"Loves me, loves me not"

This has been an "interesting" week so far! On Monday we went to Lake Atitlan with all of the temple missionaries and the mission nurses from the Quetzaltenango Mission. We were excited to shop and see the beautiful scenery there. The plan was for all 24 of us to go out on our own and shop and eat and re congregate at the cars at 2:00 PM. That's what we did. We bought a few things then wandered down to the lake. We looked for the Meadows because we knew they wanted to go on a boat ride. We didn't see them but we were offered a ride to two of the closest towns for Q300. We only had 260 and he accepted it. We would be back in an hour and a half. So we set out. Once we were on the boat the driver wanted Q200 more. We didn't have it so he refused to take us to the 2nd stop. Most of the towns on the lake are not accessible by car--only by boat. It was a pretty little town where we went but we were frustrated to have been cheated. Of course our trip was shorter because we didn't get to go to the next little stop. When we returned we wandered around and couldn't find anyone else. We went back and sat on the curb about 1:40. When no one came Spencer said, "I'll bet they are out on the lake somewhere". Long story short, there was a last minute decision to take a boat across the lake to Santiago. Everyone hurried to the dock and started loading up. There were three decks and people were scattered around the boat. The temple president drove up the street in a taxi-moto and didn't see anyone else. They were already out on the lake when they realized we had been left behind. The president and Mortensons paid for most everyone. We were pretty sad and disappointed (and a little hurt). They returned about 3:40, so we had waited two hours by then. But the Mortensons promised that they will take us back for another trip and we can go across the lake with them. My friend Vilma Salguero just wrapped her arms around me and said, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" The next day in the temple, Sister Augustin told me that when she knew we weren't there she didn't even enjoy the trip because she felt so bad. They are speaking in Huehuetenango on March 16th (just them) and want to take us with them to see the gorgeous waterfall, river and lake that is near her husband's hometown. During the night Tuesday night I became ill with "traveler's diarrhea" by the next afternoon I was feeling much better, but didn't go to the temple. In fact I was available to teach a family (that came to the annex) about the temple and why they are so important. I took them around the annex and temple grounds. It was a good experience. That night I became sick again. By Wednesday morning the diarrhea had stopped, but my temp was 102, I had body aches, chills and a massive headache. Spencer went to the farmacia to get meds. He asked for Bactrim for the diarrhea in case it didn't stop. The farmacia substituted some other medicine (of their choice--they apparently get kick backs from drug reps). I was too weak and hurt too much to go to the temple for the 2nd day. As I was groggily lying on the couch the thought "spontaneously" (really from the Holy Ghost) came into my mind--"I feel as bad as I do when I get a really bad urinary tract infection" (UTI). I made it off the couch and used a chem strip and "wa-laa!" I had an off the chart infection. So I went to the computer and researched the medicine Spencer had brought home. Coincidentally (really a "tender mercy") the medicine is a super powerful antibiotic (not yet used in the US) that fights everything from UTIs to the plague. I had the right number of doses for a UTI and started it immediately. Within about 6-8 hours I started feeling better. During the night my fever broke and by Friday I only felt weak. Sister Augustin brought me boiled plantanos to replace potassium in my system. She hugged and kissed me and told me how much she loved me. She told me when we go anyplace in the future she is tying me to her waist and I will never be overlooked again! About an hour later, Vilma Salguerro showed up with a container of home made soup for my lunch. I received more hugs and kisses and with tears in her eyes she told me how much she loved me. When I returned to the temple on Saturday, I got more expressions of love and everyone was happy I was back. They even told me Spencer was very "triste" (sad) all week when I wasn't in the temple. I was also told by many how much they missed having us with them on the boat ride last Monday. So-o-o-o, that is why this week has been one of "loves me not, loves me." Monday was high/low day and the rest of the week (for me) was a low/high. But it ended on a good note. I know I am loved! Thanks for "listening" to my saga. Now I will let Spencer fill in some fun details.