What A Week...What A Week

What an exciting week. Not so much as far as missionary work, but just because of what happened.

Went on exchanges this last week with Elder Johnsrud in the Discovery Hills ward, and it was a really good exchange. He was getting over being ill so we took it a bit slower than usual, but he still was working really hard. His nose started bleeding a couple times throughout the day though, once we were just out of the apartment and we just turned around so he could get cleaned up, but the second (and worse) time we were no where near the apartment! We had just gotten out of dinner. Thankfully we were near their ward mission leader's house (who also happens to be an ER doctor), so we gave him a call, he said he was home. Went by, Elder Johnsrud got himself all cleaned up, and it was all grand. Thankfully his nose stopped bleeding though, because Bro. Bennent had gone upstairs to get some tools to cauterize his nose...which would have been unpleasant. Instead he just ended up giving Elder Johnsrud some tissues and a new tie because Elder Johnsrud bled on his. It was pretty exciting.

Then Thursday and Friday were great (exchanges were on Wednesday). Had a couple awesome dinners (one was from a couple where the wife is from Tokyo, and she made curry. It was great, reminded me of Wil's curry, but I can attest that he learned well, because his was as good as hers, and he's not Japanese. Visited some great members. Contacted into one of our potential investigators while he was walking his dog and ended up talking to him for about half an hour or so about the church, invited him to church, and he said he would consider it. It was awesome!

And then Saturday hit.

Started off good. Elder Groesbeck was super nice and made me pancakes for breakfast, but then right as we were about to start companionship study I started feeling really...not good. So I went to go lie down for 15 or so minutes...and died (figuratively). Within a couple hours I could barely move. Called up the zone leaders to have them come and help Elder Groesbeck give me a blessing, and that was great, but then Elder Groesbeck made lunch for them to be nice (pancakes again), and I could hardly eat anything (which if you know me that's saying something). But for the rest of the day I was just dead with many flu-like symptoms. The really sad part...I got a flu shot a week ago! I'm not going to point fingers or anything...but I'm pretty sure I got whatever Elder Johnsrud was getting over, but hey, life happens. So the rest of the day I was pretty incapacitated, but on the bright side I caught up on sleep! And it gave Elder Groesbeck plenty of time to study.

Sunday I was doing a lot better, and I was up and healthy enough to go to church (though I did refrain from shaking hands just in case, and I used lots of hand sanitizer). But then after church I got worse again so I became pretty incapacitated again. I can testify of the power of prayer though! I prayed for the energy and ability to go to church. I was fine through church. Got back home, and instantly didn't feel good again. Prayers are answered.

And then today (the reason why my email is so much later than usual), I am not only feeling much much better and will be staying that way (fingers crossed, knock on wood, etc), but we went to the Safari Park in Escondido! It's a branch off of the San Diego Zoo, and it was pretty awesome. I got a lot of really great pictures.
 

Well, now that the summary of my week is done, time for a spiritual thought. "And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God. And behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work; And unto three shall they be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true." (Ether 5:1-3) I read this part during this last week, and this stuck out to me because it seems to be a personal message from Moroni to whoever translates the Book of Mormon (aka Joseph Smith). I really liked this because it was just a reminder to me that the Book of Mormon really is written for our day, and we can find personal messages to us within it's pages.

Love,

Elder Wixom