Wow.
What a
week.
I think it was Tuesday night,
Sister
Castro started telling me that if this didn't get better, we
would
have to start talking about maybe going home to get over it. It
wasn't
anything I wasn't expecting, but it was still devastating. It
was a
really rough night. She told me I could try going back to the
urgent
care on Wednesday, and see if they could find any answers, but
if
not, she would have to get in contact with missionary medical.
So
then we go to Wednesday. I went to the urgent care with Hermana Ah
Mu,
since we were on exchanges. (We have been doing a lot of those
lately,
so Hermana Hardy can keep working.) Anyway, so we went, and
they
ran a few more tests. They tested me for an ulcer, which
came
back negative. She also explained more of my test results to me.
It is
not an infection, or anything. All of my lab results from
everything
came back normal. She was puzzled. You know it is not a
good
sign when she says, "You should call me when you figure out what
this
is, I would really love to know." Well at that point I was pretty
resigned
to the fact that I was going home. The doctor told me I could
try
getting an appointment with a GI specialist, but that might be a
challenge.
I really thought they would send me home to get all of that
done.
I talked to Sister Castro later that evening, and she told me I
could
try getting an appointment, and that if I could get one by the
end of
the week, then I could stay. I got off the phone with her and
just
started crying. It was the most amazing thing to hear ever. I
really
did not want to go home.
So
then we get to Thursday morning.
I called every single GI
specialist
in San Louis Obispo County. None of them could get me in
before
middle of July or August. At that point I gave up again. By
this
point of the week I was trying to figure out how to best pack up
all of
my stuff. I was in so much pain, and nothing was working, we
had no
answers, and we were pretty much out of time. I talked to
Sister
Castro (You starting to see a pattern yet? I don't know how she
hasn't
gotten sick of me! Haha) and she said she was going to be in
meetings
all day, but she was going to have Sister Truman in the
office
make some phone calls. Sister Truman called me about an hour
later,
and told me she had gotten me the appointment on Friday at 2:15
in
Santa Barbara. I started crying on the phone with her. I have never
been
part of a happier phone call. I was so resigned to going home.
She
told me Sister Castro had told her that it didn't matter where the
appointment
was, as long as it was in the mission, just to get me one.
I was
beyond thrilled. Sister Castro had told me though that I would
still
probably be going home if it was going to take time to get over.
Friday, we
went to the appointment, the doctor looked at my tests, and
did
some quick test things, and we found out that it is still the
mesenteric
lymphadenitis. He said he didn't know why the er doctor had
told
me only 3-4 days, and that he says it could easily take 3-4 weeks
to get
over. I was so bummed. He gave me a prescription for Tramadol,
and
got me more anti-nausea medicine, but that was about all he could
do. He
said it would have been caused by a virus that I would have had
a week
or two earlier, and sometimes it would do that. So the ride
home
was awful, because at that point I knew I was going to have to go
home.
I was a wreck. I knew I did not need to come home, but that at
this
point we were out of options. I talked to Sister Castro, and she
told
me that missionary medical was closed, that we had missed calling
them
by like 5 minutes, so she would have to wait to call until
monday. That
turned out to be my saving grace.
Saturday we
had an activity that we went to. The stake had an activity
for
all of the activity day age girls, and they asked us to come and
speak
and teach a workshop. It was about four hours. It was good for
me, because
I got a lot of time to sit down and rest in between
teaching,
and was able to handle it. It was an amazing activity and I
loved
it a lot.
Sunday was
church, and that was all I was able to handle that day,
along
with correlation, but again it was just a few hours.
Last
night I talked to Sister Castro again, just so we could all be
updated
before she called missionary medical today. I was kind of
stressed
out. I just told her what I had done this weekend, and about
the
new medicine, and how tired it makes me. Like seriously, it is
like
nyquil. I don't know how I am writing this right now. I want to
pass
out. But she said that that is enough. I have been eating a
little
bit more, and she said as long as I can be eating a bit, and
working
even a couple of hours a day, and do regular studies, than I
can
stay! I am so beyond excited! I can not even tell you how happy I
am.
The Lord's timing truly is perfect. If she had called me 10
minutes
earlier on Friday, she would have called missionary medical,
and I would
probably have been flying home today. Instead, because she
just
waited a couple of days, I can stay. We will reevaluate at the
end of
the transfer, but things are looking up. I am so grateful. It
isn't
even funny. You don't understand. I DON'T HAVE TO COME HOME!!!!!
When I
talked to Sister Castro last night, she was talking about what
a
great attitude and determination I have. Now I was never
thinking
about coming home for good, but there were quite a few times
this
week where I was so close to picking up the phone and telling her
to
just send me home to get better, that I felt like I was wasting the
Lord's
time, and that I could be a better missionary if I could just
go
home for a few weeks, get better, and come back. For some reason I
never
did though. Heavenly Father obviously had a different plan for
me.
Okay,
so that's the week.
All of
the Leaders in the mission, mainly zone leaders, APs, and
Sister
training Leaders have been praying for me this week. Sister
Castro
asked them to at MLC on the first. I can feel the strength I am
getting
from their prayers, and I know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't
for
all of your prayers and fasting, and everyone else from back home.
I am
so grateful for everyone's support and how much everyone cares.
It
brings me to tears to even think about.
I know
I wrote about it to Dad, but have you read the talk The
Ministry
of Angels by Elder Holland? It has been my support this week.
I know
that the three Hermanas I live with are my earthly angels right
now.
As is Sister Castro. I would not be here without all of them. I
was
also thinking a lot about Katie this week. Dawn told me it was her
birthday Friday. I have felt a lot of support from the other side of
the
veil, and I would not be surprised if it is her being there to
help
me through all of this. That talk has helped me realize it. It is
amazing.
Read it. Also, D&C 84:88. That's your homework.
I love
you lots.
Have a
great week.
Hope
to hear from you soon!
Court
Oh, here are two fun pictures I do have to share!
This is living outside of
our apartment. This is the small one. There
is a
bigger one with a huge red spot on it. It might be a black widow.
Management
can't do anything about it. The zone leaders are coming up
to
kill it today. Welcome to California!
