This week has been great. I’ll start off by talking about my
back.
I had a cita with the doctor this morning. The mission nurse
traveled 2 hours from Osorno to give the zone shots, and she also came to this
cita I had. The doctor told me that we are going to start doing physical
therapy. I go every morning. This will happen for two weeks and then I’ll have
another cita with the doctor. After, the mission nurse told me that the
church’s doctor that supervises Chile had looked at my MRI, and if the results
of my doctor appointment weren’t good, I would be going home. SO GLAD I’M NOT
GOING HOME. I said many prayers of gratitude and had survivors shock for a
while. I’m starting off by working 4 hours daily this week, 5 hours daily next,
then 6 hours the next, until I’m better.
Last week we went to Hiper Lider. It is like a Walmart from
the states. That was an amazing experience.
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| REAL soup cans that we saw in that big Líder. |
I caught 2 flies with my hands this week. Hobbs is my
witness.
Saturday, we did our first weekly planning as a
companionship because we can now work. We ended with companionship inventory.
That was the best inventory I’ve had in my mission. We are both really good
friends. He is such a good missionary. Obedient. Happy. Working.
On Sunday, we had lunch with our ward mission leader. Afterwards,
we shared a scripture, and he then showed us a ton of scriptures he has marked
up. Then he told us he wanted to show us a knife. We said we had to go and asked
if we could say a prayer. He insisted and we consented. Then he whipped out a
sick EAGLE TALON KNIFE. The handle was literally an eagle claw.
During personal study, I flipped to Exodus 4:10-12. As I was
reading, it talked about Moses and how he was worried about his speech, because
he was of a slow mouth. He didn’t feel capable enough. Then the Lord told him,
He made man’s mouth and makes the dumb and the blind. Halfway through my
reading of this scripture in Spanish, I remembered that this scripture
comforted me with all of my "Will I ever learn Spanish?" worries
before the mission. And I just read that very scripture in Spanish and
understood it. A miracle. I then thought about other times in my life where I
was scared, and it all turned out well in the end. I realized this applies to
my present situation with my back. That comforted me.
Also before my cita with the doctor this morning, I was
feeling pretty up tight. I was anxious about what was going to happen. We got
there 20 minutes early, and the gates weren’t open yet. So we stood by the
river bank enshrouded in fog. I started to sing Jesus the Very Thought of Thee
and Master the Tempest is Raging to myself to calm down. As I sang quietly
to myself in the fog, the Spirit comforted me. Everything shall obey God’s
will, so peace be still. And the 3rd verse of Jesus the Very Thought of Thee
comforted me a lot as well. I’m only doing my best, and Jesus looks kindly upon
my efforts. A tender mercy. I felt at peace afterwards and ready to face the
uncertain future from that doctor’s appointment.
In my personal study this week, several scriptures have
helped me a lot.
Doctrine and Covenants 58:2; Doctrine and Covenants 98:3;
and Mark 5:36
An hermana in our ward learned about my back and was very
kind to me and asked me questions. She was legitimately concerned for me. She
came up to us just before sacrament meeting on Sunday with a jar of jam in her
hands. She made it for us. She wished me well. During the sacrament, I was
pondering on how I’ve seen Lord's hand in my life. I thought back to that
experience. I felt so loved and cared for. I felt important. I felt that
someone was thinking of me, and served me. I felt God’s love through that
hermana. Receiving that jar of jam was like God saying to me, "I see you.
I know you. Don’t be afraid."
During the week, we went to the church to prepare for a
church activity. That morning, the mission nurse told me she would be coming to
my cita with the doctor. That stressed me out because all of a sudden, that
cita was a big deal. I was worried. Sitting in the chapel, as others were
setting things up, I bowed my head in prayer and told God how I was feeling. The
words came to my mind, "Jacob, do you trust me?" I said "Yes, I
trust thee." Then the words came, “Then don’t fear." Accompanied with
an overwhelming feeling of love. God has been nothing but merciful to me. He
comforts us. He doesn’t want us to fear.
On Saturday, I asked Elder Hobbs to give me a blessing of
comfort for the upcoming doctor’s cita. In it, he told me that whatever the
results of the cita were, I could be at peace, because it would be God’s will.
And whatever the outcome was, God knows me and he knows I will try my best. He
doesn’t want me to fear.
Wow. Just writing this letter, I’m realizing how much help
and comfort God has given me. I guess I just want you guys to know that I know
that we don’t need to fear. God has a perfect plan for us. He loves us. I’m so
grateful for Him. He is merciful.
Thanks for helping me through this time Mom, Dad, and kids.
I love you all so much.
Elder West
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| My
view of our big screen TV J |
