May sees the Iversons say goodbye

Iverson Postscript . . . Thoughts as we complete our mission.

April 28, 2011

We can hardly believe our mission is ending . . . the time has literally flown by and we’ve enjoyed this experience more than we could ever put into words.  We approach our return with very mixed emotions and it’s more difficult for us to leave Scotland than it ever was for us to leave home.  We knew we would be returning home to loved ones there . . . we have no idea if/when we’ll see those we have grown to love here.
 
Lessons we learned as missionaries:
 
“Old dogs really can learn new tricks!”  Linda will shock her sons and sons-in-law with all her new computer knowledge when she returns and Ned knows more about digital imaging than he ever wanted to know.  Even at our ages, it’s still possible to learn! 
 
Other missionary couples we’ve served with will be eternal friends:  Jewkes, Westenscows, Buckwalters, O’Neals, Lees and Reids.  We have been so blessed to serve with these great people. Daily work in the archives could be tedious, but the atmosphere was never boring as we laughed and cried together and shared testimony and hopes and dreams for our lives and families.
 
Nothing is better than to have a “real” local Scottish couple serve in the archives with you. Jimmy and Margaret Reid were the first part-time service missionary couple to serve in the archives in the UK and we were fortunate enough to serve with them at the same time.  From Jimmy, the iconic Scotsman, we learned the meaning of “coorie doon” and every other Scottish term we ever wanted to hear or know and Margaret was our reference for anything we needed in Scotland.  We laughed and cried together and felt their testimonies daily.  They added a flavour and blessing to our mission for which we will ever be grateful.
 

Mike Mitchell is the most patient, supportive supervisor in the world.  Thank you Mike for putting up with our steep learning curve and setting such a peaceful tone in our camera room.  We appreciate your spiritual depth along with your great computer skills.  We love you and wish the very best for you and your family.  We’ll miss you. 

Reactivation work brings much joy!  Our after archive hours work in the Edinburgh Ward brought a few back into activity and added MANY to our list of beloved friends.  We won’t soon forget all those we worked with in the evenings.

YSA are truly the future hope for the Church in Scotland.  Our calling to teach the YSA Gospel Doctrine class in the Edinburgh Ward was perhaps the most joyous assignment of our entire mission.  Such great kids whom we love dearly and will continue to pray that they stay strong and faithful. 

You can become a part of a ward and stake in a very short time.  With our reactivation work in the ward and Ned’s call to the high council, we were blessed to know many people in both the ward and stake quickly.  There are great people wherever you go.   We loved and were abundantly loved in return!

The simple life is easier and good.  We think we can go home and dejunk our house after this mission.  It needs it after living there for 35 years!  And we hope to live a more simple life than the one we left after living out of two suitcases each for 18 months.  Good lesson to learn.

Time together as a missionary couple is a terrific bonus of a mission.  We have been on the “same page” for the last 18 months in every way and spent more time together than in all of our previous 42 years of marriage.  We dread going home to “separate lives” and hope we can serve, work and play together like we have as missionaries.

Blessings flow freely from missionary service.  We return home to FOUR new grandchildren we’ve never seen or met (making our total 20) and good things happening in our children’s and extended families’ lives.  We feel humbled by the Lord’s goodness to us while we’ve been gone and our testimonies and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ have grown stronger through our service here in Scotland.

And now we move on to the next adventure in our lives (whatever that may be)!