I fell down some stairs Thursday
morning and injured my back. They were wooden, outdoor stairs at the
Rockhill Sisters' home. (Picture is attached.) Sister Olsen was at the
top, and she said I didn't really fall or slide...My feet just came out
from underneath me and I landed on my back. I hit three steps. One was
my lower back, just to the left of my spine. I had an abrasion and small
lump that's mostly gone now. That's where most of my pain has been. The
next step hit my right shoulder blade, and it's only sore when I
stretch too much. I bumped the back of my head, right where my neck and
head meet, on the third step. My neck has been very stiff the past few
days.
It didn't hurt immediately, and I feel like I was especially protected because of my temple covenants/garments. On Friday,
I was in a lot of pain. It hurts to stand for too long, and it hurts to
sit unless my back is properly supported. The only comfortable chairs
are the church pews and the passenger seat in our Toyota. I got a
blessing from the Accokeek Elders on Saturday
and I talked with the mission nurse. I'm supposed to ice my back three
or four times a day and take a lot of advil (anti-inflammatory). It's
not as painful now, just sore and uncomfortable. Especially in my hips
and lower back. I am still able to perform all of the work normally,
except I just go to bed earlier and I ice my back instead of exercising
in the mornings. And it's a little more difficult to sleep at night.
Sister Olsen said she wants me to see a chiropractor this week. I tested
positive for scoliosis in 8th grade, so I'll probably give in and go;)
I can just imagine what Grandma Crandall would be
telling me if she were here right now. Don't worry, Grandma, I remember
how to eat an elephant. And I'm sorry for taking hot showers at night.
And I only went running once since the accident. I'm sorry to hear that
Grandpa Crandall also took a fall this past week! He's actually been on
my mind a lot. When I received my blessing, the Elder said that my
family is mindful of me and that I am in your prayers. I want you to
know that you're in my prayers too!! I wrote letters this past week that
I am mailing to Nephi and Santa Maria today!
*Also, read Psalms 145:14.
Here's an interesting service that Sister Olsen and I were able to do:
We
had a potential investigator named Veinza. We offered to do service,
but she said it was a bad time. She was walking slowly, and looked like
she had a back injury. When we went back, her sister had just arrived
with groceries. We helped the sister carry in the groceries, and she
explained that Veinza had been in a car accident. We came back a third
time, and Veinza was just leaving. She invited us in and took us to the
cutest little pink princess room in the world. She asked us to bag all
of the clothes in the closet after separating it into winter and summer
clothes piles. Veinza said she had been trying to do it earlier in the
day, but that it was too emotionally difficult. She said that we can
help her move out the furniture and paint the walls in the future. She
then left to run other errands. Her daughter probably died in the car
accident. The Spirit was so strong in that room. It took everything in
me to keep from crying as we packed away little dresses and shirts and
skirts. The girl was probably 10 or 11. Veinza invited us to come back,
and we're hoping to see her later this week!
On Friday,
we did a "blitz" in the Rockhill ward, where our district meets
together to tract one area. Sister Olsen and I came to a door where the
screen was shut, but the door was open to the inside. The walls were
covered with hunting knives and guns as decorations. There were three
bearded men in the room. I felt like Rapunzel when she enters the
Snuggly Duckling bar with all of the ruffians in Tangled. We knocked on
the door and one answered. We introduced ourselves as representatives of
Jesus Christ and he immediately said, "Sorry, we're devout atheists."
Sister Olsen and I didn't really know how to respond, so we told them
goodnight. Then we laughed really hard all the way down the driveway.
A few doors later, we were stopped in the middle of
the street to check our voicemail. It was really dark outside and the
street wasn't well lit. I looked behind us and saw three men in the dark
coming towards us...it was the devout atheists!!! Needless to say, we
got to our car as soon as possible! On that tracting trip I also got my
first real door slam. I've had people say or do rude things, but this
one woman yelled and slammed the door. There's a first time for
everything, right?;)
*Here's an update on our investigators:
Alex
canceled his baptism. He's still struggling to accept a modern day
Prophet and that this is the only true church on the earth. He came to
church on Sunday
and he's been listening to a lot of conference talks. Tonya has stopped
progressing. She's back together with her boyfriend. Dean hasn't kept
two appointments now, and we think he purposefully planned them when he
knew he wouldn't be home. Latrice texted us and said to not come back.
Sister Olsen said I'm not allowed to pray for
humility anymore, because things like this happen;) I'm doing the best
that I can, but people still have their agency. People that I love love
love. Isaish 61 talks about the Savior and the work that he does, but I
think it also applies to missionary work! I'm really happy because I
know that I'm obedient and faithful and that I have my family supporting
my 100%. Except Lindsay is supporting me 200%... :)
Speaking of which, congratulations to my sister
Lindsay on her pregnancy:) I am happy beyond words. I found out from
Darci's email about an hour ago, and the people in the library think I'm
insane. I am so excited to be an auntie:) I have been praying earnestly
for this to happen. Robert and Lindsay will make excellent parents!! I
love you both SO MUCH. I look forward to receiving the letter that I was
supposed to get;)
For Thanksgiving I'm eating dinner with a member
family, and then helping another family decorate for Christmas. It's an
exciting time to be a missionary!:)
I love you. Have a happy week:) Sister Crandall
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