It is with very mixed emotions that I write this last blog post! I have truly loved sharing the amazing experiences of our mission with all of you. There have been so many adventures, unexpected turns, wonderful people, new places, and memories that I know we will treasure forever. Somehow, it feels impossible that it is already time to write the final chapter!
This final week has been a mixture of tender goodbyes and the best, most-awaited hellos!
First, the last few days in Mongolia…
Our last official event of the mission was the International Day of Peace. We had the opportunity to come together with leaders from different religious groups to ring the Peace Bell and pray for peace throughout the world. As we stood there surrounded by people of different faiths, all united in that simple hope for peace, it felt like such a fitting way to end our service to the Lord. After all the places we have been and all the people we have had the privilege of serving, it was a beautiful reminder that there is so much more that unites us than divides us.
We said not goodbye, but merely, “See you later” to our friends in Mongolia. Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to people who have become such an important part of our lives. We hope it won't be too long before some of those “see you laters” turn into visits to Arizona!
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| Naska and Chimgee made Tsuivan (fried noodles) with horse meat for us. In case you are wondering, horse meat is actually very tender and delicious! |
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| Puje |
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| Our Service Center Friends |
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| Khongorzul and Jaga |
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| Bishop Jay |
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Batmunkh and the Ellersicks
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And then…THE HOMECOMING!
Hearing the screams as they spotted us on the camera and realized we were really coming was priceless. Coming down the escalator and seeing the faces of the people we love so much—and then finally getting those long-awaited hugs—is something I will treasure forever. After all the miles, all the airports, all the goodbyes, and all the adventures, there is just something wonderful about being HOME.
Friday we gathered everyone together for a little show and tell. It was so much fun to share a little bit of Mongolia with our family and tell them about some of the places and people who became such a big part of our lives. Of course, we had to bring home some Mongolian treasures, too!
And then it didn't take long to jump right back into Grandma and Grandpa life on Saturday! We started the day with a triathlon and then attended two soccer games. It was pretty wonderful to trade missionary schedules for cheering from the sidelines. We are so happy to be here for all these fun little moments that we missed while we were away!
And as I close this final blog post, I find myself realizing that there really aren't enough words to sum up our mission. We left home thinking we were going on a mission. What we didn't realize was just how many missions would be wrapped up in one. We served in Mongolia, Micronesia, Palau, and Guam. We worked with missionaries, members, government and religious leaders, humanitarian projects, and people from so many different cultures. We learned about new languages, ate some interesting food, figured out how to navigate places that were very different from home, and made friendships that crossed oceans. There were hard days. There were hilarious days. There were days when we wondered what in the world we had gotten ourselves into—and days when we knew exactly why we were there. And through it all, we were blessed far more than we could ever have imagined.
We came home with suitcases full of souvenirs, thousands of pictures, a lifetime of stories, and hearts absolutely overflowing with gratitude. So, this isn't really goodbye to the adventure. It's just the end of this particular chapter—and the beginning of whatever comes next.
Thank you for coming along with us, for reading, laughing, worrying, cheering us on, and letting us share a little piece of our missionary adventure with you. It has meant more than you know. And now, after months of asking, “Where in the world are Elder and Sister Rottweiler?”…
We're HOME. ❤️
Until the next adventure…
We loved your blogs. Especially the Christmas Drop and your Mongolian outfits. Three separate areas rapped into one official Mission. The Desert and grass lands of Mongolia and its people and a temple coming soon, the ocean off Guam, and it temple, and Palau and the islands of Micronesia with again the Air Force helping with the Christmas Drop, and back to Mongolia. Who would have thought. And Shauna and I read and kept ALL of your blogs. You are now back to being Grandpa and Grandma and what ever lies ahead.
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