This week has been the worst and most challenging....

Monday- Went to Brother Moses' and played pool

Tuesday- Went to district meeting and had a blast, then studied all day . We went to the Handys and had din din, great day pancakes, sausage brauts, man good dinner.

Wednesday- thought I logged out of my i-messages and got a text from a Lincoln friend that Meg a mutual friend decided to end her life sooner. Cried til noon and then went out to teach. Threw up Wednesday -Friday and was weak as could be Saturday!

Sunday- went to church, went back home, threw up again, slept all day and night.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng#watch=video

Are we not all beggers? listen to this talk! What can you do for someone and make there day better then what it is!? Physically or spiritually!

Monday-  P-day killer day.

Tuesday- DM, then went to Righettis for din din, then home.

Wednesday- went to the church and taught Sister Bates and again I'm getting called a girl cause my voiced cracked bad!! Went to Brother Bobs, then Juanita's din din, and then we went out to find those God's prepared.

Thursday- LEADERSHIP TRAINING (boooooah) got up at 0550 and drove to east Bruns to play ball from 0630 to 0830 and then our meeting from 0900 to 1500 and it was awesome!!! Can not believe the confidence I have gotten in testifying of God our Father, Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith!! Went to Tom Draschils house and talked about the sabbath, as smart as this man is he has fallen away hard!!! It's so sad to see him so smart and so willing to do things for others and not believe the priesthood is in this church.

Friday- Weekly planning, ugh, most painfull day of the week!! hahah oh well but we went to Brother Talbots house and it was the most spiritual uplifting day this week that I needed. I was struggling with a lot and could not see a light at the end of the tunnel and it just ugh, it wasn't good but after the Talbots there was no tunnel and it was exactly what I needed!!!

Saturday- went and taught Isibella and Brother Smith, had a headache and went and took a nap cause I could not concentrate, woke up and went back out!!!

Sunday- went to PEC, and then church, and then a linger longer and then went to Josephs for din din and it was great!!! 

I know this is the true church and I can't wait to see more blessings and miracles come our way! Joseph Smith is the prophet of God, he truly was an amazing man, he was chosen by God to restore his church in these later days!!! The Atonement is real, Gods love is everywhere! He will help you in whatever your endeavors are!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BY THE WAY!!! I DIDN'T FORGET LOL HAVE A GOOD ONE!!!!!!!

My name is Todd, I love it. I thought that you were Jordan Smith emailing me! Hahah ya it was not a safe place to be. Hahah oh well. So they didn't find any fish bone and even with a CT scan but it still hurts to swallow food so I have resorted to boiled eggs, cheese-its, carrots, and skittles. If I chew them up really, really well I can barley feel them go down my throat.

Monday- P-day yet again and I still am getting clobbered in the head. Pain through out my entire body.

Tuesday-had District meeting. Went through the day teaching members and trying to find new investigators.

Wednesday- leadership training. Went to Teppanyaki and the Asian girl was seriously hitting on me it was the funniest thing. I had ordered a coke and then everyone else ordered water and I changed mine to water and she then gave a huge sigh and looked at me and said "you makea me change you drink that's 5 dolla", we laughed and she kept going. Well I ate 3 plates full of food and I went to grab a 4th and I could not finish it and she came to grab it.  She said " you done", m e-"i am", she said "you waster I go weigh this by pound and you owe me 5 dolla for each pound." So when we went to give a tip I put 5 dolla. Hahaha she was awesome.

Thursday- I went to the GI doctor and we talked and we decided to get x-rays of my chest and throat. Then he set up an appointment to see an ENT DR. Friday.

Friday. Went to ENT and the the GI for the endoscopy and well you know the rest. 

Saturday- slept all day on Sister Taggerts request.

Sunday- still stuttering and I had to give my talk. I was so scared and nervous that they wouldn't be able to understand me, it was to the point that it was making me frustrated to the point of almost tearing up.

*Todd is a nick name he got because his boss was Jordon too. AKA Todd.

Some random pics he sent us.

 

Lovely Jersey weather .

 

That would be the dart board he refers too.

Companion, Elder Hintz

Elder Hennen ;-)  What a ham.

 His area. I recognize all those things.

The Tale continues...

I called Sister Taggart this morning just before 8 our time and 10 their time. She was so sweet and full of information and comments. Jordon had a very big day yesterday, he went in to see the Dr. (GI) and he ordered a cat scan of the neck and chest and they saw nothing. So he ordered an x-ray and saw nothing there, next was an Endoscopy. They put him to sleep (I know I was thinking WHAT!!, WOW!! and that I knew none of this til after. Thank goodness he is in the Lord's hands, there is no better place to be). They went down through his nose with the camera/scope and he is waiting for those results. Not sure if it will be today or Monday. While he was under he had a reaction to some of the medicine they had given him. He had hives and his blood pressure dropped really low but they were able to get it back up. Talk about scary, maybe hearing all this after was in away better because after meant he was home, slept all night, and up the next day. I think it helps calm us knowing it happened but that currently he is OK. Sister Taggart visited with him this morning and he was getting ready but with a headache. Aside from the headache she wanted to know how his discomfort was on a scale 1-10 and he gave a 4-5. Poor guy is having quite the adventure so early into his mission. She said yesterday he didn't seem scared or nervous which is comforting. She also said his companion Elder Hintz is a wonderful companion and she would trust her life with him.  He is very large, smart, kind, and spiritual and he can handle being Jordon's companion through all this. I was super happy to hear that too. We hope to hear more today and will continue to pray for Jordon.

A fun story Sister Taggart shared at the end about Jordon.
She said the first night there that most the Missionaries are like a deer in head lights but that Jordon was a breath of fresh air. After dinner he got up and DID THE DISHES and the next morning he was the first one up and helped her COOK breakfast. She said he was delight and a joy to have. It was so great to hear that he did listen while living at home even though as parents we wonder. ;-)  Haha, love this kid.

Jordon's Fish Bone Tale

Last Saturday about 4 PM while out and about I got a phone call from Elder Jordon Hennen (for those of you who do not know, that is a big deal because when serving a mission phone calls are only allowed Mother's Day and Christmas) so of course I was ecstatic and nervous knowing it had to be very important. Earlier in the week Jordon had eaten some fish and swallowed a bone. He said the night before (Friday) it had really bothered him so he was in seeing the nurse. He could either go to the ER or wait til Monday to see a regular Doctor but before he could go he needed an Insurance card and/ or the Info. (I totally planned this, I thought If I don't send a card he will have to call home and I could talk to him. ;-) No not really, it was, "this is my first missionary syndrome and I have no clue".)

Monday came with a few e-mails discussing what was going on. He "saw" a doctor by phone. Yes you heard me, by phone. He was then referred to a Gastrointestinal Doctor (too long of a story to answer why) but had no luck at that point of the e-mail in reaching the office. So unfortunately at that point I had no more answers and no more contact with him as to WHAT was going on all week. Both Rob and I felt if something major was going to take place we would get a call from someone. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS REALLY HARD AS A MOM BEING SEPARATED FROM A CHILD AND CAN NOT DO ANYTHING BUT PRAY. That is what our whole family has done all week. I have had him on my mind many times with thoughts of worries about whether he got a hold of the doctor, how bad is it bothering him, is he sleeping at nights, does it hurt, is he worried or nervous, wish I could call the Doctors myself and insist on an x-ray NOW! The only thing I could do was pray and for that I am so grateful. Prayers are answered. This has been a testimony strengthening for me. I prayed more times then I can count and every time I did I felt comfort and peace.

Rob and I went to the Temple tonight and while I was there I did the one thing I could do for him, Pray.  When we got home there was a voice mail from the Worlds Greatest Mission Presidents wife (I am sure there are 100's of these amazing women, one in every mission), Sister Taggart. She was speaking more as mom to a mom and the sweet, peaceful feeling that I felt was such a blessing. She first told me some nice, happy things about my son and then reassured me that after a day in the hospital running tests, he was home sleeping and that her and President Taggart would be heading over to see Jordon in the morning at 9 AM their time, 7 AM our time. She told me I could call tonight and she would be happy to share more with me, after actually considering calling her I realized it would be midnight there and I did not want to wake her. I found great comfort in her message and in knowing that bright and early she will be calling me again. More details tomorrow. :-)

Prayer is real and Heavenly Father does answer them. We can find peace and comfort through prayer. Prayer is an incredible gift. I am thankful for this opportunity to feel and KNOW this is true. I am thankful that Heavenly Father and our Savior love me enough to allow me to learn and understand this. I am more thankful that when I can't do anything physical for my children, I can talk to my Heavenly Father and ask for is help, to comfort and watch out for my children whether it is a major thing or something simple. It is such a powerful and incredible thing to be able to pray and have that prayer answered.

Well this week has been very disappointing, and very promising, and very fun. We dropped every single one of our investigators cause none were doing what they were supposed to. I got a fish bone stuck in my throat so its been a tough week there and we got destroyed with snow. We still drove in it and it was a blast sliding, pulling the e brake, and almost dying by a semi, other then that, this week was a little troubling for me. I know it's short but nothing I want to bring up.

Package is in the zone leaders place but fish bone, still working on it. Doc is sending me to a GI doc he doesn't think its the bone but hey if they go through with the endoscopy again and find the bone there I know I was right but I didn't want to argue with the doc so I am trying to set an appointment up with the GI place.

HEY YA'LL!!!

“This is my prayer for all of us—'Lord, increase our faith.' Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. . . . Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. . . . Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequence follow.” 
-Gordon B Hinckley-

Man this week has been crazy!!!!

MONDAY- dodge ball!! We had a tournament with the youth from the Clinton ward and North Branch and all the missionaries. We played in an enormous gym and we played ultimate dodge ball. It's one verse all and there was like 40 people there!! Not including the leaders that was just YM and YW and the Elders and Sisters. It was crazy, 10 balls were on the line and we started and I was myself running along the outside of the game dodging and trying not to get hit, But nevertheless Elder Hintze, Maddox, Jones, and Hicks all gang up on me. I am so thankful for my skinny body, it is a blessing when it comes to sports like this, why you ask? Cause I am a hard target to hit while I am moving!! All I have to do is turn sideways and I'm like a twig. Long story short I got punmbled by the end!!! Hahaha great day!!

TUESDAY- Tuesday was a very interesting day!! Went to District meeting till 1 and then did an exchange and that was 1.Awesome, cause I got to drive Elder Fredrickson to the Dr.s in Newark 2.It was awkward the rest of the night  3.Awkward voice mail!! We go to the docs and it took and hour to get there and find a parking spot and then get in to see him!! Well we get there and I wait for like 6 hours till he is done, by this time I'm starving and he has to give the doc a stool sample (if you don't know what that is good, but if you do this will be funny) He tells us to go to McDonalds and have Elder Fredrickson  order 20 bucks worth of stuff. He did, he threw it all up, went to the house did his business and I was seriously going to throw up. We drove to the docs house to give the sample to him. He wasn't there so Elder Fredrickson calls him and leaves a very funny voice mail.  It goes as follows, "Hey Brother Tomas this is Elder Fredrickson and no one is at the house, so... um... don't take this offensively, but... um.... the  sample is... um... on your... um ... porch.... um well wait ... um sorry. um.... I ... um... bye!!!" I was laughing so hard I could not breath and then the doc got home!!  We talked and left home!

WEDNESDAY- we went to some steak house and got some sandwiches then went to appointments and had mormon.org time and watched a lot of uplifting stuff it's great!!!hahaha not to exciting 

THURSDAY-weekly planning and all that jazz ooohhh so fun, 3 hours of planning!! hahah no it really is though! We had to clean the apartment and car since it's transfer week! Din din at the Stevens was awesome and hilarious and so spiritual. We saw Tom and had to move his baptism to the 15th so we could do what we needed to do and also get him to pray. So if ya'll could pray for him to feel the urgency to pray so he can know the truthfulness of these things that would be amazing and helpful!

Friday- we got locked up in the apartment cause of the snow storm!! 

SATURDAY- Went to Isabella's house taught her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and then went to Tom's again and told him how he could know the truth and what he needed to do to gain that knowledge. We went to an all you can eat Asian restaurant and met with a less actives there, taught a lesson and we might have gained a new investigator! We will see!!! 

SUNDAY- Testimony meeting was amazing, open house for the Thomsons and a baby blessing also for the Thomsons and then class and getting told I was speaking in 2 weeks... ugh... this will be the longest 2 weeks of my life!! Hahah nervous, Stake President is coming, wahoo!! It snowed again and so we had to shovel and push cars out to get out of the parking lot!! Then went home, studies, dinner, more studies. 

FUN WEEK LOL LOVE IT. #NJMM4LIFE #MISSIONARIESRULE #SNOWSUCKS #ONLYWHENWEGETGROUNDED