Well this week has been a "blast from the past" I think they would say. Life has been super busy from haveing 3 connecting flights from long beach to chicago I made it home sadly here is a picture ,with my school little souviner I picked up before I left the mission.
As you can see my first name :) it is crazy to be bac in chicago the weather has been really good this week cold at night and about 50 during the day :) just good enough to ware a thin sweater. It has been a lot of fun applying what I learned on the mission and now moving forward. My parents were here the first 2 days and my brother and sister came a few days later from Utah and BYU IDAHO. THAT added to the craziness! Then the next day went fishing with my brother and dad in the morning for about an hour got a great new drivers licence. I have to say it turned out pretty good :) then took the idea my siblings had and we went to chicago right after taking the train in. Having Geridonos deep dish Chicago style pizza super good! It had been so long. Then my parents left the two siblings and I do fend for our selves be in the wilderness....not really just to walk around Chicago and spend time together. We spent about an hour at a McDonald's talking about or missions having a warm discussion about how to plan the best on a mission. Sibling rivalry. :-) Well there we each got an apple pie ,mainly because my sister had a gift card . We wanted to go to the magnificent mile but found we should get back. And literally after walking outside the door this younger lady probably 30 asked us about directions trying to figure out which way was a specific street on her phone. We help her out and continued to walk when all the sudden this guy contacted us (see picture below) . His name was or is Theron. He preceded to have a quick chat almost as though o were a missionary again be contacted bit just general conversation. He asked us after saying hi how do you think my name is spelled. I heard him say, "thah-Ron" but was spelled the Ron . He made us laugh and said that he had just talked to another person who thought he was struggling and need some food so the man gave him a hamburger. Theron said,"hey ill take what I can get" but he continued "as you can see I have got some money but my car got booted and I am trying to make it to my grandma's birthday. I'm looking for 12 buck to get a train ticket there " so we had a dollar on us and gave it to him so worth it. And of course left him with a because He Lives card :) #aftermissionlife #rm (these seemed to fit well). Great moment to end of our night before heading back on the train. It was a little chilly that night and into Sunday but had a great time at church had the opportunity to speak to the youth the third hour block since there was a primary program and see ny dads side of the family as well as members I knew before the mission!
Side not had a lot of fun on the way home. In the salt lake air port there were missionaries just leaving for their missions to the Brazil mtg or heading there after a few weeks in Provo MTC and now have their visa's. So I thought well might as well challenge them I had a few pamphlets left and because he lives cards so I gave them the ones I could a card or pamphlet and challenged them to pass it out they were excited a few surprised but I'm going to email them this week and see what happens :) ill let tall know what funny or good experiences they had :) (on their 114 hour flight ;) ) then it came to Sunday night and my brother had to go back to school but my sister and mom are leaving today actually in an hour or so :p but we watched " The Saratov approach " first movie and really even tv per-se that I watched it was super good! Definitely a great spiritual message. My first day back I was able to right in my journal took me a while had so much time I ended up typing a 3 page essay pretty much :p nothing like that ever would have happens before the mission. Then had the opprotunity to run for almost 20 minutes and study for a few hours hours reading different articles and the scriptures it makes such a difference in the day and the spirit you feel being able to study and teach remember this it is so good and to focus on the most important things when I came home I felt the difference watching tv or doing social media related things could do if it wasn't with purpose. Missions change you and pray for the ability to change from your mission and using the skills of visions goals and plans and accountability after the missionary it will bring you so much joy I never could have stayed focused and accomplished so much of what I have so far with out it. I don't get distracted as easily etc. I love being back and having been able to serve a two year mission. Praying always is a bug facto have a prayer always kneel that thought of "help me...." In your mind . It changes everything thew way you talk etc. Love you all keep up the work of God on your missions know that all a mission is is a calling help me prepare for going home because all callings have an end. You'll know you did well. !
~ Chris <------ weird right?!
Oh I almost forgot I drove 6 hours to st Louis and back and well there went to the temple super great then 6 hours back in under 24 hours try that after being home 1 day and a half :p
Then the other photos are of me today going to cosco and they had gigantic stuffed bears and then went to a place called portillos which has chocolate cake shakes. They take their own chocolate cake they make and put ice cream and whatever in a blender and you get a shake super good!