Here we are - home again. WOW! Can we say, "Culture shock?" The adjustments are just beginning. We have been mostly resting and sorting our belongings, trying to find a place to store things.
We went to COSTCO the second day we were home as there was no food in the house at all. We gave Ramona and Dan and family almost all of our food storage when we left, so we barely had anything available. We stocked up on canned goods since we hadn't been able to grow a garden in the past two and a half years.
Unbelievable! We sold our BIG house in Los Angeles, CA, moved to a small one-bedroom apartment in Hollywood and divided our time between LA and our new home in Lancaster. Mainly refurbishing and painting and cleaning. We didn't really live here until about a month before we left on our mission. So now everything old is new again! Ha!
Not hearing Greek spoken or reading any street signs in Greek has been a shock! I keep translating everything from English into Greek, how funny is that?
I'm certain we will settle in/down fairly soon. The sleep deprivation we experienced while on our mission has taken it's toll on both of us, and we are trying to keep from having any meltdowns in the interrum, until we have recovered.
We have already eaten a steak dinner at Black Angus and had In N Out Burgers too! The steak dinner tasted like it was made in Heaven! We haven't had any decent beef since we left home, only pork, chicken and fish. Cyprus is the island of pork! And yet they do not have decent hams or bacon at all.
The fourth night we were home I set out to prepare a lovely enchilada dinner, with rice and beans and salad, but whilst I was toasting the rice in my rice pot it suddenly for no reason EXPLODED! Yes it did! It blew up rice and oil in my face, which also flew all about the kitchen and family room. SCARY! Tony cleaned it all up while I sat on the sofa in a daze. Later I realized I was in shock. My upper body ached so badly from the tension and adrenalin rush I experienced. I am recovered today (the next day), and am a little apprehensive about cooking. Of course today we will go to Walmart and get new pots and pans - I will NEVER use my old ones again! Lesson learned.
Not exactly - that is - leaving for home. We are taking a circuitous route via Israel and England! But we have only four more days till we do leave. A year and-a-half certainly goes by quickly! And we leave with mixed emotions of the highest degree!
We love our mission, and especially the Young Single Adults (YSAs) we have had the opportunity to serve. And we also love the Nicosia Branch members we have had the opportunity to serve! So we are very torn about leaving all those whom we love.
On the other hand, we have waited all our married lives to get the opportunity to go to Israel and we are really ready to go there! Our dream of a lifetime is soon to come true!
So let the celebrating begin, we are on our way home! Somebody tell Caroline we are on our way! Goodbye Cyprus.
Well folks - here we go on the downward spiral! We will be in Israel three days after Christmas! All our plane tickets and hotel reservations are confirmed for the two week tour(s) of Israel and England. We have now officially decided we can get "trunky"! Ha! That's the Mormon missionary term for, "I cannot wait, I am going home!" We have so many plans of things to do after we get home:
1. See all our kids and grandkids!
2. Go to Cholo's to eat.
3. Go to COSTCO! Ha!
4. Go to Disneyland!
Gosh! There are so many things we want to do - I'd be really challenged to write them all down!
At any rate we are winding down with our duties here in Cyprus, and saying our 'goodbyes' to all. This is going to be hard, because as all missionaries do - we have become so attached to the people here!
We can now see that we will never have time to do all we wanted before we depart for Israel. There are so many events scheduled for December.
First - Our final CES/YSA Conference here in Cyprus, December 2-5. We will be hosting the CES/YSA couple from Athens, Greece and our Area CES Director as well. We will be finishing up all the CES business here on the Island and for Athens too. Neither couple are being replaced. Instead the church is sending one YSA couple to do the work both in Athens and Cyprus. Interesting idea. We'll see how it works out.
Second - The Nicosia Branch Christmas Party, December 14th. Lots of food and fun at the Nicosia Chapel.
Third - The Nicosia District Zone Christmas Party, December 20th. Again, food, fun and a trip to the retirement center to sing Christmas Carols and read to the residents. Always a lovely party!
Fourth - The Nicosia Branch Christmas Program and Farewell to President and Sister Vargas. A beautiful program with lots of Scripture reading and Christmas hymns and songs.
Fifth - The Nicosia Cyprus Branch Missionaries all get together for three days of celebrating. There will be delicious food, games, movies and memories to be made! Maybe a trip to the Troodos Mountains if there is any snow.
Then on December 28th at 10:30 PM our flight leaves from Larnaca, Cyprus to go to Tel Aviv, Israel! Where we will stay 10 days, then off to England to visit Sister Michelle Wu in Leeds, England, and the Nicholls family in London, England. After five days we will return home on January 11th to LAX Airport via Heathrow Airport in England.
This is for all the doubters who do not believe one can trace his/her family history back through Davidic lines:
Possible Descendance from Adam and Eve via King David
Each entry is supposed to be the son or daughter of the previous entries. Subentries are used for people with multiple wives.
Alternatively, consider the Tree of Life website for some "non-biblical" genealogy....
Adam (0-930 after creation, 3760-2830 B.C.E.) and (Chava) Eve. Children: Cain, Abel, Seth, Azura. Genesis 2-5.
Seth (130-1042 after creation, 3630-2718 B.C.E.) married his sister Azura. Children: Enoch, Noam. Genesis 5:3.
Enosh (235-1140 after creation, 3525-2620 B.C.E.) married his sister Noam. Children: Cainan, Baraktel, Mualeleth. Genesis 5:7
Kenan (Cainan) (325-1235 after creation, 3435-260 B.C.E.) married his sister Mualeleth. Children: Mahaleel, Rashujal. Genesis 5:9.
Mehalalel (395-1290 after creation, 3365-2470 B.C.E.) married Dina daughter of Barakiel. Children: Jered, Danel. Genesis 5:12.
Jared (460-995 after creation, 3300-2338 B.C.E.) married Baraka daughter of Rachujal daughter of Enoch and Noam Children: Enoch, Azrial. Genesis 5:15. Enoch taken up to heaven and transformed into the angel Metatron (11c. English manuscript)
Enoch/Chanoch (630-1422 after creation, 3138-2773 B.C.E.) married Edna daughter of Danel. While alive Enoch was a shoemaker who was completely devoted to God, and he bound the lower and higher worlds together as he stitched shoes. Bible uses the phrase he was no more instead of he died suggesting that he ascended directly to heaven, accordingly he was transformed into the heavenly scribe, angel Metatron. Enoch is associated with Elijah in Jewish mysticism. Children: Methusela, Barakil. Genesis 5:18.
Methusalah (695-1664 after creation, 3073-2104 B.C.E.) married Edna daughter of Azrial. Children: Lamech, Rakel, Eliakim. Genesis 5:21.
Lamech (882-1559 after creation, 2886-2109 B.C.E.). Genesis 5:25. Noah and Naamah First man to be married twice (with 'Adah and Tsilah). Killed Cain.
Noah (1064-2004 after creation, 2704-1754 B.C.E.) married Naamah (Genesis 4:22) daughter of Tzilah and Lamech son of Methusael son of Mehujael son of Irad son of Chanoch son of Cain. Flood occurred 1664 after creation. Children: Shem (father of Semitic people), Japheth (father of European people), Ham (father of African people).. Genesis 5:28-10:1.
Noah and Naamah Shem (1564-2064 after creation, 2204-1702 B.C.E.) married Sedeqetelebab. daughter of Eliakim son of Methusalah. Shem is identified by Rambam as Malchizedek king of Shalem (=Jerusalem). Children: Arphaxad, Elam, Asser, Loeb, Aram, Gec, Hoel, Gheter, Mechec. Genesis 10:1, 10:21, 14:18-20.
Arphachsad (1666-2069 afer creation, 2102-1664 B.C.E.). Genesis 10:22.
Shelah (1701-2104 after creation, 2067-1634 B.C.E.) married Muak daughter of Kesed. Genesis 10:22.
Eber (Neber) (source of Ivri or Hebrew) (1731-2161 after creation, 2037-1573 B.C.E.) married Melka daughter of Madai son of Japheth. Children: Peleg, Yoktan. Genesis 10:24.
Peleg (1765-1974 after creation, 2003-1764 B.C.E.). The dispersion following the story of the Tower of Babel occurred shortly after Peleg's death. Children: Reu, Kaber. Genesis 10:25, 11:16
.
Reu (Ragau) (1795-2002 after creation, 1973-1734 B.C.E.). Genesis 11:18.
Serug (1827-2027 after creation, 1941-1711 B.C.E.). Genesis 11:20. The governor of Ur , who, following the Gutian occupation, founded the 3rd Dynasty of Ur. Children: Ur-Nammu, Ur-Engur, Ur-Nahor.
Nahor (1857-1976 after creation, 1911-1763 B.C.E.). Genesis 11:22. Children: Sulgi, Dungi, Terah (Turgi)
Terah (Turgi) (1886-2131 after creation, 1882-1677 B.C.E.) married Amthalah = Amethelo Or Unk. Born Ur Kasdim. Died Charan. Manufactured idols. Children: Haran, Nahor, Abraham. Genesis 11:24-11:32. Abraham and Isaac by Rembrandt Abraham, Sarah and the Angel
Abram (Avram) (b. 1948 after creation, 1812 B.C.E., d. 2123 after creation, 1637 B.C.E.) (changed name to Abraham [Avraham]). First Jew. Brith beyn Habetarim 1996 after creation. Left Charan, 2003 after creation. Entered Canaan (Cna'an) 2013 after creation. Circumcised (first Brith-Milah) at age of 99 (2047 after creation).
Some of the details in this section come from Alex FINKELSTEIN falizwim at inter.net.il and his website.
Married (1973 after creation) Sarai daughter of Haran. (changed name to Sarah). Born 1958 after creation, d. 2085 after creation. Child: Isaac.
Took Hagar as concubine 2033 after creation. Child: Ishmael (2034-2173 after creation).
Took Keturah as concubine 2088 after creation. Children: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah.
Genesis 11:26-25:8.
Details from Matthias Storm - Isaac Blessing Jacob Isaac (Yitzchaq) (b. 15 Nisan 2048, d. 2228 after creation, Chevron). First Jew circumcised at normal age of 8 days. Sacrification (Aqeydah) occured 2075 after creation. Isaac married (2088 after creation) Rebecca (Rivcah) (b. 2078 after creation, d. 2207 after creation) daughter of Bethuel. Children twins: Jacob and Esau (Esaw) both born 2108 after creation. Genesis 21-28.
Jacob and Laban Jacob (Ya'acov) (b. 2108 after creation, Canaan, d. 2255 after creation, Egypt, buried in Hebron [Chevron]). Jacob left Canaan and entered Charan 2185 after creation where he worked for his uncle Lavan. On his way there, an Angel changed Jacob's name to Israel. Jacob and his sons returned to Israel. He left with his family to join Joseph in Egypt 2238 after creation.
Jacob first married (2192 after creation) Leah (b. possibly 2164 after creation, d. 2214 after creation) daughter of Lavan
.
Children: Judah (b. 15 Sivan 2195 = 1565 B.C.E., d. 2314/2324 = 1440 B.C.E.),
Reuben (Reuven) b.2193-d.2317(1567-1443BC),
Simeon (Shim'on) b.2194-d.2313(1566-1447BC),
Levi (b. 2195 after creation = 1565 B.C.E., d. 2332 after creation = 1428 B.C.E.),
Issachar (Yesaskhar) b.2197-d.2319(1563-1441BC),
Zebulin (Zevulun) b.2197-d.2307(1563-1453BC), and
Dinah b.2198(1562BC). Moishe MILLER moishe at langsam.com claims to be a descendant of Issachar.
Jacob next married (2192 after creation) Rachel (b. possibly 2164, d. 2209 after creation) daughter of Lavan sister of Leah.
Children: Joseph (Yosef) b.2199-d.2309(1561-1451BC),
Benjamin (Beniyamin) b.2208-d.2317(1552-1443BC).
Yathirah was Benjamin's twin sister and died young.
Jacob had two children by Leah's maidservant Bilhah (also daughter of Lavan?):
Nephtali (Nafthali) 2198-d.2331(1562-1429BC),
Dan b.2198-d.2323(1562-1437BC)
Jacob had two children by Rachel's maidservant Zilpah (also daughter of Lavan?):
Gad b.2198-d.2323(1562-1437BC),
Asher b.2198-d.2320(1562-1440BC)
Genesis 25:26-29:33.
Today it became official. We are going to fly home from London on 11 January, 2014! We already have our airline confirmations! We received them via email today from the Mission Travel Office in Utah. Very excited and sad at the same time!
We leave Cyprus for Israel on 28 December, 2013 where we will stay for eleven days (two of those days are travel time). After we are finished there we will fly to London for a five day stay, with a stop in Leeds to visit our missionary, Sister Zhang Wu. (AKA Sister Cute!)
All our travel plans to London have been finalized and we are just waiting for our hotel confirmation via our travel group to Israel. We are excited to be included on the Daniel Rona Travel Tour to Israel. Daniel Rona was born in Israel and he and his son Steven are the only LDS tour guides certified to lead tours there. We searched diligently to find an LDS group we could travel with and were so fortunate to sign up for this tour, because it was in the exact time frame we needed. The next tour isn't until February, which is long after we were scheduled to leave Cyprus. Plus - the tour that Rona Travel provides is exactly what we want to see, since it is highly doubtful we will ever return to the Middle East. We are very pleased with all this and the way it has turned out. (Daniel Rona - right)
Most of you know we were scheduled to leave the mission on 6 January, 2014, but we were given permission by our mission president to leave two weeks early in order to meet our tour group in Israel and because we were called to serve our mission a month earlier than we had planned. We are also not being replaced by a CES missionary couple, so that makes a huge difference as well.
We are happy the new YSA couple will be able to take over our new flat that we have been enjoying for several months now. It is truly a find for the price and they will be very comfortable living in it. We also just got our new mission car about a month ago - a brand new Opal Corsa. It isn't even broken in yet, it runs well and after having a seven passenger van for so long we are grateful for the ability to park almost anywhere - which is SO difficult on the Island of Cyprus!
I will probably only make a few more posts here and then I will preserve and close this blog, since we will no longer be serving as missionaries, thus closing a most important chapter in our lives. Thanks in advance to all of you who have followed our blog and been supportive of our endeavors to serve the Lord.
Here it is the end of October 2013 and our mission is winding down. We have done everything and more than we were sent here to do. The blessings have been unbelievable, and our cup runneth o'er! It will be strange not to have the blessings of being full-time missionaries any longer. I hope our health and stamina will continue so we will be able to enjoy our time at home with family and friends. We hope to be able to attend more social functions that we had to miss while we were gone. Re-connecting with our children and grandchildren will be delightful. And we will be traveling quite a bit as well. We have several places we need to visit such as Utah and Arizona, middle California and some other exotic places, such as Oklahoma! Ha!
We have made our plans for traveling in Israel and England and just about have everything set for that. Of course visiting Michelle in Leeds England is a priority, and we may visit a couple of other places as well, we do not know just yet.
In June after Ewa-Solange graduates from high school we will be taking her on a long church history tour as her graduation present. Our present will be to have her all to ourselves to spoil and fawn over. We will never have the chance to have her alone with us for a period of time again, so we really can't wait for this to happen. She may not appreciate it as much now as she will when we have passed on, but we know she will like being with us at least.
I began this draft around the end of October, since then there have been some major changes in our life. We received an urgent text from Greg one evening (early morning for him) in which he told us Miguel had been admitted to the hospital for chest pains and wasn't doing very well. We waited several hours to hear back from him because it took his doctors quite awhile to complete the necessary tests and to admit him to CCU. It was still several days before we actually knew what happened, and even now, four weeks later he finally has enough information to understand what occurred.
We know now he actually did have a heart attack, but a major contributing factor to his chest pains was a genetic syndrome called, "Myocardial Bridging". He was put on several major heart medications and after nearly a week was sent home to begin recuperation and to wait for therapy to help overcome the damage to his heart. Now, four weeks later he has obtained a new heart specialist who says he was on all the wrong medications and is not being treated correctly. He has told Miguel he will have now live the rest of his life on a Vegan diet and change his sedentary lifestyle. He has already begun walking the dog (Gus) again. He has returned to work, but his employer is making certain he doesn't have any work overload because of the stress involved.
We are so sorry to see such a mega change in Miguel's life, I mean, whoever dreamed our son would have a heart attack at age 42! And we are so glad his new doctor feels he can help him completely recover and just learn to deal with the "Bridging".
We are also sorry because Miguel and Greg cannot come to Cyprus to join us on our trek homeward. We had such plans to share this Island with them. But Miguel cannot fly just yet because of the stress that it would cause his heart, so he has asked us to go on without them and enjoy our trip to the max and share it with them via pictures and descriptions. So we are going on to Israel.
We will be in Israel for eleven days and then we will travel to England to meet with Michelle (Sister Wu)and visit London for a few days. Then we will go on home to the USA to meet our family and friends once again - which will make us so happy!
We will also be able to spend some time with Miguel and to give him lots of hugs and kisses!!
We leave for Israel on 28 December, 2013 and expect to arrive back in Los Angeles around 9 January, 2014. Viva Israel!
This conference was very special as there will never be another one. So we are grateful to have had this last experience with our counterparts from many other countries. The church is heading in a different direction for CES and YSA and many of us will be the last of our breed. As for Greece and Cyprus we will not be replaced with CES couples, this has been a source of disappointment for us because of all the great work the Lord has allowed us to do. Both with our YSAs in southern Cyprus and with the others in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We have been coordinators of the CES effort here on an Island that is divided into two separate nations, and as you know the church is not recognized, nor sanctioned by the TRNC. We have had to go there without wearing our missionary badges and have had to perform our duties quietly and have been made to sorrow for the YSAs there without any connection to the church except though us. It has been one of THE most remarkable experiences of our lives together.
I will not attempt to identify those in the picture because they will have no meaning to anyone but us - but you can see us clearly. Our time spent together was remarkably spiritual, and the bonds we've made as missionaries in the great CES program of the church has been phenomenal. We shall never forget one another, we are linked together forever now.
None of us will be replaced, and that in itself is sad to me. But when the Lord's leaders take us in a different direction it is always better, we just have to wait and see what will come.
