Sept. 4, 2010

ha well thanks a lot mom. you just made your boy cry in public :) sorry that Pres Angulo didn't call you but i think that the fact that he doesn't speak English and that it was kind of a spur of the moment thing that he didn't think to call ya'll. i am doing better then before, but i still am weak and my stomach hurts quite a bit still. the doctor said he's giving me some pretty powerful stuff and it should be helping soon with the pain. i can only eat baked veggies and baked fruits and a little bit of chicken. and of course i'm also drinking electrolytes :) i can't eat anything with fat, which is sad because here they eat pizza a lot :( its actually tough for me to eat (shocking, i know) cuz after i do, it hurts my stomach more. but the doc said thats normal. also the doctor said i have to rest for 2-3 weeks at least before i can even start trying to go tracting. so i'm here in the offices without a comp. very boring here without a television or at very least, a game boy. they closed Villa Ahumada which is very sad cuz we hade some amazing investigators there. but Pres said they were planning on closing it when he first got there. there just aren't enough missionaries here right now to have all the areas open. this last week was "cambios" which means transfers so a lot of changes have been going on. thanks for your words of comfort, i really needed them :) LOVE YOU!!!!

Trying to keep strong physically, mentally, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually,

Elder Arko

p.s. i'll record a vid of the offices and send them to you next week.

Hi Patrick,
I'm not sure when you will be able to email again, so I am sending you one today. My heart ached when I read you had been in the hospital!! I wish your mission president had called us. When we heard, we called President LeBaron and he called your mission president. Of course he said you were doing much better, and I believe him, but I want to know HOW much better! Are you able to get out a little? We have been praying for you and I know that a lot of people have you on their minds and in their prayers, too! I imagine it will take some time for you to build up your energy level. Do they have you on some medication still? What did they give you? I read about amoebas on google and they are sometimes hard to get rid of. I hope they keep checking up on you and if you start having the same symptoms, you need to let the doctors know!! Don't try to brave it out on your own!!!
So who is your new companion and what is he like? Are they going to keep you in Chihuahua for this cycle or will you be going back to Villa Ahumada? I didn't realize that Elder Robles was so close to going home!! I'm sorry his last week was probably not how he expected it! Will you send us a video of more of YOU next time..we didn't even get to see your face :) Video you and your new companion and where you are living now. Try to show us some of the town of Chihuahua! I'm anxious to hear all about you new adventures in a new place, but don't over do it! Make sure you are feeling strong physically, (we already know how strong you are spiritually!!)
I put money in your account, but it looks like you might need some new shirts and such. Let me know if you need more. You want to keep a good appearance. Are you fixing your own meals? I'll bet you're still drinking electrolytes...are you? Just get WELL!!
Know that you have all the support in the world!! We love you sooo much! Remember that when things get rough.. (hopefully not any rougher than last week!!) Even more important..you are never alone. You will always be blessed even when you don't think you are! Think of all the things you have learned this last week!! See..everything happens for a reason and we might not even know what that reason is. We love you and pray for you. You are always in our minds and hearts! Keep your chin up and beat this thing! You will be all the stronger for it!! Lots of Love!! Mom