Week 05 addendum

Note:

I have decided to post some of the letter Shannon wrote to us, Mom and Dad.  I am posting this as a way to help those who read this better understand what happens to a missionary while they are serving.  I think this will be of the greatest benefit to those who have never been on a mission or have not known anyone who has served a mission.  This letter is an example of what every missionary goes through at some point on their mission, being homesick.  It just happened to coiencide with the death of her Great-Grandmother, which will be particularly difficult for Shannon. 

What we need to do for her now is send a quick note to let her know you are praying for her and have not forgotten her.  I don't think there is any need to mention this email or the content, just tell her hi and that you love her.  The Lord will comfort her.  As you will read in the "Week 05" post He already has started by provding someone who seems to be prepared to accept the Gospel.  It is good for us to have some distance too.  This will allow us to see the hand of the Lord at work as He builds and shapes Shannon into what He has always planned for her.

Dad.

Hi Y'all

Yes, I did speak to President last night (Sunday) about Grandma....and I had a good cry and had a little bit of a hard time sleeping but I'm going to be just fine. In fact, I was mostly crying because I was filled with the overwhelming sense that she was happier and loving it and proud of me and all that jazz. It was a little overwhelming (hence all the crying) but I'm good. I still get a little teary every now and then,, but trust me - I know she's in a better place. Plus on Thanksgiving night I couldn't stop thinking about Grandma Nena.  I felt like she was especially proud of me and what I am doing being out here on my mission.  I thought it was kinda strange then, but now I know it must have been her paying me a visit on her way home.  All this made me think of D&C 78:18

 18 And ye cannot ^abear all things now; nevertheless, be of good ^bcheer, for I will ^clead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the ^driches of ^eeternity are yours.

Plus I had a really rough day on Saturday. I was really homesick and felt like a horrible missionary and just ached all over and we'd been having doors slammed in our faces all day long and i just cried in the car and wanted to talk to you so bad! Just have you hold me and call you. It was hard. I haven't been that homesick the entire time I've been out on my mission. I just wanted to quit and go home. My lovely companion helped me through it and I wasn't alone but I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. And even though the mission is great and I love it (mostly) there are days when I just want to be home and hold you. Gah I'm crying here in the library. I've cried so much the past few days I"ve got a permanent headache. I'm printing out some of the family pictures you sent (finally) and I'm sending Jesse a birthday card (but it's a surprise) so hopefully it'll help. And we had some really good things happen to us lately so I'll write about it in my weekly email as well. My thoughts and prayers are always with you and I pray for you every night and sometimes every morning too. I love you, love you, love you so very much.

The church is true. Sometimes that's the only thing that keeps me going. But it's so very true. The plan is perfect. The gospel is perfect. The people are not. But the lord loves us :) And I love you. Have I said that yet?