Jake Hough, 8.26.19--week 57

"I'm ssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGIIIIIIIIIIIIING IN THE rain..."

SZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNDENKI!!

This week was amazing. For the reason that I was able to go out and missionary with the missionaries!! It was a test run for the meds at the dosage I take, to see how well I could hang with the big kids. Play with the big boys. Run with the big dogs. You get the idea. It was a good test. I was nervous that I'd get super tired since Texas heat is like a vampire to any kind of productivity. It sucks it right out of you, with or without narcolepsy. There were students walking around with umbrellas. Enough said. So I was excited and nervous but really just ready to share the gospel. We went up to the college campus to find and talked to a lot of students and incoming freshman. Target rich environment to talk about the gospel with others!

Well, around halfway through I look out down the walk about 200 yards away and see a familiar shape but I couldnt place it. Tall. Sauntering confident gait in their walk. I then realized who it was but didnt believe it, and then I saw him walk by and was like it IS HIM. I ran up and said hi to one of my old cross country buddies from high school! I ran a lot with him and we paced each other fairly regularly in practice and such so it was amazing to see him after almost 3 years. We talked and caught up, and it was cool for him to see me as a "missionary" out sharing the gospel, it made me feel like I was showing those people I knew what really mattered to me, and that is the Gospel and it's spreading to everyone so they may choose for themselves freedom or captivity. That was super cool. And then the rest of the day we found 2 new people to teach and taught a couple other lessons. Miracle after miracle after miracle came and went as I was with them for just 2 days. I don't remember having that many miracles but I do remember not being able to write them all down. 

After that I felt good, and the second day went just as well. Back to back days that were high energy and high hoping. And did not disappoint. We went to a part of town and had a lesson, but that lesson fell through. So we decided to go up to the next two guys that we saw. And we started to talk to them about them and about life, and the first guys name was kevin and the other bill. Well Elder Orvis decided to talk to Bill, and Elder Butterfield and I were talking to Kevin. And man, it was a deep gospel discussion. He had some deep thoughts about life and society, but we eventually found the segue that always seems to find its way into our conversations, and Butterfield proceeded with the restoration lesson and man, that spirit never fails to come in in force. It was an awesome feeling. Even if I couldn't teach him as a missionary as I am not set apart, I was testifying of the book of mormon and Joseph Smith and his divine calling. I love doing that haha! As fun as these two days were, it did make me miss the mission a little more, and motivates me to do everything I can to be on my way back to Hungary even more, kinda like a doubled bladed sword.

I have been pondering over diligence the last few days, and it's connection to miracles. Diligence is a tough one though, cause most of the time those that are the most diligent don't ever FEEL they are. Always looking for some way to be even more diligent. Which is not bad, but when the forward mark overcomes the present success, that is when we fall into a trap of never ending shortcoming. We must trust that we are doing all we can. And give the most effort we can in the moment. And sometimes we can only give 50%. Or 40%. Or 76%. But we must lean and rely wholly on the grace of Christ that has already filled that can help us to become better. For the next day. Whether it be in school. At work. In church. At home. Personally. Anything and everything. And that is the key to diligence is to NEVER give up. Giving up is almost like saying that the Atonement of Christ can't help us, so why even try. But it does if we but use it. 

Szeretlek Benneteket!

Jake

(He's cleaning windows to earn money if anyone is interested! :) 

 (Getting back in the game with the local elders doing missionary work.)

Jake Hough, 8.19.19--week 56

"I thought I GRADUATED high school...and seminary"

SZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINDEEEEEENKIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!

It boggles my mind that God, the Eternal Father gave His Son Jesus Christ to die for us. To bridge the literal and spiritual chasms between us and Them. It is also such an understatement to say that They love us so much, that though through Christ He created this world and many other worlds, and that the Light of Christ that governs all things and is in all things that He created, us included. He had the ability to walk on water, calm the seas, and command others to rise from the through this governing power. Yet, despite the power He displayed in His miracles, despite the utter anguish and pain He suffered for all of us collectively and individually for our entire lives, that light of Christ within each of us that the spirit uses to help us determine right from wrong, freedom or bondage, despite ALL that. He allows US, babes in spirit, insignificant mortals veiled from the truth of all things, to CHOOSE in a fallen state to follow Them or not. He allows us, bids us, pleads with us, to choose. And to choose right. But he gives us AGENCY, the one power above their own will and pleasure. Sure, we have the power to choose good or evil but we cannot choose the consequences that will come as result of our choices. But God and Christ will not force us to choose anything though they very well could. But He loves us to such a degree (incomprehensible to our minds) that He doesnt and wont. That is crazy to me. And we dictate in our lives how much light we let into our hearts everyday, and how long we want the spirit to reside with us as well. 

So this week was another week of meds and experimenting, but the dosages I am at are working sufficiently well. I am sleeping again, and going about my days in 90% normality again. Its an amazing feeling. I pray that it continues enough to carry me to my mission. And as far as the mission goes, I discovered through the Stake President who spoke with the mission department that they have never seen a narcoleptic missionary since they worked there (and I heard they had been there for a good amount of time). So they dont know what to do about Narcolepsy. She said the more information about the disorder, about my drugs and about my recovery and everything, the easier it will be to make a clear decision. Including if the drugs I need are in Hungary. So we are working on securing doctors notes, prescription details and prescribers in Hungary to be able to give me what I need overseas. And I also learned that my time did NOT continue when I got home. So if I go back out, it will be fourteen months from when I go back out. Which if in october or november, would put me into January of 2021...AWESOME! But it would throw a small wrench into my plans but my plans for school have already been deformed and remolded into something else that I still dont know what haha! The Lord goes first, the mission goes first, and then after that I will worry about school and life. And I have no doubt it will fall into place for me!

In the meantime I am working in my old school district and actually visited my old chem teacher from sophomore year, on friday and it was a good visit. Good to see her again, but weird to be back in high school haha! I thought I was done with it but NOPE. Guess not. 

I am excited for what the future seems to hold in store for me, and I pray that it comes about the way it needs to, hopefully Hungary. That would be the greatest gift I could ever receive, but the gift of serving is going to be the best gift ever no matter where I go. Because what does it matter if I am still representing God the Father and His son if it is in Idaho or Budapest? 

Szeretlek Benneteket!

Jake

A trip down memory lane...

Szekesfehervar, Hungary--the City of Churches

A rare "family" dinner in Gyor

Jake Hough, 8.13.19--week 55

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Sleep"

SZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAA  MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINDENKIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!

Well, this has been a very exciting week. 

Life has begun to slowly flow back into my once feeble limbs.

I feel as invigorating as a mild hop into a cold pool.

And I steadily continue down the road of full recovery and life as a missionary. I have been very excited and humbled by the rapid response to the meds I have been taking, and the effect they are having on my daily life. It is as my father describes: "night and day difference". On multiple occasions it was appropriate to say 'its good to be back everyone!' because it is amazing to be back with y'all among the land of the living and functional haha!

JJ had his baptism this week, which was a phenomenally spiritual experience. He was baptized, and then I had the privilege to perform the confirmation. It is always a humbling and growing experience as you stand in the literal place of God giving those ordinations and blessings. Gives you a little perspective on where you stand and what your purpose is in life. To be a mouthpiece of God in the blessing and serving of the children of God. 

Wednesday we met with the Stake President to give him updates to give to church headquarters regarding my diagnosis and current treatment and recovery. As we talked, we all felt that given the medicine taking a strong effect on my body for the better, and helping me jump back in the game, that there is a strong possibility that I can go back to a proselyting mission as a missionary. Great news. The best news I've heard in a while. The prayers that have been said on my behalf and the behalf of my family have been working, and I want to personally say thank you. Thank you for the thoughts prayers, and the support I have seen thus far along this chapter of my life. It has done more good for me than any of ya could know, and ya'll will be blessed immensely for your service and support. I know that is a fact. Thank you. 

I would implore everyone to really, really get to know how Heavenly Father speaks to you individually. It will be different for everyone. There are common modes of communication through the spirit, but the most powerful promptings and thoughts of guidance come only when we really learn to recognize HOW that prompting comes and affects our spirits, minds, and hearts. Having had a strong spiritual experience along these lines, and having realized what God may be saying and prompting from me, I can testify that it is of paramount importance to be able to see those signs so we may ACT on those signs and therefore be guided in our lives by the loving care of our Father, and to then see His hand even more prominently than ever before. If we could recognize every prompting and act on them accordingly, we will be immensely blessed and grow into the principle of revelation.

Love yall, this was a very positive week, and I look forward to what God holds in store in the future!

Szeretlek Benneteket!

Jake

The big man on his BIG day!!

Now what kind of an amazing brother would have made his younger brother such a dope cake?? (hehe)

Jake Hough, 8.6.19--week 54

"Answers and Opportunities"

SSSSZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAA MIIIINDENKI!!!!!!!

This was a week of answers. Well-awaited and needed answers. It was long (haha!) and short. Hard yet manageable. Think that’ll be a common theme for a while. But this week was very eventful and filled with opportunities to grow closer to our Savior and to become one with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter and Guide in this life. 

First up I had the chance to do a lot of fishing with Cooper, since Im not doing anything else majorly important haha! We went a total of maybe 4 times, and on the 3rd time or so we went out and I lost 2 spinner lures to a giaaaant fish. Snapped my 4 pound line like a piece of twine. So I go for my medium spinner and take a couple casts and nail a 3.5 pound bass. It was very satisfying to reel in haha! Moral of the lesson: Never (dont) give up! Its too worth it to be victorious in whatever endeavor than to not be. 

I went out with the elders to have a new member lesson with Brad, and it was over temples since he was planning to go to the temple in September to do baptisms. The spirit in that lesson was powerful. Breathtaking. May I even venture to add that the veil between the eternal and temporal was thinned just so slightly, as we talked about things of eternal worth. It was what I needed. He needed it too but that lesson was for both of us, in Gods infinite goodness and wisdom. Amazing. Went out with the missionaries with my younger brother and we got dogged (not unusual anywhere I guess haha!) and so we role played with them in the church for a few minutes, and that was also an effective lesson on me. If ya'll ever get the chance to go out with the missionaries do it! It's an uplifting and eye opening experience. You get to glimpse into the lives of God's children that you can help to the tree of life. 

Yesterday was the big day in Austin when we met with the sleep specialist. We talked about mission, life, college, adjustments that have to be made to accomodate the hardships of narcolepsy, and surprisingly it looks really good. He knows that I was serving in Hungary, and never said anything about not going back. I just have to start sleeping normally before going forward and Im not doing that. They also mentioned that Narcolepsy is very rare to just WHACK someone as hard as it whacked me all of a sudden. It usually comes on gradually and doesn't manifest as it is now for a while. Years. So counting my blessings it was a hard enough hit that it jolted us to figure it out. Im currently in the first attempt with a stimulant for the day and some sedative for the night. And I can not be in my bed if it is not to sleep haha! Im haveing to completely retrain my brain to think that the bed is sleep. So I'll be tired in bed. It is all really interesting science behind it but ultimately I have to figure it out to get back out on my mission. in the final year. It's coming and I need to do all I can to get back. 

I found some work to do while I get my symptoms under control cause, college aint gonna pay for itself! (Say it again!) COLLEGE AINT GONNA PAY FOR ITSELF! Amen. So Im working on that. 

Love yall, have a fantastic and spirit filled week. Draw unto Him!

Szeretlek Benneteket!

Jake

They call me the Bass Master

 

Family road trip to Snyder

Texas highway sunset