A note from the desk of....Elder...no...Nurse Taylor

Hello one and all,
This week has really been a little different for me. As I mentioned a few weeks ago I was going to Reno to help Elder Riddle with his surgery and stuff like that. Well first of all his surgery went well and he is healing up nicely. We are up in Reno again today getting the final packing taken out of his face so that he can breath and almost feel normal again. Well the best place to start with the story is at the beginning. So we got there and: we arrived in Reno on Monday night and stayed with a member from one of my old wards. Then the surgery was the next morning at 8:30 and we had to be there early. We arrived in plenty of time and we were able to get him all checked in and medicated. The doctor that was performing the surgery was Dr. Elder Dyches. He is in the Area Presidency and some quorum of the seventy, he is also a really nice doctor and is really one of the best in the West. The surgery lasted for about an hour, and they just pounded it back into place and made it all pretty and straight for Elder Riddle. Well, one thing I forgot to mention was that a sister missionary was having the same thing done on the same day. Funny side note: when Elder Riddle broke his nose, the sisters took him and another Elder to the ER to get it checked out….while he was being stitched up she fainted and broke her nose on a cabinet. So they both broke their noses and had surgery to fix them on the same day….what a great story to tell!

So, after the surgery we just took it easy….Elder Dyches offered to let us stay at their home for a few days while he recovered. He has a really nice house and I’m sure that his wife loved having me there….all the big heavy moving that she didn’t or hadn’t wanted to do - she had me do whit Elder Riddle slept or ate or did whatever. Well the nice thing was we had total run on the kitchen anytime we were hungry. We could get what we wanted or cook or whatever. It was so nice to have a place to stay and relax that had food in it….most missionary apartments only ever really have junk food in it….so it was nice to eat real food all time.

We stayed at their home until Thursday evening and then we went back to Gardnerville. We stayed together because I knew what needed to be done and also because I could drive - so if we got to stir crazy we could just leave and drive around or something. We split back on Saturday evening for Church…but it snowed like 6 inches that night and church was cancelled! Then the sun came out and melted the snow a little bit and we (Elder Riddle and I) headed up here to Reno while we had the chance….so glad we did! It snowed again here in town and I’m sure down in G-Ville as well. Like I said Elder Riddle is having his packing taken out this afternoon and then we will be going back to G-Ville. So then we will be all done.

Well as for other big news: Of course the entire LDS community is aware of the passing of our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley…we were with some other missionaries when we got the news that he passed…we were all shocked for a few moments and then as we all talked about the plan of salvation it made us all realize he was in a better place and he was doing what the Lord would have him do at this time. It was most assuredly a sad moment but he is now reunited with his sweet wife and they are doing their job now, together again. Another quick health note…yes, Mom I’m doing fine. Actually our mission president will be going to Salt Lake this week for some tests by the church doctors there as he has had bone cancer in the past and they don’t know if it is acting up again…I would just ask that you keep him in your prayers…and all of us missionaries will be fasting for him this fast Sunday.

Well know that I love a appreciate all that you guys do and have done and will continue to do. I love you all so much and hope that all continues to go well. Again I love you and have a great week.

Love,
Elder Taylor