A Little Postscript to Our Mission
We were released and asked to go home on March 20. We didn't actually leave until March 24 because of Dr. appointments, but when we left we were given an envelope to take to our Stake President in Washington, Utah. We presented that envelope to President Carnavale when we met with him on March 29. Included in the envelope was a letter from President Hewlett to President Carnavale along with our release certificates. President Carnavale gave us an official release and gave us our certificates and the letter President Hewlett wrote.
Then, a week later I got a call from a Church Service Elder Missionary working in the Missionary Department wanting to know our intentions when the COVID-19 issues are finished. I told him that my lung disease had exacerbated over the past few months, and that I didn't think we would be able to return. I thought that would be the last call. However, I got a call from a Sister Missionary, reportedly calling from the Missionary Department, who told me that the Mission President and our Stake President didn't understand and we were not released, but rather put on leave until normalcy could be restored, which, we were told, would be in July or August or perhaps even later. We had already signed a new, unbreakable lease for a home near Rapid City, SD for the space of 1 year.
I was confused. First we were released by our Mission President and the Stake President. Then we were "not released because Mission Presidents and Stake Presidents are not well informed". What were we to think? I contacted our Stake President in Rapid City and explained what all happened and asked how we should now proceed. He advised that if we had received a formal release, we are released.
Even through all the confusion, changes, and adjustments made necessary because of COVID-19 our testimonies have not wavered. The Church is still true. God still lives. Jesus is still the Christ. The Plan of Happiness is still in effect. President Russell M. Nelson is still the Prophet. While the Church is true, people are still allowed to be imperfect. I have no reason to believe otherwise.
We live in the same house with our youngest son, our daughter-in-law and 4 children. It is a little more noisy than we're used to, but at the same time it is good to be with family. While my health continues to suffer somewhat, my Princess Bride is supportive. My son and his family is supportive and they are all concerned for me.
On a positive note, I was able to spend a few days assisting my son, Jeremy, in his quest to rehabilitate a motorcycle that did not run. It runs well now. He did most of the work and I did most of the watching as he worked.
We are all looking forward to the day we can return to normal church schedules. Cabin fever has become an issue for both the adults and the children.
Whenever we move to a new location we spend the first few weeks locating doctors we can trust. We are blessed. When we entered our mission we were able to find doctors in Houston that understood the Latter-day Saint community even to the point that some of them were members.
Now as we integrate into the Rapid City environment we just followed promptings and we have found Primary Care doctors that are members and a Pain Management Doctor who is our Stake President. We are still looking for a Orthopedist, Pulmonologist and a Cardiologist.
We are doing well even though our lives are not the same as they have been over the last year or so.
-30-
Then, a week later I got a call from a Church Service Elder Missionary working in the Missionary Department wanting to know our intentions when the COVID-19 issues are finished. I told him that my lung disease had exacerbated over the past few months, and that I didn't think we would be able to return. I thought that would be the last call. However, I got a call from a Sister Missionary, reportedly calling from the Missionary Department, who told me that the Mission President and our Stake President didn't understand and we were not released, but rather put on leave until normalcy could be restored, which, we were told, would be in July or August or perhaps even later. We had already signed a new, unbreakable lease for a home near Rapid City, SD for the space of 1 year.
I was confused. First we were released by our Mission President and the Stake President. Then we were "not released because Mission Presidents and Stake Presidents are not well informed". What were we to think? I contacted our Stake President in Rapid City and explained what all happened and asked how we should now proceed. He advised that if we had received a formal release, we are released.
Even through all the confusion, changes, and adjustments made necessary because of COVID-19 our testimonies have not wavered. The Church is still true. God still lives. Jesus is still the Christ. The Plan of Happiness is still in effect. President Russell M. Nelson is still the Prophet. While the Church is true, people are still allowed to be imperfect. I have no reason to believe otherwise.
We live in the same house with our youngest son, our daughter-in-law and 4 children. It is a little more noisy than we're used to, but at the same time it is good to be with family. While my health continues to suffer somewhat, my Princess Bride is supportive. My son and his family is supportive and they are all concerned for me.
On a positive note, I was able to spend a few days assisting my son, Jeremy, in his quest to rehabilitate a motorcycle that did not run. It runs well now. He did most of the work and I did most of the watching as he worked.
We are all looking forward to the day we can return to normal church schedules. Cabin fever has become an issue for both the adults and the children.
Whenever we move to a new location we spend the first few weeks locating doctors we can trust. We are blessed. When we entered our mission we were able to find doctors in Houston that understood the Latter-day Saint community even to the point that some of them were members.
Now as we integrate into the Rapid City environment we just followed promptings and we have found Primary Care doctors that are members and a Pain Management Doctor who is our Stake President. We are still looking for a Orthopedist, Pulmonologist and a Cardiologist.
We are doing well even though our lives are not the same as they have been over the last year or so.
-30-
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