The bus drove away and the remaining missionaries waved goodbye until it dissolved in the distance. Then, like nothing had happened to disturb their duties, they all returned to the mission center.
Elders McKinley and Thomas had finished their mission and were headed back to the states. Left without a district leader, a very proud Elder Church received the promotion.
But as the days went by, he couldn't help but overhear the other missionaries lament how they missed Elder McKinley. How a situation would have been handled better if McKinley were there.
Elder Church no longer felt honored. He just felt like a replacement.