November 17, 2008

Letter from Michael:

Qué tal? Comó están? this week was a little different then the last few i was able to work real hard monday night after our Preperation day ended then work real hard tuesday but then wednesday we always have a class with our district at the church building our district is us four in my house and four hemanas who are all really hard workers and are so sweet. But yeah wednesday we had our class, then after my head just relly startde to kill and it hurt like never before so my companion said to go lay down for a little bit so i did next thing i know its 8 at night and i didnt get to work nearly the whole day so i felt pretty bad but my head still continued to hurt really bad but they gave me all kinds of pills and none seemed to take any kind of effect, then comes thursday and i woke up got dressed and went to help the sister in the ward move out her little business stand then it started to kill again and the really weird thing is that it really hurts after i take a shower whether it be hot or cold and also after i shave adn after i play sports or sweat a whole lot, so i had no idea what to dobut thursday also i rested all day cause then i started to get sick to my stomach and couldnt really eat much or just lost my appettite, then friday we got to go to the temple with the entire zone and also two other zones in tuxtla which was fun i got to meet alot of other missionaries and speak spanish with them which my spanish is coming along pretty good im excited!! haha but after still my head just killed and my body feels fine i have energy but my head just hurts so bad, so finally we set an appointment with a neurologist again for saturday, we went saturady and found out that i have a an irritated nerve in my head that another nerve is hitting it and its really sensitive and when strees comes too which is just natural to sometimes get some stress in the field, when it comes it just makes it ten times worse but my face whenever i touch it or my ears my head shoots pain through it, which is not good. haha. they also found out that the nerve is part of the nerve for my eyes which would explain why i have needed glasses but while in the MTC i noticed my vision kept changing and sometimes i could not even see that great with my glasses on! so they told me that the reason why the only real time i can get any relief is when i close my eyes is because my eyes are inflammed too and the nerve is being irritated to all parts of my face, so they gave me some pills that are too strengthen the nerve and to also make it less sensitive, so i hope it works i really do!! haha cause ill be honest it kinda hurts a little and im a pretty tough guy.... haha no but all is well ill be fine but i thought i should let you know i was able to go work and i try my best to work through the pain cause every moment in the mission is precious and i wanna make the most of it so i try to stay positive and work within my limits for the most part haha. but the investigators are great we still have some baptisms set up all is well i finished my first exchange too in the mission its going so fast oh and also this last weekend they rededicated the mexico city temple and they had it broadcasted here and the night before they had a big festival which president monsomn adn president eyering were at it was soooo cool all the native dancing and stuff it was awesome even president monson and eyering got up and danced it was so cool to see them they are so amazing then the spirit we felt the next day at the dedication was AMAZING like nothing ever before!!!! i loved it president monson tried to speak a little bit of spanish too it was cute he spoke pretty good!!! haha all in all it was so amazing and the members here loved it everybody was all smiles after!!! i loved it so much i abou cry everytime i see them show there love i really do cause they make me so happy. they are so nice and the missionaries are like the big deal around here and they treat you so nice but i feel like i should be serving them and looking up to them cause they are so humble and meek, i really do look up to all of them, they make me thankful for what i have and they keep me going each day just thinking another day i get to spend with them and see there beautiful faces. so Really MOM dont worry. im Fine everything will be alright we will get it all figured out im looked after very well my companion and one of the zone leaders are like my brothers i love them so much they gave me a blessing and we were all in tears after and just hugged cause we knew we were brothers from the beginning and just love eachother so much!!! Im so glad i came on a mission just to be in the presence of these people and feel there spirits. I LOVE IT!!!! and im so glad i have such a great gift to give them the best gift of all. I love you all so much take care of yoursleves, and get out and try to serve someone each day cause oh what great feeling it is to serve!!!! LOve you all!!

Love always your Elder,

Elder Michael Dean Riding