July 29th, 2018

Sorry I didn't email last week, so many things going on!!

Last week we pretty much stayed inside all week or were running around visiting all kinds of doctors and trying to continue to figure out how to help out poor Sister Um. Everything is still unclear but she has started feeling a little better this week! We were able to go out and proselyte and we even picked up a new investigator!! She is the mother of the Elder's RC, Saophia, and she is way awesome! God is still helping us further His work even when we are restricted with how much of it we can do!

This week was insane. Right after Sister Um started to feel better, I got a really bad sinus infection. I have been so sick my mission president told me to stay inside for a few days. One of the days, Sister Lunsford, one of the Sisters in my house, started feeling weird bumps on her neck and went to the doctor and she found out she got Mono and she had a huge abscess on her head. On Friday night, we celebrated my one-year-in-country-iversary by eating cake and as we were eating she says, "I think my abscess just popped" so we all run into the bathroom and puss was dripping out of it!! It was the coolest thing ever guys, I felt like the real Dr. Pimple Popper. She almost passed out so we layed her down on her bad and spent the next hour squeezing out extreme amounts of puss from her head and it was so cool. She was in a lot of pain but it was my dream come true. I attached a video, so view at your discretion :)

It was also national elections on Sunday so Sister Um and I went to CKM and I went on an exchange with Sister Saunders but we just stayed at home because I was so sick and it was fun to hang out with her and Sisters Pratt and Eckman. Even though I have been stuck at home for a while, I'm so happy I have had the best Sister missionaries surrounding me to keep me happy and positive! 

I love you all and hope you all have the best week and continue to look for the positive in all situations. I love Cambodia, I love being a missionary, and I love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to others!

 

Hi my sweet Mai, man I’m missing you this week. I’m crying right now just thinking about it. We went to Dallin’s farewell this morning and saw Mikayla, it hurt my heart, I miss you so bad. Half way through sacrament meeting dad leaned over and said I’m so emotional; this is making me miss Maile so much, I said “Me too”!!! Your friends are coming home, so selfishly I want you home too. Not really, but yes, really. Lol kimball was at the farewell. Mikayla was hilarious. She said she had only seen him once since he’s gotten home and wants to take it super slow. She told me and dad that he is totally different and his accent and the influction in his voice makes him sound gay. Hahaha! We died laughing.
Collin’s and Ethan Rosenhan’s farewells were today too, it’s so crazy.

We started school on Monday. Perry has just under 4000 students. It’s so crazy, we have way too many kids!

Derek got new ear molds, they are hollow in the middle, he wanted me to show you.

So I wasn’t sure I should tell you, but carson is painting over your wall. He moved in your room after you left and he wants to make it more masculine. I took MANY pictures of it, kind of weird, but I love that wall. I’ll send “after” pictures.

We are going to Dallin’s open house tonight. I’ll send you pictures.

 Today a guy sang a song I had never heard for the musical number. I’ve thought about the lyrics all day today; they brought me so much peace. I’m going to try and find the song and send to you. The first verse is about Christ being betrayed by those he served and trusted. Yet he responded by offering them peace. The chorus is about under any circumstance, Christ offers peace. It is such a beautiful song and exactly what I needed to hear. I think I’ll type out the words and keep them by my desk.

I’ve thought about you all week. I really hope your companion is okay, whatever happens. I want you to know that you did everything you possibly could for her, you know that, the Lord knows that. You don’t know what her journey has looked like, or will continue to look like, you can’t fix her. All you can do is serve the way Christ served, which is all you’ve done since you met her. Continue to love and serve. The people you come in contact with love you, your spirit is contagious. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, and don’t forget it. Your Heavenly Father is very aware of your every need, thought, and desire.

I love you so much!!!

Hi mom :)

I bought my camera last week. its so nice i love it. i put pics on the dropbox.

dang I seriously am mind blown that all of hannah's friends are leaving and mine are all coming home. Not going to lie, that picture of the kids and dad with Ethan threw me off a bit lol all the missionaries think he looks like he could be my brother in that pic. 

i cant tell you how much i am missing you guys right now. like i am adjusted 100% to just constantly missing you guys a ton so it doesnt affect my work but now that i have been sitting at home the last almost two months (i was so sick all week and still am a little bit) i just sit at our depressing house and work on personal progress or read the same ensigns ive read over and over and i miss you guys a lot. i dont know why the fact that everyone coming home right now is throwing me off so much but it is. i feel like i am missing out so much at home with you guys and friends. we watched the Joseph Smith movie together yesterday as a district and i just cried at the liberty jail part because he says some of the scriptures from D&C 121 and God promises that "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." Sometimes i really hate being over here and not being able to be at home with you guys but i know God is watching over all of us and we are all just learning how to truly utilize and understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

something that was also hard this week was sister Um has been telling me all week that she hasnt been throwing up and she hasnt had any pain and i believed her and then two days ago she told me she was lying the whole time and i had been telling all the doctors and sister lewis that she was fine so i am just so done with being her companion and being in this area becasue i am going crazy but i have learned more than anything to have patience and not get furious when people continually wrong me. this sunday is transfer calls so i will tell you next week what will change. I have been in keansvay for four transfers now so i think i will be leaving (hopefully). 

sorry i just complained a lot to you. I am really praying and trying to have a better attitude about everything and i hope that once i get transferred i will feel better and refreshed to start being a normal missionary again. 

I love you so much and its only a little bit longer until we will be together!! One year in Cambodia down, only 4 months and 13 days left!! (but who's counting??) 

keep going to the temple for me :) I LOVE YOU SO MUCH