17 - Coming Home!!!

Well, my president called me last night. He said he and the area doctor think that I should go home for the surgery. He said he will call the Stake President and get me a flight. He told me he wants me to go home in this next week. And he also said after I get better to come back to Panama. 

I don't know how to feel. I wanted so badly to have my surgery in the US, and now that I got it, I don't completely know if it's what I really want or what will be the best. So I prayed about it and I'm gonna keep praying about it. But whenever I pray I have a lot of peace so I know that whatever happens is what's best. Because it's not my plans, it's all the plan God has for me.- But you know how much I hate not being able to control the future. 

I decided this will be a huge test of my faith and determination and trust. I'm gonna need to trust that the Lord can see how badly I want to be in this mission and will reward me for staying determined and my faith. I remembered a talk by Elder Bednar last night. It was talking about how we receive answers from God. One line is if we don't feel like we have an answer, we need to act on our faith. That's been a huge thing for me. However long I am home, my mission will probably just get extended. Which would really work out great, because when you guys would come to pick me up at the end, it would be in rainy season when it looks so much prettier than in the dry season! But I guess that's just me looking at the bright side! 

But while I'm thinking about it, I got to teach this Jamaican guy yesterday. He only knows English. He is like the perfect investigator! He told us how badly he wants to change his life. He is an amazing guy and he was a pro soccer player in Jamaica! So yeah. Just wanted to throw that in there. 

I got 2 pairs of shorts today, it was a total of 3 bucks, one pair of swim trunks and one pair of like little shorts. They are both pretty cool. But yeah, only 3 bucks for them both!

But I'm so glad you will make me soup when I recover! And I had a weird experience. The other night we were walking, and I remembered when I got my scooter, I was riding at like 4 in the afternoon, and it was like 98 degrees or something like that. Well it felt the exact same here! I was like wow. 98 in Utah feels kinda chilly for Panama. So I came to the realization that Panama is hotter than crap-. All the time. 

That's funny that D Will came to Utah willingly! Kinda crazy! I remember when dad tried to race him. Dad's in a 4 cyl with 211 horsepower. And he was up against a super car v8 with like 480 hp. Funny stuff those Audis. And yeah, I know you didn't wanna know the hp of the cars, but it's my way of staying sane. Sitting at home is killing me. Like I picture myself with my scooter, taking off the air box and going for a ride. I'm probably gonna go riding every single day, I wanna take full advantage of that thing while I still can! 

That sucks about the office flooding. But at least they got it when it was early,  not floating furniture! Because you know how dad still believes in paper work, which would have probably ruined all his paper work. But I guess I just like looking on the bright side! 

I love that quote. It is good to remember that sometimes we can be doing everything right but just because this is life we have troubles, whether we want them or not. We just need to trust that everything has a purpose.

I started reading the scriptures right after president called me, because I got this weird feeling. And then I thought of in D & C where it says have I not spoken peace unto your soul concerning this thing. And it made me feel a lot better to think that this isn't my plan, it's all part of God's plan. And whatever happens I just need to remember that I can't choose everything that happens. But I can choose to stay on the straight and narrow path,  to keep doing what's right even if I don't know why these things are happening. 

But mom. The funny thing is you guys are more stressed about what has been happening to me than I am! Like you guys are always worried about me stressing. But if you don't remember, I handle stress pretty well. So there's no need for you guys to worry about me. I can handle my stress! And for being in such stress as some people call it, I've actually had a really good time with my mission! And I can kind of speak Spanish with dad. So that's a perk right now.

Well I gotta go. I gotta pack! But when I find out my itinerary, I'll email you and give you all the info, or maybe I'll be able to call you. I don't know. But I love you!

 

15 - Baptism Week!

That's the bone growth off to the right. I think I'll name it Winston.

My 3 Legged lizzard.

Well this week was a lot better! We actually had a baptism for this lady Marjorie. It was really really cool! It was special because it's the first one we have had that I have gotten to teach! So it was really cool. I had to give a talk about the Holy Ghost. But it all went well, and the Bishop called me super gringo because I used the folleta on the evangelio, and it talks about the Holy Ghost so I thought it was perfect. 

I am gonna talk to president about my knee tomorrow. I will see what he has to say. I'm pretty sure they want me to get an operation but I'll send you the picture of the x ray so you can see. I don't think a brace will help. If I walk like 15 minutes then sit down, like I almost can't get back up. And it swells a lot, like every day. So it kinda sucks. But I really wouldn't wanna stay here for surgery. Number 1 it's pretty dirty around here and I know it would get infected. And it would suck to just lay there for like 2 months. But we will see what my president says.  I have some spray and if I spray it on my knee I can't feel it for about an hour. So I used that and tried to play a little soccer. But it just hurt my knee more, and a kid pushed me and I cut up my knee. So I'm not gonna play soccer for a while anymore. But if I do have to go home for surgery, I don't care what I have to do. I'm coming back to be a missionary here. I love it here. And I'm used to the culture now, so it's even better. And if I do get surgery, I am so keeping that thing! It's sweet! You'll see it on the xray.

But other than that it was an okay week. Things have been getting on my nerves lately. I'm trying to be patient and praying for some help. But it's so hard! But I guess I'm just gonna have to deal with it. But gladly I didn't have to just go sit in the house again, and not work! So I was pretty happy about that! But the funny thing is every day still goes by super fast, for not being able to do much. It's a quick time.

But one good thing about being here is the number of cute kids. There have been a handful of kids here who are super, super cute!

We have this family of Kuna Indians who we go to every Sunday for dinner. One of them named Luis is the ward missionary. It's awesome because even like a month ago he never went to church. He has changed so much in such a little time! It's so awesome though! But they are getting me a shirt with mola and a tie. The tie has parrots and a ton of cool designs! So I'm pretty excited. I'm so stoked about it! I'll send you a picture when I get them.

That's awesome Austin had a good time at the temple. I remember feeling like that-- are we allowed to talk in there? But I actually learned something in Spanish at the temple that I don't remember in English. So that was actually really cool! 

It's so much nicer to have another gringo in the house. Me and him joke around all the time. He is really funny actually! He is going home on the 3rd of July. He talked president into it so he could be home for the 4th of July. I love the 4th! It's so much fun all the time! I really do miss America. Me and Elder H. talk about how great America is, because it really is an awesome place!

You are gonna love it here mom. There is 1 thing I know of that is always super super cheap..... CLOTHES!!! Like you go to the mall and like all the clothes in the stores, like the most expensive thing I have seen is like a 15 dollar shirt and like 20 dollar pants. I could go to a store and get like 15 outfits for less than 100 dollars! It's insane! And it's so cool! So I'm sure you would love that! 

But this week was kind of fun. It hasn't been too bad. I just wish my legs didn't hurt so bad. Having one hurt has like transferred the pain to my other knee too. But I'm trying my best to just keep going. 

I love you. I'll send you some pictures this week so you will have something to put on the blog!