TRUNKY

Trunky - a slang term used amongst Mormon missionaries, describing a missionary who is excited about returning home.  Also restless, antsy, specifically eager to leave or go home.  Possibly referring to packing ones trunk!

I hate to admit this but I am Trunky!  Wondered what that was all about when I heard  people asking missionaries if they were getting trunky.  I didn't think I would.  I am too old!  But the thoughts of coming home, seeing my children, my grandchildren, my friends, my Ward family and my Twin Falls Temple family are really strong.  This has been a wonderful mission and I can not imagine that there would ever be one better.  I love the people we serve with.  They are the cream of the crop.  Some have been in temple presidencies, most elders have been stake presidents, and or sealers in other temples  We even have a Stake Patriarch who is on a 6 month leave of absence.   Our testimonies of this great work and the plan of salvation and the blessings of having a Savior, who loved us enough to die for us, is now foremost in our minds.  How were we ever so blessed to be able to be here?  We are grateful for all our blessings.

We have experienced the most beautiful color slide show, you could ever imagine.  I say beautiful color, because here in New York, the autumn leaves are brilliant in their colors.  I have never seen anything like it .  When we arrived here, there were no leaves on the trees.  Then all of a sudden on our drives to Lowville every Saturday, the leaves started appearing.  The forests were unbelievably huge.  We know now where the saying came, "can't see the forest for the trees."  Trees everywhere, all shapes, all sizes and all mingled together.  So when the leaves start turning color, it is like someone has painted a painting, just for us, of these colors that are red, orange, maroon, yellow,
green, and in most cases, different shades of all these colors.  So as you look at the forests, you see all these colors and they take your breath away.  The slide show comes in play when you drive down the road and pass by all these colors, saying, "Wow, look at those colors," or "that tree is the most beautiful shade or red, I have ever seen."  This goes on whenever we get in the car.  Elder Perron has spent many hours in our travels to Lowville stopping to take pictures.  I wonder how we ever get to our destination, we stop so much.  Lately, he has mastered the art of taking pictures while he is driving.  That's a little scarey, and considering you can get a ticket for talking on your phone or texting while driving, I asked him, "What do you think they will do when they see you taking pictures while you are driving.?"  His reply, "I haven't seen a sign saying you can't take pictures while driving."  It's always an adventure with Elder Perron!

We took a train ride to Old Forge to see the trees turning color there.  All the missionaries went.  We filled one passenger car with just missionaries, 40 of us.  We had such a great time.  The train ride was 2 hours.  We left Palmyra at 6 a.m. and drove two hours to Utica to catch the train.  We rode a ski lift to the top of the ski mountain at McCauley ski resort.  We spent a couple hours in Old Forge, got back on the train to Utica and drove home from there.  It was a long day, but it was so great.  We took a couple of  missionary couples with us and we had so much fun.  I love these outings with all the missionaries.  Great times, great memories, so glad we get to take these memories home.

We drove to Lowville yesterday and stopped in Watertown to watch the movie, Meet the Mormons.  We met the couple there who just recently joined the church, the MacDonalds, and a couple of other sisters from the ward.  An investigator, who I invited to come, also was there.  He told us after the movie, that he has decided to be baptized.  We were able to sit in on one of his discussions with the Elders. So we are elated about that.  He is a very special man and will be a great asset to the branch.  The only bad thing is that we will be gone and may not be at his baptism unless we find something to do here until November 15.  We have been thinking about the route to take to come home, and maybe seeing some sights on the way.  Elder Perron said we could just sightsee until November 15 so we could be here for the baptism.  I don't think so.  I am trunky, remember?

If you get a chance to see Meet the Mormons, please see it.  It is amazing.  I cried, Elder Perron cried, the MacDonalds cried.  We felt the spirit so strong.  Don't miss it.  It will be a great missionary tool. Take your friends!

Today, we said goodbye to our Lowville Branch.  It was hard.  They had a going away potluck after church.  We have grown to love those people so much.  That is the hard thing about leaving your mission.  You have to leave all those people you work with, worship with and love.  I just keep thinking what is waiting at home for me, I think I'll be okay!

When we returned home from Lowville, we went to a fireside at the Sacred Grove.  It was so amazing.  The Elder who plans all of our activities was an Institute teacher and worked for the Church Education System.  He has a great love for Joseph Smith.  He portrayed him tonight and quoted Joseph Smith's history as if he were him.  He didn't read a thing, but quoted word for word the Sacred Grove experience, the Kirtland Temple experience and the martyrdom.  He is a great man.  His wife, a couple of weeks ago, for family home evening, portrayed Emma Smith and told us all about her life.  She dressed up as if she were Emma and she also told all of Emma's story without reading any of it.  Can you just imagine the wonderful experiences we have had here.  Elder and Sister Neely, our activities planners arranged for our pictures to be taken, as a group in front of the temple and pictures of individual couples.  Tonight they gave our pictures to us.  These pictures mean a lot to us.  Can't wait to show family and friends. 

This has been a most amazing experience, serving a mission.  As we wind down and start packing and get ready to leave, we will never forget all that we learned and all the people who have touched our lives.  Just thinking about this makes me sad, but makes me think that perhaps another mission may be in the future. 

We leave you as we prepare for our departure.  Until next time....................................much love!