WELCOME HOME ELDER LAWRENCE!!!!

Email from Pres. Jordan

We got word last night that Elder Lawrence was back in the hospital.  This is the email we received from his mission President today...

Elder Lawrence is much improved this morning. He had a hard time getting to sleep, but when he finally got a good rest, he was much better.

I thought he might have needed something last night to help him sleep. Neither the hospital nor the Church Area medical doctor wants to give him any more medication because of the toxicity problem he experienced last week, and he has done ok without it. He is still a little confused from some of the apparent effects of the drug reaction (some irrational thoughts), but he is working his way through it. 

Blood analysis and EKG were normal last night. I am sending all medical information that I have and can transfer by email shortly. He will be carrying xray, sonogram, and fluorsopy studies.

Just had a long conversation with him and explained Church policy that when a missionary is going to be out of commission or on limited duty for more than two weeks, he is sent home to recuperate. In cases where the missionary has more than 6 months left on his mission, he can come back after he recuperates. In Elder Lawrence' case, he is two months from wrapping up, so he will not return to the mission. Naturally, he is very disappointed. He has worked very hard as a missionary and was looking forward to working one more transfer. He has served his mission fully and should be accorded the reception, honor and appreciation as any other missionary who returns honorably.

Thank you for your support. We will continue to update you as much as we can, and then follow up when he is home.

Ralph B. Jordan

Presidente
Misión México Tampico

June 4, 2014

     I just want to let you all know what is going on with Elder Lawrence this week.  I got a phone call yesterday from Sis. Jordan (The Mission President’s wife), she let me know that Bryson was admitted to the hospital in Tampico on Saturday May 31^st.  Bryson had been feeling very sick and couldn’t eat or drink anything without throwing up.  He became extremely dehydrated.  In the hospital he received medication to kill all the parasites in his body and IV fluids to get him rehydrated. He stayed in the hospital for 3 days and was released on Tues. June 3^rd.  I was able to talk to Bryson yesterday and he sounded really good.  He said he was feeling so much better and was ready to leave the hospital and get back to work.  He was so grateful to his good Mission President and his wife who spent a lot of time with him in the hospital.  His companion had been there with him the entire time also and many people from the ward came to visit him.

     Please keep Bryson in your prayers that he will be able to stay healthy and continue to be free of those nasty parasites.  

May 26, 2014

Hi family...

     Wow sounds like you guys had such a super busy week. Dang it’s crazy how the time flies. I don’t know why I feel so many emotions…It’s weird. But with all these emotions that I feel….they are good, but it makes it hard for me to eat. I try to eat the food but it’s like my stomach won’t let me eat... at times I throw up after eating. What do you recommend that I do? Don’t worry or anything, it’s nothing serious…because I can eat in the house with no problems at all.

     That’s awesome about your new calling mom.  I am super pumped for you. Just like you, I also received a new calling. I will be the new District Leader. They shut down Miramar 2. It now is just Miramar 1. I had to change my apartment and everything. So now I am in Miramar 1.  The area is super big…it’s so so big!!!  My new companion has like 5 months in the mission. His name is Elder Ortega. So we are pretty much opening this area up…because I don’t know much of this side of Miramar where I am at.  I know I cannot do this without the help of the Lord. I am going to rely on him every step of the way to guide me to success here. We have like 14 baptism dates right now, and really like 10 of them I know will get baptized. I am super excited for this new adventure…it will be crazy! But I also know the Lord wouldn’t give me any job that I can’t handle. I am super excited to work here and to see the progress here.  I am a little nervous and stressed also…but I get that from you mom;) haha jk.  With prayer and faith I know we can do anything.

    Thanks dad for the advice. I will definitely put goals for the future. I have so much going on in my head, it’s super awesome. There is going to be so much work here. I know that this time is just going to fly by so fast and I can’t believe it.

      I’m excited for you guy’s, sounds like you have a lot of fun stuff planned for this summer. I just want to finish the mission giving it my all…to the best of my ability and that is what I am going to try to do. I know I will be able to learn the area with my companion and that we will be able to have the spirit to teach the truth to all that is willing to hear it. This church is true.  CTR all day everyday. I love you guys so much! Have a great week!!!

    Elder Lawrence

May 19, 2014 (3 months to go!!!)

Hello family...

      I hope everything is going really good for you all. For us here in Miramar it is going pretty good. We are trying to have more lessons with members so that is our goal that we are working on this week. This last week we had 4 investigators go to church. They don’t have baptism dates right now…but they will have baptism dates soon. We love seeing the progress and the hand of the Lord here in this area. He has really helped us every step of the way. We are looking forward to this last semana, we want to finish this last week working super hard. We would really like to find more investigators that are willing to open their hearts. We are thankful for the investigators that we are teaching and their progress. We love seeing the progress here in Miramar. The spirit is good.

     That’s so awesome that Blake graduated from seminary. He is a stud. Ethan looked so good in his photo when he was rocking out on the piano. He will get all the ladies.  Good for him haha.

      Time is really flyin by fast.  Especially now that we have investigators progressing. This next change we are hoping to have 4 baptisms. I’m pumped. I hope your week is awesome! I love you all so much. The work of the Lord is great.  Love you all, bye adios.

Elder Lawrence

May 12, 2014

Hola familia…

     How is everyone doing? I hope super duper great!!!!  This week was pretty good. It seemed to go by super fast. We had some activities in the church. We had a night of talents and there were a lot of new investigators there. It was great to see and feel the spirit of everyone there. This last week our investigators that were progressing didn’t go to church, so that was sad. Elder Antuna and I are trying to find new investigators that will have the chance to progress in the gospel and this last week one came to church. She was invited by another member who is her friend. So we are going to start teaching her. I am pretty excited about that. The work is going good.

      It was super great to talk with the family this week. I loved every minute of it. I was so glad to see that everyone is happy that is what is way important. It is like a dream when I talk to you guys and then we stop skyping and the dream ends. Haha that is kinda sad…but it’s all good because 3 short months and I’ll be home.  I can’t believe that!!! I’m still super pumped about the work that I have here for the Lord and I’m not going to lose my focus.

     Yes, I know Elder Guzman! He was in Victoria when I was there. But he was in the other zone. That’s cool that Jeremy knows him in Peru haha.

      This week we are going to have interviews with the President so that should be good.  So do you know what airport I will be flying into?  Who is the Stake President? Well it was super good to talk to you this last week. Love you all so much. The church is true! 

Bye,

Elder Lawrence

May 5, 2014

HOLA FAMILIA...

      This week was good…well every week is good when you have a good attitude. I have a strong testimony about attitudes. I know that as missionaries if we have a good attitude, success will come and the spirit will always be present. If we don’t have a good attitude then we won’t have the spirit or the love or energy it takes to be a missionary.

     Elder Antuna is a great missionary.  I like working with him we get along super good. This week we had 16 less actives that went to church... so that number is good. But what we are kinda having a hard time with right now is investigators. We have two investigators that have been progressing, Rosy and Gorge. This last week they did not attend church. So that was pretty sad for Elder Antuna and me but this family is really special and you can tell that the Lord has prepared the corazon to this family. I wish they would have tried harder to go to church...but everyone has their chance to choose right. Their faith in Jesus has really grown since we taught them.

    The other day we contacted a man named Eduardo. He is awesome and I know that he will definitely do what it takes to get closer to God and perserverar hasta el fin. He was so prepared for us. He practically contacted us.

     I’m glad to be a missionary in this time…the work is great. We can definitely see the progress here in Miramar. I feel like the people are always so receptive to us haha but I don’t know if it’s just because I look at everything as good. There is no bad and if there is I usually don’t see it, Everything we do happens for a reason and is part of the plan of God. I have had so many awesome experiences and have grown so much. Spiritually like physically also. Actually I think I’m a little taller but I don’t know. I’m also a little skinnier haha I think. I’m so thankful that I have the best family ever!  I love all of you so much. I’m thankful for the example of every one of you.

     I am super excited to talk to you all this week in skype. So I will talk to you guys at 12 in the 10 de may. Can you believe I will be talking to you guys this week? Wow so crazy!! I hope I can find a computer that is really fast so I can hear every word of you guys haha. I have faith that I can.

     Blake’s suit is super chill, I like it a lot.  So I will be living in the King Henry halls then? Sounds tight!!! Well, I love you all so much. I hope you have a great week. Remember to read the scriptures, say your prayers and go to church. hehe. loves yall.

CTR

Elder Lawrence

Elder Lawrence and his companion Elder Antuna