3-18-13

Dear Family,

    Well this may not be a very long email because I just got a call from the mission nurse and she was able to get me in with an LDS Gastro and they want me to come in today at three. I guess that the mission nurse, doctor, President Meredith and Sister Meredith all sat down together and talked through what I have been going through. They decided that they all want me to go one more time to a Gastro to see if there is anything that they can do for me. President said that he doesn't want me to allow them to tell me that everything is fine this time either. He said that there is no way that everything is fine and that only eating right is going to fix it. I have been on a ridiculously bland diet and have not been eating basically anything and I have still been in a lot of pain. The mission doctor is going to meet me at the appointment so that he can help me through all of this. They don't want us to accept that there is nothing wrong with me. There has to be something wrong and there has to be something that they can do to help me through all this! I will keep everyone posted as best I can! I learned from the Philippines that the last thing I want to do is keep everyone in the dark. You will know things as soon as I can let you know and in what ever way president feels is best. I have an interview with him on Wednesday to talk this through and try to make some decisions on what is going to happen. I am just going to keep praying for the best and praying that sooner or later I can find some relief from the pain that I am in!

    Jon came to church again this week and enjoyed church. He met more people and honestly after these 5 weeks seems like he fits right in and is part of the ward already! I am just trying to figure out through the spirit why the kid won't except a baptismal date. He has been doing so much better, he just really struggles with the Book or Mormon and Joseph Smith. We have done everything that we can to help him gain that testimony, but he just keeps saying that he has to read more and analyze more before he can come to know if it is true. We have even challenged him to ask the very specific question of if its all true there in the lessons while we are there, but he never does. I know for a fact that he is scared of coming to know that it is all true! He just needs to take that leap of faith and understand that faith is just as important as proof or what the words actually say, maybe more!

    Jordan and Lexi are our other two investigators at this point! We have only been able to get in with them once in the past week or two. They have been going through a lot of hard times, and don't seem to think that the gospel could be the thing that brings them all together. The plan of salvation is going to be the lesson that helps them to come closer as a family and we really want to share it with them, they have just stayed up stairs though and their mom doesn't want to push them into anything that they are not willing and ready to do. I can accept that and understand, but they need a little bit of a push just to sit down. Then they can make their own choice of course! We shall see.

    Elder Oba is a stud! He has been so amazing these past two weeks with my sickness taking a bit of a toll on me and on our work. He has been so loving and helpful it is crazy! I have been struggling to be able to wake up at 630 in the mornings, because that is usually the time when I hurt the most. Well for the past week he has woken up and looked at my diet on the wall, and fixed me what ever was on the list for that day! He has been such a great help to me and I couldn't ask for a better or more loving and humble companion! He has even taken the lead in most of our lessons since it has been kinda hard for me to focus and to think and be guided by the spirit. He has grown leaps and bounds in the past few weeks in his desire to serve and his understanding of the Gospel! He keeps telling me that the things he has been doing has been no big deal, but it has made the world of a difference to me! I love my companion so much!

     I love you all so much also. I am so thankful for your prayers and your thoughts. I haven't been doing very well, but I have felt every single one of your prayers for me! I couldn't do this without you that is for sure. I want you to know that I have a very strong testimony of this gospel!  Please don't worry about me! I am in good hands just like I always have been. I am so thankful for the priesthood and the blessings that I have received from my fellow missionaries in this zone. Me and the zone leaders have a very strong relationship and love for each other and they have helped me through it all also. Please please please don't worry or freak out over it. It's just one more bump in the road that is called life. We all have them! I just seem to have a lot of them! haha I love you all so much and continue to pray for you and for your safety and testimony! Love you so much!

 

Love,

Elder Shelley!