The Trio Has Struck Again

Okay kids, I don't get it. Things really cant slow down, but I think we can all agree that thats what makes it interesting and fun. (background info) On Friday, we got a call from Elder Pratt who is over the housing and he asked, "Can we fit another bed in your apartment?" Yes you're thinking correct... Trio but we werent exactly sure what was going to happen. Of course we had our predictions, we pretty much assumed he would just add someone to our companionship and not bring in two new sisters. But pretty much we had to exercise patience and wait for Saturday night. (in comes the other part) So this past week I've been getting bites and I thought they were mosquitos because we've done service there and had an activity. So in total I didn't think much of it... until I kept waking up with new bites. We were at a members home about to head to transfer doctrine and I brought it up to Sister Pitchforth. She said it could be bed bugs... so we look it up. It totally was/is. Ugh, kind of makes me sick still. So we decided not to go to transfer doctrine and to make some phone calls. We called Elder Pratt and he gave us things to do. 1st: look for a laundry mat that is open (it was 9 by that time) so we can dry heat all of our clothes. 2nd: Bag up everything else and wait for the morning to stick them in the sun to burn all the bugs. 3rd: Vacuum and vacuum like crazy. 4th: Take a hot shower.

During all of this craziness we also got a call from other sisters letting us know what happened during transfer doctrine. I would yet again be in another with trio with TWO new companions! And Sister Anderson would be leaving and going to Capitol Hill (aka Downtown where I served). It was such an emotional night. We were panicking because of the bed bugs, and then on top of it there was transfer info.

Sister Pitchforth armed us with quarters and garbage bags and we rushed to a laundry mat and I talk to the man who was going to close and begged him to stay open so we could go get our clothes and dry heat them because we had bed bugs. He was so kind and said we could. We rushed home and bagged up all of our clothes and ran back to the laundry mat. There was another lady there who suggested that we put our clothes in new garbage bags so we aren't using the old ones. So we rushed back home to get them and came back. The man said that while we were gone the lady had put an extra quarter in all of our machines. We thanked him for staying open and he said, "You guys are doing the Lords work, its the least I can do." We left the laundry mat around 10:45. Got back to the apartment bagged the rest of our belongings and then vacuumed (like crazy). We showered and then exhaustively climbed into bed.

I did wake up with more bites (Forgot to mention that I was the only one getting bit) and found a bug on my bed. BUT! This morning I woke up with no bites. (Mom, don't worry to much. ;) I know you are) The exterminator should be coming today or tomorrow. Sunday was pretty hard for Sister Anderson. This area and the people mean a lot to her. However, I know she's going to do amazing in Cap Hill(: So now, I have two new companions (they're pretty great so far), and an apartment with bed bugs. Its a handful and pretty stressful but I will continue to trust in the Lord. I know there are blessing around the corner.

So besides all that here are some random awesome things that happen this week: We totally shaved a cat, went to the branch's lake activity and had 3 or 4 nonmembers there, had some fantastic Cafe Rio with our recent convert RJ, learned a new game called "Mow" (totally going to teach it to you all when I get home), had a fantastic lesson with one of our investigators named Cierra. She is so golden and willing to learn. We also had a wonderful lesson with Justin. The spirit was so strong.

Overall it was a good week despite transfers and bed bugs. I'm nervous about this transfer (my companions are pretty young mission wise), stressed about our apartment and bugs. But! I know the Lord will take care of me. I just have to do my part.

I love you guys!
Stay Sweet
Dont Do Drugs.

Picture 1: Awkward cant touch photo with Justin.
Picture 2: Ricardo, Jose, Andy and me(:

So... June Is Almost Over, Just Thought You Would Like To Know

That thought, that June is almost over has been going through my mind quite often this week. I don't know if I like it. As you get closer to the end of a mission you begin to think you don't want it to end at all. It actually kind of scares me that its almost over (of course by "almost" I mean 5 months.) But whats awesome about only 5 months left? I'm going to work my butt of and totally blow the missionary work out of the water where ever I go!

We went to the lake with the branch last P-day. We weren't able to get in the boat or in the water but it was fun none the less. What was cool is lately we've been seeing a lot of members and we've been asking them to invite their nonmember friends to activities (since you have a lot of those in a singles branch). I went over to talk to one of our members and he smiles at me and says, "I took you up on your challenge," and nods to the girl sitting next to him. I was so happy to see some members actually doing what we asked. In total there were four nonmembers! Other members we have been visiting just start giving us a name before we even ask. Its been super great!

RJ is still on and good for his baptism date on July 5th. Its been kind of frustrating to try to get an appointment because he's so busy. We were talking to him on Sunday when one of our members, named Brad, came up to us and pretty easily found a time for both us and RJ. It was really great. We actually had dinner with Brad that day as well and he went out with us afterwards to visit people around his house. It went SUPER well. We saw almost all the people we wanted to see and Brad, yes, Brad set up three appointments for us. I feel like when you bring a member along the people actually want to say yes. If we were to ask them we would get an answer like, "Well... I'm really busy." It was super cool, Brad is just fantastic.

Its crazy how much you love people and how sad you are when they stray away even when you worked hard with them. We were at Kidz Quiltz doing what we do best "Quilting" when three young boys come in. I was looking down but out of the corner of my eye I could clearly see that two of them were just standing at the table staring at me. I look up and say hey to them and ask how they are doing. One of them says, "See she does recognize you!" I looked at the other and looked.... It was a boy named Jonathan who I taught in Fort Lupton. I found out he had dropped out of school and I could see that he also had a cigarette resting on his ear. I was so happy to see him and yet so sad to see where he's ended up. But hopefully he comes back. I told him that we're at Kidz Quiltz every Thursday. -crosses fingers-

The last thing is, its President Toombs last week and by next week I will have new mission president. I'm so sad yet super excited for this new mission president, President Mendenhall. (Maybe he's related to Bronco that would be sick!)

I love this area, the branch, and those we teach. I seriously believe that the Lord knew I needed this.

Love you guys so much!
Stay Sweet
Dont Do Drugs.

Hermana Durfee