was wonderful and I will miss it, but I look forward to the wonderful things He has planned for my future.