Well, now that you know about it, might as well lay the whole story on you. It was the Wednesday I went to the therapist, and I was driving us to our first lesson for the day. Now, I don't remember the impact, nor the moments leading up to it. Elder S. was working on the GPS, and didn't see either, so we still don't know what happened. We might never know. I just know there's a gap in my memory between driving along, and then hearing myself scream as the airbags go off and fill my field of vision. One note I'd like to make is that airbags taste awful. I was smelling and tasting the powder or whatever it is for a few hours after the accident. I pulled the car into the median, and got out. At this point, I went into shock. The fact that I could not only have killed myself and not gotten to marry in this life, nor a great many other things, but also that I could have literally killed someone just overwhelmed me, and I was pretty incoherent. Thankfully, Elder S. was able to take care of the on-site insurance stuff. An ambulance came pretty promptly, and they whisked me away pretty readily, almost leaving Elder S. behind!
They gave me some oxygen in the ambulance, and I came out of shock en route to the hospital. In the hospital, like you know, I got a CAT scan to search for concussions (which I have none of, btw). Then the office Elders came with our loaner car (whose transmission died a week and a half ago and was replaced under warranty, and is the exact same car we used in Far Rock), along with the District Leader to drive us home, as neither of us were very keen on driving. My lower back was sore for a couple days, but nowhere near bad enough to fill any of the prescriptions, but it hasn't really bothered me at all for a week or two.
As far as emotionally, I'm fully recovered from the accident. I'm absolutely sure that the Lord protected us, partly as a result of your prayers. I was the only one hospitalized, so it could have been a lot worse, but it wasn't. One of the best parts of the accident (for me, at least) was a day or two after at zone conference, when President and Sister Reynolds saw us. The concern on their faces was comforting to me. It really means the world to see and feel people who worry about you, who love you, and who want you to be safe and happy.
Enough of that, though. We got transfer calls today, and I'm out! I'll find out where I'm headed tomorrow, but tonight I've got to pack. It doesn't help that I've been sick, though. Sister Peterson says it's just a virus, and will take a few days to run its course. I have had near migraine level headaches, a sore throat, a racking cough that hurts everything else, chills, aches and soreness all over, and I've
been tired. Yeah, not fun. I just woke up with everything on Friday. I'll get over it, but some prayers to give my body the strength to fight it off quicker would be appreciated.
For a minute I was pretty bummed that the Larsons are moving, but then I realized 'oh, wait, I'm going to be in Logan and then SLC, so I'll be able to visit them!' It kinda feels like the mission, though. When
you come to the ward/field, you don't know anyone, and then when you're a crusty veteran, you again don't know anyone. Thus is life, Isuppose- ever moving, always changing.
General Conference was great! We watched it in our chapel (which is also a Stake Center, so we got it on Satellite). My favorite talk was Elder Holland's, but, then, his usually are. The fire that he brings to the podium is something I wish I could summon and speak with. Forget about the voice of an angel that shakes the earth, I just need the voice of Elder Holland, and I'll have all of NYC repenting, lol! I was also struck this time round by how savvy the Brethren are, and how closely they keep tabs on everything. For example, Elder Holland sharing a picture he found on the internet over the pulpit, or President Uchtdorf referencing Chewbacca in his remarks to the Priesthood. I think that more than any one thing I learned from the talks, I gained an appreciation for how connected the Brethren are with the times, the good and the bad. They truly love us, and I am grateful for it. Also, President Calderwood is now Elder Calderwood, of the 70! That's right, my mission President is now a general authority! I thought that was super cool, and you could see all the missionaries in the room, especially those of us who served under him, just light up when we heard his name.
All my love,
Elder Richard Brandt Hull