Holy cow! Where should I even begin to describe this last two weeks?
First off sorry I didn't get to write this last week- I'll explain that in a minute and so I guess I'll start with a couple weeks ago.
So it had been a really exciting time working with members and non members and trying to do missionary work there in Cape May. Especially Friday June 21 was super awesome. We were able to have the baptism of Blake Fales! It was so special. The spirit that was felt there was wonderful. It just filled the room. And what was even more cool about it was there was a lot of non-members there so I know that they felt it as well. Hopefully that baptism can make some differences in others lives besides just the Fales family. but can I just begin to describe how much I love that family. They seriously are my heart and joy. I have just come to love that family so much. Blake is the 8 year old boy and we have been working with Lisa (member) and Mike (nm) and I can see all the positive changes that the gospel is making for them and their family. So afterwards talking with Lisa they have picked a wedding date for her and Mike in September so then Mike will be getting baptized shortly after that! Oh man, so excited about that I can't even describe. The journey that their family is about to take together is going to be amazing! And I'm looking forward to being a part of it!
Also hopefully because of this baptism we might get a new investigator out of it. While we were there I saw a lady named Kelly. She was someone that me and my first companion had tracted in to one of our first couple weeks. Anyways, she was Mike's cousin. I went and talked to her afterwards and she was surprised that I remembered her (thank you Heavenly Father) and then she talked about how cool it was that we were able to help all of these people. So I asked if she would like to go to an FHE at the Fales sometime and she said she would be interested! Cool right?! The Lord always provides so many miracles!
Then on Saturday was the branch activity. It was a great turnout and we had a blast. I ended up praying some soccer with the branch as well and while playing I started coughing up blood. This didn't bother me too much as I guess it should have. I figured there was just something wrong with my sinuses. Because unfortunately I had been doing this for several weeks by now. Except this day was the worst. There was just a lot of blood. But don't worry I kept playing soccer, everything was fine, and we won the game! :) Later that day I got the call that I was supposed to be training again this next transfer and I would get to stay again in Cape May.
Okay so this next part will explain why I didn't write this last Monday. So Sunday the day after we had gone up to Linwood. It is a town about 45 min north and our district leader was having a couple of baptisms of a 9 and 11 yr old boys there so we went to support. Which happened to be super cool. But after the baptism we were going to watch the missionary broadcast. About 15 min in I was feeling really nauseous. I ended up getting up to leave because I thought I was going to throw up but as I started walking out of the chapel towards the nearest trashcan I just passed out. And because the Senior couple were there and they knew that I had been coughing up blood the day previous they decided to take me in to the hospital. So I spentSunday night in the ER and was finally moved to a room Mon morning where they were doing some test and what not. What they ended up finding were a couple of nodules in my right lower middle lung and one on my thyroid. So Tuesday they did a bronchoscopy to try and figure out what was wrong with me or what the nodules were but when they did the procedure there was too much bleeding going on in my trachea and lung to get a sample of anything so the doctor told me that he wanted me to go home as soon as possible. :(
Yeah that wasn't something I wanted to hear. I can't really express the emotions I felt or what it is like being told that you have to go home from your mission early but I do know it wasn't anything good. At first when he was telling me, I had to get up and walk out of the room. And after coming back and hearing everything he wanted to say, then I think I was in denial because I told my mission president that I was fine and they would take care of it in a year when I was finished with my mission... But here I am. No longer training. And no longer in Jersey.
It was difficult accepting it but after praying and telling the Lord that I would be humble and I'll go and do whatever it was that he wanted, I once again submitted my will and decided to just put my trust in God.
I was released from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon and arrived in Idaho Thursday evening. I can't express enough thanks to all those that have been praying and fasting for me. I know that my zone did a special fast for me which was really touching along with the Hazelton ward upon me returning. Even though I don't know why this happened to me or what I am supposed to get out of it, I do know that God is still mindful of me and what I am going thorough. I felt him with me as the Elders said a prayer with me when I was on the verge of having the procedure on Tuesday and how he calmed me nerves and when I was headed to Philly to meet my mission president I asked my branch pres' wife if it was wrong for me to pray for God to heal me. Her response was that her sister in law who had never had children was given a blessing and was told that it is her right to remind God of the promise that she was given that she would have children and to pray for Christ to heal her. So I do know that everything is going to be alright. Maybe when I go to the doctor in a week they won't have to do the thoracic surgery and the scan will say there is nothing there or some blood work will come back saying that it is just an infection. Or maybe it won't heal that fast, but which ever way it works I know that God is watching over me, that everything happens for a reason, and that I can continue to do missionary work anywhere I am at.
That is a definite confirmation I received while sitting in church this Sunday is that the adversary can't stop me. There are angels watching over me and helping me through this time. There are still ways to serve. I don't have to hang my head low because I am home. I don't have to let this journey be over. There are still things to do here and then eventually I will return to the PPM to finish my mission. But until that day I will continue to look for miracles and make everyday the best day ever!
I love my family and everyone that has been a part of my life. Continue to keep working hard and strengthening your testimony. I know that is something I still get to work on everyday!
Love you all! Take care!
Love you all! Take care!
Chalet Beames
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