It's Tomorrow in Hong Kong

Despite initial success with diet modifications, I had to admit last week that I was not only not doing any better, but declining. Yet another trip to the doctor, my 6th, resulted in my being admitted to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital where a colonoscopy was performed and extensive ulceration of the descending colon was detected. There followed 5 days of antibiotics, albumin, and blood transfusions along with a list of drugs. A diagnosis of Crohn's disease was given. Craig met with the Area Presidency and they all concluded that my health was such that we could not continue our assignment. 
With immense disappointment I was released from the hospital Saturday afternoon, February 26th and we left for the airport the next morning at 8:30am. The miraculous organizing, packing, and getting everything ready was accomplished by the other senior couples, who had already taken over my responsibilities for what would have been our busiest week in the mission so far. The yearly Mission Presidents' Seminar and the China Area Units Leadership Conference were happening, back to back in the same week, while I was lying in a hospital a mile away! Our fellow missionary couples, as well as terrific full-time employees, dropped their responsibilities and took over for me, though Craig still had to be there for much of it, and everything went well. 
Bryce and Gentry met us at the baggage claim in Houston Sunday night the 27th at 4:30pm, took us home, and cooked us dinner. They have been wonderfully loving and supportive as we've unpacked and encountered jet lag. This situation is one I never, ever would have imagined could happen. We are feeling the reality of those words in the scriptures, the Ensign, and from living prophets concerning trusting in the Lord and of not only accepting His will, but giving Him our wills. 
In a General Conference address in April 2009, Elder Richard G. Scott said: ". . . I have never complained, because I know it was His will. I have never asked why, but rather what is it that He wants me to learn from this experience. I believe that is a good way to face the unpleasant things in our lives, not complaining, but thanking the Lord for the trust He places in us when He gives us the opportunity to overcome difficulties. . . . (W)hen we live righteously and have received the ordinances of the temple, everything else is in the hands of the Lord. We can do the best we can, but the final outcome is up to Him. We should never complain, when we live worthily, about what happens in our lives. What I am trying to teach is that when we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent." 
Trusting in that quote, along with getting me well enough to resume a mission, will be our goals over the next several months. Accordingly, the Flying Normanos blog will conclude until we announce our next mission!