Alii everyone that I love!

WOW, it has been a hard week…

First off, I am incredibly sick; with two things.

I have a nasty infection on my toe. I will be having surgery on Wednesday. They are going to cut half the toe nail off, then remove (cut out) the infection from my actual toe, then stitch me up!

I will be bed ridden for two weeks. Not good! They did say that if I need to get up and go places, I could use crutches. So, I will be doing a lot of teaching on crutches these next few weeks!

The second illness is…. Well, they are not quite sure what it is. All they know is that I am losing a lot of weight. I am super weak, along with a nasty cough and a good old fever. I spent five hours at the hospital last Wednesday on an I.V., that was crazy!

Also, this past week the Sisters were in a head on collision with a drunk driver! Do not worry, they are all okay. (but the car is not) This has been a nightmare to deal with along with everything else this week.

Then… on top of all of these things… Our landlord kicked us out of our house this week! So Elder Call moved back to Midtown; and all the Sisters are staying together in Topside.

This has been such a crazy week! But, it has still been a GREAT week! Palau had two Baptisms!

Before my mission, when things would go wrong, I used to get so down in the dumps. But now I have received that “mighty change of heart”. I love these challenges and hardships, because they are helping me to become the person our Heavenly Father wants me to be. As I endure these trials, I know God will be there with me, he will bless and strengthen me! He is the best!

Plus, when you have investigators like “U” and “S”, who are so prepared and excited for baptism, it is not even possible to feel down! They will be getting baptized in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! I am so excited for them!

Sometimes life is hard, but that is not going to stop me from singing praises to my Lord and God. Just like Nephi, as he was rejected by his brothers on the ship to America. No matter how bad it got, he never murmured. and neither will I.

I love this church. I know it is true.

What a great day!

Love,

Elder Rupp

Pic:  My sicknesses, did not stop me from getting out to do some service in the Jungle!