Letter #78: :(

So the past two weeks have just been the worst… I have literally done nothing. So it all started two weeks ago when I got pretty sick. The mission nurse said it was just a cold but it felt worse, I thought it was strep throat. I was feeling pretty awful and so they put me with Elder Madsen who was diagnosed with chicken pox and couldn’t leave the apartment. They did this so our companions could go out and work.

I finally started feeling better when we had a zone conference where we would meet our new mission president and his family. I was feeling fine and after the conference we had interviews with the new mission president and while I was waiting in line I looked down at my hands and they had a bunch of reddish dots on them. I then went into the interview and talked with President Patterson and told him about going home and stuff and he tells me “Its could to have you back and healthy.” And then I said “yeah… about that,” and showed him my hands. He then had me go to Urgent care where they diagnosed me with Hand-Foot-Mouth disease.

After a couple more days inside. I started getting blisters on my hands and the rash spread to my arms, legs, and face. We then went back to urgent care where they said it is probably Chicken pox. So now my skin is starting to peel off like crazy on my hands which is kinda gross and I’m starting to think it may not be chickenpox… I just don’t trust these California doctors anymore. Its probably Leprosy … haha

So I’m pretty much bored out of my mind. I have felt perfect for a week now. No itching, no fever, no side affects. All I have is weird dots on my hands and feet that are starting to fall off. I am just so excited for the moment when I can finally go out and be a missionary again. I just want to go out and teach people again…

But yeah that’s been my life. In and out of doctors visits where they are never too sure exactly what it is. I have another appointment later today and hopefully they tell me I’m not contagious so I can go back out and work.

I finished a 750-piece puzzle. Played Uno for hours. Watched the Joseph Smith movie like 10 times. I might be going crazy from boredom.

I love all of you guys and love reading all of your letters. I hope you have a great week!!!

Elder Bryce

P.S. Here is a pic of my new mission president and his wife! He’s 41 years old and from Springville, Utah. He was in the YSA stake presidency there. He was also a seminary principal.

Julie L. and Brian P. Patterson
Julie L. and Brian P. Patterson