I woke up this morning at 5:00 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep. Within a few minutes I found myself crying. Not because I didn't get my cast off yesterday, and not because I was in pain. Actually, I found myself thinking about the opening scene of "It's A Wonderful Life", a depiction of the heavens with some voices wanting to know who all those prayers were flooding heaven for? And I thought of all of you, on both sides of this earth sending up prayers in my behalf. I wanted to somehow thank everyone, and this seemed the way to reach the most people!
A mischevious young friend of ours (who turned out to be a wonderful stake president)commented on one of our blogs that this arm seemed to be the most popular topic on the internet! Well your concern, expressed in many ways, serious and other ways, has made this a much easier challenge to bear. I love you all and thank you for your concern. We have heard from friends we haven't seen for years. We've seen grandchildren on short videos, heard of, and felt, countless prayers, fasting, advice, and heart felt concern from family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. We know we were not sent to "Outer Mongolia" and forgotten.
And not to be out-shinned by the internet, our seniors here in Mongolia have stepped in and been a loving and helping "family". We have the best of heaven and earth watching over us, and we are truly grateful. Paraphrasing the words of Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol": God bless (you), everyone!
I wanted to share a little about my medical care here. Wednesday I went back to see my doctor, translator by my side. Here in Mongolia, you don't make appointments--you wait! When we arrived, the "waiting room" was FULL. My translator had me take off my jacket and my shoes and put on some plastic shoes. They don't want germs in the office. She grabbed (literally) a nurse and told her I needed to go first because I had a broken arm. We were escorted right in--to where the doctor was slurping noodles! He is so nice. He greeted me with a big smile, and took me to his patient room. He has been taking English lessons from our mission doctor and he was going to do this appointment in English! I may be his only English speaking patient. He asked me where I was from and if I had any pain (related questions). Then he told me my face looked better! Oh, the magic of Mongolian medicine! He did get through the appointment without the help of my translator and he was so pleased. He turned to his astounded nurse and said, "She missionary", obviously pleased he was helping the work along. X-rays and a cast: $30; a kind doctor: priceless!
It just doesn't get much better! Thanks to all of you!!
Sister Caldwell
Ulaanbaatar, "Outer Mongolia"
9 comments:
Thanks mom. You made me cry too! It was a long night so this was a wonderful post to wake up to. We love you!!
Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality.
- Alfred Painter
You wondered how to say thanks in a way that we could all know how thankful you are, mission accomplished! Thank you. Sometimes all of us way over here don't feel like we are doing much for you. Especially when you get hurt, it just broke our hearts not to be able to help you out. Just know that our thoughts and prays are ALWAYS with you both. I love you, and I am very glad that your spirits are up. Oh, and by the way, why can't we have such low cost medical care over here? LUCKY!! I was worried that it was going to cost you alot, glad to see it is not. Love you!
I don't know if I'd say you're "LUCKY!!" to be in the Mongolian Health Care System... ;) But there's a good chance there's some "blessed" involved in the fact that you have a doctor serving in the mission and that you're able to find good doctors to help you there in the city.
Also, I understand gingersnaps are a key to quick recovery of both broken bones and droopy spirits.
Well, now everyone is crying with you!! If we are given adversity so that we learn and grow, then I guess mission accomplished. We are all learning and growing from this experience.
By the way, forget that doctor. I like your face just the way it was, thank you very much. : )
YAHOO!! I just noticed that your temperature is above zero!!! That's the first time I saw that in a while. Things really are looking up.
Melba, it's good to know that you are being taken care of. We are proud of you and Mike. Keep up the good work.
Cindy
Isn't it amazing how you can be so far away from everyone and everything and still know that people are right there for you?
I remember every time the dollar exchange rate took another drop and I would need more money deposited in my account, I would send a postcard to Mom and the next day there would be a letter in the mail saying, "I put more money in your account today." It was so amazing to me how that worked.
Tomorrow (the 20th) I'll be sending a small package, so look for it in about a week.
Amy and Becky took me out to lunch for my birthday today. We couldn't go to my office on my birthday because it will be on Saturday. We had a good time. Now we're at Rebecca's playing WII.
Love ya, Marcia
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