Hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It turns out, the Filipinos don't really care much for Native Americans and the Colonists, so we didn't really celebrate anything here. But I was full of gratitude nonetheless. Everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving!
I actually have a good story to share about gratitude today, now that I think about it. So earlier this week, I had quite the surprise one morning. I woke up, just as usual, and started getting ready for the day. I wasn't wearing my glasses after I woke up and I went in to the bathroom. I look over into the mirror -- this mirror is HUGE, by the way. It's also super awkward because that's also where we shower and there's just a giant mirror right there on the wall. But, anyway, I look into the mirror and I realize that my face is kind of red. I can't really tell because, again, I'm not wearing my glasses, but as I got closer I began to realize that I had rashes all over my face! I discovered that the rash had spread over almost my entire body, more concentrated on my upper body, though. Then I realized it was kind of itchy too. Yay! (MOM I AM OKAY I PROMISE. Don't worry.) I called the nurse and we figured out a medicine I could take, which would help with the itching. So off I went to a different city to try and find the medicine, looking like a leper and everything. It got worse as the day went on because of the heat, which made the work harder, but I also thought it was super funny because I realized what a good story this will be to tell. When I got home that night, I was trying to think of how I could manage the rest of the week like this, because I had been told it might last about a week. I prayed for the strength to be able to make it through.
The answer to my prayer came the next morning in the form of a storm. This may sound ridiculous, but that storm was what saved me this week. I was filled with so much gratitude for that rain because that rain meant that there would be no direct sunlight, which irritated my skin so much. And not only that, but the heat was so much less intense because of it. Of course, this meant we had to trudge around in the rain, soaking wet, but it was much better than if it were hot. I realized during this that there is a positive to EVERYTHING, no matter how difficult the situation. And I also learned that sometimes we are given the strength to endure our trials in ways that we wouldn't expect. Heavenly Father could have easily taken away the rash, made it heal instantaneously if he wanted to do so. But instead of REMOVING the trial, he gave me a way to MANAGE the trial. And he does this in every one of our trials, we just have to look for it.
I would like to answer one of your questions, Mom.
So about my clothes drying, sometimes they just never do. Usually we have to leave our clothes out in the sun all day and then come back to them. Usually they can dry in a few hours on the line. I can't tell you how many times that I have left my clothes on the line, almost dry, but not quite. What happens is that we go out when the sky is clear and the sun is out, but mid way through the day, my clothes that were so close to being dry get rained on by some random storm that rolled in. Whenever it starts to rain and I remember my freshly washed clothes back at home, I want to cry a little bit. The phrase has become way too familiar to me now; "Elder.......Our clothes......." is all we have to say and suddenly we understand the pain that we are both going through inside.
I want to answer all of your questions, I just don't have the time to explain them!! I am so excited to talk to you all at Christmas, make sure you plan out a list of questions that I can try and answer for you. And pick them carefully because the time will go super quick.
Thank you again, Mom, for the Christmas package. This morning we opened the first present in our stockings. We picked the socks package, I love new socks! Elder DeGuzman loves the stocking you made for him, and he loves the socks and said to tell you "Salamat gid!" for him. (Thanks you so much!)
And thank you Dad for the experiences you keep sending me. I really am inspired by them and it helps me a lot to hear that you were once in a situation so similar to mine. I really do appreciate them and love getting them.
And just FYI, the rash is totally gone now. No need to worry Mom! The nurse takes good care of us here!
Hope everyone has a good week!
Elder Welton
Here is a picture of us this morning opening the first present! (we had to use a timer and it was so hard, so that's why it's kind of awkward framing)
No comments :
Post a Comment