So, it's been a crazy couple of weeks for Elder Baller. He had a P Day on December 24 (Saturday) and another on December 31 (Saturday). He told us that they were skipping their P Day the week of January 2 because it was just two days after they had had one. However, he ended up sending an email to me on the 2nd after all, saying that they had changed the schedule and he DID have a P Day. But he didn't have time to write a full update. Then... he said that their next P Day isn't until Thursday, January 12, because they will be going to the temple that day. Phew! While we love hearing from Elder Baller whenever we can, it has made me realize just how much a missionary mom looks forward to Mondays and consistent letters! I am looking forward to him being back on his regular schedule. For now, I will post the one (very short) update he sent that I haven't posted yet, pictures of his Christmas Skype call, and the most exciting milestone yet!
- Alison
Christmas Skype Call / December 25, 2016
Quick flashback to Christmas 2015. Aidan had five months in the mission. I had been warned that the first Christmas call is tough. And it was. It sort of catapulted me back into a major "missing Aidan" funk. And poor Aidan. His companion at the time wasn't able to talk to his family at all and didn't get any presents from home, so Aidan was feeling guilty about getting packages from home and talking to his family. Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful to see him and talk to him! We laughed and cried and loved every second. But, the time afterward was difficult for all of us. :(
Fast forward to Christmas 2016. Aidan was at the home of some of his very favorite members, the Estradas. He is a zone leader and companions with Elder Real (one of his favorite companions yet). He's on the tail end of his mission (something he and we are feeling very bittersweet about). The call was great! Awesome! The only small downside was seeing just how thin Aidan has gotten and finally getting the truth out of him about his recent illnesses. We talked quite a bit about that and then Sister Estrada asked to talk to me. Aidan translated while she told me what she has been doing to try to help him get well. We sat and both bawled while we talked about Aidan and how much we both love him. I could see in her face how much she truly loves him and I could see in his that he loves her just as much. I am SO glad that Aidan has a Honduran "mother" in his current area to take care of him and love him. The rest of the family each took turns talking to us, with Aidan and Rob translating for us. Each of the Estradas shared their love for Aidan and I, of course, sat and bawled through the whole thing. Each time I would start to cry, so would Sister Estrada and Aidan. Haha! We were quite the group! But, they were all happy tears. Aidan is SO happy and has grown so much. He spoke to Andrew for awhile and their conversation was one of my most cherished memories from the entire day. Aidan is such an incredible big brother - looking out for his little brother every step of the way, even from thousands of miles away.
To catch you up on Aidan's health - he has had several parasites and infections that have ultimately let to the diagnosis of colitis. The doctors there have put him on a strict diet of mostly fruits and vegetables (which he has to be careful about anyway). This is another reason I am so grateful for "Mama Estrada." They eat there almost every day and she makes sure that Aidan has foods that he is able to eat on his current diet, and that they are prepared correctly. On Christmas, while the rest of the family was eating their traditional Honduran fare, Aidan happily munched on a HUGE plate of grapes. He will likely be on these diet restrictions until he gets home. He is happy though, and you would never guess from his attitude and disposition how sick he has been!
It was SOOO good to see him, to meet the Estradas and to spend Christmas all "together" as a family.
Week 77 / December 31, 2016
This week was really great.
Got to talk to my family on Sunday, it was great to see them and talk to them for Christmas.
We have been doing really great. We are working with a few investigators so they can get baptized.
Merry late Christmas everyone and have a Happy New Year!
Elder Baller
Week 78 / Friday, January 6, 2017
- Alison
Christmas Skype Call / December 25, 2016
Quick flashback to Christmas 2015. Aidan had five months in the mission. I had been warned that the first Christmas call is tough. And it was. It sort of catapulted me back into a major "missing Aidan" funk. And poor Aidan. His companion at the time wasn't able to talk to his family at all and didn't get any presents from home, so Aidan was feeling guilty about getting packages from home and talking to his family. Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful to see him and talk to him! We laughed and cried and loved every second. But, the time afterward was difficult for all of us. :(
Fast forward to Christmas 2016. Aidan was at the home of some of his very favorite members, the Estradas. He is a zone leader and companions with Elder Real (one of his favorite companions yet). He's on the tail end of his mission (something he and we are feeling very bittersweet about). The call was great! Awesome! The only small downside was seeing just how thin Aidan has gotten and finally getting the truth out of him about his recent illnesses. We talked quite a bit about that and then Sister Estrada asked to talk to me. Aidan translated while she told me what she has been doing to try to help him get well. We sat and both bawled while we talked about Aidan and how much we both love him. I could see in her face how much she truly loves him and I could see in his that he loves her just as much. I am SO glad that Aidan has a Honduran "mother" in his current area to take care of him and love him. The rest of the family each took turns talking to us, with Aidan and Rob translating for us. Each of the Estradas shared their love for Aidan and I, of course, sat and bawled through the whole thing. Each time I would start to cry, so would Sister Estrada and Aidan. Haha! We were quite the group! But, they were all happy tears. Aidan is SO happy and has grown so much. He spoke to Andrew for awhile and their conversation was one of my most cherished memories from the entire day. Aidan is such an incredible big brother - looking out for his little brother every step of the way, even from thousands of miles away.
To catch you up on Aidan's health - he has had several parasites and infections that have ultimately let to the diagnosis of colitis. The doctors there have put him on a strict diet of mostly fruits and vegetables (which he has to be careful about anyway). This is another reason I am so grateful for "Mama Estrada." They eat there almost every day and she makes sure that Aidan has foods that he is able to eat on his current diet, and that they are prepared correctly. On Christmas, while the rest of the family was eating their traditional Honduran fare, Aidan happily munched on a HUGE plate of grapes. He will likely be on these diet restrictions until he gets home. He is happy though, and you would never guess from his attitude and disposition how sick he has been!
It was SOOO good to see him, to meet the Estradas and to spend Christmas all "together" as a family.
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| Our family and the wonderful Estrada family |
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| Our family (minus the littles - the littles and I had influenza on Christmas and they talked to Aidan for a few minutes and then both fell asleep) |
Week 77 / December 31, 2016
This week was really great.
Got to talk to my family on Sunday, it was great to see them and talk to them for Christmas.
We have been doing really great. We are working with a few investigators so they can get baptized.
Merry late Christmas everyone and have a Happy New Year!
Elder Baller
Week 78 / Friday, January 6, 2017
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| Our countdown calendar... with only 6 months left!! That's right - Elder Baller will return home on July 6, 2017! |
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