Dear friends and family,
Wow, what a week! Lots has happened, lots of change and I've only got about 15 minutes to type out this email. I'll stick to the best parts!
Monday night the big toe of my right foot started hurting and by Tuesday morning it had swollen and I could barely walk on it, let alone put on shoes. Ay que carai! So we called the mission nurse and we set up an appointment with a pediatrist for Thursday and I had persion to go prostelyting in flip flops. OH YEA! Dream come true and I can scratch that off the bucket list!
The problem is, don't ever tell the members that you have an infected toe (expecially the hermanas!) because they'll want to dig it out and they don't give you an option. I've got a great picture below of Hna. Sanchez destroying my toe and me biting my tie trying not to cry. I still screamed though...
Thursday we went to the doctor and he said it was an ingrown toenail (I know, nasty) and the best way to get rid of the infection is to just to cut it out. Mom, you would have liked him--he told me that most doctors would just give you an anti-biotic and then "wait and see". Nope, this guy pulled out the scalpel and started hacking! Graphic pictures available upon request.
As for the rest of the week, we spent a lot of time working with our investigator Chris and a few less-active families and we even got a lot of them to come to our Branch picnic on Saturday. Chris has been struggling with anxiety attacks, but he said that going to the picnic and visiting with members helped him so much. He is so solid!
Saturday night we got those transfer calls and I will be leaving Joliet and heading about 45 minutes north to Aurora. We spent a lot of Sunday saying goodbye to members. I've really made a ton of great friends here and it has been such a blessing to have been here for the last 3 transfers. I have changed a ton and I have grown to love my Savior so much more. Yesterday I had such a sweet experience with the Sacrament. Instead of trying to think really hard about the Savior, or trying to focus myself; I just read in 3 Nephi 9 and I came across two verses that are some of my absolute favorites.
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
Every time we take the Sacrament, we have that chance to just sit there for those 5-10 minutes with our Savior. You don't need to bring anything, you don't have to be smart, you don't have to think too hard--you can just sit there and enjoy his presence--let him heal you.
I know that Jesus Christ lives, I know that he loves each one of us and that his arm of mercy is extended to all of us at every second of our lives. I love you all as well and I'm greatful for your prayers. Wish me luck as I go to Aurora; I know Elder Aguirre's got it down here (plus, I'll be coming back down in about 2 weeks for Chris' baptism. WHOO WHOO).
Love you all,
Elder Arkoudas
Dr. Sandra Sanchez and her faithful assistant: Nurse Daughter.
They're breaking up the club... Love these brothers!
Funny story* Our investigator invited us over to do service and the service was killing snakes. We got about 13 of those things and made a nice snake soup! (I'm kidding about the soup).
Presidente Martinez
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