YOSO {you only serve once}

I wish this second to last email could be full of miracles of and life-changing stories. But it's not going to be. Instead it will be one of more medical diagnosis.

Let's just flashback to eight months ago when I was down for a few weeks due to some freak virus and back pains. Well, we now are speculating this virus to be some form of Malaria, but since I was in South Africa and it's not common, I wasn't tested. I've been having bad, but bearable, knee pains for about the past three weeks, so I was just icing two times a day and living off of ibuprofen. On Tuesday I woke up and it was freezing cold outside, and literally every joint hurt. From my toes to my jaw. I lasted through District Meeting, Gloria's appointment (she's doing awesome by the way, she got called to be the RS Secretary yesterday!), then gave up and went home to ice and call the Senior Couple. Sister Reynolds told me just to keep icing and wait it out as she called the Area Advisor.

Wednesday morning I woke up to severe shooting pains in my bones. So we called in and got clearance to go to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis, with a flare up of this malaria-type virus, given some heavy drugs, and ordered on bed rest for at least five days (I'm on day five in case you're wondering. And still mentally sane). So for this past week, I've been shuttled from Senior Couple to Senior Couple couches. It's been hilarious. And since I couldn't even hold pen to write or to study, I was thoroughly entertained. I now know every detail of the Reynold's and Merrill's lives. Seriously, I could win jeopardy with all this information. 

And that's where I'm at. Waiting out the last two weeks of my mission on bedrest. But man, I have seen so many tender mercies, acts of compassion and service, and the hand of the Atonement more than almost any other week of my life. I thought I would be more upset than I was/am, but really it proved to be an answer to many of my prayers, and allowed me to learn things that I could have only learned through this experience. I know that Heavenly Father knows the intents of my heart, and needed me to exercise all that I've learned throughout my mission. This all sounds like I'm depressed and struggling, but I promise- I'm really not! How could I be with all the love and comfort that has been shown to me throughout this week from both this world and the unseen?! I am too much grateful! I love all of you and are forever grateful for the prayers and support I am being given! And I LOVE Africa.

Sister Clifford

ps- Here's a hilarious quote from our RC Paul. I had asked him if he knew that the 10 Commandments were in the Book of Mormon. He just looked at me with this 'duh' face and said "Well of course Sister Clifford, it's the fullness of the Gospel." Duh.