The few days Alex was home before going to BYU-Provo were packed with immediate and extended family time, unpacking from his mission, packing for college, and lots of time talking. We hosted an evening for a few close families to come and hear mission stories and ask questions.
Then Saturday we had a fun extended family hike to Umptanum Creek Falls (the smoke had been so bad in Yakima from fires that we had to search for a spot to escape the smoke).
Of course, Poppi and Nate had to join the pioneer club first - many others followed.
Tyler and Alex have loved spending time together.
The hiking crew
Saturday evening we were honored to host a dinner for the Grandmas (Ami, Grannie, Great grandma Ditto), Poppi, Aunt Laurie, and Sis. Day (Alex had served with her when he first arrived in Romania). We had korean bbq pork, quinoa and salad.
Alysee put together this fun display of treasures that Alex had collected from his mission.
The lovely ladies in the kitchen preparing for the homecoming feast the following day.
After dinner with our special guests, Alex shared memories and answered questions about his mission and then Grannie shared a very special priesthood line authority chart that Great Grandma Harvey had made with Grannie. It was a wonderful night!
Sunday - Homecoming Talk and festivities
Alex gave a wonderful homecoming talk. He had not been feeling well since he had gotten home four days prior and had asked Birch for a blessing. He was blessed with the energy that he would need to share his message and be able to visit with all who made the special effort to come hear him speak. Alex said he felt totally lifted the whole day -- and then crashed at bedtime.
Here is a link to listen to his talk. It was just A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
He didn't type out his talk but I did find some notes 😂
The afternoon was filled with family, food, and fun!! Caroline and Alex had an arm wrestling match. We had Korean Chicken lettuce or corn tortilla wraps, Coconut Rice, Slaw, veggie trays, chips, cookies (thanks to all those that helped!)
It was so special to have Sis Larri-Lea Day and Alex's trainer, Elder Giron drive up from Vancouver, WA for Alex's homecoming.
Aunt Laurie made the long drive from Helena. She has been so supportive of Alex while on his mission.
This woman, Great Grandma Ditto is just amazing. We're so thankful that her health allowed her to drive from Montana as well.
Showing off our handmade Romanian shirts Alex purchased for each of us.
Blayre and Ryan are the best!!
Grannie said that Alex's homecoming weekend was the highlight of her summer.
I wish we had taken a picture with all who came to hear Alex's talk. Really it was so amazing to see friends from other wards in attendance, Alex's first mission companion from Oregon, friends from the Tri-cities, previous school friends, other missionary's parents that live in Washington state and drove over to listen to his talk, many non-member friends, lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles, etc... It was a packed house and moment totally worth celebrating!
The following morning we got up at 3 am and drove to Seattle to catch a flight to Oahu, Hawaii!!! We had been saving for the past two years to make this trip possible. It was surrell to actually be in the air knowing that the sacrifices that we had all made to make this trip happen was finally coming to fruition. We had a wonderful time despite Hurricane Lane that did it's best to shut down the island!
Surfing!
Hiking to Lulumahu falls
We're sure proud of our kids!
Lots of time playing in the sand
Visiting the Laie Hawaii Temple and doing baptisms
Jumping off Waimea Rock
Hiking Kaena Point
Hiking up Crouching Lion
Surf Lessons
Parasailing
A family that plays together, stays together.
And so Elder Ditto's mission blog comes to a close. As much as I am so glad he is home, I am really going to miss those Monday letters and pictures. We're so thankful for the example he has been to our family and for the love that the Romanians, Moldovans, and Hungarians have shown to Alex. I know that God is pleased with his efforts to spread His light and love for the people in Eastern Europe. I'm pretty sure Alex would say it has been his...BEST TWO YEARS!!!
The big countdown finale ended on August 15th around 3:20 pm. The anticipation at our house was busting with joy as we prepared our home for Elder Ditto (and all the family and friends visiting over the following three days).
The day we received the letter from Alex's mission president with his official travel plans was such a happy one. I think our whole family was bursting with Godly pride at a mission well done.
What a long flight from Budapest, Hungary to Yakima, WA!
When we arrived to the airport it was filled with family and friends. I was already weeping seeing all the support from loved ones. In the corner of the airport I saw a mom of one of Alex's good high school friends that he loved to speak religion with prior to leaving on his mission. I soon learned that her son just "happened" to be on the same flight from Seattle to Yakima on his way home from visiting the Holy Lands. This was such a tender mercy and reminded me that God is in the details of our lives.
It felt like we had to wait forever for the plane to land.
And then even longer for Alex to come through those airport security doors. Pure joy!!!! No other words!
Pretty sure Birch and Alex had thought about this hug for the past two years!
Lots of cousins! Caroline and kids made it just in time to the airport driving all the way from Corvallis.
Teary-eyed and oh so happy!
Crazy kids!
Mila and Elder Ditto
Truman and Elder Ditto
Hazelnut and Elder Ditto
Good high school buddies - Matthew and Elder Ditto
First family pictures!!
We have the best neighbors and they had been waiting to come to the fence for their hug too. It was so fun to see Alex fling himself over the fence and give them both big hugs.
This A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. video was made by Tyler's high school friend. He shot the footage (and took the pictures) and them put them altogether in this video. We can't thank Jack enough for capturing the emotions of everyone! I will treasure this forever!! And in case you are wondering why all the disco lights, my grandma had a vision of Alex coming home from his mission with lights shining on him representing the light of Christ that he shared throughout Romania and Moldova. She sent is the disco ball and you know you can’t let down Grandma!
https://youtu.be/8N0kCcqtzW8
After we collected his luggage we were off to President Hendricks' office for Elder Ditto to be officially released. President Hendricks gave us each an opportunity to share how we had individually been blessed by Alex's service. It was a tender time. President Hendricks also presented Alex with his certificates of being honorably released from his mission - it was fun to get them in several languages.
The night ended with a family dinner with the Watts, Andersens, and Sherry Jrs. Alex had requested Crockpot Thai Chicken soup. It felt like we were in a dream -- altogether eating dinner with Alex sharing mission highlights.
Now we compulsively watch the video over and over again so we can relive all those emotions of joy, longing, and happiness.
Its hitting me!!! I cant believe it's been two years since I began my service as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I just read my very first entry from when I entered into Romania in October 2016. The time has flown, but I am a different man from when I began. Pretty neat to have my life so documented from these two years, it makes it easier to see the progress and the things I have learned. My mission was everything and nothing that I expected.
Love it here!
I remember very distinctly being on a tram in Arad and looking at a Romanian and wondering if their jokes were the same, or if they even spoke in the same manner that I was used to. I had not a single clue who these people were, but I knew that I came here to serve them and I wanted to love them.
A gypsy neighborhood on the outskirts of town
Nicu helped us out with a lesson... it is amazing seeing the members catch the fire of missionary work!
Fast forward to now, and I find myself looking at Romanians like my friends, like one of my own. I feel accepted as one of their own. There was a lot of work that was involved to getting to that point, a lot of language mistakes, a lot of patience involved, and endless effort to develop more charity for these people.
Click here https://youtu.be/e6byve4BkQQ
I have often wondered over my mission why people come home saying that they "love the people," or "its the best country on earth." I have learned that if you go to a country with the mindset of comparing, or "the grass is greener on the other side" kind of mentality, you will be disappointed and unsatisfied. Rather, coming to love a nation, or anyone for that matter, requires time, service, and reflection. It is only then when we can obtain this kind of love for God's children! I have learned to see through God's eyes, and love the people for who they are, despite their imperfections and annoyances, and believe me- after working with the Romanian government policies and business laws for six months; I have seen the worst of it!
Romania is my home away from home. It's where I became a man. It's where I learned how to cook, how to study, to speak Romanian. It's where I became friends with so many, made so of my best friends, discovered the wealth of things this world has to offer. It's where I learned the importance of bringing souls unto Christ, and the importance of helping my brothers and sisters make covenants with God. It's where I have solidified and strengthened my testimony that Jesus is my Savior, and that His church has been restored! By golly gee the list goes on and on. I wouldn't change these two years for anything. I know that the prophetic mandate to serve a mission is from God. I have seen that time after time, and I know that President Russell M Nelson is called of God to continue to direct us on good paths.
I didn't even really start talking about everything that I did this week. It was one of the busiest of my mission. We faced a lot of adversity and had to problem solve a ton for the good of the mission. Elder Welling and I were a great team, and I feel confident that he will continue to keep this mission alive both spiritually and logistically, temporally, etc. This is our call! God has and will continue to deliver!!!
Being an assistant to the mission president has opened another section of my heart, especially as I have had to balance so many other things in addition to these responsibilities. I have seen the Romania-side of the mission progress so much, I am so confident in all of the other missionaries here right now. Each of them have a special role in helping the members build Zion here!!!!!!
As you can see, these pictures do good justice as to my relationship with the people here in Romania. I love them so much!
De abia aștept sa va îmbrățișez pe fiecare dintre voi. V-am simțit iubirea de al lungul misiunii, și știu ca rugăciunile voastre fierbinte pentru mine într-adevăr au avut un impact mare. Sunt recunoscător lui Dumnezeu pentru ca a avut grija de voi și chiar ne a binecuvântat din belșug datorita credinței noastre!!! Ne vedem cât ați zice "Hawaii", va iubesc!!!!
