Heartbroken

This has been a week of such mixed emotions.  For the past couple of months, we have anxiously counted the weeks and days, while trying to stay focused on our missionary duties, until we would be able to return home and be with our family.  But now that that time has arrived, it has been painful to say good-bye to so many wonderful friends.  On Thursday we went to lunch with the Legal Office at Boca del Rio, a seafood restaurant in Zone 10, la Zona Viva.  It was a nice lunch, and knowing we had several days before we would say our final goodbyes, it was not too difficult that day.  But later that evening, we sat in the Temple with President and Sister Norman and said a final goodbye to them and our fellow temple workers, and it was heartbreaking.  Then on Saturday, we had a luncheon at the new PF Chang's Restaurant in the Zona Viva with some of our senior missionary friends, along with Mark and Paula Wood.  It was a wonderful time, and we said goodbye to many of them.  After we left, a great feeling of sadness and loss came over us.  Today we attended our beloved Barrio Santa Luisa for the final time, and said goodbye to the wonderful Saints we have loved for 18 months.  It was a tearful and heartbreaking farewell.  We feel as though a hunk of our heart has been cut out, and while we are so excited about seeing our family again, the farewell to Guatemala has been a painful one.  We never anticipated having to cut out a piece of our heart and leave it behind.  We will always remember those we have served with and come to love here in the land of the Mayas, and part of  our heart will always remain here.