The Week of Bad Health

July 7, 2014

This week was rough. I've been having, what I diagnosed as, extreme acid reflux. Just a constant kick back of acid to my throat that led to painful swallowing, extreme stomach pains, nausea, and throwing up. Not fun. But I think we finally got it figured it out and we take it one day at a time. But because of it there were a few days that we ended up just sitting in the apartment while I was curled up in a ball crying and trying not to puke.......(I told you it was fun).

But we were still productive!

Last  Monday we had Zone P-day in Blacksburg, VA (which if you don't know) that's Hokie territory. The Institute building is on campus and it was fun to all be together and be out of our little town of Pulaski. Our Zone has 2 districts with 6 Sisters (2 are Sister Training Leaders), and 8 Elders. We have lots of fun together!

The 4th of July! In the morning the ward had a huge breakfast and there were TONS of less-actives and non-members. Most of them were from Radford so it didn't keep us as busy as the Elders but we were able to give 2 church tours and get some awesome referrals. And there was a baptism for an 8 year old boy and we just LOVE baptisms! Later that day we went to a less-active home of an elderly couple and cooked us a good Southern Barbeque! Sister Stone and I made the chocolate cheesecake (YUM), and he made brisket, homemade baked beans (I actually LIKED them), an assortment of salads, and rolls. It was a FEAST! And it was so nice to be cooking and baking anything! He gave us SOOOOOO many leftovers. We didn't get to see any fireworks :( It doesn't get dark til 9 and that's when we have to be in....... First 4th without them. Sad day.

Our mother and daughter investigators are on track for their baptism! We were able to have a really powerful lesson Saturday night about the Plan of Salvation and asked them to really pray if it was true. Well, Sunday the daughter leaned to me and asked, "Can I bare my testimony even if I'm not a member?" Of course I said heck yeah but I didn't think she would actually go up! She's pretty dang shy but all the other kids in the Ward were going strong at the pulpit and she jumped right up there! It was AWESOME! You know how some people get up and you just have no idea what they're gonna say and you're just kinda sitting there cringing and hoping it goes well? That was me. But then I was blown away.

She talked about her experience at the baptism 2 weeks ago and how she's been taking lessons and coming to church and she loves it. She's made so many friends and loves how she feels at church. She said she's thinking about getting baptized too and is excited to do it. (Then the kicker), "And I've prayed about it and I know this church is true." It took everything for Sister Stone and I to not jump out of our seats screaming HALLELUJAH! She's at Girl's Camp this whole next week so hopefully there will just be more great things going for her!

We had another baptism for an 8 year old girl after church and the mother and daughter got to watch. They just love seeing people get baptized and they were planning their own baptism. The mom already asked the Gospel Principles teacher to baptize her :)

Today we did emails later because we had District P-day this week and we went fishing in Floyd, VA. I haven't gone fishing in years (like since I was 4?). And I've never caught a fish before. And Sister Stone and the Elders are like, pros. And I'm the ONLY one who caught a fish. And it drove them all nuts. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

We meet our new Mission President tomorrow! Hopefully i make a good impression and he lets me stay with Sister Stone :)

Oh, let's talk about Sister Stone. I like her a lot. More and more people have been asking us if we're related and we have a lot of fun together. We like to laugh! We don't drink the water because it's gross so we go for bottled water. And when we're done with them we crush them to take less room in the trash can. But then I decided I'd prefer to use them as bombs. So I've been stock-piling and bombed her today.....while she was in the shower...... :) We have lots of fun together. And she kills all the spiders so I really love her! She's kind of my favorite trainer ever.

Best:

1. Chocolate cheesecake

2. HUGE rainstorms.

3. Fishing.

4. The sunsets light up the sky on both horizons.

5. Elder Bingham's photo bomb in 5 Guys after Zone meeting.

6. Our "MERICA" shirts

7. I CAUGHT A FISH!

Worst:

1. The bugs here. CREEPY as anything. I don't get it.

2. No fireworks for us :(

-Sister Packard

(ANOTHER PS)

MOM!!!!

Missionary work is so cool! PLEASE go out teaching with the Elders and Sisters. At least once a week! Do it for me!!!! You'll get a little taste of what I go through every day :) Plus I know what a difference it can make to have a member there to help teach and share their own experiences. Nate did tell me about Owen and that is just not cool. That poor boy! The 4th sounds so fun and I'm sad I missed it!

P-day is different every week. Emails can happen anywhere from 11-6 so it all depends. You should just send emails Sunday or right after you get mine? I'd be a week behind but I don't know. :) It is lots of fun though! I wish I could send you the video from when I caught the fish! But it's too big to let me send :( I'm having so much fun Momma! I'm just tired all the time. I didn't sleep at all in the MTC and I'm never going to be able to catch up on what I need :( I should hope you're all proud and love me because when I got my blessing of health I was told that I needed to know that my family loves me and is proud of me. So I'm wondering who wasn't and just now came around.........I bet it was Sean. Such a jerk. Anywho. I love you! Keep my blog updated! ........................MOM! :) And know that I love you!