I'm sure the people at Delta baggage claim were ready for us to leave, it snowed several inches that morning, after several weeks of no snow and we all made it to the airport about an hour early. Max kept climbing on the baggage carousel and one time a Delta employee came and took him off, Max started screaming, "She touched me! She touched me!", I got a nice chuckle out of it, and was glad she did because he finally stopped trying.
They also kept extending the barrier stanchions, I'm sure it was something like the Clampett's go to the airport.
Patrick is one of the smiliest people I have ever met. He is kind hearted and loving. When he hugged me I thought he was never going to let go, it was the hardest hug ever!
My kids did not remember him, Grace was barely 2 and Max wasn't even 1, but they both loved him. Grace wouldn't leave him alone and when we got in the car to ride up to my moms she said "Mom, I like him, I really do!" It was very sweet.
My sister Cassie, niece Libby, Max & Grace making sure Patch wasn't going to leave again!
This is the last letter my brother sent from the field, I truly loved it. If you have anyone contemplating serving a mission I would invite them to read this letter- his testimony and love for the people in Riverside is amazing! I am so proud of my little bro!
Dear Family & Friends,
I hope that you have had a great week! I love you all so very much & just wanted to write a note to let you know how much I love each & every one of you! The past two years have been the most monumental time of my life & I thank you so much for your love, kindness, support & prayers.
I remember the night I opened my call letter & reading off "The California Riverside Mission"... wow, what a shock - I was thinking somewhere far a way (my dream was, if you remember Sydney Australia), or at least New York... but I got called to just two states away. I was a little disappointed, BUT I went anyway knowing that God would give me strength & He would hopefully help me to "like" my mission.
Wow, how childish I was to be disappointed in MY call to His mission. I know now that this is the mission that I was supposed to be sent to. I have had so many special times where the spirit has confirmed to me that this is where I was supposed to be. I can't imagine if I had not met all the people that I have come into contact with out here in California. I can't imagine the friends that I have made & never coming into contact with them. No this mission was meant for me & I am so glad that I took the sacred opportunity to come out her for these two years to do it.
I remember Mary always asking me a couple of times every year, "so your going on a mission right?" haha, my answer was always "yes" , but in my head I was thinking 'wow, two whole years --I can't be away from everything & everyone for that long!' kind of dreading the upcoming & scary 2 years from 2009-2011 it finally came... I was scared for the unknown of what the mission had in store for me - but I went remembering the commandment of a mission that was given to every worthy priesthood holder. Thanks Mary & Family for always reminding me & helping me prepare for my mission.
Goll, my whole mission just seems to be a blurr. From three months jumped up to six. Six months flew by to a year. A Year rushed on to eighteen months & from then on my time has fleeted away from me. From Corona (Citrus Hills/Prado View) to Lake Elsinore (Ortega/Lake Elsinore) to Riverside (Mt. Rubidoux) to Palm Desert (Santa Rosa/La Quinta) to Corona (Temescal Valley) to Temecula (Pauba/Temecula Valley YSA/Redhawk) was my mission. Really I can't say that time ever went slow - which is crazy to me - I know that was a huge blessing from my Heavenly Father. He knew how fragile I was when I came out - but with faith exercised He has shaped my fragile testimony into something stronger!
My mission has started the true foundation for my life. I think of the primary song & scripture "The Wise & Foolish Man" & think of their foundations. I was blessed to grow up with a great family & great friends - all good influences, but I think my testimony was still small & sandy. It wasn't till I had these two years that I have not had to think & worry about myself - but for only the service of God that I have learned who I am & really knew - really knew what my purpose was and is here & forever. I now have a relationship with my Heavenly Father & His Son Jesus Christ & the Holy Ghost. I know them from service & faith. I am so grateful for this choice to serve - nowhere else could I have gained this special testimony!
"What ever Jesus lays his hands upon lives. If Jesus lays his hand upon a marriage, it lives. If he is allowed to lay his hands upon the family, it lives." ~President Howard W. Hunter. I love this quote because it makes me think about myself & makes me question myself, Do I let Jesus Christ symbolically lay his hands upon me & my life? I think my mission has been a start for that. A start - I still have so much more to do. The course to get to eternal life is long and endure I must. We need to ALWAYS let the savior place his hands of safety in our lives - not just sometimes. I love my Savior Jesus Christ & am forever grateful for his loving sacrifice for me. I'm grateful for His call to me & for letting me have these "best two years"!
Again I love you all so much. This week has been crazy & surreal. This past week on Wednesday I had a little panic-attack... haha, but with a blessing I was comforted. I am excited to see all of you. Love you all, be safe till we meet again.
--
Love,
ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
I hope that you have had a great week! I love you all so very much & just wanted to write a note to let you know how much I love each & every one of you! The past two years have been the most monumental time of my life & I thank you so much for your love, kindness, support & prayers.
I remember the night I opened my call letter & reading off "The California Riverside Mission"... wow, what a shock - I was thinking somewhere far a way (my dream was, if you remember Sydney Australia), or at least New York... but I got called to just two states away. I was a little disappointed, BUT I went anyway knowing that God would give me strength & He would hopefully help me to "like" my mission.
Wow, how childish I was to be disappointed in MY call to His mission. I know now that this is the mission that I was supposed to be sent to. I have had so many special times where the spirit has confirmed to me that this is where I was supposed to be. I can't imagine if I had not met all the people that I have come into contact with out here in California. I can't imagine the friends that I have made & never coming into contact with them. No this mission was meant for me & I am so glad that I took the sacred opportunity to come out her for these two years to do it.
I remember Mary always asking me a couple of times every year, "so your going on a mission right?" haha, my answer was always "yes" , but in my head I was thinking 'wow, two whole years --I can't be away from everything & everyone for that long!' kind of dreading the upcoming & scary 2 years from 2009-2011 it finally came... I was scared for the unknown of what the mission had in store for me - but I went remembering the commandment of a mission that was given to every worthy priesthood holder. Thanks Mary & Family for always reminding me & helping me prepare for my mission.
Goll, my whole mission just seems to be a blurr. From three months jumped up to six. Six months flew by to a year. A Year rushed on to eighteen months & from then on my time has fleeted away from me. From Corona (Citrus Hills/Prado View) to Lake Elsinore (Ortega/Lake Elsinore) to Riverside (Mt. Rubidoux) to Palm Desert (Santa Rosa/La Quinta) to Corona (Temescal Valley) to Temecula (Pauba/Temecula Valley YSA/Redhawk) was my mission. Really I can't say that time ever went slow - which is crazy to me - I know that was a huge blessing from my Heavenly Father. He knew how fragile I was when I came out - but with faith exercised He has shaped my fragile testimony into something stronger!
My mission has started the true foundation for my life. I think of the primary song & scripture "The Wise & Foolish Man" & think of their foundations. I was blessed to grow up with a great family & great friends - all good influences, but I think my testimony was still small & sandy. It wasn't till I had these two years that I have not had to think & worry about myself - but for only the service of God that I have learned who I am & really knew - really knew what my purpose was and is here & forever. I now have a relationship with my Heavenly Father & His Son Jesus Christ & the Holy Ghost. I know them from service & faith. I am so grateful for this choice to serve - nowhere else could I have gained this special testimony!
"What ever Jesus lays his hands upon lives. If Jesus lays his hand upon a marriage, it lives. If he is allowed to lay his hands upon the family, it lives." ~President Howard W. Hunter. I love this quote because it makes me think about myself & makes me question myself, Do I let Jesus Christ symbolically lay his hands upon me & my life? I think my mission has been a start for that. A start - I still have so much more to do. The course to get to eternal life is long and endure I must. We need to ALWAYS let the savior place his hands of safety in our lives - not just sometimes. I love my Savior Jesus Christ & am forever grateful for his loving sacrifice for me. I'm grateful for His call to me & for letting me have these "best two years"!
Again I love you all so much. This week has been crazy & surreal. This past week on Wednesday I had a little panic-attack... haha, but with a blessing I was comforted. I am excited to see all of you. Love you all, be safe till we meet again.
--
Love,
ELDER PATRICK McBRIDE
4 comments:
I loved his last letter to! So NIce!
I got lots of pics from the civic center...I'll share!
It was such a fun day! LIke the collages..
He is AMAZING!!
What an amazing young man he is. He has always been. Great things in his future I believe. I love letters from missionaries. I read Andy's all the time. Can you believe he has been home 3 years? Wow!
What a great letter! I am sure you are so glad for him to be home. Your brother is coming home and we have one about to leave next week! How amazing it is that these boys (and some girls) sacrifice 2 years of their lives to spread the gospel. There is a saying for missionaries: someone who leaves their family for two years so others can be with thiers for eternity. So true!!
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