Mission Reunion

Yesterday we had the first mission reunion with President and Sister Cotterell and it was amazing. I was not exactly dreading attending, but I wasn't exactly excited either. I didn't really feel like I earned it since I wasn't able to serve the full 18 months. But then I got there and started seeing people that I had heard about (I really only knew a handful of missionaries, but you hear a lot about previous missionaries or see their names on paperwork). And then President Cotterell came up to me and gave me a big hug and said that he was so glad that I came and I just felt so welcome. After the first little opening gathering, we had a little program. There were some testimonies shared and songs and photos. We did an insta-choir and sang "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd," which has become one of my favorite hymns. But my favorite part was hearing and learning from the Cotterells. What amazing people with such strong testimonies. He posed the question "what does it mean to you to leave the ninty and nine?" referring to the lost sheep parable. To me, it means to get out of my comfort zone and to figure out what is missing in my life and to find it. Interesting personal revelation. He also reminded and re-extended the invitation given at our exit interviews. He told all 509 missionaries that he interviewed as they left the mission field to "Maintain the daily practice of scripture study with an emphasis on the Book of Mormon and to keep a study journal." Most mission presidents that I've heard of tell their missionaries to get married - this is the difference between most people and the Cotterells. Anyone who does that for 100 days he will buy a lunch for two - just send him the receipt. As a mission, we are all going to do this for the next 100 days and then have a gathering in January. The most important thing that I got out of this reunion was to remember what it felt like to be a part of something amazing and important. I finally feel at peace with the whole coming home early thing.