Allergies and feeling "home"

C's journal entry on July 27, 2013

My official day of going home is the 23 of December. If you want to try to change the date, then you can talk with President and his wife. I think it would just look bad if I ask for a different date.

We had to leave the zone to be able to go to Terranova hospital for my eyes.  They then sent us to a specialist that worked a bit far away for walking.  We walked there.  The doctor let me in and I told her about my symptoms.  She then did some exams.  I have 20/20 vision.  My left eye was super bad and it was affecting my vision a lot.  She then checked my eyes.  She told me that my eyes were in bad condition, especially my left eye.  I had an infection in my left eye and a tiny one in my right eye.  Then, when she finished the exam, she gave me the results.  She told me, “You are allergic to the sun and severely with the eyes.”  Well, that is the shocking news.  I’M ALLERGIC TO THE FLIPPING SUN!!!  I can’t believe it.  I haven’t known anyone that is allergic to the sun.  I guess that explains why I have sneezed while entering into the sun my whole life. 

The doctor then prescribed three different eye drops.  One is for the infection; one is for allergies, and the other for itchiness.  We then returned late to eat lunch.  Then we had to return to the hospital for eye drops.  I also bought myself some sunglasses.  President and Sister Wagner gave me permission to wear them.  Well, that was my pretty crazy day.

C's letter to the young men between the ages of 14 and 18 on a church camp out.

Dear young men,

     Well... I was hoping to share this as my homecoming talk but oh well. It is the first thing that comes to my mind..... Just to let you all know... You aren’t quite home right now, and neither will you be in your home when you go back to your house. Now let me explain why...
     The very first day of my mission, I had to say goodbye to family, then go on an airplane where I had some bad stomach pains and I was just super tired. A couple other missionaries and I got off the plane and went for our suitcases. All of the sudden we saw Elder Jeffrey R Holland in the Airport. We about died. But wait, it gets better. He comes up to us and says, "Welcome Home Elders." At that moment I was thinking oh wow.... I just started the mission... I still have forever away to be able to go home. That was a tad bit sad just after having a sad farewell about an hour earlier. I thought well he must have thought wrongly or thought we just ended our missions. I tried not to think about it too much. That was a big part of my first day.
     During my mission, I have had many trials which include having a culture shock, new language, super hot and humid weather, terrible houses with many creatures, tough companions, trained other missionaries, being a leader, and recently found out that I am
allergic to the sun on July 27, 2013. Let me tell you something, it is not an easy task, in fact it is very tough. Even if it is very tough, it is very rewarding. I can testify that these are the best two years of my life and that they will be the best two years of your lives. I have learned so much while being in the mission. Now I would like you all to open up to D&C 122 and read the chapter. (Read chapter before reading on.)
     I truly know that we have trials to be able to learn and grow. They are for our good. In fact, if you have trials, that means that God loves you. He is preparing you to be able to return to his presence. There is not a single gift better than eternal life. Who doesn’t want to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in eternal families? Let us cherish life with whatever difficulty that we have. The life is only but a short moment and the mission is only a moment of that moment.
     Even if there are trials on the mission, there are many great things that happen. You see lives change. You see people take their first steps on the straight and narrow path to eternal life. You see miracles. You participate in miracles. You experience the gospel. You
might even learn a new language or two. You learn about how to apply the gospel in your future families and your future life. You experience a change of heart. You learn how to study efficiently. You learn how to communicate with people. You learn how to follow the
Spirit, and how to use it in your own life as well as in the lives of others.
     The mission really is a journey, a duty, a blessing, and will give you a big advantage in life here and after.
     Reflecting back on my first day in the mission a few times, I have thought that what Elder Holland said was on purpose. The "home" is the mission and/or is the presence of our Heavenly Father who loves us. While you are in the mission you will feel more at home than any other time in your life. You will be the closest to your Heavenly Father during that time. Prepare to go “home”. Prepare to go on your mission. I testify that Elder Jeffrey R Holland is an Apostle. I know that what he said is true. I know that the mission will be the best decision of your lives. I know that trials build us. I know that God lives and that He loves us. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is the word of God. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. I know that the power of prayer is real and that God answers our prayers. I know that Christ suffered for all of our sins, sicknesses, afflictions, pains, and heartaches. I know that through his Atonement, we can repent of our sins and return to the presence of our Loving Heavenly Father. I know that JESUS IS THE CHRIST. I know all of these things to be true and I bear my testimony in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.