Max and I have spent some good time together since he got home just organizing his things. Getting rid of the things still lingering from two years ago that he doesn't need, acquiring some that he will need in Utah, and just getting life situated.
Part of that deal has involved sorting through and boxing up the things he brought home from his mission.
To me, there is something so beautiful about those things.
Sure, they're just ordinary things. Books and papers, journals and notes.
But ordinary things transform into extraordinary things when they are part of a mission story. So I decided I better take some pictures of some of them before we boxed them up.
His planners, well-worn and put to work, one for every transfer, filled with daily plans and goals.
(Those were from before he started to learn the Chinese characters.)
His dictionary and maps:
The Book of Mormon he used to study the Atonement in more depth:
His "Plan of Salvation" teaching tools:
Not sure what this is, but I think an invitation for something he did with his last companion:
His Chinese, pin-ying and English study scriptures (one in each column):
Lots and lots of study notes...this is one of his favorite talks:
One of his well-worn shoes that walked and biked so many miles:
His Chinese flashcards from his MTC days...these gigantic rings of all the words and phrases he worked his tail off to learn.
Let's get a closer look at those:
His dictionary and maps:
All kinds of notebooks like this filled with goals and plans:
Lots and lots of study notes...this is one of his favorite talks:
Now all those mission relics are boxed up safe and sound, but I hope the things he learned from them will always be part of him, and part of the light he carries.