Trials, Prayers & Blessings

There have been so many struggles for my sweet sisters over the past two weeks!  I've felt their heavy burdens and cry inside for their pain.


Bro. & Sis. Nelms, who are 80 & 77 years old have many health problems. They own a home in Oklahoma that she inherited from her father, and just found out it had been vandalized.  After an emergency 4-hour trip to access the damage, she called when they returned on Sunday evening.  She was so upset, and having an anxiety attack.  We rushed over to be with them and spent a long time getting them both calmed down.  Someone had broken in and actually lived there for awhile before the police were alerted.  It was so difficult for both of them!
 

We visited with Sis. Shannon on Weds.  The next Sunday we called to set another appointment.  Her daughter Chris, told us she is doing very bad and probably wouldn't know us.  She's been on hospice care for about 3 weeks.  We loved our time with this sweet sister and my heart aches for her family as they pass through this trial.


We received word that Sis. Shannon has passed quietly in her sleep the next day.  My heart hurts.....but I feel so blessed that we spent a little time with her over the past few months.  To be able to touch a life is a great joy and that's why we're here, however, touching one's life is definitely returned to the giver.....


Sis. Carlin just moved into the ward a few months ago to live with her son who is single, and a non-member.  We've been visiting her and enjoy becoming friends.  She just found out this week that the cancer she's been battling for two years has now gone into her brain, liver, and lungs.  This is very bad news and even though she has a good attitude, she dreads having to go through more radiation and chemo. 


Good and bad news about Diane Irrizary.  We met her when we first came out on our mission.  She's been so much fun to work with.  The past two months she started coming to church!  Two weeks ago, I sat by her and we had a moment to talk quietly alone together.  She said, "Sis. Baxter, I haven't told you everything about myself.  I'm an alcoholic.  I've started AA now.   I'm coming to church because I need all the spiritual help I can get!"  I was so happy she opened up to me about her struggle.  I shared with her that I had been to a few meetings because of family members,  and had some feelings of understanding about her road to recovery.  When I told her that she got tears in her eyes.  We're going to have lunch together this weekend.


Sis. Erin Reading is another inactive sister we've finally been able to make contact with.  It was a struggle getting in to see her, we hit it off very well.  She's a young girl with a 10 year old daughter, and is living with her non-member boyfriend who landed in jail this past week.  She just lost her job and is going through a rough time.  The Sunday after we visited her she attended church!  We were in another ward that day, but the RS Pres. called us that evening and said she had talked with her.  She said Sis. Reading only came because we had stopped by.  The next week we took her and her daughter to dinner one evening.  She agreed to have home teachers and visiting teachers so we're very hopeful for her!


My companion, Sis. Hulse, had surgery this week.  She has a torn meniscus in her knee that had to be repaired.  I've spent most of this week caring for her.  She had a reaction to the pain meds, and spent the first night with lots of nausea.  She can't get around well, so I stay close by to help.


I was also very sad to hear about my sweet friends Nancy & Clair Jenkins.  Talked with Ann Venn today and it sounds like his brain surgery went well.  I'm so amazed at the things they can do with surgery.  My prayers are with them both as they get through this process.  Wish I was there to give them a hug, but I'm sure they're surrounded by angels!


Now to bring some special happy moments into this blog entry.  Haven't taken many pictures lately so I'll add some from home that made me smile.  The first one is Valerie in her blessing dress, the next is Jenny's cute picture of "thirty little toes" and Valerie finds her hands.  The last is a picture of Christina's sweet family visiting at the hospital when Valerie was born.

There are so many wonderful moments here on my mission, but when concerns about my "little flock" here in Plano become heavy to bare.....I think of home!!