I hope all of you have had an amazing week so far!
I've actually had a really interesting experience this past week. So I'm not sure if you all remember, but in the email I sent last week, I mentioned how I think I was getting sick. Turns out I was about to get Influenza B, and I would need to be put in Isolation! I'll explain more later on what Isolation is. However, overall I had a good and restful week!
[I think this is pretty self-explanatory, haha.]
Friday -
Pagkatapos sa paghanda adlaw ko (After my preparation day), I had class in the evening time. Kag previously, I had arranged to teach my investigators with one of my teachers! So it was basically like I had a companion and it was so awesome! Up until this time, I've been meeting with investigators and I've needed to teach alone. However, it was so cool to experience having a pseudo-companion because I had someone to bounce off of when I couldn't remember any Ilonggo words, haha!
[Before I went into Isolation. I'm so glad that they sell Vicks here!]
Saturday -
This day was the high-point of my sickness! I got out of bed and wasn't feeling good AT ALL, but I forced myself to get to class. That probably wasn't the best decision because I was literally dozing off in class - I was so exhausted and I didn't know why! By the end of class my teachers tell me that I should probably go back to the residence and try to get better. So when my companions and I got back to the residence, they took care of me like the way my mom does when I'm sick, and it was just so comforting! I slept the whole rest of the day and later on in the evening, my temperature went up to 102.7 degrees! It was so crazy, but I am so grateful to my companions and my roommates for taking such good care of me. However this day I got really homesick because usually when I'm sick my mom cooks me EXTRA SOUR Sinigang. (I really miss Filipino food! I'm so happy I'm going to the Philippines for my mission because I will be eating really good food!) Here at the MTC the food is good but I don't think it's the best food to be eating when you're sick!
Sunday -
I don't know how, but I got enough energy to get up to go to church and take Sacrament. It was funny though because afterwards my Branch President came up to me and told me to see a doctor and that I should get back to the residence so I can rest. So after Sacrament I went back to my room and slept/studied the rest of the day.
[Isolation Protocol]
Monday -
I went to the doctor first thing in the morning and at first they didn't suspect that I had the Flu. However they ran a test on me just to make sure and I did have the Flu! :( So basically when you have a contagious sickness, they do the isolation protocol and move you into a room that you should stay in for the duration of your sickness. The only time I would make contact with people was when the doctor checked my vitals and when people would deliver me food. IT WAS SO LONELY. And even worse, my companions district was scheduled to leave on Wednesday! Since I needed to go to Isolation ASAP, I had to do a quick goodbye with my companions. It was really sad that our time together as companions got cut short, but I know that I'll see them after our missions are over!
Tuesday/ Wednesday -
Stayed in Isolation. I studied A LOT from the scriptures! Also this may be weird for you Mommy but I started reading from your mission journals, haha!
[I wasn't outside for cold Utah air for 3 days.]
Thursday -
Finally, I was no longer contagious or had a fever so I finally got out of Isolation! Bless up, haha. 🙏Everyone was really happy to see me back! It was funny because when I went into Isolation I left my old companions and the older district and now that I was out of Isolation I had new companions (my new companions are my roommates that have been with me since I arrived to the MTC and they are learning Tagalog. Also, we are traveling to the Philippines together when the time comes) and there is a newer district. Since this was the first day the new district met me, I decided to play a prank and pretend that I didn't know English and that I only knew Tagalog but was learning Ilonggo. It was pretty funny to see people struggle to speak to me although I can understand them perfectly. This day was also my first day back to class for a couple days and also my first day back to teaching for a while! I had an amazing lesson - I taught the entire Restoration by myself in Ilonggo (I didn't say the First Vision though). So I guess you can say that I came back with a bang! Haha and also I feel like the language is coming along really nicely! I study Ilonggo a lot but honestly what I feel helps me the most is prayer. I love the ability to be able to ask God for help with something that I want to accomplish. Also not only that, but when I see how God provides for me is the best feeling ever!
[Went to the Provo temple today!]
Overall, like I said it was an interesting week! I look forward to this week and not being sick anymore. It was really funny actually because my brother told me that my mom, sister, and he was sick. We have like family sickness telepathy. JOKE LANG, haha. Health is truly a blessing!
Palangga, Sister Ventura😁
Send me an e-mail:
elza.ventura@myldsmail.net
Written letters and packages:
Sister Elza Ventura
Philippines Iloilo Mission
Osmeña Street,
Arevalo, Iloilo City,
5000 Iloilo
Philippines
*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.
