THAT'S WHAT COMPANION'S DO!
When new elders arrive in the mission, they are assigned a "trainer" - an experienced elder who becomes their companion for the first 12 weeks of their mission. It is a sacred trust from the Lord and the Mission President to be chosen to be a trainer of a new missionary. The trainer has a profound lasting influence on the development of and care of that missionary.
Well, two weeks ago, we received a new "generation" of missionaries. The trainers were carefully and prayerfully chosen for these new missionaries, and they went to work.
About a week into his in his mission, one new elder (19 year old Elder X from the USA) fell and hurt his ankle, necessitating a trip to the ER. While nothing was broken, the doctor's orders were to stay off his foot for a week. Elder Y. (his 19 year old trainer from Veracruz, MX) cared for Elder X. The elders can study, work on learning Spanish and rest when they are in their apartments recuperating. (FYI: Missionaries don't have electronics: TV, movies, smart phones, etc.). That makes for long, long days.
In the midst of all this, Elder X developed gastritis, which is very common among people who visit Mexico for the first time. The water and food are different here and the body reacts to that. This new elder had become dehydrated and needed medical attention - which Elder Y requested and received medical care at the ER. Let me show you what this meant for Elder Y the 3rd day into his gastritis:
4:00 AM - get up with Elder X - he is vomiting again
5:00 AM - call President Mann
5:15 AM - Mission Nurse says it is time for Elder X to be taken to the ER
5:30 AM - Give Elder X a priesthood blessing
5:40 AM - Get himself and Elder X dressed (white shirts, ties, tags) and watch for the Uber
5:50 AM - Uber driver having a hard time finding their apt. Go outside and run up and down the street looking for a "Dodge Attitude" - that's all he knows about the Uber driver.
6:00 AM - finds the Uber driver - drive to the ER
7:00 AM - 2:00PM arrive at ER, translate for his companion who knows only simple Spanish words,
take care of Elder X - help him eat some chicken soup, etc., etc., support emotionally and physically (no food for Elder Y yet this day)
2:00 P- President and Sister Mann (we were an hour away with a dozen elders in another area of the mission) arrive, ready to talk to the doctor and help with Elder X's discharge.
Elder Y stayed right by the side of his trainee- translating what the doctor and nurses were saying and doing and caring for his companion. Wow! Elder X was doing better and ready to be discharged.
So there we sat with Elder Y as the the doctor gave him (and us) the detailed instructions about prescriptions and follow-up care for Elder X. After the doctor left the room, I complimented Elder Y on his vigilance and care for Elder X.
THAT'S WHAT COMPANION'S DO! Isn't that a great lesson for Elder Y to have developed at the young age of 19! The world would be a better place - truLY!
We decided to have these two stay with us in our home until Elder X was a little more stable. Elder Y continued to take very good care of Elder X. Elder X even taught Elder Y about a dishwasher and a toaster, which he had never seen before. They studied, rested, cooked, ate, cleaned the kitchen and laughed together, just like all missionary companionships do!
Missions are miraculous - in lots of ways - don't you think?
Well, two weeks ago, we received a new "generation" of missionaries. The trainers were carefully and prayerfully chosen for these new missionaries, and they went to work.
About a week into his in his mission, one new elder (19 year old Elder X from the USA) fell and hurt his ankle, necessitating a trip to the ER. While nothing was broken, the doctor's orders were to stay off his foot for a week. Elder Y. (his 19 year old trainer from Veracruz, MX) cared for Elder X. The elders can study, work on learning Spanish and rest when they are in their apartments recuperating. (FYI: Missionaries don't have electronics: TV, movies, smart phones, etc.). That makes for long, long days.
In the midst of all this, Elder X developed gastritis, which is very common among people who visit Mexico for the first time. The water and food are different here and the body reacts to that. This new elder had become dehydrated and needed medical attention - which Elder Y requested and received medical care at the ER. Let me show you what this meant for Elder Y the 3rd day into his gastritis:
4:00 AM - get up with Elder X - he is vomiting again
5:00 AM - call President Mann
5:15 AM - Mission Nurse says it is time for Elder X to be taken to the ER
5:30 AM - Give Elder X a priesthood blessing
5:40 AM - Get himself and Elder X dressed (white shirts, ties, tags) and watch for the Uber
5:50 AM - Uber driver having a hard time finding their apt. Go outside and run up and down the street looking for a "Dodge Attitude" - that's all he knows about the Uber driver.
6:00 AM - finds the Uber driver - drive to the ER
7:00 AM - 2:00PM arrive at ER, translate for his companion who knows only simple Spanish words,
take care of Elder X - help him eat some chicken soup, etc., etc., support emotionally and physically (no food for Elder Y yet this day)
2:00 P- President and Sister Mann (we were an hour away with a dozen elders in another area of the mission) arrive, ready to talk to the doctor and help with Elder X's discharge.
Elder Y stayed right by the side of his trainee- translating what the doctor and nurses were saying and doing and caring for his companion. Wow! Elder X was doing better and ready to be discharged.
So there we sat with Elder Y as the the doctor gave him (and us) the detailed instructions about prescriptions and follow-up care for Elder X. After the doctor left the room, I complimented Elder Y on his vigilance and care for Elder X.
THAT'S WHAT COMPANION'S DO! Isn't that a great lesson for Elder Y to have developed at the young age of 19! The world would be a better place - truLY!
We decided to have these two stay with us in our home until Elder X was a little more stable. Elder Y continued to take very good care of Elder X. Elder X even taught Elder Y about a dishwasher and a toaster, which he had never seen before. They studied, rested, cooked, ate, cleaned the kitchen and laughed together, just like all missionary companionships do!
Missions are miraculous - in lots of ways - don't you think?
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