WELCOME HOME! March 15, 2012

Just off the plane and down to my waiting family.
Such excitement and joy.

My parents faces were priceless upon
seeing me for the first time in two years.

Here I am with my whole PINEDA family clan.

My nephew and nieces with their welcome signs.

At home with my nephew and nieces in front of a
very big welcome home sign. The wind
eventually took it down not long afterwards.

HOME AT LAST!!!!

Sorry, no pictures right now. We got to the airport and realized our camera batteries were dead.
It was exciting to see Chris. We had our whole family there, plus a few extra's - cousins and friends. He looked so good and of course made a beeline to his mother first. I think he hugged me for about 5 whole minutes before he moved on to others. We were both crying. We had yellow balloons and signs to welcome him home. We had also made a long welcome sign for our fence in front of our house, but the wind did major damage to that. Some kind neighbors tried taping it, but the wind eventually took it down. Chris did get to see the patched results though before it was off completely.
The whole family stopped and ate at a Chuck O Rama on the way home from the airport.
Chris has been home now for two weeks and is busy trying to find a job, look into schools for the Fall, and thinking about 'girls' too. In many ways he is still the same ole Chris, but has changed for the better in many other areas. He loved his mission and we loved all of your support and love, also. We are forever thankful.

Chris's last email before coming home!

FAMILIA!!!!

Hey ya'lls!! i decided to just write one email today.. we have lots to do and i figure i will see you in a couple of days so we can just talk then! so i hope ya'll don't mind.
Well... i don't really know what to say... I just want to testify to ya'll of the savior and things but i do that every week, and i will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I guess all i can tell you is what i will tell my mission president in my final interview, and that is that i have served the best i can. i have given all i got! i have given my heart to the lord mentally, physically, spiritually, and vocally. My heart is in his hands and he has it forever. I have no regrets! i use to say my only regret is that i wish i had the knowledge and testimony i do now, when i started my mission. but i thought about that and i take it back, because the way i have obtained the knowledge, my testimony, and my conversion has made my mission worth every second!! i would not change it for anything!! i have loved every trial, joy, pain, and good feeling that the lord has allowed my to have!! i love the people! i love south carolina! even though it is ghetto and stinks. i love my companions. they truly are my brethren and i owe so much to each of them. i love my leaders. i love the gospel!! i love the savior!! life is good and it just gets better. the mission will never be the best two years for me, because every year i will have for the rest of my life will be the best year of my life!! there is only 'up' to go for me. there is only more testimony, stronger conversion, more faith, more happiness!! i am not finishing anything! i am starting!! i love life!! i have goals. i have dreams and a for sure way to get them! i know now that the impossible is possible. that the word "impossible" is just a word for the people who are not willing to try! two years ago i could have not said that. god is good. he is real! i love this gospel!! i love you all my dearest family!! i hope you all read this and feel and know that i love each and every one of you! my love for you mom and dad and fellow siblings, has grown so much since being on the mission. i love you more now than i ever have before! it is crazy how that works right!! i am excited to see you! riley sent me an email and said something i loved. he said "take it all in, but leave it all behind at the same time." that is true! it is bitter sweet! i am so in love with the gospel! i love all of you! i know ya'll have changed just like i have and i am excited to get to know all of you over again. please don't expect me to be perfect.. ha i am far from it! but expect me to be firm in the faith and expect me to always be converted to the gospel. expect me to love you all tons for the rest of my life! expect me to help in times of need and to strive to be the best brother, son, husband, father, athlete, student, son of god and member of christ's church that i can be! i will always strive for excellence. i love you all tons! i am so humbled to be your brother and son and your friend. i will forever be grateful to all of you and most our all to the savior!! i love it! my goodness i love it!! my heart is full!! this gospel is true!!! see ya'll soon!! stay strong!! forever strong!! this is my epistle.. ha ha
-love elder pineda
XOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOXOOOX

Branch Fun!

Branch members making pinata's for the branch party.
Feb. 2012

Pinata fun at the Branch party.

Dancing with scarfs at the branch party.

At a wedding party in the branch.

Baptism of Amanda and Natividad. Feb. 2012

ALMOST HOME!!!!

The baptism of Ricardo. He was baptized by
one of my first converts here in the branch a year and a half ago.

With some of my favorite missionaries
at our last zone conference.

One of my buddy missionaries at zone conference.

Flying J truck all the way from Utah here in South Carolina.
Very funny to see.

Some of my zone missionaries pulling faces.