Background to Returning Home

Sister Richards, Me, and President Richards
(First Day in the Field)

I had been serving in the Maryland Baltimore Mission. I started my mission on July 3, 2013. I was scared to death, as I'm sure many others where. When I entered the MTC  I was thinking"What am I getting myself into?!?" I'd hate to admit this but I cried when I left my family at the curb that mid summer day. My escort took me to my first class and I have never regretted my decision to serve.

I have loved my mission, it has been such an amazing experience. I have had many hard times; while at the same time have had the best of times. I have really learned to trust in the Lord. It really is his work.

 I had the privilege to serve in four WONDERFUL areas before I got sent home on medical leave these are my areas:

1. Harper's Ferry, WV. From July-October 2013
2. Winters Run (Abingdon, MD and Bel Air, MD) October 2013-January 2014
3. Kent Island (Stevensville, MD and Chestertown, MD, "The Easter Shore") January 2014- June 2014
4. Woodstock, VA June 2014-September 2014

I have loved each and everyone of my areas. I have made some amazing friendships that I will cherish forever! I feel blessed to have known so many amazing people! I have been able to see many people enter the waters of baptism, and have seen people come and partake of the sacrament for the first time in many years. Both experiences are amazing and sacred. I love the feeling that comes as you witness both those miraculous events. I'm grateful for the blessing it has been to be an instrument in the Lords hands.

The Woodstock, VA. Missionaries at the Oriels Night 

August 29, 2014. The "Oriels Mormon Night"  All the missionaries in the mission and many members all attend the Baltimore Oriels baseball game! Its a hoot to say the least. Its a time for all the missionaries to get together and watch some baseball! Its such a fun time. However I was not having fun. I was starting to feel sick! It started with the normal aches, start of a fever, and all the dreaded feelings we all feel when we are starting a cold. I couldn't get sick. Too much to do, too little time. The next day I woke up exhausted! I felt like I got hit by a bus. I blamed it on being up late and getting up early. I took a nap during lunch and went on with life. All that week I was able to keep working, I just felt really tired. I just pushed though it thinking: "This is normal missionary exhaustion." I kept going. Until I hit a brick wall on Sunday, a week later. I was sitting at our amazing Ward Mission Leaders house having a weekly correlation; planning and coordinating our weekly efforts with him and the sisters in the ward.  Everyone looked at me and could tell something was wrong. They told me I needed to get help. I tried calling Sister Richards, she is over all medical issues in the mission, but got no answer. So I decided to go home and sleep; and boy did I do that! I got a hold of her the next day. She put me on bed rest, no shopping, no laundry, no preparation day activities to try and get better. She made my companion do everything for me. She told me to be a slave driver. I'm very grateful for a wonderful supportive companion.

E.R.'s are terrible! 

Jacob Ingham, Me, Elder Zaugg
They went out to work, while I stayed home and rested

Later that day I talked with the mission doctor on the phone and he decided to send me to an Insta-care. They took a strep test and then squeezed my finger as hard as they could to try and squeeze out a little blood to test for mono. Both were negative. They sent me home and told me I will be better soon. The next day I ended up in the Emergency Room. They were running more tests and trying to figure out why I felt awful and had no energy at all. They took several vials of blood. They tested for cancer, Lime disease, Mono, and many other diseases. Everything came back normal. So they sent me home and told me to get some rest. I continued to rest and stay home. My companion would go and work and I would stay and get babysat. We had a wonderful ward, they were very supportive and helpful. They would bring us dinners at night and scheduled many splits for us. They were a blessing. I feel very blessed to have been in the Woodstock, VA. Ward when I got sick. I don't know what I would have done without them. Jason Wright and Jerry Clipp,  members of the Woodstock ward keep my parents very updated, and supported us. They both made sure we were well taken care of. Jacob Ingam, a recently ordained  Elder was another HUGE help. He was such a blessing. As you can see in this picture, he was another missionary. He spent countless hours with us; making sure the work was not hindered with me being sick.

My AMAZING Companion

A week after I first went to the Insta-Care, we deiced to try one more doctor. I went and for the first time I really felt like she really wanted to help. She listed several symptoms and asked which of the symptoms I've


experienced while being sick. She then took more blood and tested for Mono again!! She said the results will not be back until Wednesday. So I waited, got the call and she said she diagnosed me with Mononucleosis. I talked with President Richards that night we both prayed about it and first thing the next morning we both decided it was best for me to go home. I really could not sleep that night. I was really stressed out. I didn't completely know what to do, but I did what I felt like God wanted me to do. Friday afternoon I boarded a plane for Salt Lake City, Utah not knowing what was in store for me.

Saying goodbye was a lot harder than I realized. I was sad; I was leaving what I loved. I was leaving dear friends. Don't get me wrong, I was excited to see my family and friends again. I was content with it because I knew with all my heart it was what the Lord wanted. That is all that matters. In "Preach My Gospel" it says: "Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgment of your constant need for His divine help. Humility is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength. When you humbly trust Him and acknowledge His power and mercy, you can have the assurance that His commandments are for your good. You are confident that you can do whatever the Lord requires of you if you rely on Him. You are also willing to trust His chosen servants and follow their counsel." 

(Credit: LDS Church)

That phrase keeps running though my head. It is the willingness to submit to the will of the lord. As I was on the airplane I talked with this couple, they, too, were members. They too had a daughter come home early from her mission. They were telling me to NEVER forget the Lord is aware of you and has a plan for YOU. That is something that is very important to remember, but easy to forget when "bad" things are happening.  No matter what goes on in life God is aware and is in charge. It may not go the way you planned or hoped. You just have to humbly trust him and know that it is for your benefit. Through the Atonement all that seems unfair in life can be made right. The Savior has gone though all things, there is no emotion he has not felt, there is no sickness he has not endured. He is there for each and everyone of us. Trials will come our way, as they have mine. We just have trust in him with all our heart. I love the scripture in Proverbs 3:5-6, it says: "Trust in the Lord will all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path." I think that is also something that is important to always remember. We need to trust him. He knows best.