Day 6

Dear READER,


It's interesting how things all fall together. I've been thinking a lot about the one and the priesthood. And today in Church one of the talks just tied everything together for me. It was so interesting. Here are some of the key points I took from his talk. First off his talk was on covenants and it was really, good. All the speakers did a really good job today it was a wonderful sacrament meeting. Ok so his points:

• Be known as a covenant maker. I don't know there is much else to add to that it's very clear. I want to be known as a covenant maker and a covenant keeper.
• We can't make any covenants on our own. Most if not all covenants are made through the priesthood. Blessings, Baptism, Temple work, Marriage.
• Covenants are made on an individual basis - one by one.

Yesterday in my blessing that I needed to prepare myself to receive revelation the Lord had for me. First off what a great thing to hear from the Lord. He has things he wants to tell me to reveal to me and I need to be ready -- how cool. But today in this brothers talk he mentioned that we received revelation in the temple. It hit me right there in Sacrament meeting exactly what I needed to do in order to help me be open and prepared for revelation ---- 'Jenessa, go to the temple!!!' clears as day.


I met with one of the Bishopric today in order to get set apart in my calling as a member of the compassionate service committee in my Relief Society. I've had a hard time moving into this ward. I don't know why as I didn't really know anyone from the other ward really well and I've moved tons of times and come into new wards and it's been just fine. I think I felt like I was finally in a place where I could start getting to know people and my calling as a Visiting Teaching Coordinator was falling into place and I was loving it. So this change has just seemed a bit harder than normal. Anyways back to the Bishopric member. I needed to get set apart and he was already late for PPC but decided to do it anyways. Instead of just coming in and doing the setting apart he sat and talked with me for about 15 min. He asked me what my concerns were with my calling, what I was doing out here, where I was from and so on. I think it was the first time since I've been out here that someone has actually cared how I felt and what I was actually doing. He didn't rush it at all --- it was just what I needed. I needed someone to care. To understand that I'm just not another member of the church. He ended up missing all of PPC, which is really sad but today he helped the one and I am very grateful for it.


I have the most wonderful Visiting Teaching companion. She is AMAZING!!! And she views and does visiting teaching like I do....like a missionary. Today was set up our appointments for the week to visit our sisters and then we had comp. study. For those of you who served mission you will understand that comp. study is very important and it helps in planning out your lessons. Well we did it just like we did on our missions and it was wonderful. Just WONDERFUL!!!!

On the topic of Visiting Teaching. I have never ever been visit taught my entire life. It's kind of bugged me just because it made me feel that my Visiting Teachers didn't care for him. Well today in Church my Visiting Teacher found me, introduced themselves, and set up an appointment to come and see me. How cool is that. They seem like really sweet women and I am so excited to get to know them better.


I can't believe it's like mid-march. I am going to be in Texas for the rest of the month so today while planning I was planning for April. Can you believe that --- time really does fly. I need to learn how to live more in the moment so that I don't miss anything.



Yours Truly,

Jenessa

A Cancer Scare - A Blessing

Dear READER,


..........I guess the best place to start this post is by sharing one of my greatest fears. I have always had the fear of getting cancer and dieing. I don't know why that is like my worst fear but it has always been that way since I can remember.

While I was growing up my brother, any time he had a bump, scrap, scar anything he would point to it and dramatically say "It's Cancer" and start freaking out. He still does it today, it's become a really funny thing in my family were if anyone has anything wrong 'oh it must be cancer'. We don't seriously mean it but we just say it - thanks to my brother it's just something that is there.

On my mission one of my companions ended up having breast cancer while on her mission. I was so scared. She was not only my companion but had turned into my best friend. I can't exactly explain how I felt but It was not a pleasant feeling. The one thing I remember thinking was -- we are being so obedient, working so hard, how can this be happening? It wasn't even me but I was mad. Mad that this would happen to my best friend how could it. Everything turned out ok and she continued to serve a full and faithful mission.

At the beginning of this year I fell down some stairs. For most of you who know me, you are probably thinking that this is a perfectly normal thing to be happening to me. I fall up stairs, down stairs, down hills, walk into walls, and doors, and I trip almost everywhere. (Well I used to -- I haven't been as clumsy since my mission, I think I truly learned to walk while on my mission but it took a good month or so). Anyways I fell down this flight of stairs while I was babysitting and I really hurt myself. So much so that I considered going to see a doctor - that didn't last long as you will also know because I just hate doctors. I don't know why I just do and hospital are terrifying to me. So it was a quick and fleeting thought. So instead I went to a Chiropractor.

This Chiropractor took tons of x-rays and made sure I hadn't torn anything. The part of me that hurt the most are my right hip and left arm. He took extra care to take more x-rays of these two parts just to be sure. No broken bones, YEAH!!!!!

BUT

We ended up finding a black spot on my left arm near my elbow. It was about the size of tack. We sent the x-rays to a specialist who came back and asked that some more x-rays and test be taken. For those of you who don't know Black spots on bones are really Really REALLY bad. They are usually cancer and not a good thing to have. Not only was a pocked and pricked and tested but I was scared to death. My Chiropractor was there through the whole thing kind of acting like my Brother making me laugh and telling me oh it's probably cancer no big deal and saying it will hurt today but tomorrow it will be better. He really is a great guy....during the time my test were with the specialist I have had physical therapy three times a week trying to get things working and better.

Then the day finally came to meet with the specialist. A little short man with graying hair came in, and said ok well you're great. That was it, I was shocked and a bit taken back. What? 'The spot on your bone is actually tissue'. I had broken that same part of my bone twice before and apparently had chipped away some of the bone now there was some soft tissue there, which 'Naturally' would show up black on a x-ray because it's not bone.

I was so happy I could have cried. Ok so I did get a bit emotional but I didn't cry. I felt so blessed, there are no words to tell you how blessed I felt. I was standing on my metro the next day and saw this sign saying that in May there was going to be a walk here in D.C. for a cure for cancer. I had seen it a few times on the metro I mean I'm on it twice a day for 40 minutes of course I had seen it, read it, and ignored it. But on this particular day. My heart full of gratitude for being cancer free I read it, felt it in my heart, and made up my mind to do something about it. Long story short, MAY 4 I will be walking 26 miles for a cure.

I know this is getting really long but I do need to add just one more part to this story. I asked my family to keep me in their prayers as this was going on and especially on the day I went to see the specialist. I have never felt so much peace walking into a room knowing that the information could be really bad. It wasn't but it could of been - there are many who go into those rooms and who's lives are changed forever because they do have cancer. It made really appreciate those who are survivors and those who are struggling at this time with cancer. What great faith they must have. I hope that they all have family who are praying for them like mine did for me.

Take the time to day to say a little prayer for those who may be suffering at this time with cancer. If you know someone who had cancer take the time to call them and tell them you love them and believe in them.


Yours Truly,

Jenessa