Patience

So aparently I really, really, really, really, really, need to learn patience on my mission.  If all of our investigators progressing slowly but surely isn't enough, the fact that I keep having physical limitations is a sign of that.  This week was another week of pain, well the second half was.  The first 3 days I felt awesome! I was up, working hard, and giving my all, then Wednesday night I thought I got the flu, but starting yesterday it just turned into intense stabbing pains.  So as much as I hated doing it, I called Sister Weaver and today I went to the doctor.

He said he thinks its either early stages of apendicitis, a kidney stone, or a cyst gone awall.  Whatever it is he's hoping he can fix it and get me back to full health, which would be awesome! So I went and got my blood taken, and then I'm waiting to hear when to go in to get a CT scan.  So hopefully next week I'll be healthy!!! That would be amazing!

This week has been tough, but there have been great moments!!! The best is the Ani family and the Smith family.

The Ani's are a LA family that we found while ward listing (looking at the ward list and seeing who sticks out) the first week or so we were here.  After our inital contact the Chaney's (the senior couple in our ward) visited them and they came out to church.  They have been there every Sunday since the first one they came to, so about 5-6 weeks! Their grandkids come with them, different ones every time, and they are so stinkin adorable.  The most frequent is Kamari who is 8! We're going to try to start teaching him this week if his parents are good with it.  He just went to the boy scout camp and LOVED it!!!  It was about putting on the armor of God and he made a tool box and everything! It was awesome! They made us dinner the other night and it was awesome! It was roast beef, potatoes, and gravy, and brocolli.  It was like being at home.  Then she made what has become my favorite desert up here, Blackberry Pie!!! Blackberries up here are out of this world and they just grow in the wild.....its CRAZY!!  So they are way awesome!

The Smith Family, Andrew and Landen, and their family.  So their mom Lisa, Lori (14), and Tristen (11) are on fire!!! We were a little worried because they weren't at church last week and they were only there for part of it the week before, but luckily they were just sick.  We had dinner with them Saturday and learned that they have family scripture study every night, and Lori is sooooo excited for girls camp, and they're all getting involved in the ward.....it's AWESOME!! I love seeing them sooo happy, and it's because of the gospel!

I love that even though we may not be having the most success right now with finding new people to teach, that we are able to help those less active members who need our help as well.  We still look for people to teach, but we realize that like President Hinkley said,

"Whether your bringing someone into the gospel or bringing someone back to the gospel, it's the same work" (thats not exact but pretty close....)

So thas about all I've got!!

I'm loving it out here, despite the pain and trials I face everyday, and I know I'm still loving it because of my Savior Jesus Christ.  If he hadn't pained for my sins and known everything I go through, then I would be lost.  I would feel alone.  And I'd feel hopeless.  But because of my faith in Jesus Christ I KNOW that this pain and heartache is only for a moment.  That as soon as I'm supposed to get better, as long as I put forth effort to try, God will take the pain away.  He doesn't like to see us suffer, but he knows that sometimes we have to in order for us to accomplish something great!  I know that something great is around the bend, and I have that hope because of my Savior.  He is my Joy and my Song!! I love him so much I can't even put into words, and I need to strive daily to be more like him, so I can help my brothers and sisters find him, so they can feel that peace and love as well!!

I love you all so much!!

I feel your prayers for me, and I pray for you daily!!  Keep Moving Forward, anyother way will take us farther from our ultimate goal which is to live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our Families for ETERNITY!!!

I love you all soooo much!!! God bless you, every one!

Sister Thomas