12 Octubre de 2009
Cordillera, Puente Alto, Santiago, Chile
So, are you all wondering what the oink oink is for? Maybe the huge lunches, maybe a run-in with a pig in a lesson, etc. Well the answer- 4 words: Swine Flu, Schmine Phoo.
Yep! Apparently that´s what I have had. On Monday I had to call the Doctor, and he told me to stay in during the night from Pday 7-10, because of the bronchitis, etc I had had,although he said that I could go out on Tuesday. So that was fun (haha), and on Tuesday we worked and taught a lot of people and it was great! Then Wed morning we have our zone-district meetings and I was dying. Non-stop hacking, lungs aching, etc. So! Anyways went to lunch, and then to study afterwards and then I found that I could not really breathe and couldn´t really get up to work. Ha! So yeah, we stayed in and then we went to the Dr. the next day, and they informed me that rather than bronchitis, I had actually had the swine flu and was happily on my way to pneumonia. Next stop: hospital. Woa! That sounds bad. Don´t worry, we didn´t go. That was hypothetical, as in the next stop WOULD be the hospital, with tubes, IV´s all that fun. So! Opting out of that option, they gave me this GIGANTIC shot in the... yep, you guessed it! and antibiotics, anti-inflamatory, these crazy drops called SSKI, jarabe de toz, and other such remedios. It was pretty amusing actually, because every time I would have a coughing attack or explain some symptom he would write down another drug. Let me just say, I am suddenly extremely impressed at the accuracy in which older people take their medicines. I mean, it´s crazy! 5 of these, 4 of these, 2 of these, 1 of these, woa! It really requires some thinking and planning. ;) De verdad. Anyhow! so I was commanded to the house until...today, although I did receive permission to go to church yesterday, thank you very much. So yeah! I can breathe much better now, my lungs don´t hurt as bad, and I´d say we`re out of the pneumonia path by now. hahahaha. Who knew that a little annoying cough from 4 weeks ago could produce so many problems? I certainly didn´t. Well, apparently it was just the swine flu in disguise! hahaha! I try to keep that little tidbit away from the people, not just so that they don´t freak out, but to keep their faith. A woman was telling us hm.... on Tuesday! about the swine flu and how she is thankful for the gospel and is just sure that no members have gotten it because the Lord is protecting them. Now, I know the Lord is still protecting us, and always with us, He just allowed me to get sick is all.
So, yes, it was exceptionally hard to be in the house, especially when we have so many wonderful investigators, and can´t visit them, but the Lord did help me. I was laying in bed thinking of all the investigators, worrying about them, thinking of how they`re not getting visited, etc. I mean, obviously no one wants to get sick ever, but it was just worse because this isn´t MY time, but the Lord´s, and it was me getting in the way of His work. Then laying there I put the thoughts together. Yes, this is His work. And I KNOW that the Lord is always aware of ALL of His children, and there was no way that He was unaware that in Cordillera 2 missionaries couldn´t visit Margarita and Mario, Nacho and Patricia, Francisca and Juan Pablo, Marlen, etc. I mean, it is HIS work. So I took comfort knowing that they were going to be okay, because if they couldn´t take it, he wouldn´t have letten (wow, is that a word, and how is it spelled? ;) me get stuck in the house. And there is always a lesson in everything, for me, Hna Talbot, and the investigators. I´m just trying to learn it as fast as possible, and hope that if they need to learn a lesson that learn it quickly as well so we can get back to work. I have become a much more patient person in the mission. More patient with companions, the sicknesses of others, investigators, etc. But unbeknownst to me, I wasn´t quite to keen on it when it is me that inhibits the work. So I studied that this week quite a bit, in hopes to learn the lesson quick. :) But anyhow! After this thought struck me I was struck (sorry, it was striking. :) hehehe) with the clip from I Love Lucy, (I know, Babylon) when they`re talking to the man that runs the town with a hat for every job. So I realized I just had to take off my full-time-missionary-in-the-calle-all-day hat and put on my my-job-is-to-get-better hat. Funny enough, it made things so much easier. Okay, this is my job now, so let´s do it!! kind of thing. And then yesterday after church when I was studying I ran across a scripture in DyC 136:31 where it says that those in the Lords pueblo. Oh....aha! The Lord´s people must be tried in ALL things to prepare for the glory of Zion. So I looked over at Hna Talbot, and just told her, sorry I hadn´t gotten sick earlier in the mission, and it was just my time to be tried in that. But don´t worry! It´s all in prep for something better. :) So all, when things get us down, just keep plugging, put your trust in the Lord, and try to learn everything you can for it, because it is not a punishment, just another step to take on the way to exaltation. :) The Lord loves us, and He´s just trying to prepare us and make us into Queens and Kings. :) But yes, afterwards I can´t deny that there were still some moments of anxiety and frustration, but I decided as long as they were brief it was okay, for like DyC 58, we can be anxious in a good cause, and what´s a better cause then sharing the restored gospel? :) But nobody worry. I´m good, taken care of, on the mend, and excited to be able to go out to work again this week. (Although I still haven´t received full release-reign yet).
Juana received the holy ghost yesterday and it was amazing! She is just such a joy, and so strong in the gospel and a real pillar for her family. Ha! A funny story, we had to call her on Friday to tell her we couldn´t go to visit her, and she totally said I told you so! :) It was so funny! I couldn´t believe it, and told her that I DID go to the Doctor, but she said not soon enough, or when she told me the first time, or something like that. ;) Then she called me on Saturday to see if I was still alive and then asked me if I was going to church, which of course I was, and she called me porfiada - or stubborn - to which I replied that I had gotten permission. :) hahaha. We get along great. :) And the ward received her so well yesterday! Well, the obispo is always M.I.A. for everything (including always waiting 20-30 for him for sacrament meeting), but the ward mission leader and RS were amazing. I just love the changes that come after baptism AND the Holy Ghost! Oh, what blessings we recieve!
Well, I love you all so much and hope that you are well, happy, and enjoying life!
Gratefulness:
1. Breathing! hahaha! Such a lovely, little, wonderful thing!
2. Scripture Marking Pencils! (Have I said that already? I don´t know, but either way, when you actually have a system - it´s incredible what you can learn using them. And of course a study journal as well)
3. Sorry! Can´t forget the Joseph Nashville Tribute CD which Hna Edwards had which we listened to quite a lot. I love it! And it totally reminded me of getting ready Sunday mornings with you Elle. :) (Cinnamon Tree Apts)
4. Packages! Oh my goodness family! Thank you SOOOO much! I got the package after the district mtg on Wednesday, and wow! I have announced to all in the house, when I feel better we are having a Mexican fiesta like South America has never known! Woohoo! (South America is like England in relation to Mexico and Mexican food) The corn tortillas are perfect and we are gonna` have TOSTADAS the Mexican way. Yes, I am la Mexicana. ;)
Love you all MUCHO!
Love,
HerManda :)