News Time

My dear family and friends,

I figured that I needed to give you guys a little bit of an update on my knee...

Right after I sent my weekly email, I talked with another doctor. He said that I had dislocated my knee and that it was in my best interest to go home and get surgery. We were still waiting on the input from the doctors in Salt Lake. As you guys can imagine, I fought with the doctor and my CCM president about sending me home.

Early Wednesday morning, Pres. Duvall got the final decision from Salt Lake and my mission president about the decision of what to do with me. They decided that it was best to send me home. After dinner that night, Pres. Duvall broke the news to me. He said that with what had happened to my knee, if I didn't go home and take care of it, I had a 50/50 chance of it happening again.

The goofy Distrito Nefi

It was extremely hard to say goodbye. I broke the news to my district and they took it really hard. My companion was heartbroken, as was I. I packed that night and finished the night out practicing with my district some of the lessons. After class, I asked them if we could pray one last time together. They took that as singing one last song and then praying. My district cannot sing worth beans but Wednesday night, they sang like angels. Out of all my time in the CCM, never had I felt the Spirit so strong and never had I felt so loved before. Elder Copa prayed and it was the most beautiful prayers I had ever heard. I miss my companion and my district so much. The girls in my room made me a goodbye poster and sang my favorite hymn, Nearer My God to Thee. They are not just sisters, they are my sisters.

They made a goodbye poster

Originally, they were going to let me stay until Tuesday and go with the rest of the group but there happened to be an elder going home to Boise Thursday morning. They sent me with him so that he could help me through the airport. I made it through the airport a lot easier this time. The Church paid for me to be wheeled around in a wheel chair. It has its perks. I was the first on every plane! I got through customs in 2 minutes. It was funny to go through the airports, having complete strangers start talking to me, asking if I was coming or going. I told them I was going home and one guy laughed as he said, "that's no way to go home, Sister!".

All those crazy latinas

I am home now, unfortunately. Now is the time to rest. My parents have set up for me a doctor's appointment and physical therapy. I am hoping that I will not be home that long. They say that I will most likely be able to go back to my mission as soon as I get the doctor's clear. The second I get the ok note, my stake president will send a recommendation letter and the doctor note to Salt Lake and then I can go back out. I am going to work extra hard!

It is hard being sent home. No one ever wants to be sent home from their mission but Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. I have attached a link to a talk given by Elder Brown and I think it fits the situation perfectly. I may not understand everything that has happened and why it has had to happen this way but I know that Heavenly Father is always looking out for me. He cares about me and knows what is best for me, physically and spiritually. I have already been through quite a bit since embarking on my mission and I have learned so much about where I am at and where I want to be. I know I am not done with my mission, it has just been temporarily put on hold.

https://www.lds.org/new-era/1973/01/the-currant-bush?lang=eng&query=the+current+bush

Don't worry about me, I am a tough girl. Thank you all so much for your prayers and emails. I will send more emails as I find out more information about what will be happening with my knee.

Love you all!

Until next time,
The Strawberry Blonde Hermana

Hrma Galarza

Twins! El Wadley's tie matched this dress perfectly

Last night with Distrito Nefi