This past week has been a busy one, but first I want to mention something here that I hesitated to mention last week. We were fortunate enough to hear an Apostle of the Lord speak to us yesterday, Elder D. Todd Chistofferson. He spoke to us Visitor Center missionaries and the other Elders and Sister's throughout the island of Oahu. We met in the Stake Center Cultural hall because the air conditioning was broken in the chapel and the cultural hall had higher ceilings and they felt it would be cooler in there. I will talk more about this later but he mentioned and confirmed for me, that we need to record spiritual events that happen to us for our benefit and for others. I do record these things privately but feel I will start recording them here as well.
On Tuesday last week, we went into a doctor to check on Ramon's ankle. This was an "ankle" orthopedic specialist. His ankle has not healed well after the surgery in January. A lot of arthritis has developed and it is now basically bone on bone causing a lot of pain. First, because he is a specialist we had to deliver xrays and any information we had and he would review them and then call us if he felt he could help. So there we were in his office to see what help was available. He was a young Japanese doctor who was very personable and took a lot of time with us.
He said he could fix it but it would require 2 more surgeries, immediately. It would be one to fix the foot and make it acceptable for an ankle replacement surgery a few months later. Quite a big deal and a long time recovery. We agreed and then when he found out Ramon had breathing problems and he couldn't do the surgery in a surgical center but would need a hospital. That would delay the first date of surgery. So we set the first surgery date for August 20 and the second for the middle of December, which would mean we would delay our return date home by another month.
So off we went and on the way home I suggested that since it was such a big deal we'd better turn to our Father in Heaven and pray about this. We came home and immediately knelt down and asked Him to let us know if this was the right thing to do and if not to please stop us. All day I thought about it and planned in my head how we'd do it. I told a couple of my children as they called us that day. Then the next day I got up, swam, and puttered around waiting for Ramon to wake up. He got up and first thing he said was "I'm not having the surgery!" He named off all the reasons why he shouldn't and then he called the doctor's office (not me, the usual phone person) and cancelled it. He just felt he should wait. Even though he could still do missionary work on a scooter he felt he needed to be full time as a missionary and if something went wrong he wanted it to be in Utah.
I felt very relieved and grateful the Lord answered our prayer so definitely. We have a good ankle surgeon in Utah. Then later that week Ramon was given a blessing by our Mission President Walker and he said in the blessing that Ramon had made the right decision and that he would be able to endure the pain until our mission was finished. He also gave me a blessing and he was very detailed in what he said and after I told him that his blessing addressed many of my concerns and I was so grateful for the blessing.
After the decision to cancel the surgery, I said to Ramon "well, I felt he was a good surgeon but he is awfully young." Ramon said, "oh, he's probably in his 40s". So we googled him, he has attended all the best schools in the mainland, and done residencies and internships in well known hospitals, and has great credentials, and he is young...graduated in 2015. Not that there is anything wrong with his age, but experience is good and he is pretty young!
Back now to this past week...
Monday we took the day, because all our meetings were to be on Tuesday this week, and drove over to the East side of Oahu up by Makaha and Kaena Point on that side. Really beautiful beaches but just too far from where we live. We did find two new shopping malls and were surprised at how large and full they were.
On Tuesday we were in charge of taking Birthday treats to the VCTM meeting for all the Sisters. They are given this Birthday treat at the first meeting of the month by one of the Missionary couples who serve there, so our turn is every 5 months. I wanted to make cinnamon rolls for everyone but just couldn't figure out how I'd have enough time to make and bake 80 by Monday morning and have them fresh unless I stayed up all Sunday night. So I bought these tasty little pastries at Sam's club and then attached a little picture and saying: " On the darkest days when I feel inadequate, unloved and unworthy, I remember whose daughter I am and I straighten my crown." We've had quite a few Sisters who suffer depression, anxiety and homesickness.
After this meeting we went into our District meeting with the Elders and I had a few pastries left so they were treated to them with some cans of Hawaiian juice we had kept cold. We had to take tickets at the luau that afternoon so didn't get much rest this day. It was rainy and gloomy all day and sooo sooo humid. Ramon said "you can't tell me Tonga is more humid than this!"
Thursday we went into the VA, Tripler, and Ramon was seen in relation to Agent Orange exposure. Nothing much came of it, they just ask a lot of questions and if you think you have a problem you file a claim and they look and see if thousands of other soldiers have the same complaint and maybe it is related to Agent Orange, there is no way to tell specifically. But we made an appointment with another doctor to establish a patient-doctor relationship and we see him next week. As we were leaving we both started talking about how different it is here at the VA than at home. Everyone goes out of their way to be kind, helpful and courteous. One lady doctor even walked us out and told us a nearer place to park next time and it was a lot closer. Ramon wondered if they are trained better here in kindness. And we never have to wait to be seen, we get right in immediately.
Friday we had our couples meeting at the Allens at 8 a.m. I took mango butter for all the couples. We came home, visited the Drummndos and then went to the beach. We tried Pipeline this day. I liked it but the beach was farther from the water and really steep to climb down and up to the car. It was enjoyable though and Ramon did a bit is missionarying while sitting under a tree reading. He met an older (like us) Chinese woman and they had quite a talk about our church. She was very interested and I'm sure he planted a seed there. First, she asked how many wives he had! He pointed to me down on the beach and said "Just one and I've been married to her almost 50 years this November!"
Saturday we cleaned and then went into our meeting with Elder Christofferson. It was really hot but we got there early and sat by a fan. The classrooms had air and so they opened all those doors hoping to get air into the cultural hall. But it was still hot. Poor Elder Christofferson! He had a 4 hour meeting there in the morning in the chapel and everyone said he was dripping. He was very kind and let the missionaries ask question after question. We were at the back of the room so left the back way as soon as he left and found ourselves parked right by his vehicle. He came out and talked to us and Ramon assured him of how much we enjoyed having him there.
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Two of our Sister's singing
After that we went into meet some friends at Pounders for dinner. In coming out there was this mother with her teen daughter sitting putting ice around her daughters head and neck. We got to talking and they had been in the Buffet dining and it was so hot they had to leave. I asked if they had eaten and she said no. So I told her I'd see what I could do. I walked back down there and talked to the manager and they were so kind and let me bring back a carry out box for them to come and get food and take it outside where it was cooler to eat. I went back and then thought I'd better walk them back to get in, and I did and they were so appreciative. Maybe I planted a seed in doing that. I know that at the PCC they try to do all they can to make people feel loved and catered too.
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Today we have Stake Conference but I don't believe Elder Christofferson is going to be there. We are taking KhloAnne Drummondo with us and then after our YSA church meeting we are having the Sisters assigned to our Branch to dinner with us.
