Week 9: Where the Wild Things Are

You've got that right, I'll just get straight to the point.

CREATURES we found in our house this week: A Salamander living under our microwave (we named him Larry the Lagartixa, we are not friends), an abundance of ants, and cockroaches the size of my palm. Storytime: So Sister Fialho and I returned home on Halloween night, how perfectly placed, and found this giant of a cockroach in our shower. After drowning it in bug spray, we tried to continue our bedtime routine when ANOTHER cockroach, the biggest cockroach I've ever seen, flew straight at my head. I had somewhat an out-of-body experience as I fell to the ground and scampered (Scamper: to run with quick light steps, especially through fear or excitement) out of the room. It was all fear, -3% excitement. We trapped it in a room and, with all the courage I could muster, I went in and killed that stupid insect. It felt brave, probably a little less cool than I seem to make it in my head.

As Crianças (the kids): I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! Everywhere we go, the only friends I can manage to make are with the kids. I love getting to play with them and become friends with them. We're about the same level of language speaking, most of the time I'm much less, so we get along quite nicely. At least I have some people to be friends with.

Sick as a Dog: You heard it here first folks, I accidentally drank unfiltered water and the next day was so so sick. But, after a while, I got better. Guess who's got a weak American stomach?! Your gal out here!!! Woohoo!!

Halloween!! You better bet I dressed up AS MY COMPANION!! It was awesome, we exchanged skirts hairdos, and took a great pic. You'll be proud. I also told my companion a scary Halloween story I grew up with called "The Ghost with the One Black Eye." It's so cute.

Spiritual: First of all, we have 3 baptismal dates marked so far for this month!! And we are so so so excited!! Their names are Kevin, Zélia, and Érica. We are going to try to meet with them every day to get them ready and keep them excited! Please keep them in your prayers!!

Language and Spiritual Part 2: Man I feel like I get worse with the language, it's so frustrating. I try so hard to speak as much as I can whenever I can, but my mind is becoming slower and just pittering out AHH. In a really important lesson with a man named Walter, I found myself completely lost. He keeps getting cold feet about baptism and can't seem to let a couple things in his past go, like drinking specifically. I couldn't understand anything that was coming out of his mouth or my companion, so I said a quick prayer. I noticed my hand on my scriptures, so I opened them up and tried to find a scripture about baptism. In Mosiah 18:10-11, it talks about how excited the people of Alma were for baptism, so I shared it with him and just said, "We want you to feel this happy and this excited for baptism, how can we help you? Are you afraid to be baptized? How can we help you?" I didn't understand anything after that, but after the lesson was over, my comp turned to me and said, "SISTER!!! That was so inspired! That was so awesome, I think now we have an idea of how to help him!!" The Spirit is awesome, and Heavenly Father truly does love his children.

Scripture of the Week: D&C 123:17--"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." Isn't that just so awesome? I think It helps for any situation EVER!! Problems of all kinds and this is what the Lord promises us, how special that is and how blessed we are to have such a wonderful and loving Heavenly Father!!

Alright folks, that's all I've got!! Love you all to death!! Have a wonderful week and remember you Look unto the Lord in every thought, in every success, in every hardship, in every sorrow, and in every joyful thing. His hand is here, there, and EVERYWHERE!! And it's stretched out to YOU, always and forever. So take it and walk with Him, following His perfect example. You will never go wrong :)

Sweat and Curly Hair. This is so typical.