Enjoy the "brevity"

May 17, 2009

Hello everyone,

Friday we went to Guatemala City on the bus fairly early in the morning. Four hours+ on bus cost Q70 and the taxi ride across town—which we shared with another lady (who also paid a fare) costs us Q60. Go figure.

I had a doctor’s appointment Friday afternoon with an ENT specialist recommended by Dr. Taylor, our Area Medical Advisor. It was really interesting. The medical building (just one block from the temple and two blocks from Casa de Huespedes, where we stayed) is 12 stories high and as modern as anything I have ever seen. In the restroom, they even had an automatic toilet seat cover. You just push the red button and the seat rotates to an invisible reservoir where the film covering the seat is replaced with a new film. I was astounded, to say the least. Dr. Calderón Kiesling looks just like his name sounds—very European. But he is a Guatemalteco. Fortunately, he spoke English quite well. He was impressed that Dr. Taylor had figured it out enough to refer me—and when I told him all my consultations with Dr. Taylor were over the phone, he was even more impressed. I learned a lot from him. A couple of different doctor friends kept mentioning inner ear infections being the cause of the ongoing vertigo. I couldn’t understand how I “just happened” to get an inner ear infection the same time I had diarrhea and passed out and smacked my head really hard on the tile floor. To me it seemed like it would be a neurological problem, not ear. But now you can all learn something right along with me. In your inner ear you have “little, tiny rock like substances” (otolitos, or something like that) that adjust for your equilibrium every time you move your head. But if you have a head trauma (fall, car accident etc.) and you experience vertigo (which is different than light-headedness—it is when the world is spinning and you have nausea, vomiting and hear ringing sounds), it is because these little stones are floating around and not reattaching themselves to one another in the right place. So the doctors were right and wrong. The problem was the inner ear, but it had nothing to do with an infection. Two months later I still have some of these little things floating around and messing me up with positional changes. He gave me a prescription and exercises—the exercises (moving your eyes, your head, your body, leaning over, standing up—everything that makes me dizzy and nauseous) are the most important part of the treatment. Right now, the exercises make me feel worse, but he said that would pass in a few days. Spencer said I just am losing my marbles—they are floating every which way. Nice guy, huh?

After the appointment, we went to the temple. Sister Christianson (the wife of the MTC president) was the sister leading our session. Fortunately, she was the one at the veil, where once again I worked really hard at remembering as much as I could in Spanish. Later, I saw her in the locker room and she was very complimentary. Going thru the veil with minimal help is one of my goals and she felt like I was getting close! I had visited with her when we first arrived and she thought my Spanish was sooooo much better. That made me happy, but I still have really high expectations of myself. I told her I try to shop and interact with the public without Spencer so that I can learn to express myself better. In our conversation, our first mission came up and I mentioned how frustrated and disappointed I had been in my Spanish in Kansas, especially since in my setting apart, I was told I would have the gift of tongues. She immediately said, “You know someone told me, or I read it somewhere, but it really impressed me, when a sister felt disappointed, but she had learned that the Gift of Tongues comes in different forms and she had definitely experienced the Gift of Tongues in the language of love.” I just commented on how true that was and never divulged that it was me that told her that when we had visited six months ago. It was a different experience to have someone quote me back to myself. 

Now I have to tell you a funny story about shopping without Spencer. I needed new stuffing for some throw pillows that we had washed. So I bravely went to a fabric store and explained that I didn’t know the word in Spanish, but I needed the “thing” you put in alfombra—the word I was using for pillow. She laughed, but didn’t tell me about my mistake. She just said that the stuffing was “esponge” and the tienda across the street should have it. So I bravely went over there and started over—explaining that I needed esponge for my alfombra. The two women there looked even more confused. Finally I made the motion of my head resting on my hands and said, in Spanish, “for your head on the bed.” The light bulbs came on and they said at the same time, “almohadas.” That is when I realized I was asking for sponge to put in my “carpet” instead of my “pillow.” We all laughed together, almohada/alfombra, what’s the difference?! They seemed pleased that I was trying to communicate in their language. We actually had a fairly good conversation after that. They probably thought “crazy gringa!” But they were great while I was there.  I guess that is life in a foreign country.

I probably don’t have to tell you that Guatemala has been rocked by the political scandal of the president ordering the assignation of an attorney—who had the foresight to make a tape with the accusations. We just don’t make comments or get involved in any discussions.

Saturday was Vicky Montenegro’s wedding to Eder. Cesar Jr. and Suzy picked us up—at five minutes before the scheduled beginning! And the church was a 30 minute drive across town. I was feeling like we would miss the whole thing, when he finally arrived. We missed the first part of the ceremony, but it was a long service. I didn’t realize that Tuli and Cesar serve as ministers for their church. It made my heart feel sad to know what Tuli gave up when she chose to become a Mennonite instead of a Mormon. How sad to have an elaborate service with songs, scriptures and expressions of love for the Lord and for each other without any priesthood power to make it binding. On a happier note, it was wonderful to see all Tuli’s family. It was only family and close, close friends who were invited to the ceremony (the reception was huge). Enrique looks exactly like their dad did 40 years ago. Harold would have loved seeing them all grown up and with grandchildren. Since the missionaries (including Harold) ate with the family, he saw them much more than I did. When Tuli asked for a picture with all of her sisters with Vicki, she insisted that I join them, since I was one of her sisters. I’ll post some pictures. After the ceremony at the church we rode with Cesar and Tuli to a beautiful hotel where an elaborate reception and meal were held. Unfortunately, Spencer was anxious to leave—to the point that I had to lie and tell them the last bus left at 3:00 (when I know there are later buses) so that we could graciously leave. Tuli felt so bad that we didn’t get to enjoy the dinner. There was a band and bubbles and fun stuff for the dances between the couple and the parents. It was beautiful—but sad at the same time. Cesar called a friend from his church, who drives a cab, and he wouldn’t let us pay for the ride to the bus terminal. What kind and gracious people all of them are. Tuli wants to sleep for a week—two weddings in six months has been taxing on her and Cesar has had some health problems at the same time.

The medical students at CUNORI have held another demonstration—this time about being overcharged for tuition. I’ll !post it as well—if I can remember how I did it last time.  I am getting old!

We have Zone Conference next week and we will have temple recommend interviews with President Alvarado. I love having just one signature—every time you go to the temple, they will know you were a missionary.

We love you all! Elder and Sister Brown