4/21/19 - Family Letter to Emma

Howdy Emma!

Are you doing any better?

My life hasn't changed much, but I'm really sunburned.

Also, I'm super cold.

That's not related,

but I hope you get better soon.

Love

Hyrum

Hi Emma

Sorry your sick.

Are you doing any better?

Take it easy, OK?

Georgia was fun! We Missed you though .

We miss you a lot !

LOVE AND MISS

Mari

M,

It felt like we spent more time in the airport on our trip than not.  We had to go to 3 different airports on the way home due to weather.  We saw many unhappy people who had their flights cancelled and were trying to get them rescheduled.  It took us all day but we eventually got home.  Everyone but yours truly got a lesson on why we want to apply sunscreen all over the body and just not the back.   We have been concerned for you all week with your illness.  It did not help when Bro Moncur gave our Sunday School lesson today and spoke about the time he got Dengue fever and all the details he went through.  It was more than we wanted to hear and we got worried again.  I'm sure you rested like you were supposed to and are doing better.  Is it going better with your companion?  Were you able to do service and successfully get her mind oriented towards service? 

How was Easter in Sao Paulo?  We did our usual.  A quick hunt in the morning.  Grandma Charlene and Shea came over for dinner.  Your Grandma Charlene is struggling to figure out life after Dean's passing.  We were able to help her see things a little differently. 

Are the weekly calls home helpful for you?  I have been concerned about how they might be effecting you and your ability to focus on the work.  Kade refuses to call home to the Levers thinking it will have a negative effect on him.  The Kumps will not allow Jaren Kump to not call home each week.  I wonder if that is more of a benefit for his Mom than for Elder Kump.  Let us know what your thoughts are.  We will always be available for your call.  I was just wondering if it has changed your mission experience in any way.

Proud of you kid.  Keep working hard.  Love and compassion are always the answer with challenges you have with companions, roommates, investigators, etc.  We love you tons and pray for you many times a day.

Love

Dad

2 Nephi 2: 8-9

Sweet Emma,

Like Dad said, Brother Moncur shared his experience (in detail) about getting Dengue Fever.  He said his fever got up to 105-106 and he was hallucinating.  He said he hurt everywhere.  He said that he had to take lots of cool showers to keep his fever down.  He said that during this is when he learned about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that it can heal and bring comfort.  He learned to rely on the Lord during this time.  Ruth Soderquist's sister had it.  Uncle Anthony had it.  Others that have had it say that the best thing you can do is DRINK TONS OF WATER and get your rest.  I hope you are doing better.  My biggest worry for you is that you won't allow yourself to get rest when you feel you need it.  Don't overdo it because it will set you back further.  Listen to you body.  Rest when you need to.  It's okay to rest if it helps you to heal.  There is also benefit to slowing down every once in awhile.  Not only does it give your body time to heal, it gives your mind time to listen to the Spirit and ponder things.  There is much to learn in stillness.

I had a dream about you last night.  It was so real.  I will tell you about it when I talk to you.  Like Dad talked about, are these phone calls helping you?  How have they changed your mission?  We LOVE talking to you, but we don't want to get in the way of your missionary work. 

Our trip was nice.  Savannah is beautiful.  We weren't able to find the little white wooden church that Grandmother and Grandad attended when they lived there.  Grandmother wasn't even sure it was still standing.  We learned (too late) that one of Dad's cousins found it and took a tour.  I guess it is being used by another religion right now.  We also looked up some Barlow ancestors and where they had different life events in the area.  It was fun to see Grandpa in his home state.  I will send a few pics and a short video of Grandpa after he bought some Boiled Peanuts (remember he used to sell boiled peanuts in downtown Moultrie to earn money for school clothes etc.)  I think you will like this video.

Combined orchestra starts this week.  The kids have a piano recital on Tuesday.  This Saturday is the Stake Youth Service Project at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  I'm so excited for our youth to feel the sweet spirit of working on the Temple Grounds! 

I hope your week went well.  I can't wait to hear about Easter in Sao Paulo.  I love Family Church.  It has been such a wonderful thing to have more time to study the gospel as a family.  Today for Family Church we watched "The Lamb of God" and Dad gave a beautiful testimony of the Savior. 

Please know how much you are loved.  We pray for you so many times each day.  Sometimes I wake up 4am and my first thought is to pray for you...so I do!

I love you!

💜Mom