Mission Update 27Jan2019
We have had an interesting week. I may have neglected to mention that our Mission President, President Hewlett, gave us very little guidance as to what he expected of us when we met with him on our first day in the mission area. He asked us to contact the Summerwood Texas Stake President and get some guidance from him. I mentioned that we met with him and received his expectations from him and we were told if we didn't get cooperation from the Jacinto Ward Bishop to let him know.
Last Sunday, 20Jan, we spent about an hour with the Jacinto Ward Bishop, Bishop Fernandez. We asked him for a complete list of ward members. There was a long pause, and then he said he would give us a list, but he wanted to "edit" it first to remove any members that haven't been contacted for 10 years or more.
That is not what we wanted, though. We attended the temple on Tuesday, and while we were there I ran into our Stake Clerk, who asked if we needed anything. I told him of our situation. He told me he would send us a complete ward list from the Stake perspective, which he did on Thursday.
In the mean time, we have been establishing ourselves with medical professionals that can take care of our various challenges. Pain management folks in Texas are much different than those in Utah. They will do the injections, nerve ablations or any other "PROCEDURES", but they won't prescribe effective pain medicines. They are deathly afraid of the feds. Apparently, they are afraid of being accused of aiding in addiction to opioids. With the number of doctors being investigated, their reticence puts genuine chronic pain sufferers in jeopardy.
We worry about all this because of Sister Black's severe scoliosis. The curvature of her spine has deteriorated from 8 degrees deviation just 6 years ago to a 34+ degree deviation. That puts a lot of strain on her supporting muscles and puts pressure on the nerves that enter the spine in that area of her back.
We also contacted lung and heart specialists. Houston Methodist has the premier Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension program in the United States. We are blessed to be here where we can access those resources. I will undergo several tests this week to evaluate where I am in the various stages of the disease.
On Friday night we went to Cirque du Soleil Luzia. What a marvelous time! It was nothing like what I expected. If any of you get the chance to see it, GO. It is a little pricey, but we did enjoy it. This was part of a mission seniors' conference/activity. Then Saturday morning we gathered together again, about 15 couples who are serving in this mission, to enjoy some "get acquainted" games and hear from President and Sister Hewlett. Breakfast and Lunch were provided. We had a wonderful time together. We met and sat at the table with a couple serving in Jennings, Louisiana. They had to drive 163 miles to get to the conference. But they seem to have enjoyed it.
Saturday while we were in our Seniors' activity, we got word that the new and nearly completed St. George East Stake Center was burned to the ground. We are sorely spiritually wounded to think that some person would purposely set fire to one of our buildings.
Today we met with the Bishop again. He had a change of heart and gave us a complete list of ward members with annotations indicating who is active, who is inactive, who is suspected of having moved out and who still appears on the list but have died.
Also today, our chorister didn't come, so I wound up conducting the music. My allergies have been acting up, so singing isn't my best, and I didn't bring the glasses I need to see the music from that distance. I muddled through it as best I could.
We have several appointments with members this week along with our various medical appointments. It will be a busy week.
Please do not hesitate to comment or ask questions. I will respond to all.
Last Sunday, 20Jan, we spent about an hour with the Jacinto Ward Bishop, Bishop Fernandez. We asked him for a complete list of ward members. There was a long pause, and then he said he would give us a list, but he wanted to "edit" it first to remove any members that haven't been contacted for 10 years or more.
That is not what we wanted, though. We attended the temple on Tuesday, and while we were there I ran into our Stake Clerk, who asked if we needed anything. I told him of our situation. He told me he would send us a complete ward list from the Stake perspective, which he did on Thursday.
In the mean time, we have been establishing ourselves with medical professionals that can take care of our various challenges. Pain management folks in Texas are much different than those in Utah. They will do the injections, nerve ablations or any other "PROCEDURES", but they won't prescribe effective pain medicines. They are deathly afraid of the feds. Apparently, they are afraid of being accused of aiding in addiction to opioids. With the number of doctors being investigated, their reticence puts genuine chronic pain sufferers in jeopardy.
We worry about all this because of Sister Black's severe scoliosis. The curvature of her spine has deteriorated from 8 degrees deviation just 6 years ago to a 34+ degree deviation. That puts a lot of strain on her supporting muscles and puts pressure on the nerves that enter the spine in that area of her back.
We also contacted lung and heart specialists. Houston Methodist has the premier Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension program in the United States. We are blessed to be here where we can access those resources. I will undergo several tests this week to evaluate where I am in the various stages of the disease.
On Friday night we went to Cirque du Soleil Luzia. What a marvelous time! It was nothing like what I expected. If any of you get the chance to see it, GO. It is a little pricey, but we did enjoy it. This was part of a mission seniors' conference/activity. Then Saturday morning we gathered together again, about 15 couples who are serving in this mission, to enjoy some "get acquainted" games and hear from President and Sister Hewlett. Breakfast and Lunch were provided. We had a wonderful time together. We met and sat at the table with a couple serving in Jennings, Louisiana. They had to drive 163 miles to get to the conference. But they seem to have enjoyed it.
Saturday while we were in our Seniors' activity, we got word that the new and nearly completed St. George East Stake Center was burned to the ground. We are sorely spiritually wounded to think that some person would purposely set fire to one of our buildings.
Today we met with the Bishop again. He had a change of heart and gave us a complete list of ward members with annotations indicating who is active, who is inactive, who is suspected of having moved out and who still appears on the list but have died.
Also today, our chorister didn't come, so I wound up conducting the music. My allergies have been acting up, so singing isn't my best, and I didn't bring the glasses I need to see the music from that distance. I muddled through it as best I could.
We have several appointments with members this week along with our various medical appointments. It will be a busy week.
Please do not hesitate to comment or ask questions. I will respond to all.
Comments
Post a Comment