Hello everyone! How is everything going? Some people might be starting school up, so good luck!
This week started off really well. On Monday, we had a market day, so we went and got the essentials. Then we ate fufu with a new investor we have been teaching. Her name is Marium, and she is Muslim, but she seems to enjoy what we have to share with her. So, I hope and pray that it goes somewhere.
On Tuesday, we had a zone conference. So, Monday night, we had all of the Mpraeso elders and Akouasi elders come to our apartment and stay the night because the tro tro leaves at 5:30 am. So, we had about ten elders in our apartment. It was a full house! Zone Conference was awesome. I loved seeing all of my friends and people in the zone. The instruction was about going all in. So, pretty much just putting all of your efforts into becoming a consecrated missionary. It was a good time!
Wednesday, we hit the proselytizing hard. We made our rounds seeing all of our elect and teaching them lessons. They are progressing quite well. It was a pretty normal day, just trying to work hard.
Thursday was almost identical to Wednesday, except towards the end of Thursday, I started feeling pretty sick. I had a runny tummy and was feeling quite nauseous, but I endured through the night, not getting much sleep at all.
Friday, I was beat. After not sleeping the night before and hitting the bathroom about every hour, I couldn't really do much. But I still managed to proselytize most of the day. I was feeling so sick, so I called Sister Moomey, our mission nurse. She instructed me to go to the Holy Family Hospital. So that night, I packed a few things and went to the hospital. Now, I have been to the hospital once when I was not sick, and it wasn't a great experience. Now going when I'm really sick only made the experience worse. I finally was able to check in after 45 minutes of sitting there. They took all my vitals and put me in line to see a doctor. After about an hour of waiting, I was able to get into the office. The doctor sat me down, asked me my symptoms, and I told her all of the problems I had and things I have been doing to try and help myself. She said, "OK," and then told me to go to the pharmacy, and they will give me meds. I tried asking questions to maybe find out what I was being prescribed, but I couldn't get a clear English answer. Anyway, after trying to pry for a minute, I realized this wasn't going anywhere, so I just went to go get the meds to see what they are. This hospital is all outdoors except for the emergency room and the doctor's office. So, I went to the pharmacy, and the way it works is when you check-in, you are given an identity card. When the doctor prescribes you something, they prescribe it to your name on the computer. You give the lady working the pharmacy counter your card. She will look you up and give you a receipt. Now, before you can have your medication, you have to walk over to the other side of the hospital with the receipt you were given and pay for your meds at the bank stand. It's super ghetto. Anyway, I got my receipt and made my way to the bank portion of the hospital. The banker wasn't in, so I waited probably about 5 minutes, and he showed up, thank goodness, but of course, there was a line of people. As I wait in line, my sickness worsens quickly. However, I want to pay for my meds and get them quickly, hoping they will help me. Finally, my turn comes, and I hand my receipt to the banker. Sweat drips from my forehead, and tunnel vision sets in. Clearly, something is wrong, so I ask Elder Willden, my companion, to get me some water. As soon as he leaves, I pass out, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the ER. Nurses surround me, and I have an IV attached, which I think is filled with saline. I try to figure out what happened, but nobody speaks English. I'm grateful to be awake and alive, but I'm lost and don't know where my companion is. Elder Willden tries to find me water but can't in the hospital. He goes to a small shop across the street and eventually finds me. Fortunately, being the only white people, it's easy to find where I am. The reason for my passing out is low blood sugar, and food won't stay in my stomach long enough to help. After an hour, I get discharged and get my medication. Sister Moomey tells me not to take the meds as they're all wrong and won't help. I rest as much as possible that night, but it's not much.
The miracle I experienced is that before I blacked out, I met Jordan, who wanted to know more about the church. After I woke up and got stable, the nurses and doctors who were helping me asked many questions about the church, and despite being weak, the Lord enabled me to answer every one of them. We even walked away with a few new phone numbers.
On Saturday, I rested most of the day except for a few hours of proselytizing, which was a terrible idea. I came back and slept. On Sunday, we had a baptism for my brother Joseph, whom Elder Adu and I found last transfer, and for the branch president's daughter, Olivia. I'm proud and happy for both, especially Joseph, who has found someone to teach within 24 hours of becoming a member.
Overall, I'm still very sick, but I have good people taking care of me, and I'm grateful for all the prayers from everyone. They have blessed me tremendously, and things could have been much worse. I'm also thankful for guardian angels who protect me. Don't worry about me; I'm thriving, but I would love your continued prayers. I love all of you, and I'll talk to you next week!
~Elder Gilbert
Pictures from this week:
I made crepes for breakfast one morning. They were great.
Eating Fufu with our new investor, Mariam.
Ghana church making noise.
Baptism photos.
