Today was our last Sunday here in Costa Rica. Karen and I were assigned to speak at the last minute to cover for one of the assigned speakers. It went well, all things considered, but was quite emotional. I can't believe we've been here for almost a year, and that in just a few short days we'll be going home. We are going to miss our friends here, but we are also going to be very happy to see our old friends in Utah. We really wanted the branch here to be made a ward, but that is going to have wait a while until more members can be found.
Yesterday we attended our final baptism, which brings the total count for the year to 10. It was a wonderful ceremony. It is a great curiosity to me that an ordinance or ceremony so simple as baptism has such great significance. No one takes notice of a baptism and it is over in just a few short minutes, yet it has greater significance to an individual than anything else that will happen to him or her during his or her lifetime. We spend way more time and energy on far less important events that have absolutely no value when viewed from the perspective of the eternities.
At this point we have sold most of our possessions, we only have a few beds, a computer, and a DVD/VHS player. We are going to spend the next couple of days playing, then Hannah and Tori leave on Wednesday. We are then going to spend a couple of days finishing up packing and getting ready to leave. We will spend the last night here in the Hampton Inn next to the airport.