Week 38, Alabama - Intermission

"Welcome to your interMISSION"

Last Thursday, March 26, Elder Walbom told he us he had been instructed to pack everything, leave his Honduran companion, and move into a new apartment with a missionary from the US in preparation for leaving the country and coming back to America. On Friday evening we were sent an email and told that 2 charter flights were taking all the missionaries from our church serving in Guatemala who were from the US (hundreds) back home on Sunday. Saturday evening we received Elder Walbom's specific itinerary, showing that he would actually arrive home to Huntsville, Alabama on Monday afternoon.

Elder Walbom had to say goodbye to the missionaries with whom he was serving in Primero de Julio.

The missionaries in Primero de Julio were all from different countries and a local member of the church made them these t-shirts.

Elder Walbom with a previous companion, Elder Duarte (from Texas), headed home. 
(This pic was taken by a stranger at the SLC airport and sent to us with this text "Elder Walbom is on his way, hope you are excited! Great young Elder.")

Elder Walbom wanted his arrival to be a complete surprise for his siblings (who only knew that at some point Elder Walbom would be sent back to the US and quarantined somewhere for 2 weeks, and then reassigned to a mission in America). It was somewhat difficult to maintain the secret, but here is the video of their happy reunion:


Not to be outdone by the kids, the dogs were overjoyed to see Elder Walbom:


Since returning home on Monday, initial plans have changed a bit.  As with all of the missionaries returning to the the US from foreign countries, Elder Walbom was officially released as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is now "Alex."

Alex made us mixtas for dinner! Mixtas (latin hot dogs) are made with small corn tortillas slathered with guacamole, filled with meat and then topped with both mayo and ketchup). It was not too bad.

Alex has the option to receive a new missionary assignment (possibly Guatemala) and return as soon as conditions allow, or to place his mission on hold for 12-18 months and return to Guatemala.  He really wants to return to Guatemala, but doesn't want to wait another 12-18 months before serving. For now he is home safe, adjusting to regular life again, and trying to keep up his Spanish!

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