President-
Sorry to hear your news about being in the hospital! That doesn't sound like any fun at all! It's no fun to be hung up on the work because of pain. I've been the same way this week. For some reason I've these rock solid knots in my back that are causing excruciating pain. I have shortness of breath, and I can't hold my bag, ride my bike, sit for long periods of time, etc. The only good position is laying on my back with my feet propped up on a chair laying on ice. I've talked to Sister Welch about it, Dr. Hoffman, ward members, etc. Thursday was really bad. We stayed in until our 3:00 appointment. We're teaching this amazing woman, Elaine, and she is just loving everything that we are teaching her. She knows she is going to get baptized, but she just doesn't know when. She's praying about a date. She has a very interesting career. She helps 2 kinds of people:
1. People who don't know what they want
2. People who know what they want, but don't know how to get there.
She told me she has a few tricks up her sleeve and that she could help me. If my back still hurt Friday then we are more than welcome to come over and she'll talk with us. Needless to say my back was killing me on Friday. We went to one other appointment after Elaine on Thursday and had to cancel our third appointment and take our exchanges home because I just couldn't sit or drive any more. I talked to Sister Welch and she told us to just stay home all day Friday to let me relax.
Friday I laid on ice the majority of the day, but at 5:00 our investigator invited us over. She sat me down on the couch and told me that she was going to help me. Awesome! Finally! She asked me where it hurt on my back (Middle of the back on the right side.) She told me that different pains in your body tell you different things. Because mine was in the middle of my back she said I was worried about family. Strange...as far as I knew my family was doing great. And because it is on the right side that is the masculine side of the body. She said I was trying to be tough for my family. Strange again....but as she further explained things and asked me lots of questions she came to the conclusion that I have anxiety about going home. Weird...I still have 6 months left! My family knows about the changes that I've made, but hasn't actually had the opportunity to see them for themselves. I'm really worried about going back to the shy person I was, but I didn't know I was that worried about it. She taught me practically from scripture in the Book of Mormon that if I change my thoughts, words and actions (deeds), that my destiny would be a good outcome. We went though and did a few exercises that showed me examples of how to do these steps. It was really interesting and as I've applied them since Friday I've been able to relax a little bit. I still have a ton of knots, but the pain is less than it was. She also took the time to teach me about the Atonement. It was an amazing spiritual experience for myself and with an investigator. Since the Atonement is new to me and how to apply it to my life I hadn't thought of applying it like this before. She described it as "giving my pains and fears to Jesus." As I prayed that night and have continued to pray I see the Atonement taking place. The majority of my fears about going home are leaving me. I'll still be nervous, of course, but now I know how to deal with it. It was really cool.
Needless to say my companion has been fabulous about the whole thing. For about two weeks now she has been messaging my back now regularly and now she carries my bag for me everywhere we go. She's fantastic and I truly love her.
I love having all these opportunities to learn about the Atonement. LOL and it always seems to be when I read the "Continuous Atonement."
I love you so much and am so grateful for having the opportunity to be here at this time!
Love, Sister Denson
This picture broke Mom's heart!
Family Email:
Sounds like you have had a crazy/sad/fun week. It sounds like its been emotional. Mom, thanks for sending me Amanda's email on Saturday. We got it at the end of the night. I was tired and in pain and just started to cry. As soon as I saw it was email originally sent to the ward I knew what was happening. Even as I sit here at the computer at the Church with the elders I'm tearing up. I don't care though. I love them so much and that family has such a special place in my heart. I wish I was there to see them off, but at the same time I know that would be so hard too. They are such an example to so many with their obedience to the commandment Heavenly Father has given them even though it is such a hard one. They will be so blessed.
As you can tell we've had a slow week. I don't like back pain. Now I know how a lot of you feel when you have back pain. It may be a different kind of pain, but it effects EVERYTHING you do!!! Lame.
Yesterday was fun to see Sister Gwynn and her kids. I'm excited to see them next week at Stake Conference too:):) It was also fun because my favorite YSA from the Boca ward was also there too! It made me so happy!!
The pictures of us making appointments are with members. The dark hair one on from Brazil. They just moved here in December. She is leaving for Utah in 3 weeks to go to LDSBC with her twin sister. The blonde is from Italy. She and her sister are just visiting here. I'm not exactly sure why. We were making plans for them to come out with us this week.
Having the burritos with the elders was SO fun and they loved them so much. I didn't stop hearing about them and still haven't. They told a member about them and now the member is like "Make them for me!!!" LOL Silly Elders. We just put the camera on the piano and put it on timer.
I love you guys!!!! Have a good week!!!!
Love, Sam
Elder Clark, Sister Cluff, Sister Denson (she wrote on the back of our picture that she looked "trashy" that day because she didn't wear any make-up and was in the kitchen all day! :D ), Elder Hudson
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