Mission Memories

This past weekend, between the Sunday morning and afternoon conference sessions, Channel 5 did a story about the dedication of the Helsinki, Finland temple. Of course, I was interested in watching the story because that's the temple the people I worked with on my mission will now attend. Imagine my surprise and delight when they did individual features about people in each of the Baltic countries! And, to make it even more fun, I knew most of them! Granted, I didn't know most of them very well because they weren't Russian-speaking, but I did see them every week at church and talked to them from time to time. They also showed footage of every city I served in and some of the countryside places we visited as missionaries.

Since then, I have been terribly homesick for my mission. Since coming home, there is a small piece of my heart that misses those people and places every day. But, that day, that small part took over the rest of my heart. It's slowly shrinking back to its normal place--but I just want to go back! I want to speak Russian, and go see all of my places, and just go enjoy being there once again. I know as a non-missionary that it will be different--but just to be there again would truly fill my heart with so much joy! For the rest of the day on Sunday, I kept thinking in Russian and I still have Russian words pop into my mind throughout the day. Maybe one day, I'll have the opportunity to go back--but for now--I have a different mission to focus on.