Transition to the next segment

Transition

By Greg W. Haws

September 6, 2013
 

This just in:

After nearly four months of medical leave, we have received a new assignment.  We have been asked to go to the Missouri Independence Mission.  We will be MLS (member/leadership/support) missionaries.  We will be working with a YSA ward that is from two stakes.  One of them is the Liberty Stake.  In our area will be several historical sites such as the Liberty Jail, Adam-ondi-ahman, the Farr West Temple Site, Haun's Mill, and the new Kanas City Temple.  We leave in two weeks.  We will drive our own car.  We are assuming we will serve out the rest of our mission which is one more year.

 

            A few years ago, Debi and I trained for and participated in several “Sprint Triathlons” together, and I did a couple on my own.  These events required us to swim 10 to 12 laps in the pool, bike 12 miles and run 3 miles.  These were a challenge for us; especially for me.

            The first one we did was in St. George.  I thought it was pretty cool that they wrote our numbers on the back of our calves and also on our shoulders.  We took a picture of us, “branded” and ready to go.  We were joined in this effort by our daughter, Sunee, and her husband Kyle.

            The officials attached a bracelet to our ankles that contained a special timing chip.  The purpose of the chip was to mark the time that we crossed the line to begin and then again as we advanced from one segment to the next.  At each station we passed through portals which recorded our time and progress.  At the end of the event, we received our total time: the time for each segment, and something we had not focused on before, our transition time, that is, the time it took to transition from one segment to the next.  We were a little shocked when we realized how much time we had used up drying off after swimming, putting on shoes and changing clothes, not to mention physically getting from one segment location to the next.

            As we prepared for our second triathlon, we also prepared to manage our transition time better.  We positioned our bikes, we had a five gallon bucket to hold our stuff—and it also served as a seat—and we determined the optimal clothes needed for each event.  We got our helmets, sunglasses and shoes ready so that we could transition.  We learned that many events are won or lost in the transition.  In swimming, they say it is often how a person executes his or her starts, turns and finishes that determine the winner.  So it is with other things in our lives.

            On September 3, 2012 Debi and I entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo prior to our leaving for our mission to the Africa West Area.  Little did we know that our mission experience would also have segments?

            After 9 very rewarding months in Africa, on May 27, 2013, I became ill.  On June 13, 2013 we flew from Accra, Ghana to New York City, and then home to Hooper (actually the plane landed in Salt Lake City and my brother, Wayne, picked us up and drove us to Hooper, Utah). I eventually underwent surgery and then began what has seemed like a long period of recovery.  I am now healthy and we are waiting to return to full-time missionary service, the next segment of our event.  So, as it has turned out, the last three months have actually been transition time.

            Like our first triathlon, we clearly did not realize how much the transition would play in the total event, something that we were not adequately prepared to manage.  Many things have occurred during this last three months, some of them joyful, and some not so much.  Perhaps if this happened again, we would be better prepared to manage this time.

            In the triathlon, as one segment is finished, you move to the next.  If you do not like your time in the first segment, say the swimming, you cannot go back and do it again.  You live with the time and move on.  As we look back on our “time” for our first segment, we realize that we could have done better, but still, we are pleased with the results.  We were able to assist Brother William Sowah in moving the Area Audit function to a higher level.  We had some great missionary experiences, and were able to help establish an open house program at the Accra Ghana Temple.  We found time to assist in other areas, and we made lasting friendships with other missionary couples, members of the Church, and dedicated Church leaders.  As I said, we are pleased with our time in the first segment.

            We did find that coming home from a mission in the middle is very hard.  At first we thought that perhaps this should be an option for all senior missionaries.  We wondered if it would hurt if couples were all given an option to take a vacation and go home for a few weeks and visit their families.  Perhaps more would serve if the separation did not seem so long.  But coming home sick is an entirely different story.

            When we arrived home, I was very sick, but Debi was not.  Our grandchildren and children were not sick either, and they all wanted to see us—especially their grandmother and mother.  My grandchildren had all been praying for my health.  They all fasted the first Sunday in June, and friends and other missionaries placed my name in many temples across the world.  When I came home, some of my younger grandchildren interpreted our return as an answer to their prayers. After all, Grandma and Grandpa had come home!  But still, I was sick.

            The challenge was that our home was being occupied by our daughter, Judi, and her husband, Mike, and their three little boys, William, Thomas and Nathan.  We determined to try not to disrupt them any more than absolutely necessary, so we moved into the guest room and tried to take up as little space as possible.  Judi and Mike have been so gracious and kind, but still they did not plan on us coming home for three months in the middle of our mission.

            Our dear Stake President, President Matt Malone, thinking we would be a valuable resource in recruiting other couples to serve missions, asked us to speak in all 13 wards in our stake while we were home. We have one more ward to visit, but several Sundays we have spoken in three wards in one day!  This was while I was trying to recover from surgery.  We understand that our efforts may have paid off as several couples in our stake have begun the process to enter full-time missionary service.  An unexpected result of this “stake tour” has been that we have developed a renewed love and connection to our friends and neighbors in our stake.  We realize that Hooper is truly our hometown.  After all, I wrote the book on Hooper!

            All of our children do not live near us, so we have taken two extended trips to visit two families in St. George and two others in Ohio and West Virginia.  I asked the doctor what I was supposed to do while I was recovering after he told me not to do anything strenuous, his reply was what I supposed is standard for terminally ill patients: Take a vacation. So we did.  But we had to fit them in around our speaking assignments.

            I have done a couple of “projects” while in this transition period, however.  On two occasions I visited the Church History Library in Salt Lake and donated original historical material to their collection.  Among other things I gave them some of my father’s journals and records from his mission to Canada before World War II and his service in the Pacific during the War.  They were very happy to receive this valuable information.  I also donated the missionary journal of my grandfather, James G. Widdison Jr., which he recorded during his mission to the Northwestern States (Washington, Oregon, etc.) in 1902 and 1903.

            Debi’s first priority was to take care of me and help me heal.  I am so grateful for her service.  Besides this, she was not sure what she was supposed to do so she just reverted back to her former roles, almost the first day after we returned.  Even though Mike and Judi have done a remarkable job maintaining our home and yard, still Debi has helped cleaned the house, pulled weeds in the yard and garden, and helped prepare the food.  She has done her very best to cover for the fact that she is also in a transition period.  Unlike me, she has done strenuous work and has been busy helping her children and grandchildren but this period has been very hard for her as well.

            When I have been able, we have attended the Temple.  We had grown accustomed to going to the temple at least one time each week while we were in Africa.  Our temple, the Ogden Temple, is undergoing signification modifications and is therefore closed, so we have had to visit other temples.  With my health challenge, sitting through an entire temple session without a break has been very difficult.

            When we left, we moth-balled our three cars and reduced the insurance to minimal coverage.  So when we got home, we had to activate them, which meant among other things, getting them serviced and registered.  Two of our car’s batteries failed over the cold winter and had to be replaced.  When I took our Mustang in for inspection, I was told that the battery failure had wiped out the history on the car’s computer, so we would need to drive it for 100 to 200 miles before it could tell whether it was polluting the air or not.  The shop manager kindly offered to have one of the mechanics drive it and put on those miles, but I thanked him and declined the offer.  I barely let them pull it into the stall at the shop. So Debi and I determined instead to take a short road trip, maybe even stay overnight somewhere.  We drove up to Logan, attended the temple, and then found that all hotels were full due to a festival in town.  We then put the top down and ventured up the canyon and found the Bear Lake Valley full in preparation for an open-water triathlon that was happening the next day.  So we completed our journey by going through Woodruff and Randolph and over Monte Cristo and back down to our home in Hooper.  We put on the necessary 200 miles in our unlicensed (but insured) Metallic Red 2005 Mustang Convertible without being arrested.

            We have spent a great deal of our transition time discussing our future.  We are facing questions that we were not planning to have to deal with for another year, as we originally were planning to return in August of 2014.  We have several issues.  What should we do for health insurance?  Our missionary insurance expires three months after our release, and as we were released when we got home, after September 30, 2013 we will have no health insurance, unless we return.  We have spent a lot of time talking about our financial situation.  We have discussed options for future employment, or full retirement. I have checked out several job options. What to do about Social Security (I just turned 61 so I am one year away from taking early benefits).  Our home and yard is so big.  We even have considered building a smaller home.  But if we did build a new home, then what should we do with our current home and yard.  This has occupied much of our attention.  As I have had more time than I had uses for that time, all of these uncertainties have grown way out of proportion. I admit that I have been overwhelmed and confused.  I should not have had to even consider these issues at this point.

 

            We have tried to stay focused on returning to full-time missionary service, but even that has been a question.  Should we call it good for now and prepare to serve again sometime in the future?

            Last Monday, while we were in Ohio, we received word that a good friend of ours from our ward took his own life.  Devin was a great man, and perhaps the type of person that would seem to be the last one to take such a dramatic life altering action.  His death has had a terrifying impact on his family, our ward, our town, and us.  We attended his funeral Saturday, and he was the subject of much of our ward meetings on Sunday.  Most people stated that they could not understand how he could come to that point in his life.   The disturbing thing for me is that I do understand his feelings.  I have had a small glimpse into the dark side of life, and how a person’s mind can be impacted by events that seem to be beyond control.  Fortunately for me, I have not gone any further down that road.  But he did, and it has been a tragedy. 

            One night, in frustration, I told Debi that I felt like I was a ship on the open sea without sails or a rudder, and being carried by the currents, not knowing where I was or even where I was supposed to be going.        Debi agreed that she too had similar feelings.  We wondered several times if returning to full-time missionary service was even what we were supposed to do? Did we do what we were called to do? Also, did anyone really even care what we did next?  Except for President Malone, we have had no contact with the Church; no calls to see how we are doing, or even if I survived the surgery and treatment. We received no encouragement, no counsel, and no instruction.  But we are big people and there are others who need the attention of the institutional Church more than us.  But, a call would have been nice.

            Last Thursday, August 29, 2013, I received a clean bill of health from Dr. Tyler Christensen, my Urologist, and President Malone has been in contact with the Missionary Department, so we are hoping for a reassignment this coming week.  Then our transition period will end and we can begin the next segment. In a triathlon, we would know that after swimming we would get on our bikes and ride.  But as far as our mission event is concerned, we do not know what we will do next.  We will not repeat the first segment however; we do not anticipate an auditing assignment.

            All in all, if we serve a full 24 month period, and 3 of those months have been transition time, then we are looking at 1/8^th or 12.5% of our mission as transition.  This is significant!  How will this time stack up when the entire event is finally judged? 

            In my talk, that I have given 12 times, I have said that “we are all enlisted until the conflict is over, and the conflict is definitely not over!” 

So we are anxious to get back in the race. Together we are singing:

 

            There’s surely somewhere a lovely place

In earth’s harvest fields so wide,

Where I may labor through life’s short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

 

So trusting my all to thy tender care;

And knowing thou lovest me,

I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere,

I’ll be what you want me to be.

I’ll say what you want me to say.

            I’ll go where you want me to go!

           

 

Update on Greg and Debi Haws

By Greg:

I am sure that a few people are wondering what has happened to Elder and Sister Haws since they left Africa.  Well, here is what is happening to us and what the future may hold.

We left Africa on June 13, 2013, after I had been sick since May 27th.  When I returned I was wearing a catheter as well as having much discomfort.  We went to see the doctor here in Utah on June 14th and he scheduled me for surgery on June 27th (he wanted a couple of weeks be sure the medications were proper).  Our Stake President visited us the Sunday after we arrived home and officially released us from full-time missionary service.

I had surgery on the 27th and it was pretty rough.  I left the hospital with a catheter still attached.  A week later we visited the doctor and he removed it and I was now independent in many ways.

It has nearly been 4 weeks since my surgery (and 8 weeks since I got sick) and I have pretty much been doing nothing during that time.  I feel weak and I do not have a lot of energy, but I am not sick.

When we visited the doctor last week he wrote a letter to the Church saying that he felt like we would be ready to return to full-time missionary service after the 15th of August.  Our Stake President sent that letter on to the Missionary Department.  We were hoping to get a new assignment that we could begin on August 16th.  However, the Missionary Department doctors want to wait until after the 15th of August until our doctor gives us a complete clearance.  So we will see our doctor again on the 15th of August and hopefully get another letter and a new assignment.  We really would like to get on with our mission.

We have been living in our home (in the guest room) with our daughter and her family.  They have been such gracious hosts and are taking such good care of our home, and now us.  But we know this is not where we belong.  We are missionaries (even though we cannot officially wear our name tags) and we want to finish what we started.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been praying for us.  My name has been on the pray rolls of temples all around the world.  Family members and friends have fasted and prayed for me, and this is truly a humbling experience.  The saints in Africa have also been concerned.

This life has no guarantees.  We are only promised experiences.  It is how we respond to these experiences that determines who we are and what we will become.

Thank you again and we will let you know "the rest of the story" when it is written.

I hope they call me on a mission--again

By Greg:

 

Today is a very important day for me.  This afternoon I will undergo the surgery that I have been preparing for since we returned home.  The doctors have found stones in my bladder as well as an acute enlarged prostrate.  They are confident that this surgery will help me heal and return me to full health.

 

So we are declaring that today ends our first mission (even though we were officially released on June 16^th) and begins the preparation for our second one.  We really hope they will call us, again.

 

One year ago today we were in full gear preparing to go to Africa.  We received our call on April 17, 2012.  We had a long list of things to accomplish, but we took a week and had a wonderful family reunion in Park City with our entire family.  It was one of the most glorious weeks of our lives!

 

Below the surface, however, there were five major issues that were still unresolved.  While these all related to our businesses, they were nonetheless major obstacles that needed to be removed before we could go to Africa and “put our hand to the plow” and not look back. 

 

As I have been reviewing my journal, I am reminded that the Lord is mindful of us, and that His hand is active in all things.  I am amazed that we found a solution to all of those items during the month of July, 2012 (even though it took several months into our mission to complete all the necessary transactions to eliminate these burdens).

 

So here I stand, again, at the beginning of July. One year later. Right now I really have only one obstacle to overcome.  It has seemed like it was as big a burden to carry as all of the others combined. This past month has been so long and hard, and at times I have wondered if I could endure it any longer, but I have felt so much support and love.  So many people have prayed for me (and continue even today—thank you) and my name has been placed in so many temples that we have lost count, and I am trying to focus on only one thing—that is, if God could solve those temporal problems that were deterring us from serving him full time; with all our hearts, MINDS, might and strength; then He can solve this physical problem and I will be able to return to his service.

 

Being a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been the greatest honor of my life.  I love sharing the Gospel.  Technically, I have had two missions (if you don’t count the Stake Mission when I was a Stake Seventy) and Debi has been with me on both.  Of course she had to stay at home while I was in Alabama-Florida, but she was with me nonetheless.  We were together in Africa, and we will be together wherever they determine to send us now.  She is the greatest companion and has been my primary caregiver and nurse.

 

I have full confidence that today will turn out positive and so officially I declare that today begins our preparation time for our next mission.  Our list is not as long as it was a year ago.  We have all the stuff, much of which is still sitting in our suitcases.  But there will be a few things to do but most important will be returning to health, gaining strength and maintaining the Spirit, so that wherever we serve we can do God’s will.

 

We miss our friends and fellow missionaries in Africa.  We talk about the people we met constantly, and we pray that the work of the Lord will continue to roll forth in that choice part of the Lord’s vineyard.

 

Again, thanks for your love, support and prayers!

 

By Debi:

 

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives!  We have been limping along waiting for the healing process to begin and I have full faith that today Greg will start that long but hopeful journey.

 

We have always heard the saying “without your health you have nothing”.  I have never totally been a believer of that saying but I have to say that without your health the quality of life and the ability to enjoy the world around you becomes very difficult.

 

Greg has been a real trooper.  He is so brave each day and tries so hard to be a good patient.  He has even done some family history projects and just yesterday we drove to Salt Lake and presented his father’s journals and pictures to the Church’s history department.  This was a great moment for Greg.  He worked so hard to put all of the material together and put his father’s letters into a book before we left on our mission. I am so thankful that he felt good enough to finish this great effort.

 

Even though Greg hasn’t felt well we have enjoyed being in our home and seeing our family and friends.  We have reported to the High Council and several of the wards in our stake have asked us to speak in their Sacrament Meeting after Greg is feeling better.

 

We have thought much about why we had this happen at this time.  We really loved the work in Africa and we were willing to give it our all for the next 14 months.  But, we are willing to do whatever we are called to do to build the kingdom of God here on earth and fulfill our mission where ever the Lord directs.

 

So once again, we both hope they call us on a mission.  We are ready for the next adventure.

 

Our testimonies are strong, our faith is strong, and our hope is strong.  Hurrah for Israel!

 

Love, Debi

Home in Hooper

By Greg:

The brethren determined that I needed to go home, and once the wheels were in motion we were on our way the next day.  What a whirlwind that was.  Even though I was really sick, we had to transition all our activities, clean out our office and apartment, pack and then the hard part, say good-bye.

It was so hard to say good-bye to all our friends.  Many of the Africans were sobbing.  "Oh mommy, or daddy, how can we live without you!" It was unexpected and we were totally unprepared for this.  Oh how we love these people.  We will miss the other missionary couples, but we will probably never see the Africans again in this life!

We had a "tender mercy" of the Lord.  I am so sick, and I was dreading the long plane ride.  As we purchased our ticket (actually the Church purchased it) we were lucky to even get a seat.  We have made this trip across the ocean three times before and were in good health and it was hard.  Well, the Lord loves us.  We received an up-grade to first-class/business-class.  The seats actually became beds.  I was able to sleep.  I wore a catheter and bag, and took medicines, but we made it.

We have met with the doctor and after he got over his "profession shock" at my condition, went forward on his treatment plan.  This included putting in a "real" catheter and replacing all the medications with American Meds.  He has scheduled me for surgery in two weeks.  He needs to be certain that the infection is in check first.

So, at this point, I am on the "injured reserve" roster and will be so for the next 8-10 weeks.  We do not know what will happen then, but surely there as place in this world (and specifically in the US) where we can labor and complete our mission.

The Area Medical Advisor, Elder Elmer, shared with Sister Haws this scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants, but it can apply to us, at least he applied it, and I would like to share it:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and with all they have to perform that work, and cease not their diligence and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hand of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings.  Doctrine and Covenants 124:49.

Well, my enemies are not Missouri mobs, but a sickness, that for me has proved as dangerous to my health, safety and security as a mob. 

We have faith in the Lord.  We trust him. 

We appreciate all of the love and support we have felt, especially all of the prayers.  We are convinced that this problem could not be resolved in Africa, but we are confident that it will be resolved here at home.

Love to all--Elder Greg W. Haws

PS  We hope to continue this blog--perhaps in another time and place--we will notify all of our progress.

With heavy hearts

By Greg:

It is with heavy hearts that we say good-bye to Africa.  We are leaving tonight at 10:10 pm to return to the US for medical treatment.

Sunday I had a reversal as the catheter also became blocked.  I was back in the same situation that I was originally.  Very painful and unable to "vacate" my bladder.

We went to the clinic on Monday, but the Professor said he only likes to remove catheters first thing in the morning.  So we had to return first thing Tuesday.  I had been able to have some relief by attaching a bag and sitting and slowly it drained.

On Tuesday, they removed my catheter and I was able to urinate on my on, barely.  They sent me home and told me to come back if there was a problem.  In two hours there was a problem.  I complete shut down again.

They inserted a new catheter and told me to come back in a week and see the Professor.

We met with the Area President, Elder Dickson, and he so kindly, but firmly, counseled us to return to the US and get on top of this before it becomes worse.

So the wheels of the Church can really turn quickly when the health and safety of a missionary is concerned.  They even offered to have the Area Medical Advisor accompany me.  That is not necessary.

We will be home Friday morning, and hopefully we can get into see Doctors right away.  It will be a long flight, and I am not looking forward to it, but we will do what we can.

What a difference a week can make!

By Greg:

I realize that I was pretty graphic last week as I described my illness.  Well, it is Saturday morning and I have had three or four good nights and I have been able to go back to work, at least part of the day.

We have a big training meeting with all of the Assistant Area Auditors from across the Area this coming week, so we have had to get ready for this. Debi had done most of the leg work, but there were things that I had to do.

 



Debi looks so radiant in her new dresses

 









Before I got sick, Debi had two new dresses made.  I should have posted her pictures last week to balance out the "sickness" message.  Anyway, here they are.  The African styles are so lovely, and the patterns so colorful, and Debi reports the dresses are very comfortable.

 

 



Debi bought the cloth, then had Fastima make the dress

We have been without air-conditioning again these last couple of days.  Some engineers from Salt Lake are here to "solve" the problem.  We thought when they installed the new A/C system that the problem was solved, but apparently not.

 

Well, because we have been pretty home bound, we do not have many pictures this week.  We will try to do better in the future. 

 

By Debi:

 

We have had a couple of rough weeks.  I have let Greg do the writing because I really didn't want to tell his own story.

 

Of course, I have been very concerned about Greg and his condition.  I have put all of my mothering and nursing skills in high gear and tried to follow all of the Doctor's orders to the "T".  I am pleased to say that Greg is getting stronger each day. 

 

I have gotten a better appreciation for young Elders who get sick on their missions.  Even though I am here with Greg and taking care of everything it is still hard not to feel homesick and wanting to be in familiar surroundings while Greg has been sick.



 



I am so thankful for everyone's faith and prayers in Greg's behalf.   

 

This week will bring some new news I am sure.  We have our semi-annual training for our Assistant Area Auditors. They will fly in from 6 other countries and speak several languages. We are prepared for a wonderful conference.  We are so excited to see these wonderful brethren in the gospel that we have grown to love and have great respect.

 

We still need your support and prayers. 

 

Thank you with our deepest gratitude.

 

Love,

Debi 

Darkenss and despair

Today is Monday, June 3, 2013 (our 9 month anniversary as missionaries)

 

I realize that there are many of my family (actually all of my family) and friends that have been on their knees pleading to the Lord for me.  This is a most humbling prospect.  Most are wondering, or will wake up later and wonder, “How is Greg doing?”

 

It is just after 5:00 am here after another long night.  I do not know why the nights are so hard, but it seems with so many challenges in life, the night is associated.

 

I am thinking of that long night that our Savior was tortured and suffered in the hands of cruel oppressors.  Then there followed the three nights of darkness and despair, after his death.

 

But then comes the morning.  As the first rays of light break forth, there seems to be more than just a sunrise, it brings hope and renewed courage.  Oh the joy, when in the morning, Mary and the others were able to declare, “He is risen!”

 

A favorite poem of mine, by William Ernest Henley, was used recently in the movie that was given the same name: Invictus.

 

Out of the night that covers me,

  Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever Gods may be

  For my unconquerable soul.

 

In the fell clutch of circumstance

  I have not winced nor cried aloud,

Under the bludgeonings of chance

  My head is bloody, but unbowed.

 

Beyond this place of wrath and tears,

  Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

  Finds and shall find me unafraid.

 

It matters not how strait the gate,

  How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

  I am the captain of my soul.

 

For a disciple of Christ, as I am seeking to be, this poem has conflict.  It is the age-old struggle between Pride and Steadfast Endurance.  I know that I should be able to withstand the tribulations of this life with an unbowed head that may be bloodied without giving into the oppressor’s purposes, which is to cause me to become discouraged, and to give in and give up.

 

On the other hand, am I really the Captain of my Soul?  If, as John Val john sang, “I gave my soul to God long ago” then I must learn to rely on Him and His will, and set aside my own personal desires and comforts. I must rely on him, not myself and my personal abilities to withstand “the heat of the day” because, alone, we will all fail, eventually.

 

Every mother that has sat with a sick child through the night knows the joy of the morning’s first light.  Francis Scott Key was inspired by that same idea as he eyed the Stars Spangled Banner at Fort Henry, after a long night of battle.  I am feeling that right now.

 

So, Greg, how are you today?  This will be the question that I will be asked, or it will be asked through Debi.  My answer is, “Greg is fine, but his body is still sick, but it is morning, and with the new day comes new hope.” I could give more clinical descriptions, but that is not necessary.

 

Thank you for your love and concern.  I am sorry if I am digging deep into my soul and posting my feelings, but along with the one, I must share the other. Sometimes I just cannot be funny.

 

I want to truly give myself (and my soul and body) to God.  I have dedicated it full time to his service, and I have gained some insight into what he wants me to do, so for that, this sickness is a blessing.  I have also had an experience that few Senior Missionaries get to have, and, after all, one of the purposes of this life is to gain experience.

 

I will get better.  The medications are taking their effect.  The doctors are competent and concerned and Debi is ever faithful.

 

I hope to go back to work slowly this week.  We have a lot to do, but I will take it easy.  One of the great infrastructure needs of West Africa is an effective waste disposal system.  Right now, I share that need with “Mother Africa!”

 

Thank you all, again, for your faith and prayers.

 

Love, Elder Greg Haws