Allergies

Well, this week has been super super anti-climatic. I have not taught in the past 5 days because of different things going on and so unfortunately I really don´t have many interesting stories. With Christmas coming we´ve been doing a lot of service playing piano and singing and preparing other things for people, and we´ve had zone conferences and different meetings to celebrate a bit. 

I also spent 2 days in the hospital with Hermana Cayax this week. She had a really bad allergic reaction to something Saturday night and when she woke up on Sunday she was covered in hives and a rash from head to toe. I was the only one that new where the hospital is here so we did an exchange. The other sisters went to church and I went to the ER with her. We spent 2 hours there in the morning. They gave her a shot and we came home. About 3 hours later, it came back. So we left again. This time we were there for 6 hours. The ER here doesn´t really have rooms. There are little tiny "beds" with curtains to close them off. The beds are like a box with a mattress on them and the little area we were in was so small that I didn´t even have a chair. When we wasn´t laying down, I sat on the bed with Hermana Cayax but for the rest of the time, I just stood. They just kept giving her anti-allergy shots but it came back each time. I am positive that no one in this country has ever heard of a bedside manner. The nurses were so rude! When she said the IV hurt they told she was an adult and needed to deal with it. Every little thing was a nuisance to them. Finally they told us to just go home and try to relax. haha. Great medical care. We bought some anti-allergy pills and returned home. 

The next day she went back to do some tests with her companion while we went to the zone meeting. Afterward we went out to eat lunch with the elders and I got a call from Hermana Allen. She was freaking out because Hermana Cayax had another reaction and she didn´t know what to do. I told her she needed to be calm and take her back to the hospital. About 5 minutes later, Hermana Cayax called crying and said that her companion was stressing her out and asked me to go to the hospital with her. This poor companionship has a lot of anxiety. I agreed and back to the hospital we went. This time I was a little more blunt. She doesn´t need more shots, she needs to see a specialist. They said no because we didn´t have proof of insurance. I explained that the church has an account with the hospital. Still no. Long story short, after 5 more hours, we found the specialist, got new meds, and returned home. She is still having problems with it but has to wait until tomorrow to meet with the specialist for more tests. Poor thing. I´m definitely grateful for American medicine!

So that was basically my week. A lot of helping others and waiting for things. Yesterday we had a zone conference for Christmas. It was really spiritual and we talked all day about the atonement of Christ. Then we had some American food with rolls and stuffing and potatoes. I have never been so grateful for normal food ever. I get so sick of rice! haha. After the conference we had a devotional with Christmas songs. I sang Away in a Manger with Hermana Douglas accompanying me on the violin and another elder on piano. It was really pretty. 

I realize this has been one of the most uneventful and boring emails ever. Sorry. But as Christmas comes, I want you all to know that I know that Christ lives. I am so grateful for Him as my Savior. I know that He knows and loves us. I am so far from perfect but I know that through Him I can become perfect. It does not matter the faults or shortcomings that I have because through Christ I can overcome them all. I know that He is the source of light and joy in this life. It is only through the atonement and living the gospel that we can find that happiness. We have a purpose here. Each of us is important because we are children of God. I know that this church is His church and I am doing His work. The Book of Mormon testifies of Him as did the prophet Joseph Smith who translated that record. I am so grateful to know of the Plan of Salvation. I love this gospel. I know it´s true. Take time to share this Christmas light and joy with someone else. Catch the spirit of Christ this next week. Help others see Him through you. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season with all of that snow!

Keep the Light,

Hermana Ewell