We are home!

We spoke in the Tuzla group on November 24, 2013.  There was 23 in attendance.  It was a bitter sweet moment.  We have grown to love our friends in Bosnia but also look forward to seeing our family.  After church we drove to Banja Luka, Bosnia to pick up Elder and Sister Davison.  We left Banja Luka about 5:00pm and continued on our way to Zagreb, Croatia.  We arrived at the mission home about 7:30pm and had a delicious meal with President and Sister Rowe and their family.  After dinner we began the arduous task of making sure our bags were all under 50 pounds.  After moving things around and weighing the bags several time, this was accomplished by bedtime.  We went to bed knowing that we would have to wake up very early for our trip to the airport.  

November 25th bright and early Croatia time (8 hours ahead of Salt Lake time) we got up as Elder Jeppson was taking us to the Zagreb Airport at 6:30am.  Prior to leaving we took a picture of Gary cutting his tie for the mission quilt.  The cravat or the modern day tie originated in 17th century Croatia.  Sister Rowe has made a quilt, which she has now had to add to.  When the elders leave the mission they cut the small end of the tie off and she sews it on to the square that we put our names on the day we came to the mission.  The sisters cut off a skirt.

 

We then departed for the airport.  Elder Jeppson took excellent care of us making sure that we got all our bags checked in and made it through security before he left.

After we went through security we went downstairs and waited for the bus which would take us to the airplane which was the first leg of our journey.  Zagreb, Croatia to Frankfurt, Germany.

We arrived in Frankfurt and checked in for our next flight which would be from Frankfurt, Germany to Washington Dulles airport in Dulles, Virginia.  

The flight to Washington was a long one!  We arrived and headed toward the Customs area along with 3 other planes full of people.  We finally made it through security after an 1 1/2 hour wait.   Then we proceeded to the gate where our last leg of the trip would take place. Of course it was at the opposite end of the airport.  We sat down and proceeded to make sure we were at the right gate.  Out of nowhere appeared Elder and Sister (Bill and Jeanne) Howes.  Elder Howes was the Bishop of our ward when we left.  Since then he was released.  They received their call and reported to the New York, New York North Mission in February, 2013.  Elder and Sister Howes were on our same flight to Salt Lake City.  His mother had a stroke recently.  He received permission to travel to Utah to visit her.  We had a delightful visit on the plane ride home.

  

We arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah about 7:30pm.  And this is what we found waiting for us.

After waiting for our luggage we headed to the car.  Dallin helped me with my suitcase.

It had been over 24 hours since we had left Zagreb and we were very glad to be at the end of our journey.