Week 25 - Happy New Year! We're happy - January 2020

Well everyone, Happy New Year!

     And isn't it? It is a good life, and we are all going into 2020 hopefully happy. Now Resolutions, change, it's a good idea. Just follow through with the goals you set for this coming year and that is what will make them really good goals. Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, you can be happy.
     Recently I have had the "wonderful opportunity" I'll call it, to experience some strange things with my body. We call it IBS for now, but I can't enjoy food the way I used to. However! There will come a day when I will be eating food, and will really, really enjoy it ahhaha. So looking forward to that day and in the meantime, I'll be happy! I'm looking forward to continued experiences out here on my mission, and I hope you are all excited for the new experiences this next year can bring! - Elder George

Teaching Shaldon at Sister Stella's home. 

Sisters Messick and Sanchez have been teaching Justin and
Elder Christensen baptized him! Oh Happy Day!

Elder George sitting in a cut buoy with a pishka. Seems like
a great place to stop and take a break :)

Elder George lifting a fallen banana tree out of the road.

Elder Christensen slipped and fell in the mud. I
laughed pretty hard, but it is because he chose to
wear his crocks that day and they have no traction!

Abandoned and retired man-house

Surprise eclipse,
just happened in the middle of the day.

Reminded us of the Sacred Grove,
"I saw a pillar of light"

Beautiful Outpost behind a retired man's house.

So for the last month I've had a real struggle with food. 

Unfortunately when I eat my digestive system 

isn't cooperating, so let's say it hasn't been pretty.

At first I was just eating all the time 
and never felt full. I was so hungry I just 
carried the ice cream around with me.

    Then I started having trouble after I ate so
  I eat what I can even when I don't want it. 

They aren't sure what's wrong so I've been diagnosed with IBS.
(Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Some mornings, I want to get out of
bed by 6:30, but I feel so awful that I just curl up on the tile in
that blanket and sleep out in the main room.

Note from Mom: President and Sister Hicks are aware that Jacob is not well. They have a Senior Sister who is a nurse checking in on him and are monitoring his symptoms. If he were in the states he would be sent to an insta-care however Yap does not have such modern facilities so for now he says he is well enough and able to carry out his missionary responsibilities. Please keep him in your prayers.