Day 413 (Week 58) - Bed Rest

Well, this week was good. Monday we didn't have a lot of visits. Tuesday, I left for a little while in the afternoon to visit some people and we came back a little early.  On Wednesday we did the same thing. We figured we should take it kind of easy because I was still technically on rest. Then Thursday we had a district meeting and our zone leaders found out that I had been working. They were not very happy with me and made me stay home the rest of the day and rest a little the next day. So, that day, Hermana Sorensen who too, was still on rest orders came to my house and we slept and talked and slept some more. Then, on Friday she came again. this day I told her the story of Lord Of The Rings. She said for sure she had been in the house for too long, because the story was very interesting to her. Then we slept early. Saturday, my companion and I got invited to help with a Relief Society activity and have a fun scripture game. We played Jeopardy. The ladies loved it! Then I went to Hermana Sorensen´s house to rest. They had told me that I needed to rest because my platelets were still growing back and they didn't want them to fall again. So I rested. I slept a lot that day. Sunday I got up feeling good and we went to church. We had one of our baptismal dates there. Her name is Brenda and her baptismal date is set for the 16th of June. The other investigators we had there was a family. We have been teaching family morals this whole change and they have progressed a ton. We feel like they will be married and baptized this Saturday. We have been praying so much for them and will go to visit them tonight so that they can get married and baptized on Saturday. Sunday in the afternoon, I wasn't feeling very good, I threw up, I think it was something that didn't sit well, that I ate at the Relief Society activity. You know how that goes...

 

Today I rested and my companion made lemonade that she said would help with my stomach ache. I already feel better. We bought ice cream and will head back to the house after writing. And then go to a visit.

 

 

Remember I am a fighter. That is why I had a smile on my face. Nothing will get me down.  Do your exercise and eat vegetables. 

Day 406 (Week 57) - Time In The Clinic

Well mom here is my side of the story, I am sure you won't like any more or any less than the other ones you have heard. So, starting with last week, on Friday I wasn't feeling very good, we went to the doctor and they said I have Chikungunya. So we rested the rest of the week. Monday, we felt good, so we had an FHE and then returned home. Also, Monday I had stop by the doctor's clinic to pick up some papers, I took the opportunity to weigh myself and I weighed in at 106 lbs. Tuesday, we were feeling tired and my Chikungunya rash came back, so my companion turned into my mother and told me that I had to stay in bed and rest. So, I did. Then Wednesday, I got up and still had the rash and was still tired, but this time, I felt nauseous too. I went into the bathroom and threw up all my breakfast (I will not be eating Coco Puffs for a while). Then the Bakes (señor couple in Peten) stopped by to fix our smoke alarm and they found out I had thrown up. I was brushing my teeth and getting ready for the day when out of the blue, Sister Bake called me and told me that Hermana Curtiss had commands that we get sent to the clinic immediately. So, we called a moto-taxi and went to the clinic. They tested my blood and found out that I still had Chikungunya and that my blood Platelets were really low and they were going to keep me over-night for observations. They gave me an IV (don't worry dad, it was just saline) (and I watched them open the new needle) and they kept me hooked to that all day and night so that I wouldn't get dehydrated. They gave me an injection for my nausea too. My companion took Tylenol for her fever and I took Tylenol for the pain in my body. By the evening Hermana Sorensen came by to check on us. she looked awful and had the same rash I had. My companion was already doing fine, so they let her go. But Hermana Sorensen was starting Dengue. So, she stayed at the clinic for observation. Her fever was really high. they gave her Tylenol too. and we stayed there for 2 days and 2 nights together. If we both weren't sick it would have been like a weird sleepover. hahahaha. On Thursday in the morning, they said my blood platelets fell over night, but by Friday morning, my platelets were raising. Friday evening, I stayed with Hermana Sorensen and Hermana Gomez and Hermana Orellana went out to work for a little while and search for food. We ate at the sisters house and then went home in the night time. They next day there was a baptism, Hermana  Orellana needed to direct the hymns, so she went with Hermana Gomez, and I stayed with Hermana Sorensen. We watched the Joseph Smith video. In the Clinic, we watched a lot of church videos and played 20 questions about a million times to keep us occupied. Also, we gave away copies of the Book of Mormon to the nurses taking care of us. Sunday, we went to church, came home, ate, slept, ate again, and then slept more. Today, I got my blood tested again and my platelets are raising. YAY!!!!!!!!!! Also, I gained 4 lbs! YAY!!!!!!!!! (Now I only have to gain 15 more lbs to be at normal weight YIPPEE!!!!)(hashtagihopeyoucanfeelthesarcasm)

 

Well, today I hung out with Hermana Sorensen again so that our companions weren't trapped in the house for forever. I am feeling better. The doctor from the clinic said I shouldn't work for 6 days, so I get to start working on Thursday. I felt really bad about our data for this week. Our highest number for the things we completed this week was 7 and that is number of days lost for sickness :( I know this next week will be good, We have a lot of hope for some really good investigators, we just have to jump right in working really hard. 

Also, I asked that President and Hermana Curtiss call you, I thought you would want to hear the news from someone official, before Monday when I wrote you. I am sorry if it worried you more. Also, the clinic that I stayed at was approved by President and Hermana Curtiss, the people there took really good care of us. We are doing way better because they did a good job and caught the problem before it got too serious. 

Also, I am putting on lots of bug spray and my companion makes me eat all of my food so that I can gain weight back.  Hermana Curtiss has called us everyday to know how we are doing. I know that I will be okay. 

 

Just remember "many called and few are chosen." this applies to missionary work and the fact that many people get bitten by mosquitoes and only a select few get sick. So, that means that I go above and beyond.

 

Chinkungunya (or Breakbone Fever)

When we heard that Katelyn was sick, we felt the need to find out what was happening with her. We had heard from her Mission President's wife on Monday that she was doing well and that they were more concerned with the weight loss.  Then on Thursday, President Curtiss called us to inform us that Katelyn was in a clinic getting help because her platelets were too low.  This gave Scott and I quite a concern.  Scott started emailing doctor's to figure out what was the course of treatment for Katelyn.  Here are those emails.

Hello my name is Bro. Scott Hansen. Last night my wife received a call from Pres. Curtis in regards to my daughter Katelyn Hansen’s condition and her being admitted to the local clinic. I am assuming that the president has seen her first hand to know of her real condition. I do have a medical background and had some questions.

 

First how was her condition diagnosed? Her companion is ill as well with Dengue. My daughter was diagnosed with Chikungunya. I understand that her platelet counts are low. I want to know why and make sure that she is not misdiagnosed due to the risk of bleeding with Dengue. Second what kind of facility is she in? Are the doctors competent? Even here in the states I see doctors who are, let’s say not at the top of their game. Thirdly she has had constant battles with parasites while she has been there. She is very obedient as per the mission president’s wife and I know that she has always been very clean and conscientious about that. With this and her previous weight loss, will this be an issue to her health.

 

Please understand I am not a worrier but I did lose my oldest in an unfortunate accident years ago and I’m not about to jeopardize her health and wellbeing. She does not need long term GI problems or liver dysfunction. I would like her to finish her mission at all possible so she has that felling of accomplishment. On the other hand she does not need a life time of illness or effects.

 

Please contact me and let me know of her immediate condition.

 

 

Dear Brother Hansen, First I want you to know how much we appreciate the sacrifice that your family and Sister Hansen are making. We realize that she was under no obligation to go on a mission, let alone to Central America.

I have been in constant contact with the Curtiss' and mission nurse and a senior missionary couple, the Bakes, who are in that area of the mission. Chinkungunya and dengue are diagnosed with blood work, a rather sophisticated method call ELISA. We check for certain immunoglobulins that are producing antibodies against the infection. The IgM is an acute one that appears in the blood in the first 4-5 days of the symptoms. This was positive in her. there is an IgG that is produced later on during the course of the illness, around ten days. It tells us that the infection was sometime in the past: it could be 10 days or a year. Her IgM was positive. I order both IgG and IgM in both dengue and Chickungunya when the missionaries get sick with fever body aches, weakness, etc. She was negative for dengue IgM and IgG, The facility is not up to US standards.

The MD taking care of her seems competent. I disagreed on a minor point. When the platelet count dropped below normal, the doctor wanted to give her platelets. I did not, for a couple of reasons. Platelets have to be given in large quantities, 10-15 units at a time( from 10-15 donors). I am not sure how competent the screening is down here for hepatitis B and C and HIV. She was stable and showed no signs of hemorrhaging. The platelet counts were below normal, not at a dangerous level 127,000(Normal being 150,000-400,000 depending on the normal for labs). In my internal medicine practice, I dealt with platelet counts below 50,000 quite often. She is also young and otherwise healthy.

 

Platelets don't last long in the blood stream either. I was treating your daughter as I would my own. If there had been any worsening of her condition or if I had had any serious questions of the care, she would have been sent to Guatemala City.

As far as the parasites, as Area Medical Advisor, we prefer that the missionaries cook their own food. But that is not done. Often the missionaries have "comedores", people who are given money to prepare the meals for a pair of missionaries. Generally they are fair, but there is a question of how well the vegetables, fruit and meat were cleaned before preparing, the cleanliness of where the food is prepared, and especially the hands that prepared the food. There is also the question of how well the missionary washed their hands and where they washed their hands. One third of the missionaries in Central America are off the streets at anytime because of gastrointestinal infections . Members won't support the missionaries with referrals unless the missionaries eat in their houses(same sanitary worries as mentioned above). It is a constant battle to keep them healthy.

We request that the missionaries use mosquito netting that is sprayed with permethrin, spraying their clothes with permethrin and using DEET(like off) to keep the mosquitoes away. I checked with Sisters Bake and Curtiss and your daughter and companion have been diligent in use of Permethrin and  DEET. Unfortunately, they are not 100% effective.

The first thing I did this morning was ask what your daughters platelet count was and it was up, so the MD was releasing her. To the MDs credit, I think she was being cautious about the transfusion and wanted to be on the safe side. We also don't normally admit the missionaries for Chikungunya, but that was the MD's decision, being on the safe side. We will be monitoring your daughter and her companion closely in the near future, monitoring the blood counts.

I hope this helps you and relieves some of your concerns. I hope it wasn't overkill. I know it is hard when you are not at a child's side when they are sick. I felt the same way when he served his mission, though it was stateside(sort of) in California.

I am a Board certified internist and had the honor of taking care of the missionaries in the Indianapolis mission for thirty years, while in private practice. I knew Dr. Doty quite well when he was over the Area Medical Advisors for the Church. When my stake president submitted my papers for a mission on a Thursday, Dr. Doty called me personally the next Monday morning(not being proud, please understand). As an MD that had worked with the Church and knew Spanish fluently, I was hoping that I could serve him in some area of His vineyard.

Warmest regards,

William D. Province II, MD, FACP
Area Medical Advisor for Central America

Day 399 (Week 56) (13 Months on Mission) - Chinkungunya

So as you know by now I like to start off with bad news.  I have never really been very good at telling it nicely, so I will just let you know that this week, I got Chinkungunya. this is an illness that get transmitted through mosquito bites. Before you ask, yes, we do you insect repellent, everyday and yes we sleep with mosquito nets. 

I will tell you more about this illness as I tell you about my week.

Monday, we had a really good family home evening with a family in the branch and one of our investigators. We also visited our investigator with a baptismal date. Tuesday, we had divisions and I got to be with an Hermana named Hermana Gomez. She is from Mexico and I really enjoyed our divisions. I learned a lot from her. Wednesday we had our visits like normal and continued to prepare our investigator for her baptism. Thursday my companion and I started to get headaches. We did our normal visits and then in the night time, my companion was having a really weird allergic reaction. Her body was covered in red itchy splotches. We called the nurse and she told my companion to lay down and take Benadryl. She did and fell asleep early. The next morning, I woke up with the same red spots in all of my body. We both were really achy in all of our body and had low grade fevers. so, we called the nurse and she said we had to get tested for dengue and chinkungunya. Everything hurt. It hurt to walk. My bones were dying. We went to the lab and they tested us. My comp. had dengue and I had Chinkungunya. So after this we went to the interview of our investigator for her baptism and then we got blessing. After this, we went home and slept for the rest of the day. The next day, everyone passed by or called us to see how we were doing or how they could help us. The Elders and Hermana's brought us food, Hermana Curtiss even called to check in on us. In the afternoon, we got ready and went to the baptism of our investigator, Astrid. Her baptism was beautiful! 

 

After the baptism, we went home and slept more. Sunday we went to church and we didn't have fever any more and the rash had gone way down. We were still really achy. After church we took a good nap and in the evening we were able to leave for a visit. Today we feel fine. It is amazing how quickly we got over this sickness. We know that the Lord was watching over us and helping us to heal quickly. 

 

Really this was the biggest event of the week; our baptism. It was awesome, I was so happy for her. I am sending some pictures.  

 

Also, I lost weight again. I checked today and it is at 106lbs. I started drinking Ensure again, so that I can gain weight. Hermana Curtiss already gave me cincho about my weight. Also, my companion gives me cincho about my weight too and how I really need to eat more, so we are making some good plans for that. 

 

 

Day  392 (Week 55) - Zone Conference

 

This week was a fun one. On Tuesday we got up bright an early and did our studies and then we went to work. We worked really hard and tried to have a lot of visits, but it just wasn't going how we wanted. We were happy when we got home because we knew tried as hard as we could. Wednesday, we had a special zone conference. Elder Alonzo from the quorum of the 70 came to talk to us and give us cincho. Hermana Curtiss.  He talked about consecration. President Curtiss talked about feeling the Holy Ghost. Sister Alonzo talked about the personal changes we should have here on the mission. Elder Alonzo talked to us about many things. About integrity, about the plan of salvation about sacrifices (Abraham and Isaac), about the atonement and that the story about the good Samaritan is not about service, it is about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he is the only One that can save us. I learned so much and was really inspired to be a better missionary.

 

We got to eat lunch and then my district had its turn to clean the chapel, so we stayed after to do that. Then we left and went to work. Thursday, something Miraculous happened. We put a baptismal date with a girl named Astrid. She is ten years old. The last missionaries tried to baptize her, but the mom said no. We hadn't met the mom yet, but we told Astrid that if she prayed with a lot of faith, God would help her mom to give her permission to get baptized. So we had been praying and she was praying and we went to visit her and met the mom for the first time. The mom is deaf and cannot talk. But, Astrid, showed her a picture of Christ getting baptized and explained that she wanted to get baptized. Her mom nodded her head and then looked at us and gave us a thumbs up. We were so happy, that I may or may not have shed a couple of tears. Astrid is so excited. Her mom was super nice to us and when we gave her a hug, she got super excited and started showing us all the pictures of her kids and family. I think we get a long well with the mom now. 

 

Friday we had weekly planning. We went to the island of Flores to visit a recent convert that we had only met one time. She was really nice, really, really shy. We started introducing ourselves and she opened up really fast and by the end it was like we were her best friends. We also, had a visit with an investigator who is progressing a lot. Her name is Brenda. She had told us that she prayed about the church and knows that it true. She is going to pray about baptism. Saturday We bought roses for the women in our area who have taken good care of us for Mother's day. Then we had a ward activity in the night time for Mother's day. Also, I forgot that in the morning, we got locked in one of the parts of our house and had to escape. God gave us strength to brake the window and then sent an angel (a member from the branch) to randomly pass by our house and check on us. He helped us buy a new window and install it. and it was really cheap too. Way to go Guatemala!!!!!

 

Sunday was an amazing day! I got to talk to my beautiful family that I miss. it was so nice to talk to you and hear your voices. It made me really happy. I love you all. I love it here and will miss Guatemala, but I know when my time ends I will be ready to see you all. I love you and hope your week goes well.

  

 

 

 

There is a picture of me and Hermana Faught on her last day. Also, of me and my companion at the zone conference and one more, but I already forgot what it is. (Short term memory loss?)

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, the third picture was our romantic dinner for two last night of eggs and beans and strawberry drink mix. 

 

 

Day 385 (Week 54) - A Short Letter

This week was an interesting one ( just like all the others).

Monday we had a normal p-day. Then in the night time we had what felt like a million Family home evenings. We ran from house to house. Hiked a mountain ate pizza and returned home exhausted. We finished packing up our things and went to bed.

Tuesday we got up and had to be at the church building at 8:30, but there was a traffic problem so we didn't get there until 9. We had to be there for a meeting for the trainers. We had the meeting and then waited for a few hours for the new people to come. When they came we had a meeting with them so they could learn about the basic rules and info about the mission. Then we ate lunch and listened to President and Hermana Curtiss. Then we hopped on a bus and got to our area at about 10.30 at night. We were really tired so we put down our bags and just slept.

Wednesday we woke up and unpacked our things. Cleaned and reorganized the house because it was a disaster and then we left in the night to contact and knock some doors.

My companion is really excited about working. She is great. Her name is Hermana Orellana. She is from Honduras. I am really excited to be her companion.

Thursday we had a district meeting and we got invited over to meet one of the families in the branch in the night time.

Friday we had weekly planning in the morning and then we had a member that went with us in the evening. We got to know some members and more of our area.

Saturday, a member went with us in the night time to show us the island of Flores(you should look it up on google)-. It is beautiful.

Sunday was good. We got to hear the testimonies of the members and even had an investigator in church.

Day 378 (Week 53) - A Crazy Week

Well, this week was about as crazy as it gets.

 

To tell you the whole story, we need to back track to Saturday. Saturday night we were visiting a less active member. We have been helping her family a lot and we have seen a  ton of progress. Well during our visit, she started talking to her niece in front of us and told us that we would be witnesses of this conversation. Her tone changed really fast and she started to yell. After a while I began to feel very uncomfortable and felt like we needed to leave. I stood up and made a comment about the contention I was feeling and was very direct and clear about how I felt. She was quite offended by my boldness and told me that my companions are welcome in her house, but that I may never step foot in her house again, so we left.

 

I was really frustrated and basically cried like a baby for a half hour or more. When we got home I immediately wrote an apology letter and hoped that I could talk to her on Sunday. Sunday, she wasn't at church and we passed by her house and no one answered. Monday in the morning we stopped by her house and she very calmly told my companions that I am still not welcome there. Later that day a member called us. This member is named Regina and she is my favorite member in this ward. Well she is friends with this offended member and the offended called her and told her that I was yelling at her and Regina told us that she wanted the whole story. We went to her house for a Family-home-cookie-baking-and story-confessing-night. I told her the story and she didn't think I was in the wrong. The next day, the offended member told us that she wanted to talk to us. In the morning I woke up with an insane pain in my lower right tummy (I don't know how to be technical) and my companions were really scared that I had appendicitis, so they made me call the nurse. The nurse told me to go immediately to the clinic and get a white blood cell count. We left right away. The old lady was taking my blood and I looked at the blood and started to feel a little light headed. I told her "I don't like to see blood, it makes me......" Next thing I knew my companions were surrounding me telling me to speak Spanish and explain to smell a weird cotton ball that smelled like alcohol.  Yep, you guessed it, I passed out for my first time. I guess, because I am so skinny and didn't eat a ton in the morning, my body reacted really fast. It scared the crap out of my companions. But good thing is that I don't a have appendicitis. I did however have two types of parasites and already took my treatment and should be Bug free (Yippee!!!) But I will talk about this later.

 

After the fiesta at the clinic, I went home and napped a little bit. That night I went to the offended members house and she told me that she had a dream with me in it and realized that I am not a bad person and that she needed to ask forgiveness. She said she already read my apology note and that I was already forgiven. We are friends again. Wednesday we had interviews with president and I had a really long interview, because I told him about the problem with the member and asked for advice. Thursday I went in for my parasite test. and they told me what I had . The nurse wanted me to take 2 more tests. Thursday I took another test. Friday I took the last one. We went out to work and I started to throw up and feel really achy all over my body. So I went home. Hermana Hernandez stayed with me while Hermana Naeata went with a member. Saturday I still felt awful, but I took my parasite medicine. My companions made me stay home with a member all day. I basically slept all day. Then in the night time our district leader called us telling us about changes, that Hermana Naeata would be leaving I would stay with Hermana Hernandez. I was okay with that because I am starting to get along well with my companions. Sunday, I was feeling a 110% better and went to church and worked. In the night we came home and Hermana Naeata started to pack. We still didn't know who her companion would be. In the night time our district leader called us again and told us that there was a mistake, that yes, Hermana Naeata was leaving but I would be leaving too. I am going to Peten again, but this time I am going to train. I am going to an area called Flores, it is super duper close to Santa Elena and really, really hot there. I am excited and will find out who my companion is tomorrow. 

 

Sidenote: Hermana Faught goes home this week. I am happy for her, but am sad to see her leave.