Post #5 - WHAT HAPPENED! = On HOLD!

From mid-October until mid- November we were on a set of two cruises, the kind where Glen gives lectures.  We had a lot of “free time” before our Dec. 1 date to go to the MTC for our mission to Berlin, Germany, so we accepted the opportunity to “do a little missionary work” on the ship!  When people asked where we were from we would say, “We recently moved from California to Utah.”  They invariably would ask, “Why”, which gave us the opportunity to explain our mission call, and about the purpose of adult missions in the church.

However, during that 30 day period of cruising, Glen had a small stroke, which was confirmed a few days ago by the neurologist here in Utah once we got home.  The medical facilities on ships are limited; therefore, he sought specialist medical care as soon as were home in Herriman.  Fortunately, there wasn’t any lasting paralysis or speech deficiency, but he did lose some peripheral vision and as a result is a little “foggy-headed,” breathless, tires easily, and is a bit unsteady on his feet.  Also fortunately, none of the stroke effects were debilitating; therefore, he was able to complete the lecture series on the cruises. 

Last weekend (Nov. 15, 2014) he spent three days at the U. of U. Medical Center having a battery of tests to determine the reason for the stroke, and to ascertain ways to prevent further ones.  There is a possibility that he has a heart condition known as Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), which can cause strokes and heart attacks, though that hasn’t yet been confirmed, only heavily indicated.  One of the tests to determine the AFib diagnosis, a heart monitor, will take a full 30 days to complete.

What that means is at this time that we will be unable to fulfill our mission call to Berlin, Germany, much to our GREAT disappointment.  We have been working towards this for about 7 years now, having had a full-time mission as our goal from the time we were first married 45 years ago!  But until Glen’s health situation is known fully, and perhaps medically improved, we cannot commit to a mission.

Our mission application is now officially on HOLD, so that in the future we can resubmit our desire to serve, should his health improve enough.  We would HOPE that we could serve a full-time mission, but perhaps more realistically it might need to be on a part-time basis from our home here in Herriman.  Now until further notice Glen is just surviving from hour to hour and our plans are in the Lord's hands.