Friday night

On Friday evening we got a phone call from the Mission President's wife, Sister Dahle.

She said that Jessica is going to go to Manila to see two specialists there, a neurologist and a cardiologist.  They are doing this because she could not be seen by a neurologist in Olongapo until Thursday and they feel (even though she would receive great care in Olongapo) she will receive excellent care and fast care!

She will leave Saturday morning for Manila with Elder Ferrin.

What she didn't tell me, that I had to hear from Jessica is that when a missionary has to go to Manila for medical reasons, they have to take everything with them - as if they are leaving their mission.

After I talked with Sister Dahle, she let me talk with Jessica.  Jessica was very upset at the idea that she could have to leave (1) and (2) that she would have to leave without saying good bye to her fellow missionary friends (besties) and all the people she met, taught and grew to love so much in the Philippines.  I told her that in no way does she need to worry - that she is going to be fine!!!!

I told her to think of it as an adventure.  Not that many missionaries get to visit the MRC.  Make the best of it and she would be back at her mission in no time.

I also helped her imagine worst case scenario - even if she does have to come home, we are coming to pick her up and we will take her to visit and say good bye to all her friends there.  We are definitely coming to pick her up no matter what so she can rest assured that she served an amazing mission and will still get to see all the people she wants to see before she leaves.

Then we talked about best case.  This is just to make sure she is fine and verify that she can go back to being a missionary.  They need a piece of paper that says she is fine!  She will be fine!

However, after telling her this and saying good bye, my heart sank knowing the stress and unhappiness that she must be going through and the concern that her health is being challenged so much without us being there with her.  She is strong - and she is brave!  She wrote us and said it is NOT necessary to come at this time.

I have absolute faith that all will work out fine!  I just wish I could be with her while she goes through this uncertainty.